Training words

Squirrel. So much fun!

We were never taught to use "Hey!" as a formal dog training word. But it slips out. Often! 

Dieter knows by now that "hey" carries a certain gravitas. Recently he saw a squirrel on the deck and decided he needed to leap at the sliding door. Both of the humans, in unison, shouted "HEY!" and Dieter immediately ran into his kennel. He stands there and waits for us to say: "Ok, you're free," which was a training phrase we used when Dieter was a puppy.

 

We also were taught to intone "eh eh eh"--a sound the mother dog makes to correct her pups. It does work! For example, Dieter believes the cats need to be barked at when they're having their breakfast. They eat in the dining room and there's a gate that separates that room from the kitchen. Dieter leans over the gate and barks. "Hey kitties, whatcha eatin'?"
 
When this happens I give him the "Dieter, off" command. Assuming he does the off, I follow it up with: "Good off."  But if he is in his stubborn mode (he's German, after all), and barking is more fun than complying with commands, I follow up with an "eh, eh, eh." That usually does the trick.

I seem to have gotten good at channeling a female German Shepherd mom. Maybe I was one in a former life. Who knows: I've been told I can be a little snappy at times!