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7 Posts
Hi everyone,
I have a beagle named Missy. She is such a sweetheart, but I am having obedience problems with her. When she was younger, I was irresponsible with her and I let her roam around outside without any care in the world. I grew up after a year of realizing what having a dog is really about and now I am realizing how bad it was for me to let her run around.
Missy is a beagle and she is two years old. She was not on heartworm, flea guard, and she wasn't spayed. She also got pregnant at a year old and had our other puppy, Jake, and 7 other puppies. I know this is bad and that I was completely wrong and that is why I changed my ways. She is now on monthly heartworm protection, she has flea treatments once a month, and she is spayed (by laser).
I know that I was a bad owner, and I am trying to make it up to her because I know that she deserves better.
Missy lives outside of my grandmother's house (in a dog house) because of my current living situation. When I move out I am going to make sure that I have a fenced in yard for both her and Jake to have free space unrestrained during play time, and they will eventually be inside dogs (they are so great when indoors, besides the rough play).
ANYHOW, here is my question. Missy is very disobedient from my past carelessness. She doesn't ever pay attention to me long enough to learn to do things on command, and when she does know how to do things, she won't do them at all until food is involved. For example, a lot of times, I tell her to sit. She will not sit down unless I have a treat in hand because of the food motivation. How can I get Missy to be more attentive and obedient without food? I am keeping in mind that she is a hunting breed and that scents and other distractions (squirrels) will steal her attention, but how can I gain more of her attention?
Another question I have is, how can I play tracking games with her? What items do I need to use, and what method do I need to use for hiding objects for her to track?
Also, is there anything else that I can do to make her and my bond stronger? I feel like she is so independent and I want her to be bonded with me more.
Please do not flame me on my past with her, as I am trying hard to make it up to her by being the best daddy ever.
Thanks,
Kyle
I have a beagle named Missy. She is such a sweetheart, but I am having obedience problems with her. When she was younger, I was irresponsible with her and I let her roam around outside without any care in the world. I grew up after a year of realizing what having a dog is really about and now I am realizing how bad it was for me to let her run around.
Missy is a beagle and she is two years old. She was not on heartworm, flea guard, and she wasn't spayed. She also got pregnant at a year old and had our other puppy, Jake, and 7 other puppies. I know this is bad and that I was completely wrong and that is why I changed my ways. She is now on monthly heartworm protection, she has flea treatments once a month, and she is spayed (by laser).
I know that I was a bad owner, and I am trying to make it up to her because I know that she deserves better.
Missy lives outside of my grandmother's house (in a dog house) because of my current living situation. When I move out I am going to make sure that I have a fenced in yard for both her and Jake to have free space unrestrained during play time, and they will eventually be inside dogs (they are so great when indoors, besides the rough play).
ANYHOW, here is my question. Missy is very disobedient from my past carelessness. She doesn't ever pay attention to me long enough to learn to do things on command, and when she does know how to do things, she won't do them at all until food is involved. For example, a lot of times, I tell her to sit. She will not sit down unless I have a treat in hand because of the food motivation. How can I get Missy to be more attentive and obedient without food? I am keeping in mind that she is a hunting breed and that scents and other distractions (squirrels) will steal her attention, but how can I gain more of her attention?
Another question I have is, how can I play tracking games with her? What items do I need to use, and what method do I need to use for hiding objects for her to track?
Also, is there anything else that I can do to make her and my bond stronger? I feel like she is so independent and I want her to be bonded with me more.
Please do not flame me on my past with her, as I am trying hard to make it up to her by being the best daddy ever.
Thanks,
Kyle