Finley & the dryer sheet - any advice please!

[Abulafia]

Yes! We were taught the "exchange" or "inspect / exchange" technique very early in Hoku's training. It works well for us, and I think that's why now sometimes Hoku will just come up to me with something she suspects she shouldn't have (a quarter) and spit it out on request (and then I praise her or give her a treat).

Of course, I have been more than convinced that she will pick up objects she shouldn't have just in order to get a treat: will come up with something pretty obviously off limits, then run to the kitchen, sit by the treat cabinet, spit out the object, and look up at me. So there's some kind of exchange going on, but it's not always sure who's running the game.

Still, at least she spits out!

[Fiona3]

Shelley, thank you for this information. I copied it and printed it out. It's a better approach than "leave it", even though he has been rewarded every time we use that phrase. He has been very good about responding to it but the exchange approach is a much better way to get an article away from the dog. I also think Finn could sense my panic when his head popped up with the dryer sheet in his mouth so he swallowed it before I could stop him. I will definitely try this training with Finn.

Abulafia, it's nice to see Hoku has responded well to this training. Even if she is doing it for a reward, you know she will be spitting out something you don't want her to have. That's worth the treat.

Thanks again for this valuable info.

[Shelley]

You are so welcome! I am glad you found it helpful, and that Abulafia could validate the method for you too. :-)

[Doreen Davis]

Shelley that is great advice, I think Anthony came to us a bit too late and some habits were engrained.

Fiona, if you notice all of these things are mine and not my husband's, the trick is to keep it up and out of his reach!

[Fiona3]

I started the "Exchange" training two days ago and so far he seems to find it to be fun. In the yard I've been throwing his favorite rope/ball toy and when he brings it back we exchange it for a treat and he drops the toy. Then I throw it again, repeat the process for about 10 minutes. I'll eventually move on to other items and work in the house as well.

Doreen, we learned the hard way with two very tall greyhounds that they could destroy or eat whatever they could reach on the counters or tables. We now automatically keep items on high places - remotes on a tall cabinet, eye glasses, books, cell phones, etc. on a high hutch shelf. One embarrassing moment came at the Library when I had to pay for two library books saying "My dog ate the books". Finley is a lot shorter than the greyhounds but can grab something that falls on the floor faster than you can reach it.

It's really hard to remember to pick up everything, even though we've been trying to do it for years. Life with pups!