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  1. #1
    Senior Dog CraftHer's Avatar
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    Multiple Dogs, Multiple Commands

    With one dog, Mocha always knew we were talking to him. Now, with Latte, Mocha is getting justifiably confused.

    An example, play was getting rough and it was time to intervene. We told Mocha to get on the couch (because Latte can't jump up) and we were re-directing Latte. Latte tried to jump on the couch to play with Mocha and I say "Latte off". Then Mocha gets off, too. "Oh No, Mocha, up [on the couch]" "Latte, Off" You see the situation? Latte doesn't understand, yet. But Mocha sure is getting confused. He was half on and half off the couch with the most confused look on his sweet face.

    How do you teach that a command is for a specific dog?

  2. #2
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    I never had a problem with previous dogs...but I'm probably just remembering adult days.

    What I have now will be of no worth to you but I'm gonna share anyhow because you made me think of it and chuckle.

    Danny is trained. He was so easy, so willing, really the smartest dog I've ever had (with apologies to my female Akita whom I always thought of as brilliant)...just a real joy.

    He didn't get his smarts from Sunnie. She is a Duh O G. Sorry Sunnie. I'll cut her some slack....she's neurotic and anxious.

    Anyway, if I give Sunnie a command, "Sunnie, whatever"....she will cower and look guilty. It's as if she thinks she's doing something wrong if I had to tell her to do something different. I don't yell at the dogs but even if I'm using a "less than normal assertive" voice, or a whisper, she will cower. And don't even ask me how she reacted to the word "heel" (I use the word "close" because of her reaction...somebody was heavy handed with that.) [the shelter had actually told me "a harsh voice will devastate her"...wasn't going to be a problem in this house]

    So if I want Sunnie to do something, I usually say, "Puppies, whatever". She then knows that both she and Dan are expected to do the whatever. She usually does, but not always.

    Every now and then I'll try just saying "Sunnie, whatever" and Dan is the only one to do the whatever (unless they're not standing together and he sees me looking at her). He just wants to please.

    Basically the only training I've been able to give Sunnie is what she's seen Dan do. She just doesn't get it. I blame the anxiety...which we have only a tiny bit of a handle on (courtesy of Chinese teapills).

  3. #3
    Best Friend Retriever silverfz's Avatar
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    wait till you throw in some little kids. hahaha

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  5. #4
    Senior Dog ZoeysMommy's Avatar
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    Ha! I know exactly what you are going through! Aimee is turning one soon and adding her into 3 dogs all over the age of 5 was at little odd. Truthfully it works itself out eventually. Zoey especially learned fast when I was talking to Aimee and not her.

  6. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    I was taught the dog's name signifies who the command is for. You do have to practice it.
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  8. #6
    Senior Dog
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    I was taught the dog's name signifies who the command is for. You do have to practice it.
    Yes, and I often find myself really enunciating their names “No, I said C-H-L-O-E _____, not you”.

    The older dogs usually do initially think you are always talking to them as you have been in the past, but they figure it out eventually. Especially if you ignore them and only reward the one you asked for the behavior.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
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    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  10. #7
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    i've never had any luck with some things. When I tell a dog "off" rocky ALWAYS gets off even if i am talking to another dog :P I usually follow "ABC off" with "rocky stay"

  11. #8
    House Broken ArchieSit's Avatar
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    We are going through that here, as well! I am trying to be really consistent with using the dog's name -- of course, it doesn't help that Ferris isn't really solid on ANY command, so if I repeat it, then Archie *really* feels like he should do it, LOL. Poor guy. I'm also having to separate them for training, especially crate training. Archie is only too happy to rush in and out of any crate if treats are involved! He can't believe his luck! I'm sure in a few weeks they will all get it -- or at least I hope so.

  12. #9
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ArchieSit View Post
    We are going through that here, as well! I am trying to be really consistent with using the dog's name -- of course, it doesn't help that Ferris isn't really solid on ANY command, so if I repeat it, then Archie *really* feels like he should do it, LOL. Poor guy. I'm also having to separate them for training, especially crate training. Archie is only too happy to rush in and out of any crate if treats are involved! He can't believe his luck! I'm sure in a few weeks they will all get it -- or at least I hope so.
    I had to seperate Rocky during most training sessions as he is sooo food motivate he'd sorta squeaze in and push penny/foster out of the way making it impossible to work with them :P I looked into "pedastal" training (basically the non working dog goes to their spot - for some it's a raised pedastal but can be a dog bed or mat or whatever - until they are released no matter what you are doing with the working dog) but I never put enough effort into it to get it to work.

  13. #10
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    I know what you're going thru! Sometimes I'll forget which dog I'm talking to and give the wrong name. It gets even worse with my parents who keep calling their puppy Maverick. Sometimes I'll give a command like sit and not say a name. Sometimes when I'm working on training Bear Maverick thinks it's his name. And sometimes when I'm trying to get Bear to follow me I'll ask Maverick to come and the first thing he does is run to Bear to try to get Bear to follow him. When Bear won't follow him, Mav doesn't immediately respond to come. I feel really bad too


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