Cross Arm Sit (training, rescue, bird, pup)

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I had the joy of meeting a gorgeous Pointing Griffon at the store. The 6 month old pup was out for socialization. A lovely baby with beautiful manners.

I got to pet and cuddle while talking to the pup's owner. One interesting thing came up. The pup was trained to sit whenever anyone crossed their arms. I'm not sure what that trick is used for when hunting, but I can see some social value. Frightened people will often tuck their arms up against their bodies. If the pup sees this as crossed arms, he will sit and that will help to defuse the situation.

Not that this beautifully trained pup would have much chance to terrorize anyone. He was always paying attention to his owner's every wish, even when he was enjoying ear skritches from a stanger (me) . One whispered word and he would fly back to his owner's side.

It's a joy to meet such a well behaved and beautifully cared for pup out in public. If everyone would invest even half the time in their dogs as this pup was getting, there wouldn't be any complaints about bad dog behavior in public.

[runswithscissors]

They are very gentle and sweet.

This one was my client and one of the dogs I'm referring to when I talk about invisible fences going wrong.

She came as a rescue with some possible neurological damage, we think. Wouldn't be able to execute any of the types of behaviors you're talking about. But still very well behaved and docile. Affectionate etc.

We'd classify her as clumsy and dorky I guess. Not really connecting with "words" or subtleties.

But the fence came with the house and the owners, one an MD, even when doing the training correctly really really regretted it.

She would ONLY go to the bathroom around the foundation shrubbery up near the house and about 3 feet further into the grass.

It took us a year or so for her to come out of the garage and down the driveway without being afraid she'd get zapped.

THEN she eventually would TAKE OFF like a bat out of hell in the back yard into the creek and get soaking muddy wet IF she "thought" she saw a bird in the sky in that direction. LOL

DORKY.

The spirit was willing but the body was not cooperating. Thankfully, she grew to love walks.

[Threerun]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

I had the joy of meeting a gorgeous Pointing Griffon at the store. The 6 month old pup was out for socialization. A lovely baby with beautiful manners.

I got to pet and cuddle while talking to the pup's owner. One interesting thing came up. The pup was trained to sit whenever anyone crossed their arms. I'm not sure what that trick is used for when hunting, but I can see some social value. Frightened people will often tuck their arms up against their bodies. If the pup sees this as crossed arms, he will sit and that will help to defuse the situation.

Not that this beautifully trained pup would have much chance to terrorize anyone. He was always paying attention to his owner's every wish, even when he was enjoying ear skritches from a stanger (me) . One whispered word and he would fly back to his owner's side.

It's a joy to meet such a well behaved and beautifully cared for pup out in public. If everyone would invest even half the time in their dogs as this pup was getting, there wouldn't be any complaints about bad dog behavior in public.

Never seen that employed in any of the dogs I've been around in our hunt/training group.