How did you raise your Sheltie in an apartment? Regret starting to sink in.

[SheepOfBlue]

Ha I hope so.

Gavin sounds sweet. Theon is the only one at day care that doesn’t come running to his parent (me) during pick up. Embarassing!

We went to a Sheltie gathering when Spitfire was a puppy. He had so much fun that I had to capture him to leave as he would not come in. And at that time there was only one other Sheltie still out there LOL. He is still a handful and EXTEREMELY willful and manipulative. Yet I would not trade him for anything. He just has a ton of character and sometimes that is challenging.

Of course while he might always do that some when he gets older it will change. Also when he is older and can do activities you might become the most fun thing on the planet.

 

[Hanne]

Always reward come, and always have treats in your pocket for this and you'll get a perfect recall. It's very important to train this should he ever accidentally get off leash you want him to come running back to you

Even though Minnie is now 5 years old, I always have rewards (her tiny food pills) in my pockets.

She has been safe in her call since she was a puppy,
even if she has been playing with other dogs, she will always come when I call

"come and get your leash on" = reward ---- and so on

She always gets rewarded for good behavior / obedience
- so I know she will always - happily - obey.

The stupid thing is if I forget to empty pockets - when the clothes need to be washed

 

[Wendy C]

happily

Even though Minnie is now 5 years old, I always have rewards (her tiny food pills) in my pockets.

She has been safe in her call since she was a puppy,
even if she has been playing with other dogs, she will always come when I call

"come and get your leash on" = reward ---- and so on

She always gets rewarded for good behavior / obedience
- so I know she will always - happily - obey.

The stupid thing is if I forget to empty pockets - when the clothes need to be washed

lol we are guilty of finding soggy kibble in the washer or dryer....unlike socks they don’t seem to disappear.

 

[Hanne]

unlike socks they don’t seem to disappear

 

[angelnov90gmail.com]

Take him for a walk on a flexi leash and when he's a good distance from you call him to you and give a tug on the leash (so your pulling him towards you at the same time you call him) then praise big time and give a treat. Do this randomly on walks...in no time he'll be running to you every time!
Always reward come, and always have treats in your pocket for this and you'll get a perfect recall. It's very important to train this should he ever accidentally get off leash you want him to come running back to you.

Got it. Thanks! I’ve been trying to wean him off treats so I hope I eventually don’t need them as much.

 

[angelnov90gmail.com]

happily

Even though Minnie is now 5 years old, I always have rewards (her tiny food pills) in my pockets.

She has been safe in her call since she was a puppy,
even if she has been playing with other dogs, she will always come when I call

"come and get your leash on" = reward ---- and so on

She always gets rewarded for good behavior / obedience
- so I know she will always - happily - obey.

The stupid thing is if I forget to empty pockets - when the clothes need to be washed

How cute!

 

[Piper's mom]

Got it. Thanks! I’ve been trying to wean him off treats so I hope I eventually don’t need them as much.

You should never wean them off treats...even my boy who's 4 whom I do competitive obedience with still gets treats. You can eventually randomize when they get a treat, kinda like a slot machine but if your teaching anything and you want them to learn you'll have to reward.

 

[Cindy]

My boy is very food motivated...I used Cheerios

 

[Chris]

My boy is very food motivated...I used Cheerios

I'm going to train my next Sheltie with Cheerios. It's so much cheaper than "real" treats.

 

[Cindy]

Just beware of the cheerio-monster! Gavin ate through the pockets on several of my jackets trying to get them (even if they were in a baggie!).