Training

So how does one begin to train a dog with the attention span of a gnat?

As you know, we PONs LOVE our food.  So training us with treats is actually quite simple.  Now Elroy SEEMS to like food - although at dinner time he is not exactly like us PONs. He is pokey.  And he sometimes gets distracted while eating - so he stops and does something else.  Unlike us PONs.  We are like vacuum cleaners when it comes to food.  Put down food in our dishes - and it is G-O-N-E.  Elroy eats,  sees dust on the floor, checks it out, goes back to eating, hears a noise, checks it out, goes back to eating, stops to scratch, goes back to eating...it's not a QUICK process.

So obviously Elroy's attention to treats and training is very similar.  He starts off wanting the treats - and will do some things - but whatever you do, you can only make the session last less than 30 seconds - or his attention is gone!  So far, my human can get him to "down" by basically luring him with a treat.  But "sit" is not in his vocabulary.  She is trying to teach him NOT to maul her hand when she has a treat - and is trying to teach him "off".  She had a handful of treats and would not give him any unless he backed off and stopped chewing at her hand.  Her hand took a real beating - BUT he did seem to get the idea.  We'll see if he remembers today!

My human had him outside watching Frodo and I doing some obedience training.  She was hoping it would rub off.  We dogs DO learn from one another - and he WAS paying attention.  For short periods of time. 

Despite his lack of lasting attention, he IS observant.  He listens to every bird, and was QUITE interested in listening to a squirrel in a tree.  In this photo, there was no bird or squirrel.  Just branches moving in the wind.  Go figure.

He is also doing well with his house training.  Mind you, my human takes him outside 473 times a day.  And he has figured out that if you go to the door and squeak, she will take you out. Whether you need to go or not.  So he IS kinda clever - I'll give him that.

I'm still pretty much ignoring him, but I realize the return period is probably quickly coming to a close.  So I guess he is staying - and one of these days, we MAY play together.  Once those teeth come out...