@silykat A while ago (maybe 1-2 years ago?) I read something about “hand feeding” as a bonding type thing - ill see if I can find WHERE i read it!
So for several weeks when husband was home for a stretch of days (more than 3 which is few and far between!) we would take Jets bowl and have him hold it while Jet was eating, and then put the bowl away when he was done. There was ZERO issue with this. No growling, not lip licking (aside from normal sort of “yum this is good food” licking!) and there did seem to be positive reinforcement there.
Jet knows several commands without VERBALLY saying them - hand perpendicular to the floor and then raised is SIT. Finger pointed directly down to the floor is DOWN (lay) and I use them ALL THE TIME with him. Husband tries - but the SIT command is sort of floppy and multiple times (like verbally saying SIT over and over instead of just ONCE and waiting for him to sit) and I am always correcting HUSBAND (that sounds naggy as hell, but I’m being honest!!) to go slower with his sit command, only verbally say commands ONCE and then wait.
I really think that husband taking the time to do things slower and with more deliberate purpose would improve Jets… listening or idk… DANG IT. I’ve sort of lost my train of thought now!!
Husband has EIGHT days off once he gets home on Wednesday night, so we will DEFINITELY be working on some things (I’m not off ALLL those days, but 3-4 of them I am!) so we shall see how things go!!
I found these little bitty training treats (Nutro I believe!) on clearance when I was getting cat litter at Petsmart the other day - these may come in handy soon!!
I am OFF today, and will see what I can accomplish (video wise of his reactions) the hand feeding/bonding thing isn’t a big issue with ME and Jet.. I almost feel like ME working with him almost makes it WORSE for husband.
Thank you so much for your insight!!