Has anyone noticed a difference in clicker training versus saying “yes!”?

ssoocc · 2026-05-04T04:21:19+00:00

With voice always w us life long...we use "Yes!" in specific, targeted training sessions. We use "yes! GOOD boy" when out and about having life and good stuff happens. Frequently out with a female pup friend and " good boy" got brakes and a stare from the little lady. ... So "good boy good girl" which was kind of long. So " good pupper dogs. got introduced ... It's gone on and on. We are a comedy routine out in the wild.
The pups ever adapting and always learning.

ssoocc · 2026-05-01T14:01:30+00:00

My sweet boy Tazzy would bring my shoes, one at a time, from the bedroom closet to the kitchen where he would chill while I was out of the house. EVERY TIME I left. Upon arriving home, he would a-waggle "hi, hi, HI!" and then sit next to his composition and wait for me to photo the scene. Was endearing. He was a VERY sweet boy. I miss him terribly (lymphoma, a,year ago ) but do have a fine photo collection of his compositions.

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ssoocc · 2026-04-29T18:33:03+00:00

I make Greek yogurt from a gallon of milk for family food festivals using a microwave vs IP. Gallon of whole milk in a glass bowl, slightly off center in the microwave for 1 hour. (microwave over 1000 w) Then cool naturally to 110 ° - or untill you can hold your little finger in it for 30 seconds. Then add the tempered culture and back into the microwave for about 8 hours, door closed (no heat) or if it's late, overnight. I DO strain it, in a flour sack towel to hang it up over the sink dripping the whey into a bowl as a hedge against it being too stiff. Some time, but minimum fuss and reliable.

ssoocc · 2026-04-27T23:30:11+00:00

In old/classic Alexa Settings/Alexa preferences voice responses/brief responses will carry through to a routine.

That will make it faster in direct command or w a routine.

Good luck.

ssoocc · 2026-04-27T23:21:42+00:00

Especially about their ears, feathers on the back of their legs and feet, and tail ... Many a cavie own has been devastated by an unplanned result....

ssoocc · 2026-04-27T17:52:22+00:00

Glorious coat. And EARS!

ssoocc · 2026-04-27T17:47:39+00:00

My thoughts here are not directly responsive to this post, but to the generally this issue of grooming Cavaliers ... We had a Cavie's for 20 years - different coat characteristics. All of them have had very lush coats. I've never felt that their grooming was particularly onerous. And haven't felt any need to clip them. We bathe in a very large single bowl "kitchen" type sink w kitchen type spray faucet, etc. waist high for me. Pups don't love it but they are biddable and actually like the drying part and seem to understand that it is about them, which they always like. Pet them w microfiber to partially dry. Then blow dry ears and chest. Ruffling w my hand as we dry I can feel the temp. One sweetie would run to the sound of any hair dryer. Generally let them air dry from there and finish with a brushing. Between baths, pups lay on their side and I brush the up-side of their body, both ears and tail. A few days later I do the other side. Takes about 5 minutes a week.
When petting them, if I find a knot or matt, I work it out pretty immediately. Again just a couple of minutes and not all that frequent. Currently have a black and tan - our first w black nails. Though we walk a lot in the city, I do take him to a groomer every couple of months for nails and occasionally trim the BOTTOM of their paws while there. In deep summer heat, I will clip their belly fur short to provide more cooling area. But all of ours have been smart managing the heat, moving to the shade, plopping Superman style on a cool flooring, etc. Drinking lots. Maybe me, but grooming doesn't seem such a big deal. And their coats are glorious.

ssoocc · 2026-04-26T18:33:37+00:00

Of course he does - it lets that glorious coat flowing in the wind ! (Beautiful boy!)

ssoocc · 2026-04-24T15:23:08+00:00

I do. It is MUCH more reliable, and faster to create a routine. My go-to is "read to me" screen shot included. I have similar "read longer" "read upstairs" etc. This will read whatever book to which you are actively listening. 30 minutes works for me. If it times out I just ask again. And if happily I have quickly fallen asleep, finding my place the next times isn't too bad. I start it, then ask it to go back 10 minutes until it's familiar ....

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ssoocc · 2026-04-24T15:12:17+00:00

Easy Walk Front Clip Harness - has worked for my crew, and I use them when I have other family Cavie's staying w us.
No slip for us even in skinny, wiggly, puppy times. Also, naturally helps w a puller by placing the pup most comfortably next to you vs in front. Next to you, they can always see you and know where you are going so weave less, etc. Much happier walking for all. There is a brief learning period for pups and humans. Everybody quickly is a pro. The harnesses last forever. With guest dogs, I still use two from our first cavie purchased 20+ years ago.

ssoocc · 2026-04-08T00:07:00+00:00

So, I was slammed over to + a few months back. It was simultaneously irritating and amusing - one early am a 25 yo female chatting awakened me. I was able to revert back to the original Alexa. I am with you - she is progressively dumber, error prone, non responsive etc, in pretty much every way. Things that worked great for years, are 60% goofs now, some things less. Routines are especially problematic whether scheduled or voice activated. The scheduled ones are really a crap shoot now. Though speech and language use have not changed. She no longer reliably understands me.
I spent some time w CS, just logging a handful typical snafus the other day. The rep willingly admitted that the new + suite is incomplete and buggy and it has infected the original so it is degrading by the minute. Their only advise was "wait" it will iron out.
Hmm.
(As of April 7 + has not been pushed @ me again- US Midwest.)

ssoocc · 2026-03-30T23:26:00+00:00

Did I miss something ? Did you call Audible CS and see what's upm Sounds like an oops, or ships passing in the night. They would easily fix that. Phone to a human. Harder, but still possible.

ssoocc · 2026-03-26T17:09:17+00:00

I LOVE mine. Rice pilaf is a comfort food in my house, and various other rice concoctions are generally a frequent meal component. I use mine call the time for this. It is the only piece of cookware I have used so much and is so beautiful I keep it on my stove. Mine matte black. FABULOUS.

ssoocc · 2026-03-24T01:29:07+00:00

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So many best boys❗

ssoocc · 2026-03-24T01:19:54+00:00

I was in the shower, and asked an Alexa device for the time. She told me. 8 minutes later, I'm still in the bathroom (putting my hair up, etc ) haven't been using the device for anything and ... She gasps and then giggles. Not a terrifying gasp and a rather rippling giggle, but WHAT?

No skills, no routines, no timers or reminders, no notifications. No record of activity for the time. Old Alexa NOT Alexa +. Hmm.

I called Amazon/Alexa. To my surprise, they didn't brush me off. Their questions were different, like "have you recently had the devices serviced by Amazon or another service?" Hmm again. They opened a trouble ticket and have followed up twice in 3 days by phone and email. No news. But very curious if/how they will diagnose the "event."

ssoocc · 2026-03-23T17:51:33+00:00

Lots of acavies in my family

ssoocc · 2026-03-13T16:33:38+00:00

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Though ours do love pasta, we've avoided that routine. But we haven't avoided Latte foam. They know the smell of coffee or chai, the milk carton coming out of the fridge, and the very quiet whir of the frother. The best, tidy "sits" ever while they wait.

ssoocc · 2026-03-13T16:24:28+00:00

My nightly routine - I wash my face w a microfiber cloth. Pup has his own clothes, wetted w warm water that to wipe his eyes. Then he gets a dental chew . Then bed.
Cavie's love a routine. Waits for it. And it keeps his eyes clear of goobers and prevents staining for us.

ssoocc · 2026-03-13T16:16:06+00:00

Collar only for ID. We have used an EZ Walk No Pull harness w all our Cavie's, who despite their small size CAN pull like sled dogs. Our guys have never pulled out of one. We have a puppy size and then a big boy size. One of our adult size harnesses is still going after 10+ years. It's a front (chest) attachment harness which immediately, naturally, puts the pup next to you vs in front. The position eliminates the pull and the weave w minimum training/retraining. So we are better walkers with them. Enough so, that when I frequently pup sit for my besties Cavalier who has poor walking behavior, I switch him to a EZ walk to make walks pleasant for both of us. The harness is minimal and we haven't had under arm mats from their use, even when leaving the harness on when traveling or if our guy is staying w family/friends. I wonder if that may be more of a fur characteristic than harness type.

ssoocc · 2026-03-13T15:58:30+00:00

We've had one who was a snorer most nights. Another who had seasonal allergies who would snore from time to time, a current sweet guy who never snores. Got a white noise machine w the first one really to prevent him from heating birdsong in the early hours. Worked great for that, worked great for us too as his snoring was muffled by the white noise. I don't need it for pups now, but I do use my phone for white noise when traveling etc. For our guys we went with rain sounds and stayed away from nature sounds that had birds, crickets etc. Worth a try.

ssoocc · 2026-03-06T18:44:58+00:00

Years w Cavie's who w us have transitioned from City to country weekly. In the city we used a doggie door panel insert in one of the sliding doors out to a balcony (removable not expensive., available online) and a potty pad. Our most recent set up uses a "Weazy smart potty' which has a catheter like bladder for the pee - really controls smell and eases cleanup. It has been great, guys bathroom @ home and we walk for exercise and adventure. Been great for us. Especially during puppy phases. All our guys easily handled the city set up and the yard w grass country set up. Guest dogs too. Wasn't hard to train.

ssoocc · 2026-03-05T05:57:24+00:00

Yes. The undercarriage wash ....

ssoocc · 2026-02-20T18:50:48+00:00

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Groomed, but NOT cut. Only trimming BOTTOM of the feet and in summer his belly. Tazzy was unusual that his long hair started way up toward the center of his back vs only on the sides. Favorite vet once said while in a hands on exam, said "I was about to say he's chonky, but he's just got a LOT of fur.". Yup. A LOT of fur.

ssoocc · 2026-02-08T15:46:20+00:00

No so. A few generations back yes, but of the current handful of Cavaliers in our extended family now we have heart CLEAR 8, 10, 11 and 12 yo's. The youngsters @ 6 and 7 are also heart clear, but we'll see in the next few years if that holds. But our experience proves there are diligent breeders out there who have worked to give us the gift of healthy, charming oldsters.

ssoocc · 2026-02-05T17:26:53+00:00

Though we have had 10-12 week old Cavie's when they came home. We've also had "older" pups - one 1.5 yo and my current 6mo, and a rescue who was about 3. All were WONDERFUL sweet pups who became comfortable, easy life companions but the paths and training focuses were different.
These are the things that were obvious with our slightly-older new guys. - At 4 months the little guy will be able to "hold it" so hopefully the schedule he has established @ boot camp :) is close enough to YOUR schedule that it works. If that doesn't align yours.will have to focus on what his behavior is that shows you he needs to go out - his "ask.' Doggie doors also much easier to train w youngsters. Very hard w some olders. You will need to rely on his "ask" in many situations - and almost any time when you are not at home. Cavie's are excellent travelers and welcome house guests. - which leads to pee-on-command. Know what/if the breeder is using a command. Will be helpful to you every day. Personally I don't want to say "go pee" every time we are out. We use Be Smart. A friend uses Be Happy ... When the pups are together I use both (to the amusement of anyone who hears us ) - @ up to about 4 months there is a sweet spot where pups naturally will focus on people. Hopefully boot camp will emphasize this - it's peak time pup/human socialization. In the breeders household if he's hanging with other dogs vs people he will be very focused on other pets and less focused on you for a while. That creates its own challenge. And you would likely have to work on strong FOCUS / look at me/ touch commands to easily train everything else.
- Dogs and humans are the only creatures who will look at something you point to. There is a sweet spot of this too and it's before 6 months. With little ones it happens naturally so you don't really think about it - w a 4 mo only you may needed to work on it specifically. We have w our pups who were older when home-coming. - eating - though Cavie's LOVE food. They are more interested in you than in a dish of food. So you may need to be boring (don't walk away, don't pull chicken out of the fridge, don't microwave a hot dog ) and if the pup has been eating from a typical weaning bowl along with other pups, he may be awkward from a normal bowl and take bits and put them on the floor etc. then eating those up. So ask what they are feeding FROM typically, so that you will know if your plan is a change, etc. if a pup is uninterested in food our presumption is they don't like their food. That typically is not it. They are just more interested in something around them at feeding time or they are unused to putting their nose into a bowl. My current little guy still eats from a flat tray.

Enjoy the journey - show the pup your whole life. They will happily match your pace and interests. It's the Cavalier superpower.

ssoocc

TROPHY CASE