Hello all! I'm new to the forums but I have been using Ed's website as a resource for about a year.

I'm just curious about the application of the "no pet" rule. It makes perfect sense to me the way Ed uses it for his highly trained and competing dogs. My hsband and I have two companion dogs, an Ibizan Hound and a Chow/Lab mix. We don't plan on having them do Schutzhund or obedience trials but we want them to be well-adjusted and balanced. Our Ibizan, Cito has been with us since about 3 months. We adopted Loki, the Chow/Lab at about 10 months of age.

We walk them a minimum of 3 miles a day, they are on a balanced raw diet and have regular play times with us. We're also working with Ed's "Basic Obedience" DVD. My concern is regarding how to acheive a balance for them as companion dogs. Cito is definitely more my dog than my husbands and Loki is definitely his dog. We've been talking about the no-play rule with other family members, the no pet rule and how we should or shouldn't implement these rules. Cito lure courses competetively and Loki needs a job. He carries a back-pack when we go hiking and we've been looking into agility for him...I guess what I'm really asking is the application of these rules within the bounds of a situation where sometimes I'm home and my husband is not (he travels for work) and what happens when Loki does something unacceptable? How do I correct if I'm not his primary? How to handle a situation where I need to or my husband needs to correct both dogs? Also, Cito LOVES people and Loki could care less about pretty much anyone except my husband and me.
I know this must look a little convoluted but I guess I'm just trying to get an idea of how to balance these specific dogs within these boundaries.

Greetings, and welcome to the board! Speaking strictly for my situation, here's how we apply the "no pet" at home.

We've two dogs: Uga (Maltese and first dog) is decidedly my wife's dog, and I'm thrilled with that. Murphy (GSD working-terror!) is my dog. When we are at home, my wife plays and interacts with both dogs, but will do more/longer with Uga. Quite the opposite of me. We both have made ourselves the center of the particular dog's universe.

Now, when we are out in public with Murphy (either by himself or with Uga), we simply tell people that want to pet Murphy that "He's in training, and please don't pet him." If they ask "Training for what," we simply say "police style work." A bit easier than explaining what Schutzhund is (What?!? You mean you TRAIN your dog to bite?!??!) and not that far from the truth.

As for the dog's attitude to other people, you just want to be sure that they are stable around strangers. You don't want fearful or submissive reactions. You describe Loki as "could care less..." In my opinion, that's JUST what you want!

Luck!
-J

Hi J ! Thanks so much for your reply:-) I like the idea of interacting with both dogs but making a distinction between time/frequency with each dog. It doesn't bother me at all that Loki doesn't really care about anyone other than my husband and me but what I do wonder about is reining in some Cito's enthusiasm. By the way, Cito turned 2 in July and Loki is about 3. So how do you and your wife handle corrections if one or the other of you is not around?

http://www.leerburg.com/podcasts/WhoCanPetMyPuppy.mp3

Dvijapatni, This link will explain in detail what you do in the circumstances you inquired about.

Thanks for your reply Robbin,
I've heard that podcast before but I went and listened to it again. I liked it and it answered some questions but I'm still unsure about the correction situation. I understand that one doesn't "train" any dog but but your own but what happens if Loki does something that he "KNOWS" he shouldn't do...like countersurfing for instance. If I catch him and my husband is not there...what then? Would a correction be considered "training"? My inclication would be to say yes. I think it goes outside the bounds of handling. If I don't correct him though, the transgression goes uncorrected thus creating confusion I would think..Am I off or just misunderstanding the distinctions?

You may not be primary boss, but you're still boss of the dog and he has to obey you, even though you're the secondary boss so to speak. It doesn't take long for a dog to figure out that if primary isn't there, they can get away with anything since secondary boss doesn't discipline. Not a good situation, so you're correct in not letting the transgression go.

I agree with Sandy, 100%! If you were in a real "pack" situation your husband might serve as the pack leader of 'his' dog but when he isn't around, you as his 'alpha' female would serve as boss when he isn't around. If your dog committs a crime that wouldn't be tolerated by the alpha then it certainly shouldn't be tolerated by you. The dogs need to know that you are boss when hubby is away and vice versa for your dog and your hubby. There is still rank in the pack order and despite his or her dogs, rank is rank. In my home we have a saying...RHIP, my kids know this well because it works for sitting in the car, having the last doughnut, etc. "RHIP" Rank has its privilege! YOU make the decision if a correction is warranted when hubby is away and likewise. That is my humble opinion, although others on the board may differ. I often worry about being the one that my dog takes orders from all the time. When I am around my dog doesn't listen to a single word my husband says, he has to say, "Come tell Levi to get in the car" or whatever the case may be and I worry that when I am not around he might not adhere to my hubby's instructions. So far it hasn't happened but I worry that in a serious situation that it just might.

Hi Robbin,
You just voiced much of the concern that my husband and I have discussed. Although we both want our individual dogs to understand each of us as their "primary boss" we also want each dog to listen to both of us. I think perhaps we'll try and balance it...when both of us are home whomever sees a transgression etc. can correct it and if only one of us is home than we'll each correct as need be. It can be confusing! I just want whatever we choose to be as consistent as possible so the dogs don't get confused or start NOT responding because they're unsure or have some lack of consistancy.

I'm guessing that if the primary pack leader does all the feeding (except when absolutely neccessary) all the training, all the playing, that the dogs will get it. Hmmm, I listen to this person, except when they aren't around, then pack order dictates I listen to this person" At least, we hope it works this way. Although, I have to ask myself, in a pack of dogs/wolves doesn't the female (on occasion) make her feelings known (quite clearly) even if the alpha male is around? I know my female does! LOL!

*grin* how very very true! Although we have two boys they know when mama isn't happy ;-)