Radar is a sensitive soul, but he's also a brat and an asshat. I'm constantly having to get on his case about doing the right thing, but I really think he appreciates me being firm and demanding. He's always so happy whenever we do extra obedience because he tried to snatch the tug out of my hand and yank me around instead of healing. I don't give him an inch because he'll completely blow me off. I love it!

Clark is a soft man with dogs, and really enjoys the word 'please'. Shelby is a soft dog, and really appreciates his kindness to her. They're a great team, and it makes me tear up just thinking about how happy they make each other. She likes to curl up in her chair and stare at him with a softness in her eyes and her tail thumps whenever he looks over at her.

Radar likes to pick on Clark just like he likes to pick on Shelby. Just like Shelby, Clark lets him get away with it until he explodes and shouts. Both he and Shelby don't seem to understand that a firm hand from the start will make him back off a lot faster. I often have to step in and protect Shelby from Radar's bullying. They play great together, but it's pretty obvious he's ignoring her cues when she wants him to leave her alone.

Today Radar bit Clark in the nuts because he had a leash in his hand and Radar wanted it. He was trying to snatch the leash but since they were both running he ended up nailing him in the crotch instead.

We run every morning, this is our routine, and Radar is usually well behaved and typically runs around in circles with Shelby and they do three times the work we do.

This is obviously an issue of lack of self control. Radar wants to do something, and doesn't see why he can't, so he does it. I've been redirecting him to appropriate things like sitting for petting, and then inviting Clark over to pet him calmly. I love marker training, and Radar does, too. He's finally learned a calming signal, and can relax somewhat on command. It's only going to get easier! Do I need to just put him on lock down completely and control every movement he makes around Clark? I've given Clark the NILIF links, but he's just not good at sticking to those kinds of things. It's up to me to keep my asshat dog from terrorizing my man.

Does it make me a bad person if I had to fight back laughing because the dog was so happy to have his 'win' and brought it straight to me to show off?

I'm really starting to think some bite work and higher level obedience would do him better than agility training, right now. Giving him an outlet for something he seems to really want seems like a good idea, instead of denying him. I really didn't want to do it with my first 'real' mal, but if it's best for the dog, I need to get over my laziness.

How old is Radar now? And what training/exercise/stimulation is he getting beyond your run in the morning? In other words, what does his day look like.

I also have a hubby who doesn't follow "protocol" the way I do...it took a long time for Austin to see that if Vigo wasn't presented with clear boundaries from everyone lives in the house, he wasn't going to be a pleasure to live with. Helps that Vigo is a bum trapped in a working line GSDs body

Personally I think that the bite in the nuts will do wonders for making hubby see things your way.

I'm really hoping you're right, Tanith. Radar is 8.5 months old.

In the mornings I wake up around 5 am, take him out to potty, go to the barn and after I clean the horse stall I take him on the strip of land by the canal and walk about 3 miles while Radar swims, runs, plays fetch, and does some obedience drills.
Then we go home and he eats breakfast and rests for about an hour. He's out of the kennel after that for the next 3 hours. We go for a 20 minute run and he plays with the other dogs in that time, sometimes with me, sometimes I'll do obedience drills for tugs and fetch. Sometimes if I have the time I'll take him out to the dog park on the property and play flirt pole with him until his ears are bright red.

At lunch I have an hour, and 30 minutes of it is spent on him doing flirt pole work, obedience for tug, going to the levee on property and letting him swim in the canal.

After work he's out of his kennel between 6-10 and all of the dogs get at least a two hour walk, Radar gets more obedience drills, more flirt pole, more play time with the other dogs. He's usually very quiet by bed time, which is how you can tell that he's actually tired. Sometimes he acts tired, but he'll whine constantly, and it means he's still go some more energy to burn.

I'd think about adding some tracking - or item search type stuff to that list, you're doing a lot of exciting stuff with him but less things that will help to teach him self-control and focus.

I've been in the same sort of position as you in the past with a high drive pup and people at home who aren't firm enough.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

Sometimes he acts tired, but he'll whine constantly, and it means he's still go some more energy to burn.

I'm wondering if this could also mean that he is a bit over tired? Like a toddler that is too wound up? I have no experience with Mals, but I know that human youngsters get keyed up and whiny when they need a nap!

Other than I fully agree with Tanith on the tracking. It sounds like he's got enough physical exercise but not enough mental. Adding in more and more physical exercise just builds endurance, mental exercise makes them think and tires that active brain out a bit.

I agree with the mental vs. physical exercise. You mentioned agility. I know he is a pup, but have you started any ground work with him. I have found agility to be the perfect outlet for Kira, who is my high drive girl. Thinking/mental exercise combined with physical exercise...works magic! I could run her all day long and she would still be ready to go...1/2 hour of agility and she's a cool cucumber

I'll start adding more mental stim. Thanks for the tips!

I remember my first dog trainer telling me that 10 minutes of tracking equals about a 2 hour walk in terms of mental tiredness.

I've been using hot dogs crushed under my feet to lay a track, but can anyone point me in the direction of a good video on LB or web articles? I see LB has a video on training the track layer but even at $15 I'm nervous to buy something I've never seen before. I wish they had previews!