Takes all the fun out of having a dog. Literally. The arousal is ridiculous.

Going to be a year at the end of the month. Hello teenage stage and crocodile rolls. Tho I will say, a 180 when a car passes really cuts on arousal.

My rant of the night... lol

 Quote: Becky Niedbalka

Takes all the fun out of having a dog. Literally. The arousal is ridiculous.

Going to be a year at the end of the month. Hello teenage stage and crocodile rolls. Tho I will say, a 180 when a car passes really cuts on arousal.

My rant of the night... lol

LOL, I wudda sent that bratty pup back to his breeder L-O-N-G ago, cuz in my 70's now, my motto has become: Life's Just TOO DAMN SHORT for a daily Rasher-o-Shite -- I want peace & comfort in my OLD AGE and have No Patience for unnecessary "pain & rage" But ya know, that's just the Cranky Ol' Codger in me talking...

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Becky Niedbalka

Takes all the fun out of having a dog. Literally. The arousal is ridiculous.

Going to be a year at the end of the month. Hello teenage stage and crocodile rolls. Tho I will say, a 180 when a car passes really cuts on arousal.

My rant of the night... lol

LOL, I wudda sent that bratty pup back to his breeder L-O-N-G ago, cuz in my 70's now, my motto has become: Life's Just TOO DAMN SHORT for a daily Rasher-o-Shite -- I want peace & comfort in my OLD AGE and have No Patience for unnecessary "pain & rage" But ya know, that's just the Cranky Ol' Codger in
me talking...

I feel like that about my job and I've got another 11 years before I can retire I may end up in the local looney bin before then! But I digress ....

Becky, my male boerboel was a giant baby as a youngster and would literally throw himself on the floor like a toddler having a tantrum if I told him "NO!" and he was hard work, but I'd have him and Sugar back in a heartbeat and do it all again if I could, I'd do a lot differently, but if you stick with the discipline and the training, in a few years you might have a delightful dog!

That's all I've got in the way of wisdom, so hopefully some one other than me will offer you more than an anecdote to help you out

Good afternoon there Becky,

Yeah. A dog comes in a lot of flavors. Some are warm and cuddly, and some are miserable AHs.

I intentionally got one of the miserable AHs a few days before he was supposed to get a needle. And the first year was unpleasant, and extremely so on occasion. The second was better but still a caution. The third smoothed out, and now he is my shadow and demonstrates a level of loyalty I never would have expected in the first month of his being here.

He still is not a mutt I would allow around children or other than family adults. He apparently is uninterested in new best friends.

That noted, I am glad I didn't give up on him. We had a few come to the Lord meetings of the mind, and a lot of cold shoulder attitude. And gradually, we grew together, on my terms. He is curled up next to the couch beside me.

I think the biggest reward comes after the hardest work. And I am disinclined to give up, by temperament or maybe by genetic predisposition.

In truth, what works for me with the dog is constancy. A schedule which has the effect of conditioning a dog to my timing and rules. A training process that looks for consistency in approach, to minimize confusion. Lots of random intermediate training cues using the basic commands. Lots of acting my approval or disapproval to get the dog to read me off command, and to emphasize my feelings of the dog's behavior.

I believe in formal and informal training. Formal training periods with objectives and milestones of performance. Informal training all the time in the form of random commands all throughout the day to reinforce basic command compliance, and to remind the dog of its relationship with me, to reinforce our relationship.

I don't look for the dog to be my pal when it first arrives but see it as a growing and bonding exercise where trust gradually is the glue of the relationship.

There were times when I fleetingly questioned whether or not it was my wisest move to save the mutt from the needle. I no longer question the decision. We have grown together in the journey. I was reminded of how important adherence to rules and structure are in training, and the mutt figured out that structured life was really good and well rewarded if the rules were followed.

This long epistle is by way of congratulating you for staying the course, and an encouragement to keep at it. The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train.

Be consistent, patient, confident, fair, etc. Just persevere.

More a rah, rah moment. Not really worth two cents.

Great words from all! I don't plan on giving up, but have made clear firm rules, and have backed Jim out if his rearing, as Jim's inconsistency made Harry worse towards me.
Everything he does includes training, and he is not allowed to be touched by anyone but me for now. The cold shoulder is what he is getting, no talk and no touch unless on my terms.
The rant was due to the added stress of 2 wolves, trying to lure him , the female comes around at night. Both crossed through last night. Heis leashed to me at all times, but his listening skills suck.
All commands have to be combined with remote collar right now, or he completely ignores you. A bomb could go off, and he wouldn't listen. But we know he isn't deaf, as he hears my tummy grumble, and I have been sometimes whispering commands, after getting his attention.
Sean O Shea refers to these dogs as AH's too.
At least he gives me a reason to get going everyday, lol. But I could do without the leash dramatics that reared their ugly head again. Muzzle stops the leash biting, but the flailing as I keep walking sure gives me a workout!
Need coffee now.
Thankfully, we got snow. Much easier to track predators, and keeps me cool during captain drama's I don't want to feel my collars temper tantrum. Lol

I have thought about it most of the summer Candi, but I stuck to my guns. Persistence won on the grooming table, not a bit if fight there anymore.
Baby steps, and plenty of wine lol.

Tracey, I am going to remember that. He does have his moments, when it is just him and I. Thankfully he is very respectful of the kids, and their space. I have made it very clear to him, to respect them. His main issues are authority. That's why I have all the problems. But he never gains on any fit, and they are not lasting as long.
Keeping my chin up!

 Quote: Mike Arnold

Good afternoon there Becky,

Yeah. A dog comes in a lot of flavors. Some are warm and cuddly, and some are miserable AHs.

I intentionally got one of the miserable AHs a few days before he was supposed to get a needle. And the first year was unpleasant, and extremely so on occasion. The second was better but still a caution. The third smoothed out, and now he is my shadow and demonstrates a level of loyalty I never would have expected in the first month of his being here.

He still is not a mutt I would allow around children or other than family adults. He apparently is uninterested in new best friends.

That noted, I am glad I didn't give up on him. We had a few come to the Lord meetings of the mind, and a lot of cold shoulder attitude. And gradually, we grew together, on my terms. He is curled up next to the couch beside me.

I think the biggest reward comes after the hardest work. And I am disinclined to give up, by temperament or maybe by genetic predisposition.

In truth, what works for me with the dog is constancy. A schedule which has the effect of conditioning a dog to my timing and rules. A training process that looks for consistency in approach, to minimize confusion. Lots of random intermediate training cues using the basic commands. Lots of acting my approval or disapproval to get the dog to read me off command, and to emphasize my feelings of the dog's behavior.

I believe in formal and informal training. Formal training periods with objectives and milestones of performance. Informal training all the time in the form of random commands all throughout the day to reinforce basic command compliance, and to remind the dog of its relationship with me, to reinforce our relationship.

I don't look for the dog to be my pal when it first arrives but see it as a growing and bonding exercise where trust gradually is the glue of the relationship.

There were times when I fleetingly questioned whether or not it was my wisest move to save the mutt from the needle. I no longer question the decision. We have grown together in the journey. I was reminded of how important adherence to rules and structure are in training, and the mutt figured out that structured life was really good and well rewarded if the rules were followed.

This long epistle is by way of congratulating you for staying the course, and an encouragement to keep at it. The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train.

Be consistent, patient, confident, fair, etc. Just persevere.

More a rah, rah moment. Not really worth two cents.

I sometimes wish we had a "Like" button. Mike is being too modest with his last couple of sentences. His advice is worth waaay more than two cents, and I always look forward to hearing from him.

I wholeheartedly Agree Cheri. I certainly will be re reading anytime I get frustrated!

Ditto 100% !

Thanks all.
Wolves are back.cut into the house. Put up security cameras.