Willie, there you are! I was visualizing care bears on page three!

 Quote: barbara schuler

We could just order magic wands for everyone so we could simply "swish" all our problems away!

But if the wand doesn't work, we still have to train the dog.

Nancy,

Can I ask how old you are? Do you have any physical conditions that would make it hard for you to train this dog from the problems you are discribing? In this economy, would it be a hardship to get a trainer if you physically or mentially cannot correct him? If you don't want to say, that is fine.

I am not trying to be rude, I think that this is confussing to most people on this site who have the expertise in trying to help you. It sounds like the problem may be with you, not to say you are a bad person, but maybe you have some personal body or money issues that you don't want to say.

I am not a dog trainer or an experience dog person, but even if it is a phyical problem, it sounds like the dog doesn't repect you or has lost respect for you. I come here for advise because I would do anything for my dog, she is my responsibility and I love her. She is so smart and active, I have to push myself at times to go out and work with her. My body is getting older and I can feel it. If she has a bad behavior problem, I am on this site to see what the hell "I am" doing wrong. Us humans can communicate and have more analitical mental abilities than animals to figure out and correct problems.

I hope your dog is ok physically. Even when my last GSD, at 15 years old, couldn't hardly walk and my husband would have to phyically take her outside and help her go potty, I would take her for walks in a red -wagon and rubbed her body every night. When she passed away, I knew I did everything I could for her to have a good, happy and loving 15 years of life.

Only you can decide what is best for your dog, even if something is phyically wrong with him. In the end, you are the only one who has to live with your decision. Do what is best for him.

Best, Anna

Tammy,
I suppose that thyroid problems are more common in an old dog than in a young one, but anything is possible, even showing only one symptom.
I got a kick out of your narrative about your parents, and they are so lucky to have you to advise them as they surely were asking for major problems if they let things continue the way they were.
I started Kobe in boot camp today and he was sharp, eager and on the ball with every command I gave him. He went to his bed, stayed until I called him to come, then ran to me and sat in front, then came around to heel position, sat. He hesitated when told to go to his bed a few times, but kept his eyes on me until I guided him back to the bed, lured him in with hotdog, he sat, then laid down. We did that over and over and he got bit of hotdog after every point of obedience and he thought that was an easy way to get something he loves. The amazing thing was, shortly after we stopped the work a man came to pick up DH to go fishing, and though he did not come to the house, left his truck in the road, this kind of thing always inspired Kobe to show his butt with wild barking, just the appearance of a person near his property sets him off. BUT the front door was open and Kobe just looked out through the screen, not a sound, just stared at the man until his Daddy left! I almost gave this boy a whole package of hotdogs, but gave him tons of praise instead. Just now I heard one or two barks, went to the door, the mailman was at the end of the driveway putting mail in our box. No more barking, just watching closely, I said Its OK, its OK. Then said Go to your bed, he kept watching the mail truck until it left, then he went to his bed and sat down. I did not have hotdogs in my hand so he did'nt obey for the treat. I cannot believe that one session of refreshing obedience caused him to change so drastically, but how could it be just a coincidence?
Whatever it was it was a big motivation to keep working with him, and maybe one of these days he will not act like he wants to kill the UPS man. Many posters have said get a trainer, get a trainer, and that might be good advice for someone who does not know how to train their dog, but I have put alot of training on this dog, with no help except Leerburg videos and articles, he passed the Good Citizenship test with perfect score and continued to obey commands everyday that you expect of your dog. The only flaw in the ointment was my inability to train him out of King Kong act at the door then recently his over night change from friendly and loveable to all people to what looked like dangerous aggression. And as you know several critics on the forum have tried to make me look like an idiot for being concerned about these 3 incidents, but I know my dog and I also know that this kind of behavior can escalate into something much worse. And some have said The Dog Comes First and I am not qualified to own a dog, but that strikes me as near insanity when you realize how fast a tragedy can happen that can never be undone. In spite of the judgmental attitude of some on the forum I have been helped by the suggestions of others who cared enough to be civil and understanding and I now resolve to go back to daily training which was probably needed to reinforce his awareness of my leadership. His walks will become not only going to potty and exercise but teaching him to focus on me in all situations and being able to ignore distractions that might set off aggression, like other dogs, cats and of course people.

Whether this will be enough to reverse the unwarranted aggression I can only hope but its back to the drawing board for the two of us.
Sorry this is so long but it was kind of like once you start you can't stop, and I have seen that you are one of the special people who won't write insulting holier- than- I posts.
Happy Easter,
Nancy

 Quote: nancy black

... Many posters have said get a trainer, get a trainer, and that might be good advice for someone who does not know how to train their dog, but I have put alot of training on this dog, ... And as you know several critics on the forum have tried to make me look like an idiot for being concerned about these 3 incidents, but I know my dog and I also know that this kind of behavior can escalate into something much worse.

Nancy, "get a trainer" was triggered by your statement that the dog's actions had exceeded your training ability.

Also by the failure to reply to any of three separate posts asking if we could help you with reactivity-desensitizing and pack work.

Comments about his behavior needing to be addressed with consistent work on your part is not "trying to make you look like an idiot for being concerned."



I am thrilled if you have decided that you can indeed work with the dog, but mis-characterizing frustrated posts when you were talking about rehoming the dog (not training him) does no one, including yourself, any good.

So let's end that.

"I now resolve to go back to daily training which was probably needed to reinforce his awareness of my leadership" is exactly what has been emphasized over and over in this thread. With professional help, when you indicated having reached the end of your personal training ability.

I'd like to ask one more time: Do you know anything about desensitizing? I am asking this not because I love to re-type but because that, combined with obedience and pack structure work, are what I would consider to be major focuses in this situation.

And there is lots of help available here on all three.

Happy Easter Nancy,

I am glad things are under getting under control. I hope you didn't think I was being insulting, I just didn't understand what was going on with you and Kobe. I totally understand how upseting it can be when your dog starts getting aggressive and how worry some it can be, especially if something happened and they took the dog away. I am glad you took the route of daily training and it is working for both of you.

Anna

Anna

Ok Kelly, I could learn to use a DD collar but since I have an e collar I will try to make that work in extreme situations.
Unfortunately Kobe does not seem to feel the bark collar, but maybe I should try it again. It seems that when he is in a frenzy over the sound of a big truck he doesn't feel the bark collar or E collar, so the only correction that sounded like it might work was lifting him off his feet, which obviously would make an impression that nothing else does.
It turns out that Betty is about 5 hours away from us, so not practical to go up for a weekly training session. I had the idea of going up in our motor home and we could stay in the area for a few days as opposed to a 10 hour one day trip. Still don't know how this will work out, but it sounds good to me and Kobe as we love to go camping and I can sure use some hands on guidance in whatever methods might help in avoiding any more scary confrontations with people so I don't have to be paranoid that it will happen again.
Happy Easter to you and your pack,
Nancy

Connie, I've been following this post but have nothing to offer :-( Would you/could you explain to me in a single post what desensitizing would mean in this instance? Although I haven't encountered the problem(s) Nancy has described, I always want to be prepared.... ya never know what may come up.

And there are a few little things I'd like to desensitize Harvey to -- one being my 6yo "screamer" young son... every time he screams in excitement, fear, being chased by big brother or just for the he** of it, Harvey goes nuts.

Thanks!

 Quote: Nancy Black

... It seems that when he is in a frenzy over the sound of a big truck he doesn't feel the bark collar or E collar, so the only correction that sounded like it might work was lifting him off his feet, which obviously would make an impression that nothing else does.

This is a desensitizing issue. It's not a tool issue.