Lois,

Check your email on Arizona.edu website. I sent you an email. I highly suggest you to consider going to that dog class tonight I'm talking. I'm sure it will resolve "issues" between your two dogs.

Mrs. Longobardi
Where in AZ are you? I'm in Mesa. Petsmart training is pretty generic and the quality of the instructors is pretty varied. They also have to be politically correct.

Thank you Lindsay. I am unable to make it this evening, but I have sent them an email.

Hello Red - We are in Tucson and I know Petsmart isn't the best, but it's all I could afford.

 Quote:

Hello Red - We are in Tucson and I know Petsmart isn't the best, but it's all I could afford.

Ed Frawley's videos are cheaper and about ten million times better than the average group class, IMO.

I have given away the Basic Obedience video to clients who needed it. The Podcasts, too, are short, well-done, and filled with pointers.

No matter which one you watch (and you'll watch them over and over, I believe), the atmosphere -- the tenor -- is always clearly that of good pack leadership. But if I were in your position, I think I would start with the two below and listen to the podcasts and read all the articles John Aiton linked you with, while waiting for the order. I think just taking these first steps will help you to clarify your thinking on this situation.

http://www.leerburg.com/301.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/dogtrainingpodcasts.htm

If you are not ready to make this kind of commitment, or don't feel that you have the will to deal with a dominant-aggressive dog along with a second dog, I believe the puppy's best interests would be served by re-homing.

JMO, and I sympathize. Like many forum members, my first thought is for the dog. I believe your puppy is not in a good situation.

Connie, I do agree; however, this place I was trying to tell Lois about is at park. The class is pretty large and affordable. Much cheaper than Petsmart and 10 weeks for 75 dollars include collar/prong and leather leash. I took that class with one of my dogs. They had about 15 different dogs/people there. One dog was extremely aggressive with dogs and after 10 weeks. He changed a lot and was voted to be the most improvement in the class.

Lois, if I were you, I would serious consider going to this class. It will worth your money and attendance. I think you will make a big mistake to miss the opening today. The instuctor is going to give out a lecture about dog behaviors and what we will learn in the class. No dogs are allowed to come on the first week of class.

If you miss tonight, you will have to wait until Aug for the open enrollment. They are pretty strict and required everyone to attend the first week of class.

Lois,

Red is right....no-one is trying to be mean, just trying to get straight to the point to help you deal with this in the best way you can.

I have a huge problem and dilema with my own dog (1 year old GSD) who is VERY aggressive.

I've asked questions on here about how to deal with him and gotten a lot of good advice, which I've been working on.

Ed said to me that my dog had a screw loose. At the time I said "yea right, how can he know without seeing the dog". But he was right, the dog has bitten for the second time, even after all the work I've done, and now he's on his last chance.

Now the second bite was understandable but not acceptable as the dog was confronted with a stranger walking through a door in my mothers house (the dogs second home as he's there all day) who I didn't know was there and I was just coming into the room (with no-one expect the dog and this guy in there) as it happened so the dog done what I would expect him to do in that situation, and under different circumstances would praise him for (burglar etc.). Full mouth bite broken skin etc. but the guy was OK overall and was fine about the whole thing.

I've just had to face up to the fact that if I can't trust the dog in most normal situations then the dog is NOT for me and he'll have to go! I'm willing to work at it for a few more months and work harder as I'm clearly not doing enough but after that......

It would kill me to have to lose this dog but if it comes to it, it WILL be for the right reasons AND for the best.

HTH

John