Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: diane joslin

Carol,
Yes, that is the posting I was referring to. How do you insert the link like you did?

When you are on the web page that you want to link, you copy and paste the address that's in the window in the toolbar up at the top of the screen. You see up in the toolbar as you are reading this, there's an address showing, that starts with http://www., etc." Copy that address and then paste it into your message where you want it to appear.

Then you can "preview" your post and click on that URL just to make sure you did it right.

Thanks Connie!!!! I have been rather preoccupied as of late. I thought I would get a break after the seminar, however, my private trainer had an emergency back home and had to fly back so I have 12 YES 12 dogs to care for right now.....hee hee
And you all thought I was nuts with 6 of my own.

I should post pics of them. Talk about a dominant crew.....I should just video tape me wrestling on the ground with the big female GSD....what a sight that is!!! However, she now enters her crate and sits for her food without trying to fight with me (and bite me). The wounds will heal, however my shoulder is shot. HAHA

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Then I got one of his favorite liver treats and threw it into the crate. He raced in to get it and I shut the door to the crate.

Know that was not the best possible situation,

Actually I think that is a better solution than forcing the issue. Why create conflict with the dog when it can be resolved peacefully? There is a time to fix problems with pressure and there is a time when simply showing the dog the behavior you want and repeating it over and over is all that you need to do. Sometimes you simply don't need to fight the dog.

As for doggy teens, don't be too hard on a young dog unless it is getting out of hand, but just assume that your wonderful ball of fluff is gonna be quirky and unreliable till around 2. Simply don't allow the dog to be in a situation where he can make mistakes. If you say sit and he decides not to sit, have him on a line and help him sit. You don't have to correct him for not doing it, but simply guide him to the correct response and reward with something tangible, food/ball etc. Make a dog repeat it enough times and by the time he's 2 he'll have forgotten that not sitting is even an option. If you know he's gonna ignore you and you can't guide him to the correct response then don't give him the command. If he doesn't know the command 110% without a doubt he shouldn't be corrected anyway. Often people assume the dog knows the command because he usually listens to it, but dogs are also very situation sensitive (as I call it). For example, a dog that knows sit is used to always sitting near the handler, but then when the dog is 20ft away he doesn't understand that calling sit requires him to sit, because normally he only does that near you. You also see alot of times a dog will come to the handler and then sit, rather than plopping his butt down right where he is.

Mike,
When I saw your quote of my previous post I thought, "Uh oh, I know that I screwed up by rewarding Nickie with a treat . . . and you will tell me so!"

Actually, that is exactly my situation - "why create conflict with the dog when it can be resolved peacefully" This morning I put him on his drag line the moment he came out of his crate. Then he sat and watched while I prepared his food; when I walked over to the crate with the food, he sat nicely next to me and got in the crate when I told him to (after I removed the drag line) and closed the crate door.

Much more peaceful start to my day - I sure don't like conflicts with my dog (or anyone else for that matter) at 4:30AM!

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If you say sit and he decides not to sit, have him on a line and help him sit. You don't have to correct him for not doing it, but simply guide him to the correct response and reward with something tangible, food/ball etc. Make a dog repeat it enough times and by the time he's 2 he'll have forgotten that not sitting is even an option. If you know he's gonna ignore you and you can't guide him to the correct response then don't give him the command.

This is EXCELLENT advice IMHO.

 Quote: Jennifer Coulter

 Quote:

If you say sit and he decides not to sit, have him on a line and help him sit. You don't have to correct him for not doing it, but simply guide him to the correct response and reward with something tangible, food/ball etc. Make a dog repeat it enough times and by the time he's 2 he'll have forgotten that not sitting is even an option. If you know he's gonna ignore you and you can't guide him to the correct response then don't give him the command.

This is EXCELLENT advice IMHO.

Sara, I just wanted to add that if your experience with the adolescent phase includes aggression, corrections ARE in order, IMO. That's not something you want the dog to get away with.

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Sara, I just wanted to add that if your experience with the adolescent phase includes aggression, corrections ARE in order, IMO. That's not something you want the dog to get away with.

I agree. I was more refering to staying consistant through the adolecent period to avoid inadvertantly teaching a dog he can ignore commands. Aggression is something totally different.

Cheers,

Yeah, I knew what you were talking about Jennifer! Sometimes people skim posts and I wanted to make sure there was a clear distinction for the OP!

Cheers right back atcha!

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don't be too hard on a young dog unless it is getting out of hand

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

 Quote:

don't be too hard on a young dog unless it is getting out of hand

I know you already mentioned it, Mike. As I said, sometimes people can skim posts and I know the OP was concerned about aggression so I just wanted it to be highlighted for her.