Quote: connie sutherland

As far as the prong on the Boxer goes, I'm with Michael. "When did you guys get Fluffy a prong?"

A prong and a bag o' marker rewards are not mutually exclusive, as Mara pointed out.

Good way to handle it...

And yes, prongs and food rewards are the norm at our house...

A Boxer named Fluffy??????

I'm sure that that the prong and marker training can go together, but when I see the owner she's not using it. Its very obvious.

The dog is a seven month old boxer, I'm sure you guys can imagine what it looks like when he's on a buckle collar!

I like Michaels idea, too. That's what I'm going with.

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

The dog is a seven month old boxer, I'm sure you guys can imagine what it looks like when he's on a buckle collar!

I picture 4 gangly legs flailing wildly from a goofy puppy wiggling its butt.

That sums up every boxer puppy I've ever seen.

 Quote: steve strom

A Boxer named Fluffy??????

Ross named him.

I think Fluffy would be an awesome boxer name! I can see it now. A big, mack truck of a male with a serious ear crop. ....

"Fluffy, come!"

"Lots of people must put their dogs in the hands of others, whether it be the vet or the dog-walker who relieves the dog during the workday. I want all the feedback on those other hands that I can get, even after I've done my own exhaustive research (and observation)." end quote

All that not withstanding Connie, the fact remains; if one is willing to or has to put one's dog in the hand of another, you've lost your voice. 'They' WILL handle the dog how they see fit. Even if it DOES 'happen' to be within the parameters you've set, it will never be the same and one must take that compromise along with whatever benefits are perceived or realized.

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

Yeah. I get what you're saying Randy.

When I found out that the dog walker was letting Tasha off leash I was so mad that I had to wait a day, and then have a glass of wine before I called him up to fire his ass.

On his interview I told him flat out "You are never, under any circumstances, to have this dog off leash."

I explained to him a little about what it means to have a young dog with drive, and that she could potentialy get in a lot of trouble. I hired him specificaly because he would take her one on one, on leash, and I paid him more for it.

I was furious!

On one occasion he said something that made me suspect he was doing it, he talked about one of Tashas freeze, crouch, stalk play moves. I know exactly what kind of full on charge that move leads up to, and that she would pull your arm right out of its socket if she did it while you were hanging on. I asked him straight out and he lied.

So I asked my neighbor who went with him one time. She hesitated and covered for him. I asked her again and she fessed up.

My experience is different, but if the walker that works for this couple is putting a prong on their dog without their knowledge is it any better?

 Quote: randy allen

'They' WILL handle the dog how they see fit. Even if it DOES 'happen' to be within the parameters you've set, it will never be the same and one must take that compromise along with whatever benefits are perceived or realized.

Yup. Too true.

All the more reason to do all the research, checking, reference-calling, and even occasionally sneaking around after (Who, me? Me ask a neighbor to observe my dogs passing by on their walks when I'm on the other coast? :grin that we can do with a new service.

The "other hands" aren't my hands, but I can do a whole lot of checking on them.



PS
I am just relieved (beyond relieved!) that I am not still raising little humans who I must leave in other hands while I work --- and grateful that I was lucky enough to have my own mother provide those other hands.



eta
I am so fortunate to have had the same bonded small dog-walking/sitting folks I have had for years.

One downside: I suspect that at least one of my dogs likes them better than me. The guy who sleeps over when I have to travel -- one of my dogs would definitely go live with him with nothing more than a casual wave "bye-bye" to me on his way out.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/22/2011 03:48 PM)
Edit reason: eta

I'm sure it'd only be a honeymoon period before the dog would start missing ya Connie.