Quote: steph marshall

Thank you Amber,
I was feeling like a complete failure as a dog trainer until your post.

Steph,
You are absolutely not allowed to feel like a failure here. We have all been there and some of us are still there or will always be there. (If your like me and keep taking on dogs that is, hee hee)
Like Amber said, we say what we feel and even though it comes across like negativity, it really isn't. You are getting honest opinions and good advice and help.

I have been on the recieving end of some posts of mine, but it gets worked out. That is the "joy of web boards", you cannot hear the tone in which we are typing so it is all in the way that it is read.
Geesh, I hope that made sense to more than just me...

IMO, given that your husband, leader of the pack, was just deployed, it was only a matter of time until this dog tested your authority. How long will your husband be gone?

Calm, consistant leadership--say it again--

You have received some good information in this thread.

Steph, you had the right *idea*. You certainly don't want to back down to a dog that is challenging you. That will teach him that it works and therefore it will almost certainly escalate.

So you're ahead of the game on that. The first reaction of many people would be to be surprised and intimidated and back down. You didn't, that was good.

Now only the method you use needs to change.

I'm sympathetic to your situation because many people I come in contact with initially believe that your reaction is the correct one. They have no desire to hurt their dogs, but they have been told, by trainers or books, that that's the way to handle an aggressive dog. Many trainers that I know of still suggest alpha rolls. And you were thrust into a unexpected situation with little time to think about how to react.

But hey...now we've brought one into the fold! Now we have another person who knows the correct way to handle such things. Did anyone recommend Ed's Dominant Dog DVD? REALLY good purchase.

In the meantime, you're probably going to have to work on your bond with your dog. Dogs are generally forgiving creatures who live in present time, so it's not like all is forever lost. That's one of the reasons dogs are so wonderful...they forgive you your sins.

If you follow the groundrules to being a good pack leader, you will decrease the odds of this happening again.

Good luck!

Steph,

We do go on, don't we? It's just because we all love our dogs. Just don't get scared; either by US or by your pup! When a spouse, who had previously been pack leader, is away, it's often difficult to establish the pecking order again in the right manner. Your pup is just flexing his muscles, as it were.

To the collar issue; you should always have at least a flat collar and drag line on a pup (14mo, you said, right?) Very VERY small chance of getting bad snagged on underbrush if you are out there to supervise play.

Now, go play with your pup!
-Jim

Steph...

I would suggest having 2 collars on your dog when he's playing. The prong for a quick correction, like when he's playing too rough and acting up, is good, but you don't want to use the prong for a prolonged correction. If if he starts to growl at you and you try the method of stringing him up (sounds bad, but it gets the point across)you will need a form of Dominant dog collar.
Prong collars can sometimes just jack up a dogs aggression and shouldn't be used for that method.
I would keep a long line on the prong so that you can correct even if he's a distance away, and a shorter pull tab or leash on the dominant dog collar in case he does get aggressive.
It does just sound like he's testing the waters with you while you're husbands gone. Trying to see if he can move up in the ranks. But remember to be calm....no yelling or anything.
He'll get the message.

Wendy

Exactly right. You don't give a hard pinch correction when a dog is growling aggressivly at you because it might very well ramp up the situation. Then what happens, especially to someone not real skilled in dealing with dominant dogs is the dog gives a bite in the face.