Quote: eric dziedzic

... The consensus here seems to be treat them equal but on this forum I was told Bruno should be last with everything so he doesn't feel like he's Alpha.

Bruno and all the dogs. They are all last.

Can you explain how you fit the DD collar?

Just for a timeline how old are each of these dogs and how long have you had each?

Personally....Chowchows are not a dog I would leave unsupervised with another living thing. Period. If I felt I needed two and the eskimo I would have each have it's own time out. I would not have the eskimo out with the chows at all.If he was as upset as you describe he is stressed and in fear for his life. Unsupervised with the chows I would really worry you are leaving the eskimo as bait in a fight. I know breed specifics are not always the way to think but it is a good way to bet.

Eric,
I checked back in your posting. The only relevant thread I found you were advised exactly as you have been here.
Could you direct me to where you were advised otherwise?

 Quote: eric dziedzic

The trigger is the UPS truck or walkers.... We encourage them to bark at strangers for home protection.

How do the dogs know the difference? How do you make them stop barking when they do it "appropriately?"

Eric,


No my 3 groups do not spend a lot of time in their crates. I rotate between outside time, time with me, time with spouse, time lounging free in house and the crates. I have learned to be creative with activities and my time to avoid keeping anyone isolated.

I'm not sure where the Alpha conversation is coming from, are you trying to say that you feel that if he eats (or whatever) after the other 2, he will view his place differently and thus act differently?

"Many people here have said they never tolerate it as if it never happens in their house. It may not now, so what was done when it did happen? If you have experience to say it was corrected immediately it had to have happened."

I'm not sure of the approp response to that. IMO, the situation and dog(s) involved would require its own degree of action. With the 4 that are together, one of them may attempt or look like they are attempting to push another out of the way as if the dog is saying I am first, then I verbally correct them knock it off or something and put them in say a sit. I'm looking for them to do as I said and drop it.

I have 2 out of the group because I didn't feel like it was safe. One continued to try to "police" every situation, would listen to me at that moment and then back to the "policing". The other would do what I said, but didn't let it go with one particular dog in the group. Maybe that makes me a poor leader or poor trainer, but despite the variety of training methods tried I wasn't making the nec. head way for these 2 to stay with the current group I have.

I try to get the shortest one possible that will fit over his head. The second two were an inch shorter than the first one. The slack needed to get it over his head is just enough for him to spin and grab. I have a different version from Petco now. It's a flat collar with D rings on the ends and a chain through the D rings. It works like a prong in terms of how it tightens.

We got Bruno at 8 weeks in Dec of 2004. He started showing aggression at 4 months.

We got Strummer at 9 months around Oct of 2006. We had just moved to Michigan and the 2 got along great. Bruno did much better all around. 2 acres fenced in for the 2 to run.

We got Halo at 4 years around May of 2008 from a rescue. She was very skittish from day one. She got along fine with the other two perfeclty.

About a year ago Halo seemed to feel at home and started to display protective properties with noises at night. About 6 months ago she started going to the fence sometimes.

Before Halo, Strummer would alert and run halfway and wait for Bruno. Now, Strummer and Halo come out mostly. Some times Bruno will respond. Sometimes he'll nip at Halo if she's in the way or coming up too close behind him. This seems to be the time when she goes after Strummer.

Wow, that was a long time ago. I figure at this point it's irrelavent. Actually, I morso determine who goes first by who obeys first, usually who sits first. I use this for eating, releasing etc.

I think it has to do with the sound of a deisel engine that starts the chase. He doesn't bark, just races the fenceline.

When they bark at passers by I usually allow it. We live in the country so no neighbors to annoy and places do get broken into so I appreciate the awareness and the deterrent. If I do stop it I tell them "out" and they stop, even if I yell it from a window.

They also know the sound of our vehicles. I see them racing to the gate as my house comes into view.

The info we recieved said to treat him as the low man on the totem pole so he won't see himself as Alpha. That was a long time ago and didn't seem to make a difference so we never officially agreed to change it but we haven't exactly followed it much either.

I think the freedom outside is where I'll start. Halo was fine until Bruno started harrassing her so I'll start with keeping Bruno separated from the other two and watch closely. We've already made some separation changes since it happened and they have all been fine. I am interested in desensitizing them to the border frustration thing.

Gonna be a fun summer huh?!