Richard, I'm like Chuck I would like to know the why. In this little behavior modification scenario why are you ignoring the 6 pugs? If this dog thinks he’s second in command in this little family. Then mom and dad better make sure the pugs don't get preferred treatment over him.

milt

Milt,

From the first post:

"As for the interactions with the other dogs, I have mixed large and small breeds for a long time. Like most things this is easier to prevent than to fix. The thing about doing this is that the large dog needs to understand that they are NEVER allowed to touch the little dogs for any reason. It starts as soon as they come home. Teach them a gentle command and make sure at no time do they start to be rough with the little dogs. Keep an eye on the lttle dogs, especially at first, to make sure you correct them for improper behavior and do not allow the larger dog to "assist". Particularly with this dog never leave him unsupervised with the little dogs. After what has happened I don't think that he can ever be really trusted with them unsupervised. Reading him will be important to prevent aggressive behavior before it gets really started.

This type of mistake is why I never recomend keeping dogs that are incompatible. There is always a mistake at some point with bad consequences for somebody."

I thought the primary concern was the dogs interaction with mom. I could go into more detail on this subject if necessary, but it comes down to basicly the same thing. Control and reading the dog to prevent the situation from getting out of control. The relationship with mom is more important as it may come down to relying on that relationship to avert a problem with the GSD and the Pugs.

Hello fellas!
A couple things,
The dog had Obe. training by my self with positive reward and did very well. He was corrected when he made a mistake and rewarded when correct. I have watched Ed's tapes and have practiced the methodes for 9 years. My mother went thru the Obe. after the dog was trained and they were doing well. Using a ball as modivation and reward they had alot of fun.
Also mother has tried the Dominant dog training that Ed suggest in his articles. Her feeding the dog and treating the dog for Downing on command and making him down for long pierods. He sleeps in a crate out side while the family and the pugs sleep inside. The pugs also sleep in crates. He is not alowed to go thru door ways first and has to wait for command before exiting his crate. He listens good, just sometimes protest with a growel.
The posture is stiff, head up, ears cocked back, hackles up and tail up and stiff. He looks real tall. If mother calls him over to her, he imediatly takes this posture and even if she tries to pet him he does this. She can eventualy get him to relax after some petting and he will lower his head and tail. So she can get the dog to stop, it is just can she get him to not do it at all? SHe has tried to just pet him when he is non aggressive and he just wont not do it if she touches him. She can walk up to him, ignor the growels and then as soon as she pets him and says, good boy, he starts this postureing and groweling.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Oh yah,
And Also he is seperated from ever being let out with the other dogs. Unless on leash or with his shock callar on and supervised.

EM Shepherds,

From my point of view with this dog the issue isn't if the dog knows his obedience, but getting your mother to work him consistantly (Daily). The idea is that with the types of interactions they are having isn't providing an opportunity to work through their issues. This may be a problem that will never fix, but it doesn't sound like it based on the statement that he will calm down with her by time spent petting him. By the cooperative effort of getting him worked, and down the road re-socialized with women, to modify this behavior. The longer this problem goes the more likely that the aggression may increase if the dog isn't successful with attempting to maintain distance from your mom. It is a question of rebuilding their relationship. If your mom doesn't do this there may be more problems down the road. If your parents want to keep the dog thos attitude needs to changed or they risk him going after her.

EM Shepherds,
This sounds to me like "Beta Dog Syndrome". The cause is that your father uses physical domination rather than social leadership to maintain his status as "Alpha" male. The dog is competing with your mother for rank.

I maintain that your mother will not be able to change this dog no matter how much she works him, unless your father is willing to change his own behavior. Both of your parents need to work as a team to affect any change here. Without a cooperative effort, I don't see much hope, if any.

Richard,


I think we are pretty much saying the same thing. The difference is that once again, you do a much better job of explaining it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good point JParker. There needs to be work done on both ends.

Chuck,

One of the things that comes up in a lot of cases, particularly with new trainers, is that people get so hung up on why they never get around to modifying the behavior. Why is nice to know, or assume, but in reality it doesn't matter. Once you give up on it you can usually figure out the why based on what works in changing the behavior. In many cases people will give up on something that is working or stay married to something that isn't working based on the assumption of what the why is. This was why I gave up on trying to figure out the why first and learned to work on the behavior and leave the why for when I see what works for the dog.

Richard,

I think that what you have said hits the nail on the head. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Belynda

Richard,

I think that with that said, you hit the nail on the head.

Belynda <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />