Quote: David Eagle

Oh wow. Good catch carol, I totally missed that. I'll stop crating my dogs when they're dead. This goes hand in hand with never trusting them, ever. They can demonstrate reliability with this or that a thousand times and I still won't count on them not to succumb to their darker desires.

I don't go this far, but I will say that freedom to roam the house in it's entirety is earned. Crates are wonderful things. My first GSD could not be trusted alone in the house until he was about two and a half years old, and he was a German Showline couch potato. Then, I have my 15 month old working line female that has just earned her freedom in the house even when we are not there. She is not destructive at all, totally understands that the home is meant for downtime, and I have no rank issues with her at all. Does that mean I am sure we will never have issues again that neccessitate taking a step back? No. This same dog cannot be left outside alone, because she will dig her way to China or try to eat anything in site.

Right now your dog needs to have every aspect of his life controlled. Free time for him equals destructive behavior. He is showing dominant behavior with you - not aggressive, but dominant. Amp up the control and exercise and use a crate and kennel to keep yourself sane.

 Quote: David Eagle

I'll stop crating my dogs when they're dead.

This has to be one of the best one liners I have read on here!

If only more people thought like this .....

Good one, David!

 Quote: RobbinMann

Then after making myself some breakfast, came into my office to check forum whilst I ate and under normal circumstances the dogs come in with me and watch with begging eyes, I usually ignore it but why have to look at it at all? I banned them from the office and had a nice relaxing breakfast!

There, now isn't that better?

I leave 2 out when i go to work, no problems

Robbin, Mara touched on it briefly, but I really think a big part of this is MENTAL STIMULATION. Levi sounds like a thinker from your posts, and my thinker needs waaay more mental stimulation than just hard physical exercise. Caleb will go forever, physically. I can think "Well, he MUST be exhausted by now." WRONG. We head home, and he acts like he hasn't been outside in a month. So, instead, I concentrate on some problem-solving exercises, obstacles, and teaching him something new. This is the only thing that keeps him sane, and in turn, keeps ME sane. <hey, no comments from the peanut gallery!>

This is sooo true, Jenni! I actually took Levi to the park the other day and had him trying to go through tunnels and down slides! LOL! He did seem to be pooped out more after that than with the exercises we have had lately! Hmmm...guess I should start trying to get ideas for a "mental" dog. Funny, he's owned by a kind of "mental" owner! Really, I will be taking some time this next couple of weeks to determine when/where/why/how I can stimulate and work w/my dogs more efficiently. I have been kenneling the last couple of days and for some freaky reason, the dogs have been much calmer. You would think that they would be more keyed up but they haven't. I have been spending time w/all three in the a.m. though. I will also be talking to my trainer Saturday about starting to work on getting the BH for Levi. So we will be doing more mental work than just plain old exercising?? While I'm at it, I will ask him for mental games for the other two also! Thanks for the tip!

your sig pic looks great! The two dogs are gorgeous!

Hi Robbin,

Just caught up with this thread, but I think you've got the idea now...... CRATE!!

A crate was once of the first things we bought for Teagan, and it was a life-saver. Dobermann puppies do NOT have a 'off' switch! Teagan would have a long walk, playtime, tugs, training whatever, yet still come home and do the Dobe 500 round the living room as if she had just woken up.

However, pop her in the crate to calm down, and she fell straight asleep, exhausted.

I've just watched the Establishing Pack Structure dvd, and Ed makes some really good points about 'backing up' on training. I realised where we could have done things better, especially with my wifes' pack position.

Teagan will be going back in her crate more often and have stricter rules for a while - something we couldn't easily accomplish without the crate.

They're definately a good thing to have around!

Rob

That's what I do, Robbin. For example, we'll go to the park and I'll tell him to "go up the slide and down the ladder," and then maybe next time will be "up the slide and down the stairs," then maybe "up the ladder and down the slide." That way, it's always different, so there's never a routine. He needs to think each and every time. I also make him "wait" in the middle of ladders, and even "sitz" and "platz" so he's ALWAYS having to think. He knows if he screws up, the mean ol' bitch will make him do it all over again until he gets it right. Another cool thing to teach them is "right" and "left" turns. Since they are not "oriented" to one side more than another (that I know of), it's really a good memory tool. It's easiest to do turns on a table or bench or up on a narrow obstacle. That way, there's no mistaking what they're supposed to be doing.

That oughta keep you busy for a bit...

I have video of Mr.C doing this if you want it.

Well I don't know about Robbin, but I certainly want to see a video of Caleb workin' it.