Well, wanted to update the situation with Hank. I have had him 5 days out of the last week, and he's really a smart little dog! I'll post a pic, just because I think he's a handsome mutt:
http://i48.tinypic.com/w0l6bn.jpg

He definitely has some bad habits, and I'm scratching my head on how to work on some of them. His prey drive isn't nearly as high as either of my girl's, but his restraint is missing. I was carrying some wood to the fire pit last night and he almost floored me jumping to get a stick! Rose is always excited when I have a stick (or bundle), but follows me tail wagging, waiting for the word or stick to be tossed. I can curb this easily enough with him, but it's quite similar to his jumping up and biting my Mom's arm.

He seemed to think as long as he is outside, he can eliminate. Unfortunately, this meant right on my deck. I verbally reprimanded him a couple of times, and now he won't go in the whole backyard. So I have to take him out front to go to the bathroom! I have had Shortstack use the deck when it was covered in snow before, so there is some boundary that doesn't always add up for them.

Also, he is "dumb" with his bones. I give them a small raw beef bone for a treat in the evening. My girls go right to their respective crates when they get theirs. But Mr. Brilliant will poke his head in their crate (with bone in mouth), and of course, get snapped at. Then he jumps back, dropping his bone, and one of them now has two... which they aren't willing to share. So he lays on the floor a few feet back and just barks. Over and over, until I either snatch his bone back or put him in another room. I wouldn't point this out if it happened 2-3 times, but it literally happens every time they all get their evening wind down treat. I have no plans on latching their crate doors just for his behavior.

I also have to feed him outside. I make them all sit/stay for their meals, and he got right on that program. But if he finishes first (and he inhales raw), he tries to stick his snout into one of their bowls. That's just not a good idea!

About half the time, he will stare at me on the recall, and he understands what I want from him. I can send Rose out and again say "Inside" and when she runs in, he's right along beside her, but one on one, if he doesn't feel like coming in, he wont.

Lastly, his chewing style with toys is OBNOXIOUS! I have sturdy canvas toys, Orbee balls, etc, that last for months even with my bullies. But Hank likes to dissect things. He works on the stitching and pulls stuffing out, pulls the oceans off the Orbees, and basically ruins toys in minutes that I usually get months out of.

I'm sure part of this is a puppy being a puppy. But behavior I didn't tolerate seemed to cease quicker with my two. I try to remind myself he's in a new environment, and around dogs, which isn't what he deals with when at home. But when there are toy shards to clean up every morning and losing bones, and won't poop out back, and can't respect their feeding... it's tough. But he hasn't jumped on anyone or bitten for a while. That's the bright side.

Chip, I am really happy to hear the positive progress! Seems like your new addition is helping you re-live adolescence! I feel for you. My own dog seems to have lost a fair amount of brain cells at the onset of adolescence. I think its must have something to do with that stage of life We are all cheering for you!

He is a handsome guy. Thanks for sharing the progress, more cheers.

It is so good to hear all is working out, even though there are still those normal, annoying dog issues to deal with! My only input at this point would be to consider feeding the new dog away from your other two, just to prevent any possible "food fight". He is a great looking dog!

Thanks, Jessica, Aimee, and Barbara!

He is a silly boy at times. I've always heard that English Bulldogs top the list of "dumbest" breeds every year, but Shortstack just inherently knows certain things! Like not to stick her bone in Rose's crate, or (like Hank did three times this week), drop his toy while standing over the edge of the pool! But he walked like a prince for my Mom today without me along side her, and the reports from home are good.

I honestly think her trainer is too anti-correction/all ignore or reward for this dog, but convincing my mother of that is another matter. I bet she thinks I just got "good eggs" with both of my dogs, but Rose was the worst, most hyper puppy I have ever been around. She was like a 75 pound Jack Russel pup. Honestly, the sole reason I have gotten this deep into training, exercise, nutrition, etc. is because I had a puppy I loved that would hop the fence at the sight of a butterfly on the other side! My options were to get rid of her or get serious about training and exercise. Six years later, I'm thinking about GSDs, Malinois, or working line AB puppies to look into when she gets elderly. Oh, the bond you have with a high-drive dog that is on your program! I have hope that Hank will be a more mellow version of this bond for her. I appreciate the well-wishes and sentiments more than the typed word can say.

 Quote: barbara schuler

.... My only input at this point would be to consider feeding the new dog away from your other two, just to prevent any possible "food fight". He is a great looking dog!

Me too. And I have an ironclad rule that no toys or especially chewies are ever given to dogs who are loose together.

Is there one place in the back yard where he ever did poop? That would be the place I would take him (on leash) next time I saw signs of imminent pooping.

Better than a reprimand might be to hustle the dog to an appropriate place as soon as he squats and then praising like crazy when he does his business in that spot.

 Quote: Chip Bridges

Honestly, the sole reason I have gotten this deep into training, exercise, nutrition, etc. is because I had a puppy I loved that would hop the fence at the sight of a butterfly on the other side! My options were to get rid of her or get serious about training and exercise.

A blessing in disguise, right?! Same story with my guy... in my perfect world I thought I would just get a sweet puppy that turned into a calm, stable dog who loved everyone and everything and never ignored me when it was important... HA! In retrospect, what a joy it is to have ventured down the path of real training, behavior study, and simple, smart dog sense!

Sounds like you're doing a great job with your pups, but I definitely second (or third) the advice about separating them completely for feedings, and not letting the young one even have a chance to wander over to Rose's crate with a bone in his mouth. This is an environmental control/containment issue more than anything else though.

And Hank is a beauty!! I love his coloring... will like to see pics of him as an adult.

~Natalya

My house rules are: No toys in the house. Stuffed, kongs or bully sticks etc are fed in crates, meals are fed with dogs seperated.

I do work & train my dogs seperately & also together with toys & treats, but I am very vigilent & have both dogs under control with obedience. I would not allow them to be together 'at will' with food (a meal or a bone) or 1 ball between them. If I did, I'd have one hell of a fight on my hands. And my female doesn't back down.

Why put your dogs into a position where they feel that you are not treating them fairly or equally or that they have to defend what is theirs. That is just looking for trouble to start. JMO

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: barbara schuler

.... My only input at this point would be to consider feeding the new dog away from your other two, just to prevent any possible "food fight". He is a great looking dog!

Thanks! In some ways, he was the only puppy I ever saw who wasn't CUTE! But he always had a noble look about him, and was all eye contact. I might not have said it, but I meant to add in my list of frustrations that he has to eat outside at feeding time and I have to close the door behind him.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Me too. And I have an ironclad rule that no toys or especially chewies are ever given to dogs who are loose together.

My girls have always retired to their crates every night, when given their bone. There has never been any issue if one finished first, but the puppy isn't on that program. I have a crate that Hank sleeps in, and even if I can corral him into it at treat time, if I don't latch it, he'll have to see what they are chewing on... even though he has the same thing in his mouth. Life with my two is so structured, but when the puppy is in the mix, introduce chaos!

Rose and Shortie won't even chew/play with toys if I'm not holding or throwing them, except for the occasional tug to get my attention.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Is there one place in the back yard where he ever did poop? That would be the place I would take him (on leash) next time I saw signs of imminent pooping.

He always went behind the trees, almost obscured from sight.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Better than a reprimand might be to hustle the dog to an appropriate place as soon as he squats and then praising like crazy when he does his business in that spot.

So far, by the time I see signs of imminent pooping, he's already got the posture of a cocktail shrimp. Would you avoid a correction, but leash and run him 15 yards to finish where he used to like to go or just off the deck in the first "okay to poop" yard space? What energy level and attitude would you suggest during the hustle, assuming I don't treat it as a correction at all?

I hope I did that right. Ok goofy newbie question. I know he is pretty much potty trained but can you startle him out of that position like you would a younger pup? Then move him behind the trees give him some privacy and see if he will continue?

Mary