Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Julie Sloan

I just asked in the dominant dog forum if the dominant and aggressive dog video is for us if he shows no signs of aggression?

He sounds to me more like a pushy dog who has been allowed to get away with it.

But JMO.

This sounds right. I was having problems like this with my dog when she was around a year old, and the technique that seemed to get the message through was body language (mine, that is). Walking through the dog, as Connie mentions, and a forward-moving demeanor when the dog is 'talking back' did wonders in the respect department.

I also had a drag line on her all the time, even in the house. So much easier to redirect calmly with a drag line.

Also, re the 'back talk', for my dog anyway, this is nearly always related to insufficient exercise and pent-up energy.

Thanks all.

When he is talking back after i have told him "no" about something, moving forward towards him does not stop it. Walking away will make him give up. Direction here. SHould I walk towards him, basically through him, and then walk away? He will scoot out of my way when I move towards him when he is doing this. if I stand still and look at him, he will sit right in front of me and bark.

he is getting to the point in his recovery where I think we can safely start exercising him more. He sure loves the treadmill. I will start adding some of that in every day just as extra exercise.

Steve, I follow what you are saying about not correcting every little thing at this age. In the case of talking back, how would you address this. When he is in the midst of that, how do I show him what I want him to do? If I start having a drag line on him more outside, I could reel him in and do some heeling? I very seldom have him on a leash or drag outside unless I am actively working with him. But I am here to learn and change things, so I can do that if that is what is needed at this point.

i really appreciate the time you all are taking to help us get straightened out. I have this feeling that I am just missing some important points(like walking through him instead of around) and when we get those in place, things are going to start to change and come together more. Taking into account, the age we are approaching. woohoo!

Lynne, what is Chula?

It sounds like what Lynne pointed out, a certain amount of frustration and a little lack of respect. To me everything would be about obedience. Really work on those basic commands. Sit,down,come. I don't remember my Rott barking at me, but yesterday he was barking like an idiot at the wheelbarrow while I was dumping pea gravel in the dog run. I called him to me and put him in a down so he would shut up.

Solid obedience makes a lot of things go away, and my guess would be his barking and running into you would fall under that. I think a structured routine is always good. It helps you make things clear to them when they know its time to train now and its time to settle now. Plan his day around your schedule and give him a little time to adjust to it and everything you do with him is obedience for the time being and I think you'll get through his growing up fine.

 Quote:

Lynne, what is Chula?

She's a Bullmastiff mix, 90 lbs. She's pretty easy to handle now, but I was over my head from about 6 months to 1 1/2 years. I got through it, and learned alot about my dog during that time. I have much more confidence now, and that plays a big part in our relationship.

To continue what Steve is mentioning, obedience is a great way to firm up your relationship in the respect department. It keeps the dog's mind occupied and gives him a 'job' to do that is incompatible with body slams and barking, if he complies.

Obedience should be a fun thing, too. Are you doing marker training? (clicker-type training)

 Quote: julie sloan

When he is talking back after i have told him "no" about something, moving forward towards him does not stop it. Walking away will make him give up. Direction here. SHould I walk towards him, basically through him, and then walk away? He will scoot out of my way when I move towards him when he is doing this. if I stand still and look at him, he will sit right in front of me and bark.

Don't worry about the 'No!'. Keep a long line on him all the time. When he's doing this walk right toward him, take the line, and ask him to sit, or any other command that he knows. Do a short obedience session with him. If you have trouble controlling him on a long line, get a prong collar for him.

For smallish women and largish dogs, this is crucial, IMO. This is not for corrections at this stage, just control.

If you are not doing marker training yet, there are many good resources here to learn about it. Ask and we can point you to free E-books and great videos that you can purchase.

Thanks, I have implemented a few new things immediately. I got the chance to try it out to a point this morning. One of course is to follow all the leadership exercises. Walking though him is a big one I never did. He is pretty good about getting out of my way, albeit surprised, but he has already stayed laying once and I just kept my feet on the floor and walked through him.

I also working on more time being under my direct control when in the house. He is pretty well behaved in the house, and it can get easy to just let him go. We spent some time today with him actually tethered to me with the 6 foot lead while I worked around the house. That went well except for him getting wound up in the leash a couple times. We had already implemented long downs on the leash while I am in one place. I will expand on that, and more time gated in his room when I am not "with" him.

Outside I am going to try to make sure he always has something on that I can catch if I need to. That will be the hardest, as he is out a lot when I am busy and he is not dragging anything. This morning, he did the barking at me when I wouldn't let him dig in the washer drain, and I had food in my pocket, and I stepped toward him ,had him sit which he did, treated, had him lay down, which he did, treated, and then gave him "let's go" and off we went. It worked well. I do need to have the drag line on though.

I bought the 10" leather strap, which I love, but his little short rottie nose allows him to chew the end of it if he isn't watched. We had company for two weeks, so I am just getting started on watching the basic obedience video. We will start working through it as a program. I also got a prong collar that fits, but dominant dog collar that doesn't, so I am still working on getting it all together.

I did very little marker trianing with him when he was little, but I am totally into bringing that back. I think he learned best when he figured it out himself.

Thanks again for the help. I am ready to jump in. I will have questions I am sure, but I feel like we have a little more direction to go in, instead of floundering around in the dark wondering which is the right thing to do. I will check back and update you all on how he is doing in the meantime.

It's nice to know I am not the only one who ever felt in over their head, but still came out the other side with a good dog!