My 12 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback recently has started marking on the occasional human while at the dog run.

We live in Manhattan. He gets a lot of excerise. The dog run is a necessity for us, basically once a day...beside walks and soon jogs and running with a bicycle. (I have read Ed's article on dog runs

I will have him on his e-collar now when in the run, and be diligent in trying to anticipate and give correction. Wondering if there is more I can do?

This is my first dog. We have used a range of trainers (ie- the "warehouse" food-only style, to, lets say, a "real world" trainer). I have been a sponge on training info (have the "Basic Dog Obedience" DVD, "Remote Collar" DVD, both of Michael Ellis' DVDs are in the mail).

He is intact and will remain so at least until 18 months when we will decide. He is as playful as can be and exhibits absolutely no aggression so far.

I have not been "devout" in totally denying marking on general walks, though he doesn't have free reign either.

Any input greatly appreciated. Thx in advance!

Randy

Randy,

Welcome to the forum!

What type of training have you been most consistant with? Since you have been to a few different trainers, it sounds like you may not be having the success you want. Has your dog already been introduced to the ecollar and if so, for what behaviors?

Also, does dog run mean dog park?

This dog would be marching along beside me on his leash without the freedom to go mark people.

On walks, I give a frequent release which means the dog is free for the length of the lead to pee, mark, sniff, etc.), but in between the releases there is no wandering off to mark anything.

This is not striking me as an e-collar situation. It's striking me as a dog who needs basic ob training. I would choose the marker training that you chose (the Ellis DVDs, but preceded by the LB intro http://leerburg.com/219.htm )

I have to say that as much as I recommend against dog parks, this dog with this habit is even more likely to run into trouble than many others. He will create excited anger, the worst possible vibe in an off-leash dog park. Walking or jogging around the dog park on leash -- outside the fence -- is this an option? Plenty of dogs-in-background and no danger.

Which Ellis DVDs did you order? Food and Tug?

JMO!

Welcome to the board, Randy!

Barbara, thx for the quick reply. Ill reply to both you and Connie below as they are related...

Thx again to both of you...

First, we did the basic puppy kindergarten at a local chain...basic commands...with only food rewards and gentle leader advice...Quickly realized this wasnt going to be enough...for distractions, pulling, lunging, etc. I didnt like the GLeader action on his neck as well.

Chose a trainer that many frineds had sent their dogs to for a "boot camp," having great results. Not liking the idea of sending pup off anywhere for two weeks opted to do an extended workshop myself w the trainer and dog. Introduced prong collar and leash corrections. New world ... No food rewards though. Had a semblance of marker training, but not with food rewards and no steps broken down as I now have seen in so many LB and Michael Ellis videos...Rather, stern leash corrections when ignoring a command (sit, heel, etc.), or disobeying pack leader. And none of the "learning phases" steps that Ed talks of so much...so felt I was really slamming my dog a lot....Having dug around on the msg board last few months, reading many of Connie's posts in fact, on casual "heel" for example, im not sure he REALLY understands some of the commands, eg "heel." Feel like Im correcting w no staying results (subsequently, my commitment and timing may be off as well.)

Basically Im trying to find a median...and why Im getting all the videos, and starting to reach out here. So you both have senses that are spot on, I am wanting to reset some of the training.

(The e collar we got primarily for recall when we were on trips to the country or on a beach. Hobbes (my pup) was only 8-10 mos old and I didnt want any chances off leash in open ground. I got careful instruction, was introduced correctly, and it works beautifully for that. All we need now is the pager, no stim at all.)

So the marking pp in the dog run-

On dog run- I mean enclosed area 80'x40' in a public park where dogs can run/play off leash. In Hobbes' case this has helped socialization, and he blows off a lot of steam. There has been no issue w other dogs. Although Im very aware of, and keep alert for, the negatives mentioned on the LB site. My attention on him and the other dogs' behavior w each other at all times. I will introduce bicycle running shorlty. We were advised to wait til a certain age for proper ligament and joint growth.

I would never let him mark a person if on leash nor does he try. But what I do get from Connie's reply is that I may not be regimen enough on general walks in controlling where he sniffs or marks. I do control it, but i may need to really step it up.

And yes the DVDs I just ordered were Food and Tug.

Any further comments are greatly appreciated...

Pardon the lenghth of the reply, they will be shorter in future.

Thanks for the warm welcome, and being so generous with a newbie!

Regards, Randy

Randy, I would not be correcting a dog that I was not 100% drop dead sure he understood the command I was asking for. If you regularly do this you will create relationship problems with your dog. I would pick my battles, especially with a strong large breed dog.

It is NEVER as bad thing to backup on training & retrain even the most basic commands, before resorting to corrections.

This is also a dog that is coming into adolescence & all the behaviors of a teenager.

Training has come so far over the years and as you have read on this site, correcting a dog for a behavior he has not been taught really isn't fair. NOT criticising you here - I'm referring to the trainer recommended to you... and aren't you glad you were there to witness first hand instead of leaving him and not having any idea??

Personally, I'd get serious on marker training to train the behaviors and only use corrections for something you KNOW he understands. This will include training in quiet environments, then slowly adding those distractions. (For marker training to be effective - there HAS to be a reward for the dog. ) It works - period. You are going to learn a lot from and enjoy the videos you've ordered - they are excellent!

I realize none of this addresses the immediate issue of his marking people in the run but I think that Connie covered that really well.

Thx again for the thoughtful replies. Ellis DVDs arrived today.