I'm always confused why people think it's nessasary to mess with the dogs food <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. I make them sit, then put the bowl down, it takes a minute for them to eat, then i pick the bowl up, and there's no problems. As to not putting restrictions on what your kids can and cannot do is poor advice, kids should be taught how to behave around dogs, ie: no ear pulling, no tail pulling etc. just my opinion, AL

What Lara described is similar to the "Alpha Roll" as I've heard it described before. And in my opinion, this is a mistake. A 6 year old, may have "dominance" over a 6 year old. However, a "dominant" memeber of the pack must be able to prove their authority, or they are at risk of losing it. At some point, your dog may feel that it does not need to submit to a 6 year old, and if that happens, you're going to have a big problem on your hands. Dominance disputes are often settled with posturing, but sometimes their settled with an attack... 100 pound dogo verses 6 year old child = trouble.

In my opinion, it is crucial to establish a child's dominance over a dogs, but it is crazy to allow a 6 year old to handle a confrontation with a dog. There are better options. First of all, OB training establishes dominance. Ending a play session by taking and putting away toys establishes dominance. The child feeding the dog establishes dominance. I can alpha roll most dogs if I need to but I weigh almost 4 times as much as an average GSD.

To proof your child's authority, here's one of the best tests I do... my dogs are all fed dry food. So when they get one of those beef shoulder bones, it's a very special treat for them and they will do just about anything to keep them. Once the dog has settled down with his beef shoulder bone, my daughter approaches, takes the bone out of it's mouth and walks away with it. But the trick is... the dog has either a shock collar or a prong collar on. ANY signs of dominance or aggression (growling, showing teeth, hiding the bone, etc.) results in a "level 10" correction. The dog knows that I am the one giving the correction. But it's a correction that makes an impression. Maybe somebody has a better method? This was just the best method I could come up with.

Lara:
"When they get to be too rough with your kids and they wont stop or listen to them your kids should grab them by the skin on their neck and make/force them lay down on their side"

"Don't put restrictions on your kids on what they can or cannot do, it should be the other way around, don't let your dogs act that way around your kids. It's going to be hard and you also ahve to explain to your kids what they have to do. It took our daughter a few weeks but today, she has full control of a 110 lbs. large breed boar killing puppy."




Lara,
You have *a lot* to learn. You're giving out crappy and dangerous advice and it shows that you don't know much about dog training.
Please read some of the articles that Ed has posted on this site and don't give out advice that is both wrong and dangerous.

I agree with Will and the others completely. That is a dangerous way to do things for a child. Not saying that something will happen, but it sure makes it more than possible and more than likely. Dogs are opportunistic by their nature. In a pack, its only a matter of time before the leader is challenged in a moment of weakness and overthrown. Untill that time, dogs bide their time and move up when they can. Leave a 100 pound puppy and a kid alone for long enough or rnough times and the dog will see their chance for dominance and take it if they feel like it. I've never seen a 6 year old that could stand up to that. Obedience is the way to go. In a controlled setting when you have time to supervise the dog and child together. Otherwise its asking for trouble. Im not saying something will happen, but it sure as heck can and I wouldn't chance it for anything.

Ian