This is for Jerry,
I have been voluteering at a local (no kill) animal shelter for the
past few months and they have a few stupid rules. here are a few:
always use a choker, (they know i dont do this and no one seems
bothered yet). they will not take a dog that has any kind of history of
biting, (even once, even if it was being tortured when it bit) or any
dog with an anxiety disorder, if for any reason a dog bites while at
the shelter it MUST be put down, again it doesnt matter why the dog
bit. this bothers me of course since i know these dogs can be saved and
are turned away. i'd like some help coming up with what i should do to
change this. when i voluteered I wanted to work with the troubled dogs
and help them like traditional training cant do. I was wondering if you
know of anyone in my area who also uses your methods who i might be
able to chat with and team up with. Though I really want be a dog
trainer and I feel i am capable, I'm thinking if it comes from a
professional the other volunteers, the ones that make the rules, might
listen better........ btw the trainer that volunteers there is the
first one that TRIED to help Starr....
Crystal

I went to the shelter today we have i think 9 dogs there now. one of
them is the property of the town (we share the kennel) he is an
Australian cattle dog and is EXTREMLY aggressive , looks deranged:-(
he hates women especially and is ok with some men from what i saw. They
are putting him down Monday:-( I'm thinking its possible that there
could be something wrong with his head the way his eyes will get this
crazy look and he'll go nuts and start foaming at the mouth and
barking/growling , but he was a stray and no one knows his history, i
dont think the vet has seen him either since they didn't have an
estimate on his age. I wish I had time to try to work with him, even if
he does hate women, if the other people weren't there and other dogs
weren't barking I could sit with him and just keep working the
distraction and praise and see how it goes but that's not possible:*-(
How is it that people who say they love dogs can pick and choose which
ones they will care about? When I was there today I was seriously
thinking I dont know if I can work here knowing these dog loving people
are unintentionally harming them. But i am going to try to demonstrate
a few exercises next week and maybe they will see that I know what im
talking about when I say any dog is workable. unfortunately its too
late for the cattle dog:-( which makes me sick. There is a dobie I's
just love to work with. She pulls on the leash, she is nervous and
somewhat aggressive because of being nervous, very timid, she will
blossom if I can work with her.
And if people stop yelling at there dogs to try to get them to stop
barking.
I was getting angry today watching this guy yell and jab his finger at
the Dobie i just mentioned for barking and showing aggression to
another dog through the fence. the dog was quiet but clearly
intimidated. I had been addressing that very situation before the guy
came in and the dog quieted down and was not intimidated. next time Im
going to have to force myself to speak up mo-(

Crystal A
ps Jerry, can I get Kay Pierce's email?

" said in
rec.pets.dogs.behavior:

I was getting angry today watching this guy yell and jab
his finger at the Dobie i just mentioned for barking and
showing aggression to another dog through the fence. the
dog was quiet but clearly intimidated. I had been
addressing that very situation before the guy came in and
the dog quieted down and was not intimidated. next time Im
going to have to force myself to speak up mo-(

That would really help. Speaking up goes a long way and tends
to be addictive.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.