Hank wrote:
1st dog

Nearly two years ago I bought my mom a puppy after a 2 year morning of
our previous dog who passed away. I got him from the pound and gave
her the new addition to the family, she loves him very so and would
always praise him etc..etc, but she never walked him nor played with
him or trained him, so when I would go vist her I would walk him but
he would always pull on the leash to a point that it sounded like he
was being choked. He also never paid attention to me or to my
girlfriend once he left the front lawn. Now fast forward to today, she
told me she couldn't take care of him anymore (shes old) so asked me
to take him so we did. But same old thing, he pulls on the leash and
he is a very high energetic dog and he doesnt pay attention to no one
even when we have treats or call his name, I feel bad for him because
he was couped up in a backyard for a long period of time, but when we
take him outside in the front for a walk he always jumps up like he
wants to runaway. I would love to train him so he could just run on
the front lawn and not fear is going to run away.

2nd dog.

My girlfriend has a dog who is a puppy still, and she is very stubborn
and dominate dog, they baby her like there is no tommorrow, well
everytime I try to take her for a walk she lays down and won't move
period, we tried to leaving the leash on her in the backyard and she
will run with it but once you pick up the leash she freezes up and
remains paralized.

Can someone point me in the right direction with books or websites to
help with my two dogs? They're good dogs just need some obedience. I
wish I could take them both to training school, but nowadays with all
the shots and meds we are almost bone dry.

Here's my take, FWIW - I'm not a professional trainer.

They need obedience training. Firm, consistent, but also in
short sessions that are fun for dogs and you and your girlfriend.
If you can find someone who can help you with this, if you can
get into a class, that would be best. Try your county parks and
recreation department, if there is one. These often offer group
courses that are inexpensive. Or your local kennel club, or dog
obedience club. If not, check out "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by
Brian Kilcommons, and "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor.
There are lots of other good books on dog training out there;
these are two that I think are effective.

One think you can try is a method called "Nothing in Life is
Free." In other words, EVERYTHING your dog gets from you, every
mouthful of food, every pet, every walk, every toss of a ball,
requires that the dog obey a command. Short, simple commands,
such as 'sit.' Your dogs will begin to look to you and your
girlfriend as the source of everything good. Google on NILIF for
links - there are several good web sites about it.

HTH -

FurPaw


--
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched,
every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense
a theft from those who hunger and are not fed,
those who are cold and are not clothed."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

To reply, unleash the dogs.