This is the exact reason you need to teach him the command DROP IT. All my
dogs know when I tell them to drop it they let go of what ever it is and
they don't try and snatch it back from me. What if this had been something
toxic?

Celeste

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote in message
...
This morning, on his regular walk, Muttley found what appeared to be the
leg of a large bird like a buzzard, complete with orange talons. He did
not want to let it go, and he dropped it once, but I could not get him
away quickly enough to avoid his grabbing it again. As he walked, he
chewed on the disgusting morsel, making crunching noises. I did not want
to try to grab it away from him, or make too much of a fuss, for fear that
he might try to eat it too quickly or swallow it whole, which might be
dangerous. I thought evenetually he would just chew up the meaty portions,
but it seems that he chewed up and swallowed the whole thing! Yuck!

The day before, he found a raw deer bone, but I was able to take that from
him and throw it down into the stream, much to his chagrin. He seems to
find all sorts of animal parts on our walks, and there are often signs of
various critters, like snakes and birds, that have met their demise in the
woods behind my house. I know I have many deer and some foxes, and of
course squirrels and other varmints, but I wonder what other sorts of
animals are really out there.

Especially, when I walk Muttley in the spooky woods late at night, I'm
glad to have him along. Sometimes my flashlight catches the yellow-orange
eyes of some creature, and I may see them blink and disappear, and then
reappear elsewhere, apparently watching us. I also hear strange sounds in
the dark shadows, and sometimes I turn back rather than chance an
encounter with whatever wildlife might be out there.

Paul and Muttley

"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"Shelly" wrote in message
...
Janet Boss wrote in
:

Nah - be honest - you were afraid of being BITTEN. Teach him DROP
IT. It could be a lifesaver.

Yes. But in this situation, "leave it" would have been even better.
I wouldn't have let Harriet pick up something like that in the first
place, much less allowed her to keep it. But, then, I've seen a dog
I cared about die from perforated intestines, and I don't intend to
ever to it again, if there's anything I can do to keep it from
happening.

I also wouldn't keep a dog in my home whose mouth I couldn't take
things out of. Even disgusting, tasty things like bones.

I can take things out of Muttley's mouth without worrying that he will
bite me, but from experience I know that he will just try to hold onto
it or will eat it more quickly, which is not a good thing. I believe
that is what happened with Diddy's dog Tuck.

And I'm keeping out of this for that reason. As for Tuck, I did NOT say
"Leave it"

Tuck looked at me and as soon as we made eye contact, he knew *eWpS* and I
could see his wheels turning............
{She's GOING to tell me to Leave it! I'd better swallow before she does}
And the rest was history.

"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..
"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"Shelly" wrote in message
...
Janet Boss wrote in
:

Nah - be honest - you were afraid of being BITTEN. Teach him DROP
IT. It could be a lifesaver.

Yes. But in this situation, "leave it" would have been even better.
I wouldn't have let Harriet pick up something like that in the first
place, much less allowed her to keep it. But, then, I've seen a dog
I cared about die from perforated intestines, and I don't intend to
ever to it again, if there's anything I can do to keep it from
happening.

I also wouldn't keep a dog in my home whose mouth I couldn't take
things out of. Even disgusting, tasty things like bones.

I can take things out of Muttley's mouth without worrying that he will
bite me, but from experience I know that he will just try to hold onto
it or will eat it more quickly, which is not a good thing. I believe
that is what happened with Diddy's dog Tuck.

And I'm keeping out of this for that reason. As for Tuck, I did NOT say
"Leave it"

Tuck looked at me and as soon as we made eye contact, he knew *eWpS* and
I
could see his wheels turning............
{She's GOING to tell me to Leave it! I'd better swallow before she does}
And the rest was history.

I know that it is best to have a solid base of training, including a "leave
it" or "drop it" that will be instantly obeyed, but there may be times that
the temptation of keeping the thing and eating it may outweigh the trained
response, and cause the sort of near tragedy that happened to Tuck. Muttley
survived on the streets, probably dumpster-diving and raiding trash bags in
one of the worst parts of the city, with broken glass, needles, rat poison,
and all sorts of horrible things. He may have been lucky, and he may have
learned some lessons in survival. I can't protect him from every source of
harm, and there is still a lot of "wild dog" in him, that perhaps I even
admire.

Certainly he (and I) need to work on more training and obedience, but I am
also fairly satisfied with his behavior, and so I am not strongly motivated
to force him into obedience. Most people with "dog trainer" mentalities
will deem this wrong, and would strive to make him respond to commands and
maintain his proper place at heel position. It is nice to have a dog that
assumes a subservient and attentive role, as did Lucky, and for her I think
the normal spectrum of obedience training would have been appropriate and
easily accomplished. But I think Muttley has some special characteristics
that make it difficult, especially for me, to assert dominance over him in
all aspects of his behavior. So I allow him some independence, and I think
he and I have good communication and trust.

Paul and Muttley

"Judith Althouse" wrote in message
...
Paul said in part....
Especially, when I walk Muttley in the spooky woods late at night, I am
glad to have him along. Sometimes my flashlight catches the
yellow-orange eyes of some creature, and I may see them blink and
disappear.................
______________________
Paul,
Oooh, I don't think I could go walking at night, probably because I
would fall on my ass if the mosquitos didn't eat me alive. Except for
the yucky "parts" Muttley comes up with, it sounds like beautiful woods
to be walking in. Maybe a Bob-Cat out there?

I think it is most likely a large fox. There are several foxholes along the
trails where I usually walk Muttley, but not near the places where I saw
the glowing eyes, which was close to the road. I have seen a rather large
fox walking along the road near where I had the nocturnal encounters with
the watchful eyes, so that would be my guess. I once saw what appeared to
be a large tan cat, and it's possible that it could have been a bobcat.

At night, I stay on the dirt road and trails that are close to Warren Road,
but sometimes I will venture up to the meadow on top of the hill,
especially when the moon is full, or when the sky is clear and full of
stars. It is a good vantage point to observe meteors, or just to enjoy
being out in nature. I feel much safer in my woods at 2 AM than I would
walking around the shopping center or apartments just 1/2 mile up the road.
There is more to fear from humans than wild animals. As was said in "Animal
Farm", "four legs good, two legs bad".

Paul and the MuttMeister

In article ,
Paul E. Schoen wrote:
I think it is most likely a large fox.

Foxes don't stalk humans. Foxes don't hang around and watch
humans. In the very unlikely event that you really are
seeing critters it's more likely something like raccoons.
But mostly I think it's in your head.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..
"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"Shelly" wrote in message
...
Janet Boss wrote in
:

Nah - be honest - you were afraid of being BITTEN. Teach him DROP
IT. It could be a lifesaver.

Yes. But in this situation, "leave it" would have been even better.
I wouldn't have let Harriet pick up something like that in the first
place, much less allowed her to keep it. But, then, I've seen a dog
I cared about die from perforated intestines, and I don't intend to
ever to it again, if there's anything I can do to keep it from
happening.

I also wouldn't keep a dog in my home whose mouth I couldn't take
things out of. Even disgusting, tasty things like bones.

I can take things out of Muttley's mouth without worrying that he will
bite me, but from experience I know that he will just try to hold onto
it or will eat it more quickly, which is not a good thing. I believe
that is what happened with Diddy's dog Tuck.

And I'm keeping out of this for that reason. As for Tuck, I did NOT say
"Leave it"

Tuck looked at me and as soon as we made eye contact, he knew *eWpS*
and I
could see his wheels turning............
{She's GOING to tell me to Leave it! I'd better swallow before she
does}
And the rest was history.

I know that it is best to have a solid base of training, including a
"leave it" or "drop it" that will be instantly obeyed, but there may be
times that the temptation of keeping the thing and eating it may
outweigh the trained response, and cause the sort of near tragedy that
happened to Tuck. Muttley survived on the streets, probably
dumpster-diving and raiding trash bags in one of the worst parts of the
city, with broken glass, needles, rat poison, and all sorts of horrible
things. He may have been lucky, and he may have learned some lessons in
survival. I can't protect him from every source of harm, and there is
still a lot of "wild dog" in him, that perhaps I even admire.
So I
allow him some independence, and I think he and I have good
communication and trust.

Paul and Muttley


Tuck is fairly well trained, and has a huge trust factor. He is still in
the dawn of his training, but has a solid training foundation.
Tuck got the chicken bone, which was not his fault. It was in his dish!
That was my fault.
I never said a word to him. If I had said "LEAVE IT" he certainly would
have. Even as a 4 month old puppy.
He'd have dropped it like a hot rock. I did not say Leave it. But the
reason Tuck swallowed the bone was he realized I was GOING to. He wanted to
grab the chicken bone while it was still "legal", which it was.
It was that momentary realization that resulted in his gulping the bone.

OK, so did he learn his lesson? About a month ago, I was tossing out duck
leg bones, and I didn't have a place to put them, so I set down, while I
put in a trash can liner, and when I went to throw them out, one was gone.
I KNEW a dog had taken it. It WAS on the floor. I immediately called the
vet to tell him of my mistake and he said to stuff them full of cotton
soaked in milk or full of bread, and hope for the best.

The next morning, so far, so good, but to my surprise, Tuck tapped me on
the arm and GAVE me the missing Duck leg.

Where it had been over night, I did not know. But it HAD to have been in
Tuck's possession, because he brought it back. Neither Reka or Cappy would
have done that.

It was on the floor, making it legal. I give the dogs bones all the time,
so the bones themselves are legal. It was the KIND of bones that made me
nervous. And Tuck has enough character to realize these were ill gotten
bones. I think his conscience (And yes, I think dog's CAN have a
conscience) got the better of him, and he surrendered his prize.

Perhaps I'm anthropomorphizing, but I don't think so. I saw these kind of
behaviors many times in his father, and I now see them in him.

here is a 20 second recreation withthe same duck bones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbEH9jlnN4Y

"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"Judith Althouse" wrote in message
...
Paul said in part....
Especially, when I walk Muttley in the spooky woods late at night, I am
glad to have him along. Sometimes my flashlight catches the
yellow-orange eyes of some creature, and I may see them blink and
disappear.................
______________________
Paul,
Oooh, I don't think I could go walking at night, probably because I
would fall on my ass if the mosquitos didn't eat me alive. Except for
the yucky "parts" Muttley comes up with, it sounds like beautiful woods
to be walking in. Maybe a Bob-Cat out there?

I think it is most likely a large fox. There are several foxholes along
the trails where I usually walk Muttley, but not near the places where I
saw the glowing eyes, which was close to the road. I have seen a rather
large fox walking along the road near where I had the nocturnal
encounters with the watchful eyes, so that would be my guess. I once saw
what appeared to be a large tan cat, and it's possible that it could
have been a bobcat.

At night, I stay on the dirt road and trails that are close to Warren
Road, but sometimes I will venture up to the meadow on top of the hill,
especially when the moon is full, or when the sky is clear and full of
stars. It is a good vantage point to observe meteors, or just to enjoy
being out in nature. I feel much safer in my woods at 2 AM than I would
walking around the shopping center or apartments just 1/2 mile up the
road. There is more to fear from humans than wild animals. As was said
in "Animal Farm", "four legs good, two legs bad".

Paul and the MuttMeister



Or more likely a coyote. That is not fox behavior, and fox are not large,
they are about the size of a large housecat. There is no such thing as a
LARGE FOX

HOWEDY paul e. schoen,

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote in message news:
...

"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..
"Paul E. Schoen" spoke these words of wisdom in
:


"Shelly" wrote in message
...
Janet Boss wrote in
:

Well ain't that SPECIAL? Three PATHETIC MISERABLE
STINKIN ROTTEN LYIN DOG ABUSIN MENTAL CASES
in a row!

Nah - be honest -

Well THAT would be a 1st~!

you were afraid of being BITTEN.

Of curse.

Teach him DROP IT.

Wouldn't it be WIZE to train your dogs NOT TO TAKE STUFF
they shouldn't be eatin in the first place? "DROP IT" would then
be only necessary after you've givin your dog sumpthin you want
back, like a ball or frisbee or your KAT. Ooops! You ain't got your
kat nodoGdameneD more {}: ~ (

It could be a lifesaver.

No, that would be the CAUSE of the problem {}: ~ (

Yes. But in this situation, "leave it" would have been even better.

HOWE COME you PATHETIC MISERABLE STINKIN ROTTEN
LYIN ANIMAL MURDERIN PUNK THUG COWARD ACTIVE
ACCUTE CHRONIC LIFE LONG INCURABLE MALIGNANT
MALICIHOWES MENTAL CASES can't understand the difference
between trainin a "DROP IT" command when youre ill trained fear
aggressive HOWETA CON-TROLL dogs STEAL STUFF that can
KILL them Vs trainin them NOT TO TAKE STUFF in the 1st place?

Oh, I know HOWE COME: on accHOWENTA you're PATHETIC MISERABLE STINKIN
ROTTEN LYIN ANIMAL MURDERIN
PUNK THUG COWARD ACTIVE ACCUTE CHRONIC LIFE
LONG INCURABLE MALIGNANT MALICIHOWES MENTAL
CASES.

SEE?

We've been through all this pryor with PROFESSIONAL DOG
TRAINER tara.green2 and her "LEAVE IT" command just pryor
to bentcajungirl's DEAD DOG Maggie eatin the GORILLY GLUE
an shittin the bed pukin up blood on her kitchen floor for three days.

I wouldn't have let Harriet pick up something like that
in the first place, much less allowed her to keep it.

Yeah. Just like HOWE she wouldn't let her dogs attack each other.

BWEEEAAAHAAAHAAA~!~!~!

But, then, I've seen a dog I cared about die from perforated intestines,

Naaaaah?

and I don't intend to ever to it again,

But of curse!

if there's anything I can do to keep it from happening.

Well, looks like it'll be happenin again {}: ~ )

I also wouldn't keep a dog in my home whose mouth
I couldn't take things out of. Even disgusting, tasty
things like bones.

UNLESS of curse, they find them in her garbage bucket.

HOWE COME you don't realize these PATHETIC MISERABLE
STINKIN ROTTEN LYIN ANIMAL MURDERIN PUNK THUG
COWARD ACTIVE ACCUTE CHRONIC LIFE LONG INCURABLE
MALIGNANT MALICIHOWES MENTAL CASES are blowin smoke
up your ignorameHOWES arse, paulie?

OH, I KNOW HOWE COME!: on accHOWENTA you're a
PATHETIC MISERABLE STINKIN ROTTEN LYIN ANIMAL
MURDERIN PUNK THUG COWARD ACTIVE ACCUTE
CHRONIC LIFE LONG INCURABLE MALIGNANT
MALICIHOWES MENTAL CASE just like them: "you're
JUDGED BY the company you keep. When you lie with
PIGS you'll awaken STINKIN like 'EM," The Puppy
Wizard's DADDY {}: ~ )

I can take things out of Muttley's mouth without
worrying that he will bite me,

But of curse!

but from experience I know that he will just try
to hold onto it or will eat it more quickly,

Well, so much for "I can take things out of Muttley's mouth".

An then you WONder... an then you DON'T!

which is not a good thing.

BWEEEAAAHAAAHAAA~!~!~!

I believe that is what happened with Diddy's dog Tuck.

diddler is a FRAUD an SCAM ARTIST.

And I'm keeping out of this for that reason.

Yeah. On accHOWENTA she GOT THE SAME PROBLEM
for the SAME REASON an can't train her own dogs not to
steal STUFF and EAT POISON.

As for Tuck, I did NOT say "Leave it"

BWEEEAAAHAHAAAA~!~!~!

Get ready for a other case of INSANITY, paulie:

Tuck looked at me and as soon as we made eye contact,
he knew *eWpS* and I could see his wheels turning............

And THEN, through the MAGICK of INSANITY, SELF
AGGRANDIZEMENT, LIES and diddler's own POSTED
CASE HISTORY indellibly archived in The Sincerely
Incredibly Freakin Insanely Simply Amazing Grand
Puppy, Child, Pussy, Birdy And Horsey Wizard's
100% CONSISTENTLY NEARLY INSTANTLY
SUCCESSFUL FREE WWW Wits' End Dog, Child,
Pussy, Goat, Ferret, Monkey, SpHOWES, And Horsey
Training Method Manual Forums And Human And
Animal Behavior Forensic Sciences Research Laboratory
Archives, diddler the **** stain smeared on the walls with
her finger dipped in bloody poop:

"diddy" none wrote in message
. ..

A dog trainer must succeed. By nature, "Command" mentality
makes dog trainers a curmudgeonly lot. The deeper a dog
behavior digs in, the more willing a good trainer is to do
what it takes to uproot the undesired behavior.

This willingness to tackle what results in a battle of wills
is well pronounced in dog trainers. And if you think that's
something, try horse trainer lists, where the ante is upped X
1000 pounds and poor results can KILL you!

However, "nice little horsey " types are rarely successful
in horse training and rather self extinguishing bringing
about more moderation in established techniques.

BWEEEAAAAHAHAAA~!

"I would not allow that behavior AT ALL. Inconsistancies
are going to come back and bite you. I don't understand
how, you as a trainer, don't comprehend this.

Having a 100% reliable dog does not
EVER allow for mitigated circumstances.

A well-trained dog is a lifestyle.

You teach a dog to LEAVE it. A dog should be
taught to obey. I can call any of my dogs off
in full chase and ask them to drop anything
they are doing, and they will.

I think that should be expected of any breed, and
those who do not teach "leave it" fundementals
atre missing the boat"

BWEEEAAAHAHAAAA~!~!~!

LIKE THIS:

I think that should be expected of any breed, and
those who do not teach "leave it" fundementals
atre missing the boat"

"Cappy the beagle killed one of my ducklings today.
Tuck grabbed a leg, and swallowed a leg and thigh
before I could get him.

a month ago, he almost died from swallowing a
chicken wing. Now I'm sweating all over again.

I think he's never going to be allowed out ever
again without a muzzle! (he seems alright thus far.

Tuck's SAR experience

"diddy" wrote in message
...

I just came in from putting chickens to bed, and Tuck
had my computer keyboard on the floor, and there are
now two keys missing.

Ornery git

-------------

Just scheduled blood test--Zipper too

"diddy" wrote in message
...

in thread : "MauiJNP"
whittled the following words:
in thread : "MauiJNP"

whittled the following words:

Seems to me, that should be a standard question for
any pet having any problems at this time.

I took Tuck in last Wednesday to the vets because two weeks
before, he had chewed some old treated lumber. Knowing that
treated lumber used to be treated with Arsenic, and he ate a
substantial amount, I took him into the emergency clinic and
they treated him for arsenic poisoning.

A week later, he still had a raw stomach, esophagus and stomach
(revealed by endoscopy). He was treated with buffers, and antibiotics
to prevent infection of the inflamed tissues. Wednesday, still not
right, but improving, I took him back in for a recheck.

The first thing the vet did, was ask what foods I was feeding.
Which I understood why, but felt considering his current history,
was rather a unnecessary question. I felt we pretty much knew
what was going on with him.

Since he was greatly improved, we decided not to do another
endoscopy and just watch him. He's 100% back to normal.
Hope Cali is too.

------------

"diddy" wrote in message
...

My dogs aren't into beer that much.
But they sure love Horse poop!

"diddy" wrote in message
...

I've scorned your counter surfing dog all these years. I just
discovered this morning,I had one also. I was slicing Beef
tongue (remember the tongue table tribute to Cate's
mom?) and I left it on the counter,while I went to read email.

I suddenly saw movement in the kitchen and there was
Tuck scarfing down 7 pounds of sliced tongue. Oh my
goodness gracious, where did he put all of that?

ANYWAY... I owe you an apology.

humiliated in Ohio
diddy

---------------------

"diddy" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 09:06:26 -0500, diddy wrote:

my new puppy, Tuck, grabbed a raw chicken wing and
wolfed it down on sunday. He's been in the hospital daily,
admitted sometimes, and home montored others.He's been
supported supported daily by fluids, hoping he would pass
it, but he's destabilizing fast, and has just gone into surgery
to have it removed from his stomach, and his intestines have
intuscepted from being empty for so long, and they need
surgery also.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs.behavior
From: diddy ?
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 12:51:33 -0500

Subject: Disaster plans for dog owners

We left Reka outside, Mr beeegs crated, Taya in the
house.. because Reka plays when Taya doesn't want
to, and Danny came with me. I forgot Taya counter
surf'd. I had 3 sticks of summer sausage sitting on the
table that I was going to give away.

When I came home, all three sticks were gone, with
only the paper skins left that I'd wrapped them with.
Taya had eaten over 5 POUNDS of summer sausage!

I just had to laugh, because otherwise, I'd have cried.

diddy
---------------

BWEEEAAAHAAAHAAAHAAA~!~!~!

{She's GOING to tell me to Leave it!


"I would not allow that behavior AT ALL. Inconsistancies
are going to come back and bite you. I don't understand
how, you as a trainer, don't comprehend this.

Having a 100% reliable dog does not
EVER allow for mitigated circumstances.

A well-trained dog is a lifestyle.

You teach a dog to LEAVE it. A dog should be
taught to obey. I can call any of my dogs off
in full chase and ask them to drop anything
they are doing, and they will.

I think that should be expected of any breed, and
those who do not teach "leave it" fundementals
atre missing the boat"

BWEEEAAAHAHAAAA~!~!~!

LIKE THIS:

I'd better swallow before she does}

BWEEEAAAHAAAHAAA~!~!~!

And the rest was history.

No, the rest is INSANITY {}: ~ (

And you're playin in the MENTAL WARD SANDBOX, paulie.

I know that it is best to have a solid base of training,
including a "leave it" or "drop it" that will be instantly
obeyed,

Yeah. HOWEver, you can't even train your own dog to walk on leash.

but there may be times that the temptation of keeping
the thing and eating it may outweigh the trained response,

THEN THE ****IN "TRAINED RESPONSE" AIN'T TRAINED
you PATHETIC MISERABLE STINKIN ROTTEN LYIN ANIMAL
MURDERIN PUNK THUG COWARD ACTIVE ACCUTE CHRONIC
LIFE LONG INCURABLEMALIGNANT MALICIHOWES MENTAL
CASE.

Just what the heel do you think is goin on DHOWEN here, paulie?

You're all FREAKIN INSANE!

and cause the sort of near tragedy that happened to Tuck.

REPEATEDLY, with ALL of her dogs. REMEMBER, paulie??

Muttley survived on the streets, probably dumpster-diving
and raiding trash bags in one of the worst parts of the city,
with broken glass, needles, rat poison, and all sorts of horrible
things.

Jeeez, paulie. HOWE do you think he SURVIVED withHOWET
havin a RESCUE DOG LOVER like yourself kidnap an surgically
sexually mutilate an jerk an choke him on janet's custom made
pronged spiked pinch choke collar??

BWEEEAAAHAAHAAA~!~!~!

He may have been lucky,

No paulie. His LUCK run HOWET on him when he met you.

and he may have learned some lessons in survival.

Oh, INDEED.

I can't protect him from every source of harm,

Well THAT'S on accHOWENTA YOU are his ONLY source of HARM.

and there is still a lot of "wild dog" in him,

That's INSANE, paulie. Muttley was a child's pet that
your RESCUE pal STOLE from his neighborhood.

that perhaps I even admire.

Yeah. BWEEAAHAHAHAAA!

Certainly he (and I) need to work on more training and obedience,

I think you've done quite enough OBEDIENCE TRAININ.

but I am also fairly satisfied with his behavior,

That so?

and so I am not strongly motivated to force him into obedience.

What's changed, paulie? You didn't have NO PROBLEMO
forcin an jerkin an chokin Muttley pryor when you was
TRAININ IT to be good enough so you could GET RID of
him on accHOWENTA you an janet COULDN'T TRAIN
IT to get along with your DEAD KAT Photon.

REMEMBER?

Most people with "dog trainer" mentalities will deem this wrong,

Oh, you mean like diddler, janet, shelly, suja, matty, kathleen,
judith, judy, flick, elegy, malinda, handsome gentleman jack
morrison all the LYIN dog murderin MENTAL CASES?

and would strive to make him respond to commands
and maintain his proper place at heel position.

Oh, you mean the PARTNERSHIP position, paulie? That's EZ!
All you gotta do is STOP CHOKIN your dogs an they'll HEEL
just like freakin MAGICK {}: ~ )

HOWEver, THAT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH for you punks.

It is nice to have a dog that assumes a subservient and attentive role,

No paulie, it's INSANE.

as did Lucky, and for her I think the normal spectrum
of obedience training would have been appropriate and
easily accomplished.

You mean the usual jerkin chokin shockin an intimidatin.

But I think Muttley has some special characteristics that make it difficult,

You mean, his EXXXPLOSIVE temperament when you jerk an choke him?

especially for me,

You mean, especially for you, bein a CONGENITAL CRIPPLE?

to assert dominance over him in all aspects of his behavior.

Well then, paulie, you've just answered all the hard questions!

So I allow him some independence,

You mean, on accHOWENTA YOU CAN'T TRAIN HIM
bein a CRIPPLE and all, eh?

and I think he and I have good communication and trust.

INDEED?

Paul and Muttley

Lucky thing you're a good CHRISTIAN, eh, paulie?

OtherWIZE you'd be a FRAUD and a LIAR and a
DOG ABUSER like your PALS {}: ~ )

In article ,
"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:

there is still a lot of "wild dog" in him, that perhaps I even
admire.

Ah yes - part of that group that wants to howl with wolves and that
stuff. It's a really good excuse for having an un-trained dog, I have
to give you that! "I don't want to ruin his spirit" (I've heard that
from conformation exhibitors). "I like his "naturalness" and a whole
lot of other BS. Covers up for a lot of laziness.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Janet Boss spoke these words of wisdom
in :

In article ,
"Paul E. Schoen" wrote:

there is still a lot of "wild dog" in him, that perhaps I even
admire.

Ah yes - part of that group that wants to howl with wolves and that
stuff. It's a really good excuse for having an un-trained dog, I have
to give you that! "I don't want to ruin his spirit" (I've heard that
from conformation exhibitors). "I like his "naturalness" and a whole
lot of other BS. Covers up for a lot of laziness.

I've had criticism for Tuck's training that I'm training the dog out of the
dog. I'm forcing a dog into a human mold. I'm making him into a robot
dog.

I think the people saying that, firstly, none have SEEN him. He thinks for
himself. He's been trained TO think. (even if he means he exits stage left
instead of through a door)

Those who have seen him, see him as in entirely different light. He's one
of the happiest, goofiest dog's they've met.
He's not being FORCED into a human mold, with human misery attached, and
he's certainly NOT robotic. He simply has expanded horizons, and enjoys
things most dogs never get a chance to, enabled by TRAINING.

He's more self confident every day (if that's possible) And i can't see any
of that as being a bad thing. Those criticizing must simply be either
jealous, or making excuses to themselves for NOT training their dogs.
(And those criticizing the loudest have never met him)