On 6/23/2010 5:36 PM, Dogman wrote:
On Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:51:52 +0000 (UTC), Mary Healey
wrote:

sighthounds& wrote:
I'm assuming your dog is on leash at these times? Don't let him get
on other dogs' backs. Praise him when he interacts appropriately with
other dogs he meets, correct him with a mild "uh-uh" and pull him away
when he tries to put his paws on their backs.

I'd be just a bit more proactive. Actually, I *am* just a bit more
proactive. Praise him when he interacts appropriately with other dogs he
meets, but call him away from the other dog BEFORE he acts inappropriately.

How do you know he's going to act inappropriately?

Or does your dog just always act inappropriately?

[...]
I'm wary of associating the correction with leaving the other dog (and,
coincidentally, with coming to me) instead of with the inappropriate social
behavior(s).

How would he ever know what was "INappropriate social behavior" if you
didn't communicate to him what that was by immediately correcting it
when it happened?

I dunno, I don't see anything to be wary of here. I think you might
find yourself calling your dog away from so many dogs that he might
stop interacting with other dogs altogether, which could happen just
as easily, I would think.

With Caris and Ranger, I'm pretty sure they can remain polite
for only a short interval before feeling compelled to correct the other
dog's manners and/or appearance,

Is it possible that they just don't know what INappropriate behavior
is because you've never communicated to them what that was?

Again, I'm all for rewarding good behavior, but I think it's
counterproductive to do *only* that, to the exclusion of correcting
bad or unwanted behavior.

Which, I suppose, makes me a meanie, not a softie.

And I can live with that!

--
Dogman

It's called distraction and it's very effective as a training tool.
You'd not know that though.

Char