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#1
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We need some help with our dogs
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. Thank you. |
#2
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We need some help with our dogs
In article
, Hank wrote: I wish I could take them both to training school, but nowadays with all the shots and meds we are almost bone dry. Take the one that needs it most and then do the same things with the one at home. -- Janet Boss www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com |
#3
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We need some help with our dogs
"Hank" wrote in message ... 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. My dog Muttley has had similar issues. See my other post about the Easy Walk harness that helped tremendously with the pulling problem. He is also very energetic and focused on what he sees and smells when he is outside, but he is not trying to run away. I would not trust him off-leash, but he has gotten loose a few times, and he has just run around the neighborhood exploring. But he has always come back, or allowed me to reattach his leash when I have found him. He was rescued from the streets where he ran wild as the alpha male of a pack of three other dogs, and I wish I could allow him that freedom again. 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. Thank you. Almost everyone here will say "get thee and thy dog to Obedience Training or a Behaviorist at once", and that is generally good advice. These can be expensive, but usually there are classes at local schools that are quite reasonable, and probably cost less than the price of gas to get there and back. Also check with local shelters and boarding or grooming places. If you find a boarder who is also a decent trainer, you might be able to barter some training time in return for doing chores such as cleaning kennels. There are many good websites that offer free training advice, but sometimes in-person help is needed. http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/behavior.html http://www.doglinks.co.nz/training/training.htm http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html (this is on dog aggression, but check other links on site) http://www.iheartpaws.com/ http://www.unleashedinevanston.com/ (Dog personality survey and a fun movie of dogs playing) Also, if they are any particular breed, there may be a local breed-specific rescue that might help. Paul and Muttley |
#4
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We need some help with our dogs
Hank wrote:
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. It doesn't sound like you have too terribly difficult problems. Both dogs sound like they're merely untrained, not like they have temperament problems. (You came to that conclusion. I'm agreeing with you.) I know you say you're short on funds, but you ought to be able to find a dog training class at a dog club or night school that doesn't cost too much. (Maybe not. I don't know where you are.) Ask your veterinarian to point you in the right direction, or see if there's a resource guide at the library. Since you don't have specific problems and just need general guidance, I'd say go to the library and look at the books they have there. There are lots of methods to choose from. One will work. Be consistent. --Lia |
#5
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We need some help with our dogs
The dogs are dominant. That's the soul of this issue. You haven't
established yourself as the dominant one, and as such, they're not going to listen to you. I would start with some basic obedience training. This will not only teach basic obedience commands, but will also establish your dominance. When walking the dogs, you need to maintain your pack leader status. When the dog gets excited and pulls, you need to break the concentration by correcting her. A quick jerk of the leash (to the side), a bump sideways, etc. If she becomes distracted by something and wants to stop or pulls in another direction, you keep walking straight. The pack leader doesn't stop because the submissive dog wants to sniff a bush. For the dog refusing to walk, again, you need to establish dominance. She doesn't follow you because she doesn't have to - she's the boss. A great resource that I haven't seen posted here is http://effectivedogtraining.net They have all sorts of posts about dog training and dominance issues. |
#6
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We need some help with our dogs
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. |
#7
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We need some help with our dogs
On Apr 16, 4:16*pm, 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. Thank you. For the dog that pulls on the leash, try walking with him by your side. Hold the handle of the leash with the hand opposite the dog and let the leash move freely through the hand closest to him. Any time he starts to pull on the leash, turn and walk in the opposite direction and let him follow. When he turns and is walking next to you, give him an enthusiastic "good boy" and a treat. When he starts to pull ahead again, turn direction again and repeat. This shows him that you are in control. There is no need to yell or yank on the leash. It might take a few walks until he gets it down just right, and you'll feel a bit funny turning direction all the time, but it does work. For the dog that is afraid to walk, the only thing I know to do is to get a favorite treat or toy (hot dog works good) and entice the dog to get started and then walk enthusiastically and without hesitation so that the dog understands that you're in control. You may have to provide a slight pull at first but it's more about attitude than anything. |
#8
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We need some help with our dogs
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#9
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We need some help with our dogs
In article ,
"pfoley" wrote: It sounds as though he could use a good run every day before leash training. Maybe you could bike, jog or roller blade and take the dog with you, or play fetch with him in the yard until he is tired and then take him for a walk on the leash. If the dog is pulling like a freight train on a walk, how safe do you think biking, jogging or rollerblading with that dog, would be? Doing any of those activities with a dog with no leash manners is asking for a trip to the ER. -- Janet Boss www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com |
#10
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We need some help with our dogs
In article ,
Janet Boss wrote: If the dog is pulling like a freight train on a walk, how safe do you think biking, jogging or rollerblading with that dog, would be? You can always put him in a harness and bikejor with him, and the lack of leash manners wouldn't be as much of a problem. You have to be competent on a bike, though (a scooter may be safer), and the dog has to know not to chase squirrels, visit other people, and so on, and you're best on unpaved paths with little foot traffic that don't cross roads. Okay, so maybe that's not a great suggestion, either. I've found that frequent changes of direction work best with my congenital pullers, and I thought that was a good suggestion. Paridoxically-like, I've also found that frequent changes of direction work best with a dog that won't go. When the dog parks it, *don't* try to pull them. Jog off in a different direction, and make it fun, fun, fun. Rules 1, 2, and 3 in dog mushing are "Don't let go," "Don't let go," and "Don't let go." Maybe rules 1, 2, and 3 in dog training should be "Make it fun," "Make it fun," and "Make it fun." -- Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community |
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