Originally Posted by Gavs

Hi there,

Did a search for dominance theory on here, and found this thread. We have a 7 mth old working collie/lab cross, who generally is very well behaved. Our one biggie was on leash walking so we got vv reputable trainer in yesterday to show us how - with help of gentle leader as she is also a car chaser. But when he was here he basically told us that while we have a very "sweet" dog, she is at risk of becoming dominant. She had wormed her way up on the sofa beside me during a holiday away and had kept her position there. But before that had been a floor dog as we didn't really want a bigish dog lying on the settee
So he has told us to control better her food and resting quarters during the day, and that when we are not playing with or training her, that she is in her crate with the door closed and her chews. She was always in her crate in the kitchen at night or when we were out but with door open. So we have been trying this and she is actually resting more and going into her crate but tbh the whole idea of me having to master her doesn't sit easily with me. Oh we were also advised to lift her food bowl while she is eating, which I won't be doing.

Thoughts/advice ?

Thanks
Gavs

Originally Posted by Manoy Moneelil

You are aware that this thread was started by a spammer just to provide a foothold for their back-links ?????

Look at the other two posts they made before moving on, pointless.

Remove the whole lot.

Originally Posted by Sarah1983

Was replying to the person who posted today, not to the OP which was started quite a while ago.

Originally Posted by GalvinBrown

Easy Training with Dog Psychology


The Canine Mind: Dog Psychology
The most common mistake people make in training a dog is to assume that the dog is like a child. Your pet may be small and dependent on you for its needs, but a dog's mind is built differently from a human's. Most pet behavior problems can be prevented by treating your dog like a dog.


The Alpha of a Dog Pack
In the wild, dogs live in packs with a well-understood hierarchy. The pack leader or "alpha dog" eats first, gets his choice of mate, leads when the pack is on the move, and sits or stands higher than the subordinate members of the pack.

It would be completely unacceptable for a member of the pack to refuse to give way for the alpha or to growl when the alpha takes her food.

Because they're built the same way as wolves or other wild dogs, and because dogs can't act any way other than how they feel, these behaviors are equally unacceptable in a family pet.


Teaching the Way Your Dog Learns
If you want your dog to obey you, he or she must first understand that you are the pack leader. Only when your dog believes that you are alpha will you see consistent good behavior.

Cesar Millan, known as "the dog whisperer," says that dogs have three fundamental needs to keep them healthy and well-behaved. From most important to least important, these are:

* Exercise
* Discipline and
* Affection

Many dog owners, especially of small dogs, shower their dogs with affection while ignoring the more important need for exercise – in the wild a dog would be running for most of the day – and discipline, which would be provided in the wild by pack structure.


Teaching Your Dog to Think of You as Alpha
These simple habits will teach your dog that you are the pack leader:

* Always pass through doors and walk up/down stairs before your dog does.
* Teach your dog to walk beside you and follow your lead. Only the alpha leads.
* The dog should be seated lower than you. The alpha takes higher ground.
* The dog should never be allowed on furniture unless invited.
* Feed the dog after human family members have finished eating. (If you feed your dog at a different time than your dinner, get in the habit of munching on a cracker or something small but visible before you feed the dog.)
* Ignore puppy "complaints" such as whining or barking for attention. You decide when to go for a walk, not the dog.
* Your bed and other furniture is off-limits to the dog, but the dog's bed/crate/kennel, toys, and food dish are not off-limits to you. The alpha can take something from any pack member without being challenged.

A well-behaved dog respects not only its own alpha or master, but the entire human household. Children should be taught how to handle the dog so they, too, are respected as being dominant over the dog.

Originally Posted by Gavs

Hi there,

Did a search for dominance theory on here, and found this thread. We have a 7 mth old working collie/lab cross, who generally is very well behaved. Our one biggie was on leash walking so we got vv reputable trainer in yesterday to show us how - with help of gentle leader as she is also a car chaser. But when he was here he basically told us that while we have a very "sweet" dog, she is at risk of becoming dominant. She had wormed her way up on the sofa beside me during a holiday away and had kept her position there. But before that had been a floor dog as we didn't really want a bigish dog lying on the settee
So he has told us to control better her food and resting quarters during the day, and that when we are not playing with or training her, that she is in her crate with the door closed and her chews. She was always in her crate in the kitchen at night or when we were out but with door open. So we have been trying this and she is actually resting more and going into her crate but tbh the whole idea of me having to master her doesn't sit easily with me. Oh we were also advised to lift her food bowl while she is eating, which I won't be doing.

Thoughts/advice ?

Thanks
Gavs

Originally Posted by newfiesmum

Lifting her food bowl whilst she is eating will have one result - food guarding.
And why the hell shouldn't she be on the sofa if that is ok with you?
I got leather so the dogs could be on the sofa; I love my furry cuddles and I can't get on the floor.

Dominance theory is crap; always was, always will be. You need to have rules, but they have nothing
to do with wild packs of dogs, who do not live like that anyway.

You have a working breed who needs stimulation and exercise, & you can do that with positive
reward-based training, and by being her friend.

Originally Posted by newfiesmum

...the very idea of putting a Gentle Leader [headcollar] on a 7-MO makes me shudder.
They should never be used on growing pups.