Hi Daisy

I have only ever seen Cesar Milan do that but he does advise that you have a behavourist help you. However one day l was in the kitchen and Schmoo pounced on one of my cats and when it lashed at him he got very growlyand snarly. Without thinking l yelled No and grabbed him and put him on his back and he instantly just flopped there, not trying to get up. I said No again and then slowly released him. When he got up l just talked normally to him in a quiet voice and then told him off you go.

I did this without thinking and it worked but l don't know if it was the right thing to do. I think Karen would be the best one to ask on this.

What dog do you have and how old and whats the problem by the way.

It's designed to place the dog in a submissive place. You hold them there whilst they submit. When they stay there without force youv'e won. I wouldn't advise using it. It's direct confrontation and should only be used be experienced dog handlers. I'd advise the rebalancing program as it restructures the pack without direct confrontation.

Glad to see your both doing well. Consistancy will bring great results. Beware how much freedom you allow your dogs off leash before you have perfect recall. Every time they don't come back is a knock to your status within the pack.

To practice recall he's my advice:

1. buy a whistle with apitch the dog doesnt know.
2. attach a long leash or rope to the dog.
3. blow whistle and pull the dog in to you.
4. give dog a treat and send it away with lot's of praise.
5.Recall dog again and follow same above steps another five times.
6. Recall dog and only give praise.
7. recall dog and give treat, recall then praise, recall then treat ect
8. recall dog with out treats for five times.
9 release dog recall without rope pull.
10 send dog away
11. recall dog put him on leash. Tada!!!

A scientist named Pavlov rang a bell and blew meat powder into the dogs mouth. After a while the dog would respond to the whistle by salavating. even without any treat being offered.
This is programmed behaviour. The above method will develope this in your dogs and recall will no loger be an issue.
It's most important that you only blow whistle once then pull him in if he doesn't come. If you give him another chance you'll teach him to come when he feels like it. Until you get perfect recall keep the dog on a leash.
I'm very busy at the moment ladies so I'll apologise now if it's a while before I reply again. But your both doing fine now anyway.

Kittysoo. you did it instinctively and that's a reflex reaction that has developed because you are naturally becoming the pack leader. Well done. I don't advise it because most people don't have that natural instinct. Hesitation can get you bitten. I should know...

Thanks Karen

I did'nt realise that l was doing too much damage by repeatedly callin the dogs. Some times they all trot back straight away and at other times the grass is to enticing to sniff. I have kept calling and have then given a grumpy yell to get the attention.

I did'nt realise that calling a few times were that detrimental to pack leader status but l do now. I shall definatly get them a long training lead and stick to doing separate walks. I have been cheating recently as it is pretty tiring walking 3 separatly. My DH is not really interested in walking the dogs at all and won't even come out with me either.

Anyway its good that you are busy Karen as that is your living. Pop in everynow please as its good to have your advice. I feel that l am getting there slowly but surely.

ttfn xxx Kittysoo

Yes please do keep popping in with your advice Karen it is much appreciated.
Tootsie is doing really well with recall apart from a little blip the other night but she is in season so her brain is all over the place at the moment. When she is off lead I call her by name if she finds something more interesting to sniff and she is coming straight back - sometimes give a treat and sometimes just praise her. I have also made her sit whilst off lead to let bikers or walkers go past - I really keep my eye on her with this but she seems to be doing alright.
I really need to work on her in the car though ( sorry to hi jack your thread Kittysoo ) I dont know if anybody else has this problem but as soon as I put Tootsie in the car she whines and it drives me crazy. The only way to stop her is to let her sit on my knee which is not safe so I have bought a cage for her to go in when I am driving. I dont think she is frightened by the car as she gets really excited when I put the cage in the car and comes to me to pick her up to put her in. The problem is that I sometimes have to go on long journeys with her and it is a nightmare - literally takes her an hour to shut up and finally give in Any advice on this one would be fantastic and would stop me driving myself round the bend - literally I have tried telling her to be quiet, treats, ignoring her, putting her favourite toys in the cage with her. I just dont know what to try next It would be so nice to take her to the beach or the park without the stress

I wish l lived close to the beach. I feel we are as far inland as you can get!

We have an estate car and Seiger has always sat in the back part. Now that the little ones are travelling with us we have bought them 2 harness that clip into the seatbelt slots.

I have put a furry blanket on the back seat and l find that both of the dogs lie down and settle quite quickly. My only problem is that Scamper seems to suffer from car sickness! We always open the window a couple of inches to let the air in too.

I am sure Cear Milan had a dog that did the same as Tootsie and l think that he cured her by just sitting in the car with her without the engine running and then the radio on and finally with the engine running before he attempeted a journey. He made the car a pleasant place to be. Maybe look onhis website at the questions and answers bit to see if anything is on there.

PS Your'e definatly not hyjacking the thread TM. Its all about training and l find that reading posts about other peoples dogs is really helpful.

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Ta Ta For Now xxx Kittysoo

Try just covering her cage with a blanket

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preferably a sound proof one will try that Tashi and see if it works and have a look at the Cesar Milan site Kittysoo. I have tried putting her in the car when I clean it so that she can get used to it when not driving but as I dont clean my car very often she probably can not remember it I havent tried a harness on Tootsie yet but If the cage doesnt work out that will be next on the list ( Pets at home really love me ) It would be lovely if she would just settle and lie down like yours.
Am running a bit late tonight so am just about to go out on a walk with Tootsie. Catch up later

I have to ask what is Tootsie she looks a little like a german spitz klein

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yes she is pomeranian and they are part of the German Spitz family ( the German Spitz Klein was bred smaller and smaller till the pomeranian was born but I have just had a look on Google and the German Spitz was made protected in 1994 to keep their size ) Tootsie was the runt so is very small ( 12" tall ) and her face although it is very cute is not a good example of a pom - but does look more like a minature version of a spitz hmmmm you have made me think about this now - perhaps I should call her a minature German Spitz Klein instead of a Pomeranian as she really does look more like one. The pics on google of a spitz look more like her than a pom although a pom can be called a Dwarf Spitz too so I think I might call her that in future. Have put the pics below to see what you think

German Spitz Klein


Pomeranian