Just wondering, because you are so highly critical of me. So you've obviously been in the same situation with this many dogs and therefore feel you have the experience to keep putting me down?

I have 4 dogs in my house, 2 foreign street dogs, 1 staffi and a bull dog. There needs to be a rank structure, I made the mistake when I first got them of not being firmly in charge and it back fired.

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

Congratulations on having so many dogs. I'm sure there is a rank structure within your pack - dogs usually sort it out among themselves anyway. And I'm sure you have them all well trained and under control. Well done

My point is that, as many trainers/behaviourists will tell you, your dogs are well aware that you are not another dog so any attempts to be seen as "alpha dog" or similar are pretty meaningless.

The trainers at the Ob class I go to have 8 dogs between them, living in the same house and have no use for any Cesar-type jabbing, kicking, alpha-rolling or hissing. And yes, some of THEM are rescues.

It is perfectly possible to be "in charge" without resorting to the dominance theory

Thanks for your reply. I appreceiate that everybody has their different views on things. I also agree that there are many ways to rehabilitate/train a dog. And it always depends on the individual dog.

With reference to your comment about your dog pulling there and not back and about respect. In your case I am sure it is excitment. But for dogs that pull constantly, paying no attention to the handler..... It's not just excitment. I lead walk my four dogs, and with a combined weight of 17 stone, I couldn;t possibly be in the position where even one dog was pulling. I have never attended training classes or practiced techniques, but just practice leadership. I can only go on my own experience x

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

Dogs pull because they think that pulling is achieving what they want; to get to where they want to go.

If pulling stops working, they stop pulling.

I agree that there are many ways to stop them pulling, but ultimately it is nothing to do with respect. It is about what the dog perceives as working.

I think we need to agree to disagree, because all we are doing is taking over people's posts.

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Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

Thanks for your reply. A very nice balanced post, taking into account other peoples opinions.
At the end of the day, there are many ways to train a dog, what works for some people doesn't work for others. I often think of it as looking at a mountain from different angles. I personally like positive reinforcement methods, because I have found it successful with my dog and like it and the way that it encourages dogs to give a behaviour of their own will. However I think that it is true to say that too much of anything can be a bad thing. Discipline is also necesary. If a dog was to give an attention bark, the behaviour would be "punished" with an immediate withdrawal of attention.

That's the way I like to train my dog, some people may not choose that method themselves and prefer other ways. And so long as the way of training is kind, ethical and doesn't worsen a problem, good luck to to them

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Hi all

After reading through this thread, alot of people seem to be recommending "dog walking aids" such as the canny or haltie?

My 2 dogs have been a problem on a lead for ages! But I have always wanted my dogs to walk well on a lead naturally without using equipment!

This is probably why I have been finding it harder! Anyway, I have listed a thread telling peeps about this website my best mate found and told me about and so far it seems to be working? Fingers crossed it stays that way! LOL

Good luck with your new dog Cherene! Labs are great dogs and defo worth the effort!

Sarah X

Well said!

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