I'm the Alpha in this house - I wag my tail when I'm happy, I nip cheeky buggers when they challenge my rank - and I'm the only one in the pack that gets to BONK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Please could you explain to me how a human is a member of a canine packconfused:

__________________


Yum Yum Yum

My dogs know far more commands than sit and off and I feel no need to assert my alpha leader rank, even over seven dogs. Unless you have four legs and a tail I fail to see why you would need to assert your dominance as you are not part of the dog pack.

My dog jumps onto the furniture (I only have 1 dog otherwise there'd be no going onto the furniture as the cats take up more room). If a person goes to sit down on the sofa the dog will move and go onto the floor - she also does this if my 2 year old goes to climb up onto the sofa. Now I'm sure she understands where she fits into the household. If you tell her off she gets off imediately without any fuss, anyone in the house can take her food from her even if it is a meaty bone (including my 2 year old). She knows that she isn't at the top of the household and comes after all the people in the house. I don't have to assert anything over her at all, infact nobody does. She understands lots of commands with the exception of stopping barking occasionally but I understand why she is doing this and it's not done through agressiveness at all (she's just an over grown yappy terrier with a bark of a GSD, lol).

I also agree with everything which has been said about getting him off the sofa, its definatly a dominance thing, and he wants to be dominant over you, theres a few simple things you can do it every day life to renforce your self being dominant over him, when he is calmish roll him on his back as tickle his tummy, i know it sounds like your just tickling him but this possision is submissive for him and dominant for you, also when he is in this possision you can try holding his muzle very lightly for a few seconds at a time, this is very calming to them and once again renforces that you are the boss. You might want to do this during grooming time that gives you the oppurtunity to get him used to you touching his pads and tail etc.

Thought I'd give you all an update regarding Heskey and unfortunately it's getting worse. I've tried being more assertive but the biting is getting worse, he's now started the same with my partner. It's now beginning to take it's toll on us both. We both love him so much but worry that he's heading in the wrong direction and we're not going to be able to pull him back! I'm looking into getting a dog trainer to see if that helps, can anyone recommend a trainer that works in the chester/cheshire area?

I've read this thread and there is a lot of good sound advice.

My dog a SBT was a little git. He would throw his weight to the back of the settee, OFF meant dig in deeper, don't give in; he would attempt to bite if I tried to handle him. Words don't always do the trick. I used the top of his collar (ensuring those little needle teeth couldn't get my skin) and his bum saying off firmly and ousted him off.

humm... he still sleeps on the settee the difference is he will willing jump off when told.

When your dog is playing and biting give him something else to bite other than your hand and praise him like crazy. I found that by isolating Duke for a few seconds no more than a couple of minutes also worked. Be careful any longer than a couple of minutes and he forgot why he had been isolated and the biting will start again.

I always ask myself what would I do if my child did the same thing. Would it be a request or a demand that they stop doing whatever they shouldn't. In a lot of ways dogs are like kids they test the boundaries.


Sue

TWELVE BASIC RULES of TRAINING
SOME EVERY DAY RULES THAT WILL HELP YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR DOG

1. Make sure you go through doorways first.
This can be a LIFE SAVER. If your dog tries to push through just shut the door (gently) on him. If you are letting your dog out into the garden, you must step out first then let the dog come out.
2. No Begging
No titbits from the dinnerplate or from your hand at the table etc. ALWAYS get your dog to work for a titbit ie hand touch, sit, come, down, high five, twirl etc


3. Grooming
Groom your dog daily, if he needs it or not. Handle feet, ears, look at teeth etc. The dog MUST accept being handled.
4. Bedroom
Do not allow your dog into your bedroom. This is your territory. If you wish to allow it later, it must be on your terms.
5. Furniture
Do not allow your puppy on the furniture or on your lap unless you are prepared for a full grown adult to do the same. If he goes on furniture, it MUST be only on your invitation.
6. No Side-stepping
Always get your dog to move out of your way. Don’t walk around him.
7. Lead Walking
When walking your dog on the lead, change direction frequently without warning.
8. Bed
Stand in his bed. It is yours, not his, and you are just allowing him to have it.
9. Toys
Sometimes exchange the toy for food (or vice versa) but ONLY IF YOU ARE CERTAIN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. Do not EVER tease the dog. Just take the toy / bone away and say “good boy”. Sometimes give it straight back saying “OK” or “take it”.
10. Settle
Get your dog to lie down and settle

11. Feeding
Feed yourself at meal times before you feed your dog. Make sure the dog waits for his food. Feed him by hand from the bowl. It is your bowl not his. He must think that you are kindly sharing your food with him.
12. Attention Seeking
Do not allow your dog to successfully demand attention. Give him attention only on your initiative and make him work for it ie call him to you, get him to sit or down, don’t go to him.
If he jumps up / barks / nips etc fold your arms and IGNORE him, standing up if you are sitting and / or turning your back on him. Say NOTHING. When he is good then you can make a fuss of him.


All these exercises will help you gain control over your dog. He won’t HATE you. He will LOVE you all the more, guaranteed.
Letting him know that you are his boss will make training your dog easier and, above all, your dog will be happier for it.

More important than correction is PRAISE.
By praising the good and ignoring the bad, your dog will soon understand what is right and what is wrong.

Sound advice MrsDusty - I just read that list and I really need to take notice. My owners let me do a few of those things and I know they shouldn't.

I'll show this to them and ask them to be a bit stricter with me!

Hi.

Im afraid I have to disagree with a lot of the advice you have been given. A lot of the stuff about dominance is outdated. I have a dog that will never get of the sofa but he is so not dominant it is unreal. Dogs know the difference between people and dogs. They do not think of us as part of the "pack".

It sounds to me that your dog is reaching puberty and at this stage he will be stuborn. He may well grow out of this but for the time being Id suggest doing some clicker training with him as this will provide him with mental stimulation and eliminate bordom and reduce other urges. Start with the simple things such as sit and paw etc. Then try and teach a "down". Not "lie down" as he may get them confused. Just a down as in get off. Use his favourite treats and lure him. reward him for getting off and repeate for as long as necessary. always reward and say down as the dog is getting off, not before or after as this may confuse him. Eventually he'll get it and will get down when ever you tell him too. Always reward him at first. then once he has the idea you can reduce the amount of time you give him treats. every other one, then every third etc. eventually it will become a gamble to him. like a game.

never punish your dog or shout. it will make matters worse. your dog wont be any better for it and youll only get yourself angry and worked up in the process. while your training ill also recomend DAP. Its a pheromone that calms dogs and will help him learner quicker as he will be less excited.

hope things work out for you

This is a serious issue and one that should be addressed by your vet. Any aggression should be treated by expert help, and your vet will refer your dog to their chosen dog behaviourist.

If you are insured, you will only need to pay the access and the good news is that your dog is still a pup and with expert help his problems should be overcome.

Best of luck

__________________
pet sitting dog sitter dog sitting
Somerset and Avon, Bristol, Hampshire, Dorset, Essex, Greater London, West Sussex, Surrey