Postings by Smokey

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Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Mon May 20, '13 4:37pm PST  my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Wed May 15, '13 10:35am PST  When I get burnt out and start to dread training sessions, I usually switch it up and teach something fun and silly. I taught Smokey to give paw a couple weeks ago and we're working on speak now. I think when you teach something you know doesn't matter, you loosen up, which relaxes the dog and helps to reestablish the bond. I also make it easy to do what I need to do, so when I'm tired and frustrated I don't have to think. For example, keeping a treat pouch full of cut-up beef jerky and a clicker near the door, so I can grab them and go and know that I can reward good behavior on walks. With the rambunctious/curious/destructive behavior in the house and bad pulling, it sounds like your dog needs more exercise. Trying to get a bored, understimulated dog to walk on a loose leash is frustrating for everyone. Is there somewhere less crowded you could take them to play? Could you teach her to fetch? Also, food dispensing toys can be a godsend for bored dogs. If you have hollow bones lying around, like marrow bones, those can be filled with wet food, dinner leftovers, yogurt, etc, and frozen. Even a big chunk of ice (frozen in the bottom of a container and removed) will occupy some dogs for awhile. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > Adopted shelter dog attack, sent to ER today. Heartbroken. Help please.

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Tue May 14, '13 8:06pm PST  What a terribly sad situation. It's hard for me to say with certainty, not having seen your dog's body language or whether you've been discouraging warning signals, but suddenly biting after two months of comfortable cohabitation is really, really unusual. Unless I could find some compelling explanation, like a medical problem or visual impairment, I probably wouldn't keep the dog. I'm hoping Asher will weigh in, as my dog's reactivity isn't directed toward me. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > Dog killed child (irresponsible dog owners)

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Sat May 11, '13 11:45pm PST  Though I understand the wisdom of not leaving a dog alone with a kid, in my mind that's to prevent (poop eating, tail pulling, the dog getting frustrated and snarling or biting, the kid hurting the dog, the kid and the dog knocking heads, the dog humping or jumping on the kid, etc etc.) I find it so shocking as to be unimaginable that a family dog would KILL a child while the mom was in the bathroom. My impression of pits has been that they're particularly good with kids. If the story these people are telling is true, I don't blame them for the death of their child. The only people who can claim that decent parents never leave a toddler alone for 30 seconds are people who haven't actually raised children. It's a terrible tragedy, and those people are suffering plenty, and will for the rest of the their lives. It does make me wonder what else was going on- was the dog beaten for showing aggression, thus stamping out his warning signals? Punished for approaching the child, over and over, until he hated the sight of him? Totally and completely underexercised? I just need some reason for this, beyond 'oh, the dog was alone with the kid for a minute.' That can't possibly be the whole story. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > Lancer's reactivity problem risen- nearly runs to his death

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Sat May 11, '13 1:46pm PST  *Hugs* I had a couple of similar and similarly terrifying experiences. My solution was to ask a friend to sew two leashes together for me (so one is on his harness and one on his collar, but I only have to hold one handle). I also once or twice have created a "suddenly free" situation on purpose. One dog park we go to is usually completely empty and is tucked off the road. So I open the gate, he runs out, wondering what the heck is going on, we all ignore him and get in the car, and he walks over, confused about why no one is panicking and chasing him and instead seem to be leaving him behind, and hops into his seat. This is training as much for me as for him- I get used to my heart racing, taking a deep breath and calming myself down. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Fri Apr 26, '13 5:19pm PST  I would post this in the service dogs forum. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > Training with no help?

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Sat Apr 20, '13 10:39pm PST  Can you leave her in a quiet room, maybe with a loud fan running or some classical music playing? my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > What do I do about growling? Help!!!!

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Sun Apr 14, '13 8:56pm PST  I agree with everyone else. Intimidating her when she growls creates a very dangerous situation for the grandkids and everybody else- it discourages her from speaking up when she feels uncomfortable, which means she may bite without warning. Teach an "on" and "off" command, as mentioned. Use a light, happy voice and give great treats, like little pieces of bacon. Make jumping on and off the couch a fun game. You can do this when your husband isn't home. Keep a jar of treats near the couch, and when you need her to move, just give her the off command and reward her for obeying. Make sure her crate or bed is soft and comfortable and send her there when she's overtired. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Behavior & Training > Choke or pinch collar?

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Mon Apr 8, '13 11:25pm PST  My suggestion is to skip the choke or pinch collar, which can cause all sorts of problems (collar shyness, aggression toward other dogs, etc) and work on some basic training using high-value treats. I would start with giving in to leash pressure indoors and then move on to loose leash walking. my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

Smokey Let's play tug!!     Barked: Sat Apr 6, '13 4:27pm PST  If you haven't seen issues with the family, and this is only happening with complete strangers, it's really very unlikely that this would transfer to family members. It's like the difference between shooting an intruder and shooting your sibling. This is definitely something you want to address, but it is not necessarily indicative of any fundamental miswiring in the dog. Remember that protecting the village is probably how dogs have been earning their keep for thousands of years, and you have a new small, vulnerable pack member. Was baby along for the walk when this happened?? my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become pals [notify]

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