Help With Training Issues?

freespiritmom · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:20 am Post subject:

I have three boys. When all of a sudden they will start fighting for no apparent reason. No serious injuries yet but a couple of times the skin has been broken, and I can break it up with a squirt bottle. It is a different one starting the fights, sometimes Sam then maybe Duke and this past two days its been Bullet. They are not fighting over anything like food or toys, just walking by can trigger a fight. Most of the time they seem to get along really well.

SirSilver · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:21 am Post subject:

Point taken. I just can't fit a crate into my car. I would love to be able to! I know he is happier when he's crated in the car. I think I will just take it back to basics and work with him while the car is off, idling, etc. Thanks.

tltrooster · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:34 am Post subject:

Hi Joel,

I love watching your show. Your soft spoken approach is so refreshing.
My question and or problem is this:

Champ will be 2 in January, he has been through three different levels
of obedience classes. The last class that we went to we had agression
issues with the other dogs in the class. There was a rotweiller, a german
shepard, and I am not sure about the other dog. While Champ is
quiet and in a sit stay. the rotweiller starts barking at champ and then
we have an all out war with barking and lunging. I do know how to
stop Champ and get his attention focused back on me. and I do
that all the time when we see other dogs. He does have two other brothers that doesnt live with him but they play together everyday
a 5 mth cocker spaniel, and a 7 yr old cocker spaniel
When we walk, which we are doing better,I am taking treats with me and as we walk by other dogs, I am making him focus on treat and telling him to leave it. Which it is getting better, but I am concerned about this agression. Should I be, and is there anything else I can do to improve on this. I do know that when we were in class, we do have to let the dogs meet, usually takes 5 seconds, and we are having to pull away before it
gets heated.

CherrystoneWeims · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

SirSilver,

How large is your dog? Even if he has to be a little tighter in a 400 crate it would be better. IMHO it actually is better when a dog is confined in a smaller crate when traveling. What about a soft crate?

joelsilverman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: For Sheri

Hey Sheri,

When there are aggressive issues I really try not to give too much advice because I really need to be there to see it. But remember that when you are dealing with aggression, it quite often is a behavior that can escalate, and many times you have not seen the worst.

My suggestion is to find a person near where you live that deals specifically with aggressive issues. NOT just a dog trainer. Make sure they have some references too, and ask to speak to some of his or her previous clients. This is the best way to go, because as I mentioned, aggression really can escalate into something beyond anyone's control. Hope this helps!

joelsilverman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:47 am Post subject: For Tammy

Hey Tammy,

I appreciate you kind words. Funny story along those line... George Carlin, the comedian contacted me about 7 years ago. I don't know how he got my number but wanted me to train his dog. When he left the message he said "I have seen many dog trainers, and I really appreciate your NON-NAZI approach to dog training". Kind of funny..

Actually you are pretty much handling your problem the way I would handle it. Remember that the dog remembers all the good and bad. In their brain it's like a computer, and bad instances can be remembered very quickly. Just remember that the Rottweiller incident is something that will stay in your dog's head for a while. For the time being I would really make the effort to not expose him to anything that would even make him think of that.

CherrystoneWeims · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

CherrystoneWeims · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

Joel,

I have one for you!

I've never had a problem breaking a dog from jumping on people. I have a 1 yr. old bitch that I just can't break from jumping. I've done the knee into the chest, pulling down with the lead, squirt bottle, duck walking into her, squeezing her paws when she jumps. Nothing is working for her. She's a much higher drive, field bred pup and seems to have a much higher tolerance level to things.

She'll get the point about not jumping onto the front of you but then she will ambush me from behind when we are out running in a field.

joelsilverman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:27 am Post subject: Hi Pam

Pam... go to my site www.companionsforlife.net

When you go there, go to the ONLINE DOG TRAINING AREA. Click on Jumping.. There are about 14 one minute clips that will help you with that!
I think that is part of the site that all pet owners should take a look at.

Mommy2Chance · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject:

Oh Joel I need so much help with my little guy. He's 4 months old and he knows sit and stay which he does for my boyfriend, for me he does it most of the time. But when we tell him to sit he sits then he like looks around the room. He looks anywhere but at you like he has ADD, lol. He has the attention span of a flea! When he grabs somthing and I say "no" (which he knows very well) he immediately drops it no problem but he will go back for it the second you look away. I can tell him no a hundred times he will go back to it everytime and when I say "no" he stops and looks at me like it's the first time he's ever been told not to touch that item. He also still has accidents in the house. He's lucky we love him so much cause he wears us out some days.

joelsilverman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject: 4 Month Old

Remember that you are still training a puppy. And it is imperative that all you do in training is fun with a dog this age. Try to first identify certain things that motivate the dog in some way. It may very well be a certain treat. You may only want to give him the treat when you are training him. I would get him on something elevated, and just walk to him and reward him for now and teach him to stay there. that is the first step.

G-Smith · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Two more issues... upon arriving home my girl Layla (1yr. old and 65 lbs.) goes completely nuts jumping, scratching, barking basically acting like a complete fruit loop.. She doesn't seem to have S.A. I will tell her DOWN and I get nothing or sometimes she will get down for 1 second (she does understand).. We just adopted a 3 month old weim which much to our dismay seems to have EXTREME S.A. it truly is horrendous..... Within 2 days she is unfortunately learning this behavior..... I have also tried ignoring her completely and this has no effect.. Is there anything else to try? They both settle down within approx. 2 or 3 min. Large breed dogs acting out like this is very problematic especially around children and the elderly... We have also been checking into this S.A. and we have yet to get any of the well documented efforts to work Sad

Any thoughts??

anne · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject:

Susan,

Indy is a major licker too, and I have to be able to control it for therapy dog work. I taught her the command "enough." Didn't want to use "no" since I do like her licking me at times but other times I don't want her licking others or I do get tired of her licking me. "Enough" also carries over to anything that I want the dogs to stop. I trained it by using treats, the same way in many respects the way I have trained to quit barking, it's a redirect. I think I have posted the method here and at MSN a couple times.

Sundown127 · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

joelsilverman · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Great picture!!!!