Puppy's behavior worries me:( - Page 4

Hillside · #31 08-02-2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.baker

Hillside I strongly feel that comment on your last post towards the end was uncalled for. That kinda stuff is not helpful.

Or perhaps it was to show that negativity begets negative responses...

#32 08-03-2008, 09:00 AM

Ok, let's review.

You were given several instructions on how to be patient with the puppy and help him be more willing to come onto the grass, which you apparently feel is not correct advice. It is quite clear you feel no qualms about forcing your puppy to do whatever. Many of us do not share the same views.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreeville

It's important to be the dominant one, especially with a puppy so he knows who's boss early on.

I'm not joking when I say that if I let this puppy have his way during walks, he would sit on the sidewalk and do absolutely nothing the entire time and would only potty if he couldn't hold it any longer. At least forcing him on the grass will make him potty, but he will continue to struggle anyway.

I don't believe what I'm doing is wrong at all.

I don't believe in spoiling my dog and letting him have his way.

If I let him have his way with the grass then he will always have this problem. Food, treats, and toys, have no effect whatsoever on his behavior

Age has no relevance when training a dog.

In reality, he's the one who's actually pulling while I'm continuing on the walk.

I'm not going to baby him just because he's a baby. This is how people end up with spoiled and uncontrollable dogs because they feel sorry for them and think in nature they are the same as human babies. Remember, in packs, older, and yes, more dominant members would be showing this puppy who's boss.

Well you all think you know everything about dogs, then why are YOU guys here, asking questions?

All I am doing is debating about raising my puppy.

I have many years of experience with dogs (I grew up always with at least 3 dogs at a time that I myself raised).

So grow up.

I am not sure what one would add to the above comments. Having lived with, bred, trained, shown and titled numerous dogs during the last 20 years, I can assure YOU that my dogs are not spoiled, nor do they have their own way all the time. I make rules and enforce them in as positive a way as possible.

I do not drag baby puppies around on the lead and force them to do things so they "know who is boss".

I make myself the leader of my dogs by providing and controlling their resources. I live with a pack of 5 Rottweilers. I can assure YOU that if there was no control, this would not be a happy family. I choose not to control my dogs by force.

Age is ABSOLUTELY and COMPLETELY relevant when training and working with dogs. Working with little puppies should never involve force or dominance.

It takes two for any pulling to occur. If the puppy is pulling, you are 50% of the problem, at minimum.

I apologize for even READING this thread, much less posting to it.

corgipower · #33 08-03-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreeville

Well you all think you know everything about dogs, then why are YOU guys here, asking questions? I did not exactly post my concerns here because I wanted advice on how to fix the problem, but I wanted input about what may be causing this behavior.

I don't think I know everything about dogs. I don't think anyone here believes they know everything about dogs. There are many people on this board who are quite experienced, many with more experience that I have.

I am a trainer, I teach classes, I compete with my dogs. I always have something to learn, and I enjoy helping others who have less experience.

IMO, what is causing the behavior is that he is a puppy. Puppies get scared of things, sometimes for no reason other than a fear stage. As was mentioned by others, it's not uncommon for doxies to be uncomfortable on grass, so breed is a factor.

I also believe that forcing him into situations that he's already uncomfortable with do more harm than good, and while he may give up and go on the grass and up the stairs, there is something called learned helplessness. It doesn't mean the underlying cause has been solved. Forcing him into uncomfortable situations does a disservice to building trust, which is necessary in order to build respect.

Using positive methods, creating positive associations with things that he's unsure of or uncomfortable with don't create a spoiled out of control dog. They create a dog who is enthusiastic and confident. A spoiled dog or an out of control dog is a dog who hasn't been taught boundaries. Boundaries can be taught without the use of force.

As for dominance, a true alpha dog doesn't intimidate with punitive acts. An alpha dog relies on body language to create a presence, an alpha dog projects confidence. Pack structure beyond that is dynamic. Much of old school pack theory has been proven to be erroneous. The old school pack theory was based on wolves in captivity. Wolves in the wild behave differently from wolves in captivity - in captivity, they are required to inhabit a much smaller territory and that caused dynamics that weren't seen in the wild. Pack theory based on wolves also doesn't equate well to domestic dogs - a species that has been selectively bred to live and work with people for centuries.