As I explained before about having my pup Zane and my brothers pup Precious, my older brother has now asked me to help him train his dog and teach her how to interact. Well, heres the problem. I had both the pups in my bedroom, and they were both showing signs of bone aggression. Zane wasnt growling but he kept trying to take his bones from Precious. Precious on the other hand, she was growling alittle and snapping at Zane. Well, I had texted my brothers girlfriend and told her. She said oh its not bone aggression, its just that she doesnt like to share her bones. I said but isnt that the samething? Anyway, theres the thing, how am I supposed to help them with their dog, if all they do is ignore what i tell him needs immediate attention, especially with a baby on the way? Am I supposed to continue helping them with the pup or just tell them to train their own dog?
Training.
- Thread starter Mick
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Ah, finally, the question about people training.
First of all, when you're trying to help people train their dogs, you have to be super intuned to the fact that they are very emotionally attached to their dog. They generally see their dog as practically perfect, and it doesn't matter what kinds of problems they're having with their dog. So when you tell them that you see a problem, you have to be very careful with your wording.... Make it sound important but not like something the dog needs to be euthanized for. So, in this case, you could say something like, "Zane and Precious got along well until they discovered the bones, and then they were both doing some guarding. Precious growled and snapped at Zane [_____ #] of times. I think this is an issue we need to develop a plan to solve." Tell them what you saw, the symptoms of the problem (growling, snapping, etc.), not what your diagnosis is (Bone Aggression), because when you give their dog a label, especially when it involves "aggression", they are going to get defensive and tell you why you can't possibly be right.
Not to mention that in this case, you can't say for sure that their dog is "Bone Aggressive", because you've only seen it in one situation with one other dog, who was himself also guarding the bones. It's possible that she learned the behavior FROM Zane. It's also very possible that she will never show any guarding behaviors towards humans, or to other dogs besides Zane.
What exactly is it your brother wanted you to work on with his dog? Was it guarding specifically? Because if not, you shouldn't ever have two dogs together, who don't live with each other, with good resources like bones laying around for them to fight over.
First of all, when you're trying to help people train their dogs, you have to be super intuned to the fact that they are very emotionally attached to their dog. They generally see their dog as practically perfect, and it doesn't matter what kinds of problems they're having with their dog. So when you tell them that you see a problem, you have to be very careful with your wording.... Make it sound important but not like something the dog needs to be euthanized for. So, in this case, you could say something like, "Zane and Precious got along well until they discovered the bones, and then they were both doing some guarding. Precious growled and snapped at Zane [_____ #] of times. I think this is an issue we need to develop a plan to solve." Tell them what you saw, the symptoms of the problem (growling, snapping, etc.), not what your diagnosis is (Bone Aggression), because when you give their dog a label, especially when it involves "aggression", they are going to get defensive and tell you why you can't possibly be right.
Not to mention that in this case, you can't say for sure that their dog is "Bone Aggressive", because you've only seen it in one situation with one other dog, who was himself also guarding the bones. It's possible that she learned the behavior FROM Zane. It's also very possible that she will never show any guarding behaviors towards humans, or to other dogs besides Zane.
What exactly is it your brother wanted you to work on with his dog? Was it guarding specifically? Because if not, you shouldn't ever have two dogs together, who don't live with each other, with good resources like bones laying around for them to fight over.
No the thing I was asked to do originally is help train her. But I tried to explain that a pitt bull is one of those breeds thats are a one owner dog, atleast thats what I read on the net. If i train her, she's going to assume i'm her owner. I dont want that. But I agreed to try the basics ONLY because they do have a baby on the way. I'm not however (I know some might take offense to this, and I do apologize) not too friendly towards pittbulls in general. I have seen them turn and its not pretty, even when they were raised properly. Anyway, back to the issue. I'm thinking that in his case, since the dogs only get along (Like children) for a certain length of time, that its better if he has a professional work with her. Come to think of it, I dont really know why they even have a puppy. They bought her but they keep bringing her over my house for us to take care of while they're at work. Correct me if i'm wrong but isnt that the reason for crate training your puppy, so they can be left along at the owners home, while they're at work?
I really don't think t hat will happen - that she will see you as an owner. I'm not a fan of sending your puppy to a trainer to "get it trained", though, just because I believe that if you don't know how to maintain the behaviors your dog knows, he will stop doing them. I think there's only so much the owner can expect to get, as far as his dog being trained, if he doesn't train the dog at all himself.
I understand being uncomfortable with certain breeds, probably most of us are (whether we'll admit it or not), and I will tell you, if you're not comfortable working with a dog, the dog WILL know, and the dog will not be comfortable working with you either. If you're so uncomfortable that you don't feel like you will be able to get over it (which I understand), you might as well just throw in the towel right now and tell them to just get a professional.
I thought they were just bringing her to your house while she was getting over her spraigned ankle? Anyway, puppies can't be left in a crate for eight hours until they're at least 9 or 10 months old, so it's a very good thing that they're getting her out of the house every day. If you don't want her to come to your house, you could suggest they take her to a doggy day care.
I understand being uncomfortable with certain breeds, probably most of us are (whether we'll admit it or not), and I will tell you, if you're not comfortable working with a dog, the dog WILL know, and the dog will not be comfortable working with you either. If you're so uncomfortable that you don't feel like you will be able to get over it (which I understand), you might as well just throw in the towel right now and tell them to just get a professional.
I thought they were just bringing her to your house while she was getting over her spraigned ankle? Anyway, puppies can't be left in a crate for eight hours until they're at least 9 or 10 months old, so it's a very good thing that they're getting her out of the house every day. If you don't want her to come to your house, you could suggest they take her to a doggy day care.
Doggy Day Care? Yeah right. Why would they do that when my mom will insist I watch her for free at the house and she doesnt even like pittbulls. Seriously, my brother can barely afford where he lives, let alone Daycare for a dog. I think my mom thinks that shes helping him out financially because of the baby on the way. What shes really doing is not pushing him to train and care for his own dog. What I dont understand is if he cant handle the puppy, then how's he gonna handle a puppy and an infant?