need help

[nikki85]

My ACD just dosent listen to me anymore he was doing really good and then he just wont do what I ask and he wont stop chewing on everything. I tell him to drop it or leave it and he dosent listen. I am using the Alpha dog techniqes and walk him once a day (cause I heard that to much is not good right now) he is only 3 months but he was doing really good for a while. He also alligator snaps at me and he did it once to my daughter. Is there anyway to teach him not to do it cus I have tried everything. He does listen to me when I tell him to wait and when I tell him to sit. but Im getting really frustrated and Im worried that one day he will catch my daughter in the face when he alligator snaps and that is not acceptable. My husband and I have different ways of disaplining him and he seems to listen to my husband better. I use the no and my hubby uses the "spank". I know your not supposed to spank a dog but he seems to listen to my husband more then me and i am even firm with the no and clap my hands or make a loud noise. If any one can help cause if he does happen to nip my daughter and/or draw blood on anyone then I dont think we will beable to keep him. thanks

[Maggiesmom1]

Please don't get frustrated. Your dog is still very young and I read in your previous post that you think you are his 4th owner and he's only 12 weeks old!! Yes, "spanking" (hitting) a dog is very, very wrong...and it should never happen. Your husband could be causing more problems for the future. Please tell him to try not to hit the puppy anymore. (Have you read all the posts about dogs who are afraid of men, that's why!! )

I am glad you are walking him every day, as puppies need lots of exercise. Be sure you are being calm when you give him commands. If you are using a high pitched voice and saying a command over and over again, the dog will just tune you out. Try to use a firm, stern sounding voice--a voice of authority. Say your command once and count to 10 silently while you wait. If he alligator snaps, tell him "no, cut it out!" in a very stern voice (but don't scream). Use a little "eh-eh" tone. You can tie a short 12 inch rope to his collar, if he starts jumping or snapping up, pull down on the rope with a tug. Give him attention when he is calm and tell him what a good dog he is being. Keep working on command training every day with him too.

Good Luck--be sure to have him neutered in the next few months also. That will help him become a great dog as he gets older.

[nikki85]

Well things are going pritty good with Max and as usual we have our good days and our not so good days. I have increased Max's basic training and im even starting "target" training on him. He has picked up on the target training really quick and seems to like it more then basic training so I am going to use that to my advantage. Unfortunatly he is to short right now to reach the light switch so i have to wait alittle longer before I can have him "target" lights. On walks I cannot use his regular collar cause he will not listen so I use a choke chain but I do not abuse it. My husband has stoped "spanking" Max and started to use my method its alittle more work for him I think cause the way he was taught to train a dog when growing up was with fear. It does seem to be alittle more peaceful around here (except when my daughters awake lol) When my daughter is hyper so is Max lol. They are getting along like....... well like brother and sister lol. Thank you for all your input.