I love dogs too, but

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi Annie,

Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you have established a good trusty relationship with Joey and she accepted the new addition (baby) to the family very nicely. I don't understand the people who get rid of their dogs because they got a baby. You should be able to manage the change in your family if you have handled the dog properly and if you introduce the new addition in a proper manner. It is also true with adding another dog to your family.

Anyway, I am so pleased to hear that you and your family are enjoying Joey as a part of your family.

I have read your posting about scolding your toddler in front of your dog. I don't see any problem doing that, just from my own experience of raising dogs and children at the same time. My kids were 14, 8 and 6 years old when we got Max and Roxy (they are both gone now). Since we had and still have our dogs anywhere they want to be inside, they often happened to be at the scene where our kids were being scolded by us. Our dogs reaction is either feeling bad/afraid since they thought they did something wrong that made us angry, or feeling sympathetic to the kid being scolded. In fact, our kids and our dogs were good buddies so our dogs always tried to comfort our kids when they were down by licking their tears, etc. It never raised the dogs position in the family. We never placed them at the bottom of the family to start with. They knew they were different from the human family members. They are smarter than we think. They know who feed them and take them to walk and play with them. Don't worry about scolding your toddler in front of Joey. This is my 2 cents for the day.

Cheers!

[Annie]

hi there!
thanks for your kind words.....
I have also tried at the begining to use different words for scolding the baby and for the dog. Now she is quite relaxed when I scold the baby as she knows that it ain´t her that´s in trouble. It seems to work well. I hate it too when people want to get rid of the dog when the baby comes. Often I hear that the dog is behaving well, but there is too much mess and possible diseases in the house....so the dog goes...very sad. I am really careful about worming etc...but really....mud boots or muddy paws...it´s all the same to me Also I think people put too much emphasis on that the dog should very quickly love and adore the new baby. My older son didn´t even really like the baby till the baby was one, so why should the dog? It´s great if the dog 'licks tears' ( very sweet) but I am also happy when they are just relaxed around each other. I also never trust the dog, or actually the baby being a bully and the dog protecting herself, so they are never totally alone...but hey....a one and half year old baby gets into so much trouble, he´s never alone anyway!
I must say that it is so much better since they turned 1.
I do understand Todd´s answer concerning older kids...and an older kid can also be asked not to behave in a certain way towards the dogs.
I just think all this Alpha techniques are great to use as ideas and can be used more or less on each dog. Some dogs don´t need much guidance. Other dogs need a lot. My neighbour has a lovely dog...hardly needed any training, but I think as an owner he was lucky and would be really shocked how much work another dog \ breed needs...he should be careful to not take too much credit for his 'sucess'. Only we, as the owner really knows how far our dog has come and how much potential there is. I have so many 'work-in-progress' areas with my dog but I also know what she was like this time last year....theres my 50cents
Have you got some photos up MaxHollyNoah?
Annie

[MaxHollyNoah]

Annie:

I would love to put some photos up but I don't know how.
Will you tell me how? You can send me a private message, or you can post it here.

I wanted to add one thing about scolding kids and dogs reaction. You see, my kids were already in school when we got Max and Roxy so our scolding was more like giving a lecture to them, instead of saying "No". It goes on and on sometimes so the doggies had to listen to that too if they wanted to be near us, human family members.

You are absolutely correct about not trusting dogs too much. They are dogs with sharp teeth and a strong jaw after all. They choose not to use those towards us people most of the time but they can absolutely capable to use those. All of us humans, both adults and kids, should keep that in mind and should not treat dogs in improper manners.

Looking forward to learning how to put photos up.

[debbieG]

Maxhollynoah

We have both issues under control now. Kaiser is a dog that isnt interested in treats that much - especially when out! I started by doing what you said but it felt like we werent getting anywhere thats when i turned to the alpha training for eating. He gets his bowl and his food prepared while we prepare ours and he just lays and waits for his now. After we have eaten he gets his. This took only a few days for him to get the idea. We were trying him on his bed with treats for weeks and to no avail.
But i do agree with the way you have suggested totally. It just seems that the other worked better for us.

You say you didnt understand the 1st one where we were entering the house after being out. What i meant with this is, when he was a pup i used to come home at lunch time and because i "felt guilty" of leaving him for three hours i used to make so much of a fuss that he used to get all excited. This lead him (i believe) into him thinking it was ok to jump up at people when greeting them!. So when we enter the house we no longer make a fuss and we wait until he is in a calm mood and then call him over. Again this took only a few days ignoring him for 10 mins but now its only 1 minute he is calm then we call him and say hello. Same with leaving i used tell him "im just going to the shop i will be back soon" and he seemed to be anxiuos that i was leaving. Now, he goes to his bed and i just say be a good boy and leave and he isnt too bothered.
I also had to train the husband and our son as they were all doing different things so i would say this was sending him mixed messages and making him rather confused!!!!!

I also have found a good brisk walk first thing in a morning before i go to work of half an hour has been very beneficial to him.

He was castrated on 07.01.08 so have been waiting for him to get better so that i can now get to work on the problems with strangers and recall at the field when there are other dogs! oh to have a dog that comes to you when called - that is my ultimate goal in fact its becoming a bit of a dream lol!
So any help on this would be appreciated - i must read through the sitstayfetch book too now. Its just finding the time but i am determined to get there. I would love to get him a little pal but i want to make sure he is trained first. Although he is very good when i take my friends dog out with us. She comes back when called and he usually follows. AND he isnt usually too bothered about going and playing with other dogs when its him and his pal.

The wonderful world of Dogs eh? Its fascinating and i find it very interesting and love discussing methods and theories etc etc.

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi DebbieG.

I am glad to hear that those issues with Kaiser are now under control. Yes, I also believe any dogs can learn what they can do and what they can't (boundaries and rules of each family) if you are consistent and patient.

My dog, Holly, also barks with joy when I come home. It doesn't bother me much so I didn't correct it. Being away for 9 hrs is a long time for her and she misses me so much although my husband is working from home and we have another dog. However, just a few days ago, I decided to turn around as I come inside the door and wait Holly to be quiet. She already learned it how it works. She gets my attention AND a little treat so she likes this way better

I repeatedly wrote that I don't use Alpha techniques but if they work for somebody to control his dog, that is fine. Our ultimate goal is to become capable of controlling our dogs so that they can fit better in our family and society and there will be less dogs to be abandoned and eventually killed.

I agree with you about training husbands. My husband is also too easy for my dogs. When I eat with him, Holly and Noah are on their beds and don't beg for food. However, when he eats lunch by himself, I think he lets Holly puts her head on his lap with a hope that some bread crumbs will be dropped. I need to train my husband more than my dogs

Anyway, I am going to try to attach a photo of my doggies and my grandson today. I don't know if it will work or not. Will see.

[Annie]

Hi there!
I see you worked out the photo thingie
You just need to re-size them right down to fit in with the restrictions and then it works...it´s a shame they have to be so tiny and the reader can´t enlarge to view properly....which Doggie is this in the photo?
Why has my dog started chewing things again? My husband has just left for work, away from home and he had been around the house a lot lately...and the dog has started to get seperation anxiety again. We have now lost the 3 camels, 2 Holy Kings...and yesterday the baby Jesus AND CRIB got destroyed!!!! I can see that she´s nervous, but I really can´t 'duck-out' for 15minutes in winter with a young baby to get her used to it.
We have no laundry, no rooms, but live in an open plan house full of baby toys and family stuff. How can I give her more of a secure feeling? She seems to be always behaving as though she´s in trouble....Should I lie on the floor with her? should I let her on the bed? Any ideas would be helpful. Remember, that she was great at this she just seems to have taken a backwards step....
thanks,
Annie

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi Annie.

Yes, I managed to put up a photo. If you click on the link, I think the photo gets enlarged and you can see both of my dogs (Holly on the chair behind my grandson, and Noah on the floor).

Regarding Joey's behavior, I really think she is under challenged and under exercised now that your husband is not around. I understand your housing situation, it is hard to give Joey a separate and secure place of her own.

OK, my suggestions - I assume your baby take a nap for one hour or two, right? During that time, I know you have other chores you need to do, but lets think about things you can do to burn Joey's mental and physical energies out.

If the weather allows (I don't know how it is in Germany but here in Oregon it rains every single day) play fetch in your back yard for good 30 mins. If the weather is no good, it will be a challenge cause you said you only have on open space and that means the baby sleeps in the same space so you can't make much noise. But still we can do some play with Joey.

The game I do with Holly and Noah inside the house is quite a fun for both me and the doggies: I have my dogs wait in the living room. I have a bunch of stuffed toys and I take a basket full of toys to another room and scatter them all over. I come back to the doggies and say "Go get your toys". They bring a toy back to me and I give them a treat. We repeat this until all the toys are back in the basket. Dogs get some exercise by going back and forth the two rooms (and I usually put a big box on the hallway so that they have to jump it over each way) and they are happy and eager to play this game because I give them a tiny bit of treat every time they bring a toy to me.

I like reward based training because it is fun and motivating. It will take a little time for Joey to learn this game but "practice makes perfect". Work on it a little by little. Because a simple game like this consists of quite a few behaviors: First, Wait - then Go Look for a toy Jump the obstacle - Pick it up in her mouth - Come back to me with the toy - Jump the box again - Hand me the toy or Put it in a basket. They need to learn the sequence of those actions. They learned it for fun and a bit of treat!!

Start with "pick up the toy" with Joey. Have her sit in front of you, lay a toy in front of her. Say "Leave it". Give her a treat if she leaves it. Then tell her to "Pick up" (or OK) and give her a treat if she picks it up. You can also practice "Take it" and "Drop it" alternately. This kind of training (I think it's more like a game) doesn't need much space and not make much noise so it won't disturb your baby's nap but it does exercise Joey's brain and body.

As for you lie on the floor or let her on the bed, it is totally up to you. (Again, I am not a Alpha techniques believer). At least she needs a lot of attention now that your husband is gone.

Good luck and let us know Joey's progress

[Blue]

Originally Posted by MaxHollyNoah

I agree with you about training husbands. My husband is also too easy for my dogs. When I eat with him, Holly and Noah are on their beds and don't beg for food. However, when he eats lunch by himself, I think he lets Holly puts her head on his lap with a hope that some bread crumbs will be dropped. I need to train my husband more than my dogs

That made me laugh out loud - I have the same problem, my husband is very inconsistent with training, so our poor Blue gets confused sometimes. The hardest one is 'heel' as my husband gets confused as far as when to say the word - or even to just say it - sometimes he just starts walking and Blue plows on a head and he's wondering why she isn't heeling!

Blue

[MaxHollyNoah]

Blue:

Good to hear from you!

I can tell Blue is now much more confident and behaving very well. She has come a long way. Congratulations!

I told you one of my dogs, Holly, look a lot like Blue so I am posting her picture today (far left is Holly, Noah in the middle, and Lico, our foster dog).

Walking is another area that I am not so happy with the way my husband handles. He walks Holly and Noah together and they compete in pulling!

If I walk them separately, Holly is a very good loose leash walker. Noah still pulls but within my control. If they are together and come across another dog Noah gets all freaked out and Holly starts barking and I can not handle them. Therefore, I am walking the two dogs separately, or Holly and a foster dog together, and Noah by himself.

Since my husband walk them always together, Noah's walking training goes anywhere! In fact, I don't think he is even trying to correct Noah's pulling problem. Well, I am hoping someday, both of my boys (husband and Noah) will learn....

[MaxHollyNoah]

Hi Blue,

Good to hear from you!

I can tell Blue is now much more confident and behaving very well. She has come a long way. Congratulations!

I told you one of my dogs, Holly, look a lot like Blue so I am posting her picture today (far left is Holly, Noah in the middle, and Lico, our foster dog).

Walking is another area that I am not so happy with the way my husband handles. He walks Holly and Noah together and they compete in pulling!

If I walk them separately, Holly is a very good loose leash walker. Noah still pulls but within my control. If they are together and come across another dog Noah gets all freaked out and Holly starts barking and I can not handle them. Therefore, I am walking the two dogs separately, or Holly and a foster dog together, and Noah by himself.

Since my husband walk them always together, Noah's walking training doen't go anywhere! In fact, I don't think he is even trying to correct Noah's pulling problem. Well, I am hoping someday, both of my boys (husband and Noah) will learn....