SALTWOOD

You know, that is exactly the same answer I would have given if I was reading this thread. However, I demand a great deal of respect of my dogs here and insist on being alpha of my pack. They have to wait, sit and be still before they are fed, they are not allowed to surge through doorways before me, I am very careful they do not get rewarded for demanding, etc. etc.. I follow Jan Fennels methods and also NILIF method - no other dog of mine behaves in the way that the young Dobe does. I had him desexed last week but at this stage don't know if it will have any impact on his behaviour ie. no more testosterone. I have found him to have two personalities. One is the well behaved, cute, loving guy that is extremely obedient and respectful. The other side is him in "drive" which is when he is single minded in whatever he is involved with, to the extent that he doesn't see anything that is around him and it is difficult to get through to him. At home when we practice his obedience exercises he is fantastic and very responsive (no distractions). At class he is very difficult to get through to as he is so interested in every other dog in the class. This was up until classes stopped in December. I am hoping that it is an age thing, but if you can think of anything that may help I would be very interested in hearing from you.

Ok will try that! And yes he is a cute boy, very affectionate and loveable but definitely can't multi-task!

I sometimes think I need full body armour!!! Today he had to put the brakes on real quick because he didn't realise the garage was so close. He nearly squashed his best doggy buddy who is considerably smaller than him and had a major wack into the shed door. Typical male, can only think of one thing at a time!

Oops!

My young Dobe boy (6mths) gets terribly awkward in direct relationship to how excited he is and how fast he is going. When he is running around he doesn't seem to be aware of any object in his flight path and is not only a danger to himself but also to any human in the vacinity. He has run into me twice in the last few days and I have the bruises to prove it. It usually happens when he is playing chasings with his best friend or whenever he gets really excited. He nearly squashed his best buddy today and then smacked into me! I know with kids they can give them exercises to make them more spacially aware - does anyone know of anything that will help my furkid???

It may be that dry food just doesn't agree with your pup. Have you considered feeding raw/all natural food or BARF? Most dogs do so much better if they are not on processed dogfood.

I had been using premium dry food plus raw chicken necks, etc. for many years. Was satisfied to an extent but always felt that perhaps there was a slight intolerance to the dry food in some dogs. Got converted to raw feeding by a fellow breeder - hallelluah!! Brothers and sisters I saw the light!!!! Now feed all natural, raw, etc. foods and the dogs are much happier so I will continue to feed that way! Smaller poos, far less gut related problems, they rarely eat grass (which used to worry me when they did) and they look forward to their dinners and raw treats! Everyones happy including my butcher!! :D

I recommend you borrow or buy the book "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. You would learn a lot from that book - easy!

You really believe everything that the Animal Libers say??????

It really does tend to depend on the individual dogs themselves and how they interact with each other. Sometimes one by itself can be very quiet and sometimes two together can be very noisey as they bark when they are enjoying each others company and involved in a game. Even when there are two together and they are not playing, around about 4mths old they seem to become 'watchdogs' - that is one will assume the role of guardian and the other will be the backup! You might be lucky and have two really quiet, well behaved little guys!

Don't leave your clothes on the floor - pick them up and put them away. Close the bedroom door and don't let the dog in there. Get a big box and put boyfriends clothes (clean or dirty), shoes, and anything else he leaves around into it and put the box outside the back door or anywhere out of the way. Problems Solved!!!!

I have found it almost impossible to successfully toilet train a pup before it is 12 weeks old. You can only keep doing what you are doing and it will click eventually. I think the movement causes them to urinate more frequently during the day but it is encouraging that he stays clean overnight! I know it is frustrating and some days they will have more accidents than others but it is just a matter of repetition and trying for them not to pee inside so that it doesn't become a habit and therefore 'OK' in their eyes. I have dogs that won't pee if they are on concrete, they will only pee on grass as that is what they are used to doing. I often wonder how they get on when they occasionally have to go into a boarding kennel if we go away.

Picking up a dog elevates it to your level in the 'pack' and long term gives it mixed messages on exactly what its true status is. ie. I am elevating you, you are my equal but now I am stopping you from doing what you want. Result in pups thinking would be confusion and also inspire it to try out its new elevated position in the pack heirarchy. I would not pick the pup up but give it lots of clear messages on where its place in the 'pack' is. You are always the alpha leader. Alpha leaders don't let others share their position of 'power'. So, pup doesn't sit on furniture with you unless you specifically invite it to. It doesn't sleep on your bed. It eats after you have eaten. etc. etc. The result will be a pup that is more secure and well adjusted. You can also do exercises with your pup like 'peaceful puppy' ie. put pup on its back on your lap and make it stay like that quietly for about 5 minutes. You take the opportunity then to handle it, inspecting its ears, feet, mouth, etc. and rewarding when it is quietly relaxed with this procedure.

As the others have said, the repetition of obedience training and going to obedience classes will probably get the result you want eventually. However in the meantime, have you read the methods of "The Dog Listener" - Jan Fennell available from ABC shops in book or DVD (try eBay). I found some of her methods to be helpful - it might help you as much as she says her methods have helped many others in the UK. Even if it helps in a few areas it would be worthwhile.

Have you read "The Dog Listener" books by Jan Fennell or seen her DVD's? If you haven't then her methods might help! Sounds just like the JRT's she has problem solved!

Well this week I have been using some of the ideas that I got from the seminar and from the book and as I hadn't heard of her before I went to the seminar my overall opinion would have to be that there is something in what she is saying. It's not all new but I like the concept. Must admit I haven't finished reading the book completely as work has got in the way so there will be areas that I am not that proficient at yet!! I have had good success with 3 out of 4 dogs in different areas. The 4th dog will be a hard nut to crack I am afraid, but I have had success with a few small things so haven't given up hope yet!! I particularly like the procedure for recalling a barking dog as I have one that is a fence runner. It is much easier to reward a dog for coming when called than it is trying to chase him to stop his bad behaviour. So that was a plus and worth it just to learn that one!! I am thinking of getting the DVD to show to my OH - does anyone know if it is exactly the same as the book????

I am now part the way through the book and of course have been to the seminar. My impression is that she has developed a concept for people to be able to live fairly harmoniously with their dogs in the home situation. A great many of us that frequent Dogz Online have already been through many situations with our dogs & various dog training methods and have developed our own routines for managing our dogs, this being a mish-mash of ideas that work for us and experiences built up over the years from many sources and formed them into 'our own methods' for dog training. Her concepts if successfully conveyed to people who have very limited experience with dogs probably are of considerable help to them and they would probably find that they benefit much more than those, like us, who are already managing fairly OK. I find that whatever seminar I go to there is usually at least one idea that I can take away and use. Jan Fennells seminar served to remind me of some things I had forgotten to use and also made clearer some areas that I could improve upon. You take on board what you think you can use and discard that which you can't or won't use. If I was picking fault I would comment on her response to the question from one lady in the audience about putting a Dobe with (I think) a Boston. Jan's comment was that she wouldn't leave them alone together. Now if what she had been saying for several hours was to be believed, why would she make such a comment??? My personal experience in this area would be to say if you have any worrys about leaving certain dogs together when you are not there, then don't - but that just didn't gell with what she had previously been saying!

I have already had success since yesterday and an added benefit is that it makes me feel better - like I now have some control over certain behaviours that were difficult to remedy and really annoying me. Time will tell if it does have good long term results but when you have multiple dogs every little bit helps. I gather that Jan is not big in the "obedience" (there's that dirty word again) side of things so it will be interesting to see what the local obedience club people that attended think!! However, anything that helps me remain 'leader of the pack' has got to be good!!

As I said there was quite a bit of 'waffle'. I was wanting her to cut to the chase but that didn't happen. Like anyone who has been doing something for a long time they are always aware of the bottom line and I guess the adage 'leave them wanting more' does apply to her to a certain extent. I noticed that she sold out of her books very quickly. I found the first half a bit boring but in a way I understand that she was laying the groundwork. After all she is selling a concept rather than training lessons. The after lunch talk was way more interesting. Regarding the question and answer session, I didn't notice the woman you mentioned but I do agree if Jan could have been a bit calmer and more understanding of people it would have been easier to comprehend her methods. A lot of public speakers do their routine so frequently that they sometimes get a bit hard with their audience, perhaps they think they are being funny?? Having said all that, I, like you, compliment the club who organised the day on their outstanding efforts. Everything seemed to run smoothly and I loved the idea of the special seating for the 'early booked tickets'. I notice Jans book was first published in 2000 and here it is the end of 2006 and this is the first I have heard of her. She travels all around the world speaking on this subject - was it the first time in Brisbane or Australia?? Either I am living in a bubble or we really must be isolated in Australia. I totally agree that we need more of this kind of informational seminar in Brisbane where I think it would be very well patronised.

When you feed your dog have your own food in your pocket. I presume you hold the dogs feed dish in your hand, so while holding the dogfood eat your own food with the other hand. Ignore the dog, when you have finished your food, wait until your dog has settled down, then give it its food and walk away. During all this procedure, from start to finish, you do not give your dog any eye contact or say one word. You simply wait for the desire response and when all is quiet, you give the food. Can take a while for dog to understand what is happening but you will get there in the end.

I attended Jan Fennells seminar yesterday and I was impressed. She does tend to woffle on a bit but I believe the basis of what she is saying has merit. I have now decided to buy her book and read more about it. Would be interested to hear from anyone who has tried her methods and what success they have had.

I notice a big reduction in 'naughty' behaviours in my 15wk Dobe by just doing 10minutes basic obedience training each afternoon. It is also helping both of us to understand each other. My boy has lots of toys during the day plus another dog to play with but the obedience work just seems to take the 'edge' of the boisterous behaviours.

There's probably I reason but was wondering why you can't just leave her outside at 5am until you get up???

Yes I do do that - older boy gets about 2-3hrs every morning to regroup!

I guess I worry about if the older dog one day really does bite the pup and cause damage. And I would totally understand it if he did - the pup can really dish it out!