Tonymc

Jimmy,without realising it People teach dogs to pull.Dogs want to get out and see whats about.You see People walking along with a Dog madly pulling on the Leash and bracing against the Dog.Constant bracing against the Dog,gives him something to pull against.These People are teaching the Dog that inorder to get somewhere he must pull.The Dog in these cases learns that he pulls and he gets to where he wants to go.

We need to teach the Dog,that he can still get to where he is going, by leaving the Lead slack.Try this Jimmy,but it may take time and patience.I would while trying this approach take him out by himself and no Children on Bikes to excite or distract.Start off and as soon as he pulls,completely stop yourself and remain stationery.He will pull against you of course as that is what he has learnt.Stand there still and sooner or later he will either look back at you or move slightly back towards you.As soon as he does that the lead will slacken of course.The moment the Lead slackens,Praise him alot.When the Lead is slack then head off again.As soon as he starts to pull,repeat the above procedure of standing still,till he gives you a slack lead.This is not a quick fix and will require consistency and patience. Tony

Honey,She has learnt as you said if she flopped down that you will pick her up.I would be trying for a start these two Stratergys.Both may take time and patience.

When she does flop down,face away from her and completely ignore her,Because she expects you to react in a certain way it will take a little time for her to change her behaviour.You will have to wait her out.Ignore her completely, but as soon as she gets up praise her.

Another way is get an old Jam Tim or something like it and three quarters fill it with pebbles.Carry the Can with you.When she throws herself down,turn your back to her and rattle the can loudly.Immediately that she gets up stop the rattling and praise her. Tony

So she is fine on the lead in the Backyard by the sound of it.When you take her out,how far are you going?

How far from Home will she throw herself down?Is there anything going on around you and her when she throws herself down,like passing Cars or another Dog?Or is the throwing down likely to happen anytime? Tony

Honey,what is her behaviour if you put her on a Lead and walk around the backyard? Tony

Honey,I take it your Pup has no health issues of any sort that might be causing pain?When she flops down and spreads herself out,what is your reaction? Tony

like everybody else a little bit and gradually extended. Tony

no Problems Emma. Tony

I can in this case see some similaritys between Dog learning and Human Learning.We have all met People who have never studied or had to learn much before.When they are faced with the situation of learning,initially it is harder for them.

I have found in some cases the same with Dogs that had little exposure to learning. Tony

Yasimum, no problems at all.I am glad it was beneficial to you both. Tony

Bree,read up on Leadership.Leadership involves Boundarys of which these two are lacking.A Google search will be a simple place to start.These two have to get back to basics and get reaquainted with the Fact,that they are Dogs not Humans.

Bree consistency is the name of the game to get the results you want. Tony

Yasimum, he is your Dog not hers.Any disclipline or correcting is for you to handle.Simply put him back on the Lead and take him away if you see it as being too rough.

Be careful about letting somebody off the Street handle your Dog like that.Imagine if the Womans actions caused him to become defensive and he snapped or bit in self defence.You then could have some Mug wanting your Dog put down or classed as a dangerous Dog,when it was not his fault. Tony

Emma,are you using the Treats constantly?She stops so you give her a treat.Seems like your rewarding her for stopping. A smart Dog would soon work out, the sooner I stop the sooner I get the Treat. Tony

There is too much to lose by doing ones temper with an Animal whether it be Horse,Dog,Sheep Cow whatever.Doing my temper will not get me to where I want to go with the Animal. Tony

Nick-Erica in the example you have given I do not see any dominant behaviour.When he as you state lowers his front end,he is asking or wanting you to play.The same way he would with another Dog or Littermate.He will nip you as he would another Pup.

Watch a Pup playing with an Adult Dog.When the Adult Dog has had enough a growl may be used to tell the Pup,the Games over or enough is enough.A Pup flopping down and rolling over is submitting to the older Dog.When you give a growl, your simply getting the same result from the Pup as if you were an Adult Dog. Tony

Rooster,Roo pretty well summed it up.Sounds like the Pup could alternate between being in the Crate and Workshop. Tony

Roo,stuff the flaming BS.What you have said is fair enough and nobody should have a problem with that. Tony

Quesada,the only thing you need to do is throw that F word out!!! Tony

no probs Quesada.You can of course inregard to the anxiety,practise leaving Home through different exits,come and go for short periods and do not ritualise leaving. Tony

Quesada,my suggestion is firstly start seeing things differently.Why are you beating yourself up about this supposed Failing?Who said you were Failing?Nobody said you were failing but yourself!!!Time to ease up on yourself my Friend.

You have made others aware of your new Dog,your aware of your Pup and his issue and then you took a step to rectify the problem.Thats hardly failing in my Book!!!

You only got the Pup two weeks ago and what experiences he had before you got him,were out of your control.

I would relax and let the two of them get along.I am sure you can ask the Neighbour if the Barking has stopped or changed.

Quesada,I do not go much on the word failing.We in everything we do have a desirable outcome.When we take an approach that does not give us the outcome we want,we have not failed.We just have not got the result we wanted.So we go back and keep changing the Approach till we get the result we want. Tony

My Cat,first thing I would ask is in what manner or way are you relating with the Pup? Tony

Roo,you make a very good point of using Pup"s natural behaviour to our advantage,I do the same.Good way to start the education process. Tony

Jodi,simulate that your not Home and then correct him about the Bench. Tony

Jodi,do not let him in the House unless he is supervised.Put a Collar and long lead on him.Sounds like he is in the habit of getting onto the Bench.Is there anywhere you can watch him without him seeing you?I would if you can remain unseen let him go to climb on the Bench,and then with the long lead administer a correction.Administering the correction out of sight will have him forming a negative link to the Bench.Giving the correction while out of sight will avoid him forming any negative connotation to you. Tony

Folks,keep your eyes out for Turkey Wings,usually get them pretty cheap. Tony

Kay,Pups will be Pups.I would aquire a Crate for her to sleep in. Tony