The Official "Dogs of the DMF" Thread

[somegirl]

I don't know what is going on with your dog but a gentle leader or a harness is not going to cut the dogs drive in situations where it is elevated... other dogs, cats, kids on bikes etc. A prong collar is an effective tool when used properly and paired with positive reinforcement for the desired position heel etc. They are not the right tool for every dog but they work despite appearing brutal (which they are not). Why not ditch the leash altogether and go electric?

A gentle leader works well for sighthounds with jackrabbits running around...hard to find higher drive than that.

[kopfjäger]

A gentle leader works well for sighthounds with jackrabbits running around...hard to find higher drive than that.

Gentle leaders don't work well with Pit Bulls, give it a try. Tiny little dogs, yes but big muscle dogs, aint happening.

[somegirl]

Gentle leaders don't work well with Pit Bulls, give it a try. Tiny little dogs, yes but big muscle dogs, aint happening.

I don't consider Rhodesian Ridgebacks tiny little dogs.

No experience with pit bulls and gentle leaders.

I was just providing a counter example to gage's generalization (I didn't read his statement as pit bull-specific).

[Drjones]

I have a gopro, but didn't have it on yesterday morning.  Would have been entertaining to watch.  Normally she just whines and contact howls for 35 minutes then goes to sleep.  She'll eventually be going to day care at least twice a week, but that won't happen until the HW treatment is finished and she's spayed which will probably be around Nov/Dec.



My sister uses a gentle leader with her two dogs; rottweiler/german shepherd mix and australian cattle dog/unspecified hound mix.

[DarkMonster620]

Max the largest, but not oldest, of my two cocker spaniels, and a red one btw, has become, lately, excessively aggressive towards Harley the cat and other dogs and people . . . the wife was 'disciplining' him and he got into a "I'll jump at you if you keep shouting at me . . " he had done something, I didn't see him doing anything, I was in my office . . . and just heard her shouting at him . . .

I know that with cocker spaniels you have a 50/50 chance of having an aggressive dog, he's 35lbs and about 24" tall at the top of head . . .he can overpower my wife but he will just growl at me, laying on his belly in a 'it wasnt me' position, but, wont bark back and will stay in that corner of the house afterwards, if I am disciplining him . ..  any ideas what can be done? I cannot afford a trainer, $75/hr the one that cost less

[Scoober1103]

We did a few training courses with our Australian Cattle Dog X Kelpie and one big thing we were suggested to do was ditch the food bowl and use all feed times as training exercises or place food around the yard and let the dog find it (environmental enrichment)! If one person in particular is having discipline issues let them alone feed the dog and only when the desired behaviour/tricks/commands are adhered to. Now even my 3 year old can get our 20 kilo boy to sit/drop/stay while she places food in various locations round the yard!

As far as walking goes if the dog pulls on the leash we were told to turn 180 and start walking back home and if they behave to turn again and reward good behaviour ie walking beside or behind with a slack leash. Never walk with the leash taut as this is what they will expect and pull forward!  Lots of little tricks and tips that seem to be working with our boy and he is a complete energetic nutcase! Funny though, we tried a gentle leader and he will not walk at all with it on, as soon as we place it on he will stand in that exact spot and not move until we take it off!

[duccarlos]

+1 on the feeding trick. If the wife is having issues with obedience, then she should exclusively feed the dog. try also taking the food away while he's eating. She'll need to be brave for that one since a dominant dog will growl and nip at everything that comes near while he eats.

[DarkMonster620]

Max will allow either one of us to take food away from him !!!!
If he's pulling while walking, a slight pull on his leash and he's right besides you . . .
He's just overly aggressive out the blue . . .With people he has seen before, he wont allow them to come in the house and has twice tried to bite the cleaning lady that because of that the cleaning lady is now me and the wife!!!
They only get treats when behavior is good or after a walk . . .Max can't ride cars, he vomits, Enzo loves care rides . . .
We are in a tough spot . . .

[duccarlos]

How old is he? I've only seen this behavior with dogs that are losing their sense of smell.

[DarkMonster620]

2 and a half !!!

[elyse]

is he neuteref Carlos? ....if he's not, it might help tone down the aggressiveness

[DarkMonster620]

no not neutered

[duccarlos]

Chop off them ballz!! That will teach him.

[DarkMonster620]

talking to vet now, not cheap if not to give for adoption

[Scoober1103]

Do you use a crate or pen or somewhere to contain the dogs? Kinda like a naughty corner with nothing but water in there! We use one and he knows he has done wrong when he gets put in there!