Can't quite get leader of the pack position - Page 3

v320 · 07-11-2008, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosamburg

Boy, you guys are more patient than me, and obviously more PC. One good correction with an apology and the balance has shifted.

LOL, that is what I thought originally, but different strokes for different folks.

My logic is: since she seems to have been already trained using a different approach (my assumption of course), it would be easier for both involved to do something that would be more effective/comfortable in the long run (just in case something like this happened down the line).

I agree, the approach you are referring to is much faster and more direct – but I feel it requires a particular discipline/experience from the owners standpoint.

**dobermansrule** · 07-11-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosamburg

Boy, you guys are more patient than me, and obviously more PC. One good correction with an apology and the balance has shifted.

I hear you. I've seen a good level 10 correction administered with a prong collar (which we have one of and use) and it was eye opening to say the least. We had been piddling around with the prong - the trainer said, no no, here let me... set the dog up, and wham - the correction pulled the dog off its feet, backwards, at the same time eliciting a cry/yelp. The dog wasn't hurt by the prongs. It worked. I guess point is some folks either don't know or don't have the stomach for that kind of correction. I guess I am on the fence. And then, you don't always have a training collar on the dog, so corrections have to be administered in other ways.

**JenTN** · 07-11-2008, 10:37 AM

I think Rosamburg has given good advice- pretty much the same that our trainer gave. Bo, while not a Doberman, is a puppy who is testing us, starting at about 5 1/2 months old. The always positive methods were NOT working for him anymore.

Once we were shown other methods (and corrected on things we were doing, like slouching, or bending down to him) and given a prong we saw an instantaneious difference in our puppy. The way I see it, Bo is over 70 lbs at 7 months, and full grown could probably easily pull one of us down. That combined with his strong willed nature calls for stricter training, IMO. I called around to trainers and specifically asked if they use positive only. It works great for some dogs, just not mine.

A little funny about the "eat" command- I have made Bo sit and then give the "eat" command since he came home (he also eats in his crate). Once I forgot to give the command- and walked by a few minutes later to see him staring at his food, then looking at me. Bless his heart, when I said "Bo, eat!" he dove in like a starved man.

**RedFawnRising** · 07-11-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosamburg

Boy, you guys are more patient than me, and obviously more PC. One good correction with an apology and the balance has shifted.

Here's the thing: It's the 'net.

I'm not being PC at all, I'm being safe.

We cannot be there. We cannot see what is happening. We do not know this dog. We can't provide hands-on expert help to the OP.

Advising someone to give physical corrections, given all that, is highly irresponsible, IMO.

You could get the dog hurt, you could get the humans hurt, you could get both hurt, you could just generally make things worse, to the point of disaster.

Do I use "all-positive" methods? Heck no.

I have many tools in my toolbox, and in my years, have found that no one method works for every dog, nor even do things that work for that dog work all the time. You have to be adaptable.

The problem is, it takes a certain level of knowledge and experience and just plain guts, sometimes, to instantly react and know what to do in that moment, for that dog and the behavior it's offering.

My armchair assessment of this poster is, she is not there yet. Not at all meant as an insult, just an evaluation. (Sorta like me saying I am not ready for pole vaulting on an Olympic level.)

So, yeah, I would NOT advise physical corrections, until and unless they have a great trainer on-site, helping them in that moment.

**JenTN** · 07-11-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedFawnRising

Here's the thing: It's the 'net.

I'm not being PC at all, I'm being safe.

We cannot be there. We cannot see what is happening. We do not know this dog. We can't provide hands-on expert help to the OP.

Advising someone to give physical corrections, given all that, is highly irresponsible, IMO.

You could get the dog hurt, you could get the humans hurt, you could get both hurt, you could just generally make things worse, to the point of disaster.

Do I use "all-positive" methods? Heck no.

I have many tools in my toolbox, and in my years, have found that no one method works for every dog, nor even do things that work for that dog work all the time. You have to be adaptable.

The problem is, it takes a certain level of knowledge and experience and just plain guts, sometimes, to instantly react and know what to do in that moment, for that dog and the behavior it's offering.

My armchair assessment of this poster is, she is not there yet. Not at all meant as an insult, just an evaluation. (Sorta like me saying I am not ready for pole vaulting on an Olympic level.)

So, yeah, I would NOT advise physical corrections, until and unless they have a great trainer on-site, helping them in that moment.

Ditto all that. I wouldn't even try a prong collar on Bo without being shown how first by a professional.

Dog trainers are fairly cheap but priceless at the same time.