Who's right--my husband or me? - Page 2 - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

mrsnitrobob · 01-29-2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeadowCat

I can tell you from experience that using a prong to correct a dog in prey drive can make your problem much worse; it can really ramp them up.

In addition to Linda's suggestion of the Pat Miller book, I just read a truly wonderful puppy book that is fantastic. It's a fast read but it lays out how dogs learn, with some training plans and a ton of practical advice. I highly recommend it and I think it would help you guys out if you both read it. It's "Puppy Start Right" (Puppy Start Right: Foundation Traininf for the Companion Dog: Kenneth M. Martin: 9781890948443: Amazon.com: Books).

Thanks for the advice too, I did order the book too.

PortersMama · 01-29-2013, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsnitrobob

You are right. I'll work with him more...he's like a human puppy,lol. He did yell at her. I never yell at her when I put her in her crate...lots of praise and a treat, even if I want to scream lol

It's so hard, isn't it? Your husband sounds like a good guy, just misdirected.

My husband was similar, just different (if that makes sense!)...he liked to lay on the floor and let Grizzly jump all over him, gnaw on his head, he loved riling him up. It was hard for him to accept that he could build a wonderful bond with Grizzly without being the "good cop" ALL the time and letting Grizzly develop bad habits as he got away with murder. It sounds like maybe your husband is nervous that if you don't give really tough love, the dog will grow up to be a monster. It sounds like he means well, despite the fact that it's not the best way to do things. He's lucky to have you, and so is your pup!

I love my husband - he is a good, smart, kind man, and I will never talk badly about him because he is a wonderful human being...instead I'll just say that he needs training as much as Grizzly does.

Shell81 · 01-29-2013, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortersMama

I love my husband - he is a good, smart, kind man, and I will never talk badly about him because he is a wonderful human being...instead I'll just say that he needs training as much as Grizzly does.

You just described my husband too

Although I think he needs more training than Bruce lol.

mrsnitrobob · 01-29-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortersMama

It's so hard, isn't it? Your husband sounds like a good guy, just misdirected.

My husband was similar, just different (if that makes sense!)...he liked to lay on the floor and let Grizzly jump all over him, gnaw on his head, he loved riling him up. It was hard for him to accept that he could build a wonderful bond with Grizzly without being the "good cop" ALL the time and letting Grizzly develop bad habits as he got away with murder. It sounds like maybe your husband is nervous that if you don't give really tough love, the dog will grow up to be a monster. It sounds like he means well, despite the fact that it's not the best way to do things. He's lucky to have you, and so is your pup!

I love my husband - he is a good, smart, kind man, and I will never talk badly about him because he is a wonderful human being...instead I'll just say that he needs training as much as Grizzly does.

Exactly! He has a heart of gold and in human world every one knows that (our friends, neighbors). He just doesn't have a clue with Harley. This is his first dog. I think if he had ever owned a dog before, he wouldn't be getting advice from co workers. They think he doesn't know, which is right, but he's not the majority "raiser"of this pup, I am. I think he's afraid of having a mean or bad dog. I keep assuring him, we won't Harley is coming along just fine. Heck, each time we go to obedience class, she learns something which we practice at home too. I also think its her size....she's only 16 weeks and 38 pounds so he sees the size (not her age) and thinks she's big enough to be trained better, if that makes sense. He'll get there. I'll have to post "their" one year update.lol

He loves me, (made sure our privacy fence was completely installed before bringing Harley home),and her too, just needs more guidance from me

LindaH · 01-29-2013, 08:16 PM

Have any of those guys ever owned a doberman??? Dobermans ARE NOT like other dogs and you will ruin a doberman trying to raise it using punishment based training that you can get away with on other dogs.

You will end up with a scared piddler or a puppy that won't trust you enough to even come to you.

Oh, and he ain't seen nothing yet size wise...he's in for a shocker in the next several months!

sarene4@yahoo.com · 01-29-2013, 08:24 PM

did you guys discuss before hand if you both wanted a commitment before the pup came into the house? are either of you ready to be the Alpha in the house? can both of you agree to be a team of Alpha and guide this pup to adulthood? This pup will need rules and boundaries, just like any other dog. My advice is that both of you take this pup for obedience training. Not just for the pup, but that both of you will have to learn together in raising this precious dog. Hope this two cents worth helps.

mrsnitrobob · 01-29-2013, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaH

Have any of those guys ever owned a doberman??? Dobermans ARE NOT like other dogs and you will ruin a doberman trying to raise it using punishment based training that you can get away with on other dogs.

You will end up with a scared piddler or a puppy that won't trust you enough to even come to you.

Oh, and he ain't seen nothing yet size wise...he's in for a shocker in the next several months!

No, none of those "advisors"have owned Dobermans. I did explain they are a different breed. Hopefully, after these talks, he'll stop bringing home there ideas.

Yes, he's in for a surprise. I don't think he has any idea of her future size, he wasn't with me when I picked her up and saw her mamma, lol

mrsnitrobob · 01-29-2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarene4@yahoo.com

did you guys discuss before hand if you both wanted a commitment before the pup came into the house? are either of you ready to be the Alpha in the house? can both of you agree to be a team of Alpha and guide this pup to adulthood? This pup will need rules and boundaries, just like any other dog. My advice is that both of you take this pup for obedience training. Not just for the pup, but that both of you will have to learn together in raising this precious dog. Hope this two cents worth helps.

All the advice helps....well from Doberman owners

. Harley's my idea, and really my pup. I've always wanted a Doberman and now was finally the right time. I also knew it would be me 99 % time taking care of her. All, but one of our 6 kids, are grown and out of the house. Last one home is 16. We have a great backyard that's fenced. My husband travels during the week, so mostly home weekends instead of during the week. So he really won't be able to go to classes with me, but the trainer did say I could schedule a couple private lessons on Sunday for my husband. I had called her too in regards to what my husbands co workers were telling him.
So she's my awesome buddy. Next spring, if vet says growth plates closed, she'll get to start running with me. That will put her around 16-18 months in 2014 spring. I can't wait. I would say I'm the alpha here and with her. Aren't all wife's the alpha at home

. I try to follow through with fair rules and things I won't want a 70 pound dog to do.
All of your DT members advice has helped!! Thanks

Mayanca · 01-29-2013, 08:44 PM

I loved reading your posts and want to encourage you to continue with the positive methods, as you are doing. Our puppy is nine months old now, born in our home and so with us from day one. When she was teething, she was like a giant piranha, but now has a soft mouth, and has good manners with the positive reinforcement we have given her. Too bad your nice hubby doesn't have the time to take a clicker training class, as it would show him how effective it is to allow a dog to offer wanted behaviors rather than correcting unwanted behaviors. Our young girl is enjoying her foundation agility class so much and her training sessions, that she goes into the garage and lies quietly there on her own accord for a very long time while we are cutting up treats and preparing for the sessions, where she is extremely focused and motivated and thoroughly happy. Welcome and best wishes to you and your new girl!!

mrsnitrobob · 01-29-2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayanca

I loved reading your posts and want to encourage you to continue with the positive methods, as you are doing. Our puppy is nine months old now, born in our home and so with us from day one. When she was teething, she was like a giant piranha, but now has a soft mouth, and has good manners with the positive reinforcement we have given her. Too bad your nice hubby doesn't have the time to take a clicker training class, as it would show him how effective it is to allow a dog to offer wanted behaviors rather than correcting unwanted behaviors. Our young girl is enjoying her foundation agility class so much and her training sessions, that she goes into the garage and lies quietly there on her own accord for a very long time while we are cutting up treats and preparing for the sessions, where she is extremely focused and motivated and thoroughly happy. Welcome and best wishes to you and your new girl!!

That's awesome a great thing to look forward too. She is a piranha now, great description,lol. When I say Mine (referring to my hand when she tries to chomp,nip it), she does make her mouth softer and licks my hand as She slowly opens her mouth from my hand. And when I've yelled Ouch!! Because sometimes her nips do hurt, again she lets go. So I think she's learning.
Based on what I've read, when teething is over, she should be much better with being a shark,lol. I knew what I was in for, and have never regretted it

.
I've ordered that positive trainers book and can't wait till it gets here to try it. Nice to see how we'll your girl has progressed. I look forward to my pup getting there one day.

mrsnitrobob · 01-30-2013, 07:45 PM

The book came... Power of Positive training by Pat Miller. Thank you for suggesting it. I've read it and my headband said he would too this weekend. I really liked the simple descriptions for me to apply to training with Harley. I already practiced parts tonight. This is going to be fun, and I also think it will open my husband's eyes to the better way of training too. Not the way his co-workers told him. So again, a big thanks for telling about this book. I'm also going to use it at obedience class Thursday

Lori Z · 01-31-2013, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsnitrobob

No, none of those "advisors"have owned Dobermans. I did explain they are a different breed. Hopefully, after these talks, he'll stop bringing home there ideas.

Yes, he's in for a surprise. I don't think he has any idea of her future size, he wasn't with me when I picked her up and saw her mamma, lol

It doesn't matter what breed of dog. Your doberman is a puppy. It doesn't matter if you dog is a collie or a doberman, puppies need to be trained in the same manner. I have a doberman who is four. I have a collie puppy who is now 8 months. When young they were trained the same. I also corrected chasing the cats and little dogs on a leash in the house with a buckle collar. I praised a great deal and directed towards using positive methods for the most part when they were small. I also used toys as a motivator. Recently with my collie I have corrected him for jumping. Old fashioned correction. He is now just too big to lose his head and jump on me. For us this worked well but I know my dog. Dobermans are generally smart but they can also be very, very persistant. Still, a puppy is a puppy. Never hit your dog, your husbands friends are wrong, I don't care what kind of dog they have, puppies should all be treated with kindness, caring and respect, not pinch collars and smacking!!! I do believe in pinch collars for some dogs, my doberman did wear one for a couple of years but not as a baby. My collie won't need one, he is softer in temperament. Tell your husband you appreciate his friends trying to help (see sugar catches the fly) but you don't feel they have done any "real" training and you will be looking towards people who actually train their dogs to do something...just saying.

It sounds to me like you guys make a fine team, my husband is still learning and he is in his early 60's and had dogs all his life. One must pick up shoes or puppy could chew them if not watched, just saying, that never changes.