On Sat, 20 Jan 2001, Jim Choate wrote:
your tone of voice unless you're yelling). Fear is an entirely different matter from respect.
As in my previous message, it depends on how you're defining fear in this application. Can a dog not fear disappointing its owner?
More people should understand this distinction. Hell, most people shouldn't even have pets.
With that, I agree.
Don't know about abuse but it's crappy training technique (and I say that from raising dogs for 37 years). Also, abuse is about more than simply striking them. It includes negligence as well. It means not doing what you should be doing.
I was always told that the only form of physical admonishment one should ever employ with a dog is a swift jerk at the scruff of the neck (apparently imitating mother/puppy behavior). I don't particularly see this being useful, however. The urge to react physically to undesirable behavior is a failing in the human trainer. (Likewise, when your child accidently steps on your dog's tail, you want the dog to yelp rather than bite.) [snip accurate description of the ordeal of housebreaking dogs] One method that has worked for me, in addition to everything you've said, is the repetition of a phrase while waiting for the dog to do his business. I've spent many a night standing in my back yard saying "hurry-up" in the sweetest voice imaginable to my puppies, and then telling them how much of a good dog they are when they pee. Makes the neighbors think I am batty, but they eventually equate "hurry-up" with "take a leak", and I can get them to urinate on command.
then you yell at it and drag it around pointing at newspaper (like a puppy has any clue what paper is) is the way or it's supposed to read your mind. (After all, if you're so smart how come you didn't recognize the pup was in distress in the first place?)
"If you point at a dog, he'll look at your finger..."
Now this should not be interpreted to mean that no physical contact is required. For example the best way to teach dogs not to rush the door is to pin them in it. If a dog pushes you and you don't want then push it away hard enough to put it on the ground (similar to a 'alpha roll', and if you don't know what a 'alpha roll' is or how to use it you know nothing about training dogs). If you teach them 'back up' and they don't you alpha roll them on their back.
Jim, most people on here won't know what an alpha roll is.
As to demanding respect from dogs, you don't do it with your voice. You do it with your eyes (another sign of inexperience is this common mistake, even a lot of 'professionals' make it). In addition you shouldn't play 'tug of war' with it and you should NEVER let a puppy/dog get on top of a child or person, EVER!!!!!
By extension, if you're ever in a situation where you fear you may be attacked by a dog, avert your eyes. A staring contest with a strange dog may end up with bloodshed.
There are some monks who raise German Shephards, they write some excellent books. Anyone raising any sort of canine should read at least one of them.
The Monks of New Skete.
Bottom line, if an animal fails in its behavior it rests on one set of shoulders and one set of shoulders only, the owner. It is NEVER the animals fault.
Absolutely. Alex