snapping
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| Marley,
You shouldn't be worried - but it's good to "nip this in the bud". She's beginning to show signs of territorial aggression - which usually if she was doing this with another dog - they'd work it out - but with kittens that could be dangerous. I would start by hand feeding her. Make her realize that nothing is free - she needs to earn it! Once you've done this for a while - then you can slowly go back to feeding in a bowl - but interupt her while she's eating - pet her head, take her bowl away, etc. You can also take her food away when she snaps like this and I would definately take her treat away if she behaves like this. I'm not sure if you got that book, The Dog's Mind - but it talks about alot of this in there. This is something that can be overcome! Did you find a training class yet? Kristen |
| I found this article online - maybe it will help.
http://www.geocities.com/labsr4ulist/pawfood.htm This is a "dominance" thing - and Mopsey is probably trying to show the kittens she's in charge. However - it shouldn't be tolerated. This article gives the nothing in life is free suggestion. It refers to this being aggressive towards humans - but the same rules apply. I would make sure they are always under supervision - or seperated when not supervised. A friend's dog accidentally killed her kitten - when he had previously shown no signs of issues with it. Kristen |
 Kristen, you are the best. Well, she never does in with us. She does show signs of aggression, though in other areas. But we are working on that. I looked into the class you suggested, but my husband is totally against it.  He says that we can work with her at home, and that there are too many people out there just wanting to make a buck who don't know what they are doing. *sigh*. I have the book, and will read the section on aggression again. I thought it only applies to people, but ofcourse it makes sence that it would work with the kittens. Now, if she snaps while the kitten is coming up to her bowl (which he does everytime she eats and steals her food), if she snaps, I take the food away for a while (5 min) and then put it back. Keep watching her, if she does it again, repeat. Because she shows no agression towards me, maybe I can see if that works, before handfeeding her. I do a lot of that with her with snack, and usually I do it while the kittens are there. I would take chicken and hand feed her and them at the same time, and she is fine with that. She waits her turn. But she knows that her food is hers, and she does not like it when the kitten comes up to steal it. Same with the bone. Going to read the book now.  |
| My cats often eat Dancer's food too... makes it kind of hard to put big Winston on a diet!
She never seems to mind, it just gives her a chance to lick them and drool on them....lol... |
| Marley,
I'm sure there are people out there just trying to make a buck! Just like there are Breeders in it just to make a buck. BUT....you should find one that isn't!!! Formal obedience training is crucial! You don't want to be kicking yourself in a few months when things aren't going so well. Just the social interaction with the other dogs is necessary! Please ask your husband to reconsider! It may mean a world of difference for Mopsey! kristen |
I know, Kristen. I am slowly but surely waring him down. He had all of his sheepdogs raised without any formal training. And they were all very good dogs. However, he always had more then one so that they could teach each other some manners. Here, Mopsey needs to learn how to behave. She is pretty good with other dogs, doesn't bite them, or anything. Just hops around like a bunny rabbit. When I told him about the class in NYC, he said it was a long trip for a pup to take, and what sort of help will one hour a week really give, etc. etc. So, I am going to look for something here in Brooklyn. She is definatly going. Before the summer is over. I am going to email gannie annie to see if she has any suggestions about someone in my area. There are tons of schools, but I have no idea if they are good or not. I wish there was one to train stubborn husbands.  |
marley - now a school to train stubborn husbands - that would make a buck  |
| LOL Tell me about it! My husband is extra stubborn. Usually I do what I think is right anyway, and he pouts for a while. But I am right most of the time with my decision, and he knows it. He he he. |
| After 35 years marriage, I still haven't trained my husband, but I'm close!!
If you can't get to a dog obed class, get your dog out meeting the public and other dogs! First have the sit and stay commands down pat so you can control your dog in any situation.....hopefully. Before anyone can pet your dog, put the dog in a sit/stay. Ask the people to rub the shoulder, not the head. Also, no leaning over the dog! That's aggressive posturing! No grabbing the dog.......small children warning. When meeting dogs, sniffing is natural. Avoid face to face! That's aggression. Just make the meetings quick and move on. The more plesant meetings with people/children and other animals, the better socialized your doggie will be. Don't let your doggie become like one of mine........anyone who shows him kindness....he responds by putting his head between their legs. It's his way of saying, "Scratch my neck." Since he's a tall boy, the movement can be unsettling |
| Kristen, I contacted grannieannie and she is looking into a trainer in our area. I am taking Mopsey to the one she recommends. She was so quick replying to my email and sounded very warm and caring. Thanks! |
| Marley,
I'm glad you are on top of this! The ONE Hour training classes are for socialization and training - and the training is more to train YOU - not the dog!  You then take that information and apply it to how you raise Mopsey and PRACTICE the training methods you obtained.
She will also learn (and so will you) that you're the boss - and she will respect you as the alpha. Training helps tremendously! Times are very different - we can't go with how our dog's were trained or how they behaved - we expected alot less of dogs years ago. I also had plenty of dogs that never went through formal training - but looking back I'm sure they would have been better off if they had. Glad to see you contacted Grannie Annie! She has over 40 years experience with OES - with breeding, training, grooming, showing and rescueing and placing hundreds of them! Kristen |
Well you are on the money. She is under the impression that she can do whatever she wants...thanks to my husband who lets her. When ever I try to impose some rules, he objects, and I am getting sick of it. She will only respond to me when I have a treat in my hand, and she seemed to have an idea in her head that he is the alpha, and i am her play mate. Wonder why?? Even though she does not understand what we are saying she is picking up on the vibes, body language and intonation. I am enrolling her into an obedience class as soon as grannieannie recomends a trainer. I am getting really frustrated now. She does not jump on nip at him, but does it to me. This will not do at all. Sorry, just venting.  |
| Perhaps a training class for husbands??? |
| I can totaly relate!! I once had a first husband and a first sheepdog, unfortunately I have neither one anymore, Penelope died of natural causes and the first husband got the boot! Not that I am advocating getting a divorce over your dog.... obviously there were other issues....
HOWEVER - my point is that I think I have some good advice here, because I had a similar situation. My former husband thought the whole obedience thing was a 'super rip off' and we could do just as well at home, by the time Penelope was about 18 months she was completely out of control, walks were a miserable experience (I now have the bad back to prove it!) and she was ripping up the house when we were gone- it was chaos. I was frightened she would hurt herself or someone else because she was so unmanageable. So I defiantly took an obedience class and told him he could come if he wanted, but I had to do this becaasue this poor animal was going no where very fast. She and I went every Wednesday (my mom gave me the class as a 'gift' so I could side step the whole 'rip off' thing) and I practiced really hard with her in the park, on the walks, in the house, everywhere. My ex-husband chose not to participate and much to my dismay would take her on walks and not observe the new techniques I was learning. Essentially he would 'undo' what I was accomplishing with her. But I didn't give up , I also made sure that I was the one who fed her as I was the one training her, I wanted her to get the picture of who was boss. I worked with her a lot, I won't sugar coat it, I really made sure she knew who was in charge. I also made sure to spend lots of love time with her, watching tv, grooming, petting, holding the chew bone, fetch. She knew it wasn't all work with me, even though my ex-husband was taking her on 'no leash' walks and not insisting she obey the commands, he would even 'tug' with her when she brought the ball back so that she would forget how to 'drop' (no wonder I dumped this guy huh?) The long and the short is, that I established myself, eventually, with her as the one in charge, I was the consistent one with whom she could count on for rewards and praise and a set of rules by which to behave. Training the OES to be obedient is an ongoing process and there are some things that they understand, yet choose to forget when it is convenient. I never stopped working with her and she became the lovliest pet I've ever known. She still loved hanging out with her 'dad' who let her get away with murder, but if I entered the room, or joined up on the walk, or in the fetch game, she immediately started playing by my rules, she knew I wouldn't put up with bad behaviour and her desire was so KEEN to please me because I was her trainer. Again - I am not advocating you get in a power play with your husband over the dog, my marriage was a mess anyway, the dog training issue was one of many, but I managed in very adverse circumstances, and I'm sure yours are better than mine, to get that dog under control. She really thanked me for it too. I often think we could all train our dogs at home and not spend any money on classes, but there is something about the discipline of going each week and having 'homework'- not only that, but if you do it together as a couple you can really grow together in your responsibility for this animal. Anyway - just my two cents. By the way I now have a new sheepie named Chelsea (10 months) and a new husband! And we are trianing her together and its a blast- of course I 'm still the dog boss at our house. HA! HA! You know what they say...."It's hard to teach old ladies new tricks" ! Good Luck- you'll figure it out! Up. |
| Thanks Up, this helped. I don't want my husband to end up and ex, but I am so agry at him sometimes. I read all these books and talk to everyone on this forum who have much experience with training. I make suggestions and ask him to follow up, and he just ignores what I say and suggest. I can just see her getting out of control. She is still a puppy so its easier, but when she is 60lb, it will be much different. I hate the fact that we argue about this, because its pretty much the only thing we disagree on, her training. Or lack there of. He doesn't understand that she is a child, and children need to be taught right from wrong, they need to know their boundaries. You won't let a kid do whatever he or she wants!!!!! At least I wouldn't! Will keep working on it and thanks so much for sharing your experiece and advice! |
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That's okay - my new husband I disagree over the computer, it's the only thing! Guess there is always something. Up. |
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