OK - It's getting difficult now.....
Need some advice - Baxter my 7 1/2 mth old gorgeous boy has yet to learn the pecking order in our houselhold. I, and my partner AKA the alpha male, have been consistent in our corrections of Baxter's behaviour but unfortunately, in Baxter's eye, I have yet to reach the exalted heights of alphaness ! Even when we do the same things, which is to immediately jump on him, place him in a submissive position (usually laid out on the ground and holding him down while growling at him) it is never quite as effective for me. Recently I had a very sore arm and Hayden was doing the corrections on him when required and he was wonderful. As soon as Hayden isn't around, or out of the room, Baxter believes this to be his licence to act up big time with me ! Any alternative methods would be gratefully accepted - it is really starting to concern me and he is getting difficult for me to control during his little turns ! I thank all of you in advance ! Cheers, Jude of Australia |
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| You might want to try a different tactic and instead of correcting him for everything he does wrong, which sounds like pretty much everything, and isn't unusual in a dog his age, focus on teaching him appropiate behaviour instead. What does "acting up" entail btw?
Does he have a good sit and down? If, or once, he does, when he comes flying at you to play ask him for a behavior that is incompatible with treating you like his play thing and then you can reward him for that. There's a place for corrections, don't get me wrong. But if he's constantly being corrected but given little guidance for what you actually want <?> , then the corrections themselves are probably just part of the game in his mind. Clearly the corrections are ineffective, since they haven't made him stop the unwanted behavior, yes? I suspect that's because half of the equation is missing: how to make the corrections stop. At this point, they may very well be a physical form of white noise. One good thing you've learned if he isn't wetting himself when being alpha rolled, yet also not ripping your face off when you do that and growl at him, is that he probably has a pretty decent middle-of-the-road temperament. He probably needs a bit less corrections and a bit more constructive criticism if you will: no, you may not jump up on me and bodyslam me into the wall <or fill in the blanks, "you little turd" optional> but when you do this <fill in the blank> you make me very happy and I'll keep spending time with you. If he's one of those puppies who gets himself all wound up he may also need more in the exercise department. Does he play with toys? You know, other than you?  Chase? Retrieve? Play well with other dogs?
Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: You might want to try a different tactic and instead of correcting him for everything he does wrong, which sounds like pretty much everything, and isn't unusual in a dog his age, focus on teaching him appropiate behaviour instead. What does "acting up" entail btw?
Does he have a good sit and down? If, or once, he does, when he comes flying at you to play ask him for a behavior that is incompatible with treating you like his play thing and then you can reward him for that. There's a place for corrections, don't get me wrong. But if he's constantly being corrected but given little guidance for what you actually want <?> , then the corrections themselves are probably just part of the game in his mind. Clearly the corrections are ineffective, since they haven't made him stop the unwanted behavior, yes? I suspect that's because half of the equation is missing: how to make the corrections stop. At this point, they may very well be a physical form of white noise. One good thing you've learned if he isn't wetting himself when being alpha rolled, yet also not ripping your face off when you do that and growl at him, is that he probably has a pretty decent middle-of-the-road temperament. He probably needs a bit less corrections and a bit more constructive criticism if you will: no, you may not jump up on me and bodyslam me into the wall <or fill in the blanks, "you little turd" optional> but when you do this <fill in the blank> you make me very happy and I'll keep spending time with you. If he's one of those puppies who gets himself all wound up he may also need more in the exercise department. Does he play with toys? You know, other than you? Chase? Retrieve? Play well with other dogs?Kristine I could not have put it better myself Kristine. |
| Excellent advice, Kristine. |
| Treats always work better for me, I prefer cookies.....oatmeal.........and the dogs respond to treats as well.......they want MY oatmeal cookies.
Hopefully your Terror lives to make you happy and will respond to bribes, er, rewards for good behavior. |
| Perfect answers! |
| Thanks all for the very constructive advice and encouragement. I do believe we are exercising him sufficiently - and 30 min walk/jog followed by a good 30 min playtime in the back yard with various toys and balls, but perhaps a different tact with the corrections is the way to go.... It's so frustrating when it works for the alpha male of the house but is no longer working for me.... Wish I culd just do the turn the back ignore move - which would work except for the aptly described body slams ! He's not the messiah - he's just an incrediblyexuberant boy... I will certainly try some of the other tacts with him and see where we go to from here.....
Thanks again !!! Will report back soon ! |
| forget body slamming its all in the eye contact....don t speak dont touch dont give eye contact for at least 5 minutes when you enter your den...then greet over the back of head neck....this works...this will make You an Alpha....will take at least a week ...then your bear will be calm until YOU decide to give attention |
| In our house we ended up using slightly different approaches. I found I got further with treats and being firm and my husband was pretty good at just being "Alpha". The end result for us was that I could teach new behaviors and tricks and husband was good at enforcing/encouraging basic manners. I think it worked because we were always discussing what we wanted as the end result so there wasn't too much confusion and we were very consistent. |
| Thanks to you all for the advice.... His aggressive behaviour is starting to subside after I'd taken some of the advice on... So we're using different methods - My partner is the definitive alpha of the house, and I'm doing a combination of the treat, then settle him down trick and paying him a little attention... then he seems to settle down nicely ! I am also still correcting him but using a slightly different method than my partner and it appears to be having some effect. I have discovered that his worse behaviour with me is when I'm doing anything else other than paying attention to him. When I'm on the phone it's the worst !!!!! Ahhhh the little attention seeker that he is ! Thank you thank you thank you...... I'm sure we will refine the Method as we go.... |
Baxter08 wrote: I have discovered that his worse behaviour with me is when I'm doing anything else other than paying attention to him. When I'm on the phone it's the worst !!!!! Ahhhh the little attention seeker that he is ! Thank you thank you thank you...... I'm sure we will refine the Method as we go....
Well done!!!!! And you'll probably be asked to share more of what works for you in the future... I laughed at him behaving the worst when you're on the phone. I have one of those - the cat! I finally figured out (duh) that he has no concept of phones and why I would wander around aimlessly chatting to myself...Perhaps my dogs used to think that way too, but eventually just wrote me off as weird....? The cat still seems to think I'm talking to him so why am I not looking at him or petting him...? 
Typing seems to have that effect on Sybil...90809[rHJKSDJHtcq76wcv jkv'poe88WEIR7VTI 86FGTLUHF.KLJ <She says hi> Kristine |
| Funny, typing has the same effect on Tiggy. My lap top is covered in wet beard streaks and the mouse pad and buttons are acting up a bit. I dont think it works for them when Tiggy goes and has a drink then comes back and pokes her very wet beard on the not water proof keyboard. Who would have thought it
I often have to delete the gibberish that Tiggy writes to you all. I dont want anyone figuring out her code and sending the dog protection people over because I brush her too much and feed her too little.  |
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