Bonding into pack
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| You tell them who will be in the pack. You take all four for walks together......you lead, don't let the sheepies pull you. If you have to break them into groups, fine, just more walks for you. Feed them apart from one another. The Newbie needs to know there's no need to fight over food or water. (get more watering stations) Treat all 4 the same, size doesn't matter to them and it should not to you. Getting on furniture, only by invitation. Share the wealth. When there's snarling and growling, before you correct, think what's going on. Could be some doggie correction going on, learning house rule, not a potential fight.......but watch carefully. If if appears anger or fight, correct it instantly with your special correct sound or command. Be firm but not angry. Get in front of the growlers and claim the water bowl, backing him away. You are the leader........all is done with your permission including eating and drinking. Any misbehaving and you step in. Set those boundaries and hold to them. |
| Get in front of the growlers and claim the water bowl, backing him away. You are the leader........all is done with your permission including eating and drinking. Sheepieboss gave you the magic answer right here. Step up, stand over, stare down (gently and without anger) and don't back away until the growler has sat, and then laid down in submission to you (this may take several minutes...don't let him/her walk away...keep walking forward right into his/her space until that dog gives in). Once YOU claim the water bowl the house rule is set, and there's no need for the rest of them to squabble. Make sure you claim lots of things in the same way, to clearly establish the chain of command for all. Repeat often. When you feed another good tip is to make all sit and wait, put the bowls down, and demand each dog continue to sit until you tell him/her individually to eat. Puts you in the driver's seat fast. We've done it with all our dogs, and since they are really motivated to eat, they get it really quickly. It's a great message for them. I hold the food. I feed you when I say so. This isn't terribly hard to fix, and you should be able to help your whole pack bond quickly. |
Quote: When you feed another good tip is to make all sit and wait, put the bowls down, and demand each dog continue to sit until you tell him/her individually to eat. Doggie Push-ups! We had Jack, "sit" then "down" then "sit" and finally "stay" before receiving his meal. He's still very possessive, "I had to work hard for this. You are not taking it away." If he feels threatened his growling has diminshed, instead he picks up his bowl and goes into the dining room  I don't intentionally threaten his meal but sometimes may walk by too close. Otherwise they all eat together, near, but not too near one another. One of us stands guard until the meal is over. Bowls are collected. |
| Thanks for all your feedback! So far, so good with all 4 doggies. Today, we put her on the same schedule as Edmund, and gave her a proper name (yesterday we wer calling her Girlie-mund). We walked in the morning, then I put Ed up and fed her (EmmaLee). Then, we went potty. This evenings walk went very well. I had one sheepie on either side, then they walked next to each other. It will be a slow process, but I am much more comfortable today. We have always fed Ed seperately to avoid problems. Guido and Greta Greyhounds and Emma Sheepie ate very well all together. I am going to post on a seperate thread about Emma's eating habits...got a couple questions. Thanks again for your posts! It is must smoother today. |
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