Brand New
I have a very stubborn German Shepard/Border Collie Mix male dog! and I can't train him to save my life. in all honesty I don't care if he sits on demand and what not but I have been trying to teach him like crazy because he has started to show some aggressive behaviors! and I can't figure out what his trigger is (he has snaped at 3 people over the last year and a half and all of them were being nice to him and the most recent one I know he was fond of! the only thing I can link them together with is baby talk "OOOHHH ROCKY" and they were all touching him at the time. and what's weird is that he seems to know it was wrong because he mopes around for days after each one. the only thing is my Fiance and I want to start having kids next year and I am afraid to have him around people! I got him a crate and he seems okay sleeping in it. He's so good 95% of the time and has stopped barking at so many people (like roofers and kids climbing the fence) but I need more help training him! any
thing will help! I can't stand the thought of putting him down but am reaching the end of my rope. He loves Dogs (like at the Dog park he is okay with everyone there) but if say my fiance and I do the whole piggy back thing or wrestle it freaks him out! and he doesn't like people coming to our house or on the leash but if he gets out and can run free he loves everyone! so he's not just aggressive for the sake of being aggressive he even shares his food with our much smaller welsh terrier. I plan on consulting a dog behavioralist as soon as I get the money in about a month but until then I need something has anyone else had this problem or know how to train particularly protective and stubborn dogs?
sorry for the confusion he has been nutered and I absoultly don't want to put him down! that is what I am trying to avoid! I tried taking him in to a no kill shelter and they refused him and the regular one said they wouldn't even try before putting him down. and nobody I know will take him! this is my last resort. as for the pining thing we have tried that it only works for 15 or so minutes once the scenery changes he's back to normal (like if we do it on a walk he's good for the rest of that walk only!) he didn't used to be like this and I know it's my fault I just want to fix the behaivor!
Answer
Glad you're going to a behaviorist in the next month. I suspect the evaluation will say your dog has fear aggression and you are NOT Alpha Pack Leader, which IS YOUR JOB!
Both GSD and BC are FABULOUS TRAINABLE DOGS! Unless your dog has something like a brain tumor, these breeds are well known for being SMART and among the fastest and easiest to train. They were BRED to be trainable and to work with a human handler.
SO... the problem is you! Sorry... but it's a fact.
If YOU cannot train your dog, then you are NOT Alpha Pack Leader. Alpha Pack Leader is always listened to by the dogs in the pack. The Pack Leader's wishes MUST be listened to and followed! That's the law of the pack.
I'll give you links to 2 excellent websites to learn how to be Alpha Pack Leader. READ them! LEARN & DO what they tell you.
I'll give you 3 excellent websites that give you insights into dog behavior. READ them! Learn to understand your dog.
His trigger is that he's got the heavy job of being the Pack Leader, so, instead of enjoying just being a dog, he has the responsibility of controlling everything around the pack. If in his doggie mind, someone's actions are a potential threat, his response is to lunge to bite. He's trying to protect you. He's trying to ward off perceived threats to himself as well.
If you have the right channels, watch the shows "It's Me or the Dog" with Victoria Stillwell, and The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. What I've learned from watching them is the fact that the majority of major dog control problems come from the fact that the owner is NOT the Pack Leader. This always leads to the WORST offenders and LEAST socialized dogs
AND ... as another responder said... if he's intact, get him neutered... That's a must
Addendum: both GSD and BC are high energy dogs. They need a JOB to do, and if you haven't given him a job, he's selected guarding YOU as his job. You need to give him more exercise... he needs a LOT of running and a LOT of exercise. I suspect you don't give him enough exercise to tire him out and challenge and excite him. That is another part of the problem.
And ignore the comment by "Petsitter" who shouldn't be a petsitter with that uneducated view of dogs. -!-
Glad you're going to a behaviorist in the next month. I suspect the evaluation will say your dog has fear aggression and you are NOT Alpha Pack Leader, which IS YOUR JOB!
Both GSD and BC are FABULOUS TRAINABLE DOGS! Unless your dog has something like a brain tumor, these breeds are well known for being SMART and among the fastest and easiest to train. They were BRED to be trainable and to work with a human handler.
SO... the problem is you! Sorry... but it's a fact.
If YOU cannot train your dog, then you are NOT Alpha Pack Leader. Alpha Pack Leader is always listened to by the dogs in the pack. The Pack Leader's wishes MUST be listened to and followed! That's the law of the pack.
I'll give you links to 2 excellent websites to learn how to be Alpha Pack Leader. READ them! LEARN & DO what they tell you.
I'll give you 3 excellent websites that give you insights into dog behavior. READ them! Learn to understand your dog.
His trigger is that he's got the heavy job of being the Pack Leader, so, instead of enjoying just being a dog, he has the responsibility of controlling everything around the pack. If in his doggie mind, someone's actions are a potential threat, his response is to lunge to bite. He's trying to protect you. He's trying to ward off perceived threats to himself as well.
If you have the right channels, watch the shows "It's Me or the Dog" with Victoria Stillwell, and The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. What I've learned from watching them is the fact that the majority of major dog control problems come from the fact that the owner is NOT the Pack Leader. This always leads to the WORST offenders and LEAST socialized dogs
AND ... as another responder said... if he's intact, get him neutered... That's a must
Addendum: both GSD and BC are high energy dogs. They need a JOB to do, and if you haven't given him a job, he's selected guarding YOU as his job. You need to give him more exercise... he needs a LOT of running and a LOT of exercise. I suspect you don't give him enough exercise to tire him out and challenge and excite him. That is another part of the problem.
And ignore the comment by "Petsitter" who shouldn't be a petsitter with that uneducated view of dogs. -!-
My dog wont stop chewing things up!!!?
thumper
I have a pit/boxer mix. I have had him since he was 7 weeks old and now he is 7 months. I also have four older dogs in the house as well. My issue is that he keeps chewing or pottying in my house. BUT, he only does it when I am not around. Today I have been home all day, so he has had plenty of time to chew or poitty in the house if he wanted. Well I got in the shower and when I got out my living room was in pieces....paper,shoes,xmas gifts, etc. So this is the way I have been training him. Now before u start judging, I must say that this way is the only way I knew of. I have taught all of my other dogs this way and they learned within a monmths time. I was taught to pick up what ever he was chewing on, show it to him, say no with a firm voice and a single spank on the rump, then put him in a cage. Thats how ive trained everyone of my dogs and they has all turned out to be great dogs and the all know tricks etc. Well after about 3 months of me doing that to him, he doesnt seem to be catching on. and i really started to feel bad becuase his cute face melts my heart lol. So I researched online they said negative reinforcement is bad. well after that I have tried positive reinforcement and let me tell u, its very hard to do. But either way nothing is working. He is so close to being a strictly outside dog. And I dont want that. Outside dogs tend to be left out of things and forgotten. Please help. I know he is only 7 months but man this is just getting old. He will be my LAST puppy ever. I should have stuck to my guns and got an old dog from the pound like i normally dog.
Answer
Well we all make mistakes with training our dogs, we can't all be Victoria Stillwell. What worked for your previous dogs won't necessarily work with this dog. Bully breeds are notoriously stubborn, and Boxers aren't known for their smarts. Consistency is going to have to be key for this puppy.
One problem I see you've committed is using a crate for punishment. What you should have been doing is crate training him, so when you're in the shower or gone from home or asleep, the dog needs to be in his crate. This needs to be his safe haven. Please please crate train this dog. If he's in his crate, then he can't tear up your house. And if he learns to love his crate, he won't mess in there either. Only keep strong toys in there like kongs though because he could swallow other things and get a major blockage.
His pottying inside may be due to the fact that he has so much competition. He's living with 4 other dogs, he's got to make his mark somehow! Be sure to give him lots of good snuggles and praise, and walk him outside by himself if you can. Give him tons of praise when he potties outside.
It also sounds like he's bored. I'm not sure how that's possible with four other dogs, but boxers and pit bulls need tons of stimulation. A tired dog is a good dog, so work on games or exercise for him and that should help.
Well we all make mistakes with training our dogs, we can't all be Victoria Stillwell. What worked for your previous dogs won't necessarily work with this dog. Bully breeds are notoriously stubborn, and Boxers aren't known for their smarts. Consistency is going to have to be key for this puppy.
One problem I see you've committed is using a crate for punishment. What you should have been doing is crate training him, so when you're in the shower or gone from home or asleep, the dog needs to be in his crate. This needs to be his safe haven. Please please crate train this dog. If he's in his crate, then he can't tear up your house. And if he learns to love his crate, he won't mess in there either. Only keep strong toys in there like kongs though because he could swallow other things and get a major blockage.
His pottying inside may be due to the fact that he has so much competition. He's living with 4 other dogs, he's got to make his mark somehow! Be sure to give him lots of good snuggles and praise, and walk him outside by himself if you can. Give him tons of praise when he potties outside.
It also sounds like he's bored. I'm not sure how that's possible with four other dogs, but boxers and pit bulls need tons of stimulation. A tired dog is a good dog, so work on games or exercise for him and that should help.
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