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Miscellaneous Monday: Establishing The ALPHA Position re: your new puppy
Petville ^

Posted on 08/18/2008 10:03:46 AM PDT by yankeedame

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To: Walmartian

About 3 doors down they have this little white dog that jumps up on your legs. I hate that. If I see it coming I will put my foot out to keep it off me, but as soon as I turn my back, bang. Usually I just lift my knee and push it down but that dog is so dumb it doesn’t get it and frankly, the owners are 95% of the problem. About a year ago that knee came up a little too quick and the dumb dog when over backwards. ‘Mommy’ wasn’t to happy about that. Of course I was wearing shorts and wasn’t exactly happy about the scratches either.


41 posted on 08/18/2008 10:56:16 AM PDT by mad puppy (Never have I felt so politically radical and I swear I didn't move an inch.)
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To: Little Pig

I am no expert, but I don’t think that Mastiffs tend to be dominant. I mean, if you don’t provide strong leadership it will certainly try to fill the gap, but I think they’re far more attuned to a human’s will than terriers or herding dogs are.


42 posted on 08/18/2008 10:58:48 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs (Come then, War! With hearts elated to thy standard we will fly!)
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To: Osage Orange
I tried that on my wife.............

And how did that work out? ;^)

43 posted on 08/18/2008 11:10:15 AM PDT by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
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To: Little Pig

A really big dog like a Mastiff can be problematic, particularly if you get a stubborn one. With Mastiff’s that usually isn’t a real concern, though.

The problem with dogs that size is if you have established dominence through physical means as a puppy, he will attempt to establish dominence through physical means as an adult. A Poodle that attempts that can be dealt with easily, a Mastiff is another story.

For a dog that size, I would discipline by standing almost directly over him and turning it’s head upward when you chastise him. Also, let it get used to your hands being in and around his mouth. Take food away while eating and take bones away while chewing occasionally to show that as the provider of his food and toys, you can take them away.

Establish in his mind that you are the provider and permission giver and it shouldn’t be an issue even if you use an occasional tap on the nose to get his attention.


44 posted on 08/18/2008 11:24:27 AM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: I still care

I had an Akita and he was tough. He was big and he shed like mad. He lived 14 years and we became very good friends but, he could be nasty.
I now have two German shepherds and they are a ball. They are 9 months old and we are a part of each other. I have siblings. a male and female. I guess I started them wrong (but I don’t care) they don’t want to do anything without me being with them. The female has some stomach problems but we are working on the problem. The male has a cast iron stomach. The male is 75 lbs and the female is 66 lbs. and I hope they get bigger. I love them.


45 posted on 08/18/2008 11:26:51 AM PDT by depenzz (Get the most out of life, its not a dress rehearsal)
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To: yankeedame
This is some BS and some good advice.

>NEVER HIT YOUR PUPPY - even a teeny, tiny flick on the pup's nose can possibly make it hand shy and defensive

STATUS -FALSE - Lots of dogs gets smacked on the nose for various reasons. Only dogs with extreme shyness MIGHT get hand shy from it.

>DON'T SCREAM OR YELL AT THE PUP - Alpha never has to bark. When you yell (bark), your puppy instinctively knows that you are not Alpha.

STATUS - FALSE - You can scream and yell but if that's all you do the dog will simply tune it out. It's better to know how to communicate. Simple commands and reprimands are best. NO and Good.

>NEVER GIVE EMPTY OR REPETITIVE COMMANDS - always ensure your puppy complies with any and all commands

STATUS - TRUE - If you repeat commands you teach a dog that you will repeat commands and the first one can be ignored.

>DON'T GIVE THE PUP TABLE SCRAPS - the puppy doesn't need it in the first place and it only confuses the Alpha

STATUS - Too ridiculous to comment

>DONT GIVE OLD PERSONAL ITEMS TO THE PUP - your pup can't tell the difference between an old, torn sock and, a brand new one; an old, worn slipper and a brand new pair of loafers, a frayed bed sheet and a brand new quilt ...

STATUS -False, if your dog is smart. TRUE, if your dog is stupid.

>IF YOU CAN'T CORRECT IT ... PREVENT IT - greet the pup on the ground before it jumps on you,

This is a stupid owner trick. Smart owners will teach the pup not to jump when told.

>crate the pup when you can't watch it like a hawk,

Buy a good quality crate and use it in the car too.

>move that shoe before the pup pounces on it
Whoever wrote this seems to have no concept of teaching a dog the word, NO.

>IF IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, IT'S TOO LATE - if you find poop on the floor or discover the insides of your couch on the outside all you can do is clean it up and prevent it from happening again

If this were true the canine species would be extinct.

>ALWAYS PRAISE YOUR PUP WHEN IT IS GOOD - toss in a “Good Boy” or “Good Pup” when the pup is playing with its toy, when it just sits beside you, when it lays down to rest.

Saying “Good” is positive reinforcement. Dogs doing something they like don't need MORE PE to do it again. Save your breath. Say “Good” when the pup shows you he needs to go outside to pee or when you see him choose his toy INSTEAD OF your slipper.

>ALWAYS THINK ABOUT ONE YEAR FROM NOW - will this cute act still be cute when the pup is 3 times its present size?

She/He/It got this one right.

>MAKE THE PUPPY WORK - have the pup SIT or GIVE PAW for a treat; have the dog SIT so you can put its collar on; have it the DOWN to get petted

This is not work, this is training. Dogs like this and you don't need treats.

>TEACH YOUR PUP TO RESPECT YOUR AREA - every now and then, make it a point to sit on the same spot that your dog is lying (gently pick it up or nudge it away); shuffle through the dog instead of walking around it

Leave the dog alone. He respects your area if you have the appropriate relationship with it i.e you're the master.

>TOUCH YOUR DOG EVERYWHERE - caress, massage, rub, poke, prod and touch every inch of your pup... from the tip of its nose to between the pads of its feet; softly coo and praise as the dog accepts these touchings; correct any atte

I do this with young puppies (under 15 pounds). Cradle them like a baby, look at their teeth, in their ears and inspect the pads of their feet.

I would wager whoever wrote this has trained between 2 and 5 dogs but fewer than 5 breeds.

46 posted on 08/18/2008 11:33:26 AM PDT by Varda
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To: poobear

Six-pound Yorkies should not be around kids. A dog that small is in survival mode around any kid younger than 10 years old. It is dog abuse to put little kids around Yorkies and other tiny breeds.


47 posted on 08/18/2008 11:41:14 AM PDT by 3AngelaD (They screwed up their own countries so bad they had to leave, and now they're here screwing up ours)
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To: EggsAckley
There have been a few times I’ve had to grab the dreaded rolled up newspaper. No swats required, all she has to do is just see it and the game is over.

Same here.

These days, I simply tell my 8 yr old female Shih-Tzu, "Don't MAKE Me Come Over There!". As good as the newspaper.

48 posted on 08/18/2008 11:50:13 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: EggsAckley
I had a rat terrier for a year or two before I left home... No other dog can match them for personality. He came to visit us a few months ago with my parents and would have tried to eat my (80 lb) pit bull mix if he'd have gotten the chance! The only thing that can control him is my Dad's voice, or emotional abuse. He's very sensitive to tone & body language.
49 posted on 08/18/2008 11:57:06 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs (Come then, War! With hearts elated to thy standard we will fly!)
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To: PGR88
Wow - if this thread is an advertisement for owning a dog, It’s NOT working!

Nah.I don't even have a dog*. I was just surfing the web, came across it, and thought I'd post it for anyone interested. Of course, in the spirit of fair play I posted a little something for cat fanciers, too.

*But I have had *^#$^ neighbors who could really use this list!

50 posted on 08/18/2008 12:02:28 PM PDT by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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To: 6ppc
Not well..........

: )

51 posted on 08/18/2008 1:26:55 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Congress would steal the nickels off a dead man's eye's...............)
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To: wildbill
that must be in the Chinese/Asian training manual.

LOL, yea. The other thread I refered to was one about why we don't eat dogs.......

52 posted on 08/18/2008 1:28:22 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Little Pig

I’ve raised a mastiff (click on my screen name).

Never hit a mastiff. Never let a mastiff puppy (or any age) put his/her teeth on you, your clothing, your furniture, anything. Distract with soft chewy toy animals, and kongs the appropriate size, and bones, and other things. Put them in a special basket for him/her, and he/she will go get them when they need to chew. My mastiff goes to root around in his basket when he wants to chew or cuddle, and even though he’s grown, he still likes soft toys, especially the ones with squeakers in them.

Never play tug of war with a mastiff. They have a competitive streak, and sooner or later they will win. Then you will have lost dominance.

Never let your mastiff in your bed or on your furniture, no matter how cute and snuggly he/she is as a puppy. Ever after, the dog will think s/he is being punished if you stop allowing it. Mastiffs have a sense of justice, and will be deeply hurt if they are unjustly (in their mind) punished.

Never let your mastiff puppy jump up on you. They get big quick, and can cause harm without meaning it. Plus, it’s a dominance thing.

Mastiffs can count, more or less. If you give a treat to one pet, you must give one to the mastiff.

Your puppy wants one thing: to be with you. S/he wants to be where you are, watching everything you do, eating everything you eat, touching you whenever possible. If you love your mastiff puppy, and set gentle but firm limits, and praise your dog a lot, your mastiff will reward you with the biggest, most lovingest heart any dog could ever have.

You can talk to your mastiff, but hand commands are best. Just get some signals going, like touching his/her butt when you want him/her to sit, pointing to the floor when you want them to lay down, whistling or making a “come here” motion with your head or hand to get them to come, they learn to fetch in about 5 seconds, but sometimes will try to get you to chase them....

They are humorous, good-natured, unaggressive, friendly, curious, and loving. Best dogs in the world, if you raise them right.

They like to eat gravel. Don’t let them. Keep them off slick floors because they will injure their joints as puppies or adults. They don’t need a lot of exercise. To heel comes naturally. Keep them on a leash around unfamiliar places and people, and if you will be around animals you don’t know, ie cows, horses, chickens, etc.

The mastiff is the crown jewel of the dog world. Imho.

Here’s a great link for mastiffs, it’s where I got mine:

http://www.flyingwfarms.com


53 posted on 08/18/2008 4:09:49 PM PDT by Judith Anne
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To: yankeedame

BOOKbump


54 posted on 08/18/2008 4:23:48 PM PDT by S.O.S121.500 (There is a reason your ancesters worshipped the sun.)
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PS, Praise, to a mastiff, can be silent. Just touch them with a light, gentle scratch behind the ear, or softly pet the head, whatever. That means, “Good dog.”

My housebroken minpin taught the mastiff to potty outside only. He followed her a bit, when we first brought him home, and when we let her out in the yard, he went along and went to the corner where she does her business, and he was trained within a day. If I work all day, nine hours from leaving to arriving back home, he waits. He had a total of one accident in 4 years (these are really bright, sort of lazy, dogs).


55 posted on 08/18/2008 4:26:15 PM PDT by Judith Anne
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To: depenzz

My previous dog was a female shepherd. She was a real friend. Very sweet and a true companion.

Definitely the Akitas have more attitude. That has good and bad aspects. But they follow me like I am the dog god.


56 posted on 08/18/2008 8:09:47 PM PDT by I still care ("Remember... for it is the doom of men that they forget" - Merlin, from Excalibur)
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