Dog Training By Alton

Archive for February, 2010

As background, my fiance and I recently purchased a house and moved in together. I have a dog myself (3 yr old amstaff) and he has a 4 yr. old pit (cocoa) who has been staying as a companion with his father the past year. A couple years ago cocoa was for a walk with the dad and a little girl ran up to him with a tennis racket and cocoa bit the little girls arm. Cocoa’s owners went to court and all charges were dropped because witnesses said the girl ran up to him. I don’t particularly agree, but it’s not my dog. Anyway, the father is sick so we have taken Cocoa into our new home with my dog. Cocoa doesn’t have great manors (things that can be corrected with a little time; pulling the leash, jumping around the house when you arrive). But last night we kept him in the living room as we closed the door to go to sleep he cried throughout the whole night. We didn’t cave in and let him into the bedroom but I’m afraid his anxiety won’t ever settle down. He’s protective of his owners and he has seperation anxiety, so anytime we leave the room or the house he cries. He’s 4 years old is there any saving him?? I know the training secrets of leaving the room coming back and repeating the steps…we have tried, he still cries. I’m afraid one day I’ll be brining the groceries in and he will slip out and attack someone. We contemplate surrendering him to a no kill shelter for rehabilitation for pit bulls but my heart breaks thinking about it because he is a sweet dog. He lacks confidence. Please help.
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Let me clarify; my fiance got Cocoa as a puppy, he lived with his parents but his father became ill and enjoyed the dogs company but he has become too ill to take care of Cocoa anymore so we have taken him. I don’t believe in surrendering a dog based on bad behavior that is manageble with obedience– I am more fearful of what "what if’s" regarding him biting someone else… what IF we lose our house or get sued?? What IF he gets out of the house and attacks a little girl? It scares me to think about and although I blame my fiance for not knowing how to socialize a dog properly I’m just trying to get advice. We wanted to know the best way to teach him that he cant sleep on the bed… he wasn’t crated before, and he always slept with someone for the past 4 years of his life. But I don’t want dogs in the bed. How about a big enough dog bed on the floor where they can both fit, or is it okay to leave them both out in the living room with our door closed?
I agree- its like a cache 22… I feel guilty that I have a dog that injured a little girl, but I also feel guilty putting him to sleep or giving him to a shelter. But the worst feeling is that he bit a little girl, and I feel like nothing was done about it.

I think you need the advice of a professional either vet or animal behaviour specialist. If separation anxiety is truly his problem there are techniques and medications to make the transition to a new home much less stressful for both you and the dog. You are right to be cautious of his aggression whether he had cause to attack or not the fact remains that bit someone and may do so again if similarly threatened.

Good luck sorting out Cocoa’s issues!

Technorati Tags: Amstaff, Anxiety, Bad Behavior, Cocoa, Companion, Dad, Dog Behavior Problems, Dogs Company, Fiance, Groceries, Little Girl, Little Girls, Little Time, Living Room, Manors, Obedience, Old Dog, Pit Bulls, puppy, Tennis Racket

I have a 1 1/2 yr old male mini schnauzer. Last year we went camping on the 4th of July. The fireworks were great for us, but scared him badly. Then after the fireworks, there was a bad thunderstorm, we were in a tent and it was really loud. He wasn’t scared of thunderstorms before we went camping last year, but now he shakes terribly all during a thunderstorm. I comfort him and stroke him and hold him, and talk softly to him, none of which works. Does anyone know how to reverse this fear? Is this permanent? He is not a fearful dog, he is a true terrier. He is well socialized, he is friendly and well behaved. I am planning to get another puppy for him to play with this year. Will he teach the puppy to fear also? Thank you for your advice.

My 80 lbs dog is terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms. He usually comes across as tough, because of his size and breed (he’s an Akita), but the second he hears thunder he cowers. I think it’s normal and there’s not much you can do. I make sure all my windows are shut tight so the noise isn’t as loud.

Once I had to take my dog on a walk because he hadn’t been in a long time. It was lightning and thundering out. Usually he is super excited to go for a walk, but I couldn’t get him out the door. He walked in between my legs until we reached the end of the driveway. He peed and ran back inside. It was quite funny because he is such a big dog to be hiding in between my legs.

I think you are doing the best thing for him by just talking to him and comforting him. Maybe try settling him in the quietest part of the house, and turn the tv/radio up so he can’t hear the storm. I would also draw the curtains so he can’t see it.

Technorati Tags: 4th July, 4th Of July, Advice, Akita, Big Dog, Curtains, Fear, Fearful Dog, Fireworks, Legs, Lightning, Long Time, Mini Schnauzer, puppy, Tent, Thunderstorm, Thunderstorms, Tv Radio

i have bought a puppy home.i dont know how to train puppies !!!!please help

A four week old puppy has problems even eating on its own. You can’t train it. That is like trying to train a newborn infant to use a potty. It’s impossible.

Technorati Tags: how to train a puppy, Newborn Infant, Puppies, Train Puppy

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingebooks.htm

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I have a 5 month old yellow Lab how I am trying to leash train, teach tricks, and keep from chewing up everything. Any suggestions would help.

http://www.koehlerdogtraining.com

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