Issues with Puppy Obedience Training

I think that in her doninant behavior, she sees herself as "bigger" than you.. not in size, but in dominance and attidude; much the same way as she sees herself as bigger than the neighborhood dogs who are in fact, larger sized.
I wish you luck though!

Hope all is going well with the schooling!! Boxers can be a handful as puppies but make outstanding family members as adults.:)

Have to put my :2cent: in here. Whoever suggested the shake can- kudos, if it works. It works very well on most dogs- I just happen to have one it doesn't (works great on my other two). Alpha roll- IMHO it is dangerous, I know people who have done it and had no ill effects but there are too many inherent dangers. There are better ways to assert yourself as the dominant one in the household. My boxer mix was the same way when he was younger- smartest dang dog but boy did he give me a run for my money. Sounds like she needs more ways to occupy her mind- make her work for everything. Nothing in life is free, sit before being fed (never feed her before you guys eat). There are lots of websites that have NILIF info. As for jumping, ughhhh irritating isn't it? What I have found that works very well- better than blocking and ignoring- is as soon as she jumps up, grab her front paws and hold her up like that. When she wants down, hold her for a few seconds longer. Keep doing that and it should break the habit. There has been alot of great advice in this thread, bottom line I see is consistancy. Nice to see people who are willing to work with their animals instead of just dumping them in a shelter.

Oh she's very smart, wickedly so LOL. Classic example from about 10 minutes ago. She has been for her morning walk, all the usual morning routine stuff. I was letting her off lead in the house for a bit to see how she'd do. My 5 year old got up and as usual went to cuddle on the couch with a blanket and pillow and watch some cartoons (he's NOT a morning child LOL). I slipped outside for a cigarette, Mikey on the couch, Gunnar being a good dog laying on the floor. I hear a holler...run in...there's Gunnar sitting on Mikey's head! Not cuddling with him, basically flopped all over him so he can't move or see tv (totally ticking him off in the process).

She sees me and before I can say a word, jumps off, trots immediately to her cage, enters and sits nicely...total innocent look on her face. I leave the cage door open and pretend to go back outside. She leaves the cage, goes back and sits on Mikey's head again! I immediately show myself...she repeats the back to cage thing and gives me this totally innocent "I wasn't doin nuffin" look.

We are finding keeping her on the halti is helping with the jumping issues. As soon as her front paws leave the floor we give the halti a sharp downward pull and she has to drop back down or else she'll somersault over (which she had to do a few times to get the hint that jumping isn't in her own best interests...she is a stubborn female).

We are keeping a cold spritz bottle handy and when she begins the hollering for attention from her kennel, a quick blast of cold water is stopping her dead in her tracks. As soon as she's quiet she can exit the kennel but not until she's quiet and calm. She seems to get the point (though to be honest the look of total confusion on her face was priceless..."I barked, why is no one paying me attention! and why in heck is my face wet?????")

The barking is alreay I'd say 80% better, the jumping the same, she's still fighting the halti a bit here and there and isn't impressed that being allowed to dominate for Mike's attention has ended around here (I swear she thinks she's his alpha female or something LOL). We are keeping a strict rule that she isn't allowed to drag us out the door anymore and has to sit quietly and then follow us outside (much better as she's darn near caused me to fall down a big flight of stairs more than once).

I've had to explain to more than one neighbour though that she's not suddenly turned vicious and that the halti is not a muzzle. A lot of folks that know her are amazed at how much calmer she is now. Usually when we are out on walks and I stop to chat with a neighbour it's almost impossible as I spend the whole time dragging her off the other person or tugging at her to stop her running off somewhere when I want her to be still for a moment. Very big improvement that way as the halti really helps keep her focused and well behaved on lead.

Joanna,


Glad to hear that things are improving with Gunnar, but your one comment, about her "thinking" she's alpha to Mike, is probably closer to that truth than warrants a "LOL". :cool:

When we were having problems w/Tundra, and I wanted some ideas, I checked out a book. Jan Fennell is the author, and it's titled "The Dog Listener". She mentions watching, meeting and knowing Monty Roberts, the Horse Whisperer, and she does things similar, but for dogs. She's a behaviorist who has observed packs for many years, and then incorporated those observations in dog rehab and training.

She's got some VERY good suggestions on how to solve the problems you've mentioned w/Gunnar...especially the barking, jumping and peeing. You've mentioned the dominance and jealousy, and that's probably a lot of it, but you may be dealing w/the separation anxieties too.

Keep up the work. I'm sure w/your loving care, these obstacles will be overcome and Gunnar with be the epitome of an angelic dog. :D

So glad to hear she's making progress! Dogs aren't my forte, and wow learning a lot from this thread!

Probably a different situation, but Cleo has been known to pee on our bed for attention. Usually if there's been a big change in the home or if we were away too long (say a weekend or more) she expresses her displeasure/stress by peeing on the bed. We got one of those plastic sheets for bed wetting to protect our mattress just in case, and it's worked great. We've also learned her pattern now, and try not to stay away too long and lavish attention on her if we rearrange furniture or get a new animal or something. She's a bit obsessive compulsive though, which is obviously different from the dominance problems...

With her kidney issues, that cat can pee like a race horse too so you really have my sympathy there. I never knew so much liquid could come out of something so petite. She's been good about it for a long while, but the plastic sheet underneath the regular sheet is a godsend and we keep it on even though it's been a year or so since she's done it last. Just to play it safe.

I'll have to check our library for that book Sweety, thanks!

Update on Gunnar. Still improving but of course being a stubborn and young dog she has her days when she figures it's worth the hassle to see if she can do the obnoxious stuff and get away with it. (I remember you telling me Robin that all dogs are gamblers LOL).

We are staying strict, staying consistent, showing her lots of attention only if she stays calm and not pushy with us and, disciplining her when she tries to push the humans around as she's wont to do. She has her good days and her not so good days but it is a much improved situation and even if she acts up, she is calming down very quickly and seems to realize it's not getting her what she wants anymore.

She used to have this habit of barking constantly when anyone was on the phone, maybe because they weren't paying her complete attention, I'm not really sure why on that one. Anyways, with the spritz bottle handy that's stopped or at least stops quickly so having a chat with a friend is a much nicer (and quieter) experience.

She's starting to recognize the halti attached to her lead. She'll be acting up and I just reach for the lead and halti and she slams her butt on the floor, sitting lovely and calm, without anyone saying a word (okay her butt is wiggling a bit in a sit position but hey she is a big pup still LOL). Very cute and shows she's smart enough to know that we aren't playing anymore, time to be a good dog. :)

Hey Jo check out this link. I'm not sure if it would help you any, but it sure does make some good reading! :D

Cesar Millan Tips

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Originally Posted by iceman25

Hey Jo check out this link. I'm not sure if it would help you any, but it sure does make some good reading! :D

Cesar Millan Tips

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Oh that one is always in my fav list hon. Cesar is my hero (okay don't tell anyone but Robin and I are like his most rabid fans and it's NOT all about how good he is with dogs...that man's cute too!...just don't tell our fella's that she and I drool over Cesar...they think we are just overly focused on his dog training show...hehehehehehehehehe :D )

You should read his book as well, it's pretty good.

You've gotten a lot of wonderful tips here so I have nothing to add (though how I missed this thread I don't know).

I will say that the Alpha roll has a time and a place to be properly put to use.