Quote:
Originally Posted by LinhT
Thanks, Gloria!
Just an update on my hyper little guy. We go out for walks at least once a day and that really helps him calm down. I think I'll need to put up a fence in the backyard though. He doesn't just want to walk, he wants to RUN. Every time he sees some furry rodent outside he wants to chase after it. He went from 13 pounds a month ago to 16.2 pounds today at the vet office and looks quite muscular compared to when I first got him.
I've been reading up on proper dog walking and how they should walk behind you or next to you. I just can't get him to do that. He wants to walk quickly and is sooo happy to be outside walking or running. Being locked up in a bathroom most of his days by his previous owner and being able to go outside to play and walk at least once a day now, I guess, is a really big change for him. I'm trying hard to get him to calm down and be more obedient outside but I think it's gonna take some time.
017 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
020 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! |
Some dogs are easier to completely train than others. My old dog, Cody, was a charm. He's docile and easy-going. Really, with him it was a matter of gaining his trust, and once I had that he was eager to do anything I asked. After a couple of training lessons he began to get excited and happy when he knew it was work time, and now, 12 years later, he still will do whatever I ask (when he can hear me, that is, poor old fellow!).
Sully (my avatar picture) is quite different. He's a large, agressive, territorial animal who wants to be the alpha of the household. Thus, when he first came to my house, at the age of about a year, both the other dogs and I were in for a challenge. Whereas with Cody it took maybe a 15-minute training session each day, with Sully I was pretty much in a full-time dog training position when not at work. It also necessitated me being both more agressive and more domineering with him (which, with a dog, is very counter to my normal behavior).
The end result, however, has been excellent. When Sully and I first start on our walks he can be a bit excited, and so I have to remind him a few times of who is walking whom. But he quickly calms down and walks at my side with slack in the leash - a feat my wife once declared would never happen! And he no longer tries to be alpha with either Juli or me, though he does want to be alpha among the dogs and with visitors to the house. He responds to both my hand gestures and my spoken commands, and I can honestly say that he is a happier pet now that he has learned the rules. Dog training is more about the animal learning who is in charge than about the specific commands - they are vastly intelligent animals and can quickly pick up the commands, but will only obey when they learn that they are never the one in charge (yeah, just like with our children).
I'm not suggesting harsh, stiff-armed dominance of the dog, just assertive behavior. If you give an animal a command with a question in your voice, or even a thought that they might not obey, they won't obey. If they know that you simply expect obedience a dog will always and quickly obey you.
You have a beauty, and I have no doubt that he will soon be walking on the leash with all of the manners you expect of him!
Threaded Mode
