Poop Shute

Training Day For Ursa

I began the challenging task of training Louise's dog today. It's roughly six or seven months old and it clearly thinks that it runs the show around here. Every day she makes it clear that this is her house and she will do as she pleases.

She leaps up on people despite several attempts at discipline. She gets up on her hind legs and knocks stuff off the kitchen counter and table. Even with all these behavioral problems the clearest sign that she thinks she is in charge; she leads. Whenever she wants to go where you are going she won't fall in step behind you, she will walk directly in front of you in a display of dominance.

By putting herself in the lead she says to me "I don't need to be behind you because I'm going where I want to go, even though I want to go where you are going, I will get there first."

The first step in her training is to break that leading habit. If I can get her to stop that, then her attitude should adjust accordingly. I've only just begun, and I'm already getting frustrated.

When I am walking across a room and I see that she has taken up a lead position on me I will suddenly stop, and go in a completely different direction. Sometimes I will do this three or four times between my room and the kitchen, but after a few times she understands that she can't lead and falls in line behind me every time.

Walking her on the leash has been more difficult and so far the only frustrating part. She has a natural tendancy to run out to the end of her leash in front of me and stay there until I tug her one way or another. This is another sign of her assumed dominance. I've been using the same technique of turning around constantly until she follows, and it works... up to a point. As soon as we are in a straight line for more than three seconds she figures I'm done and runs up ahead. The problem is she has months of reinforcement telling her running ahead on the leash is okay because I allowed it for so long. She's learning, but slowly.

TIPS if you are planning to train your dog:

NEVER let the dog lead you

A dog needs exercise, discipline, affection. In that order.

If your dog comes over to you at random for affection, do not give in. This is doing the dog's will and gives the dog dominance. Give your dog affection at random when its NOT being needy to show love and who's boss at the same time.

Don't give treats for no reason. Not only will they lose all meaning as a reward, but the dog will come to expect them.

Yelling doesn't mean anything to a dog. It only confuses and frightens them. In the wild the alpha dog doesn't yell, he shows he's in charge with actions. Remain outwardly as calm and collected as you can when disciplining.

COMMENTS

First, it's not my dog. When I move out the dog will not go with me, and considering I have had no authority in raising her, I would hardly call her my dog. It's my mother's dog.
Your ideas regarding dog training should be attributed to the source where you got them. You're espousing them as if they are yours, which is committing plagiarism.
But, you and I both own our respective rooms. She knows not to go in them.
We shall take the house back one room at a time, but we wont stop there ..... then ......we shall rule the world!!
Brian Y 05.14.05 - 7:03 pm

Why are you so frustrated. I know what it is like to own a dog, and I know what it is like to own a very aggressive dog. Ursa is a puppy, and she is very young and learning. She is not your dog. I would first discuss this with Louise before you begin to "train" her. If Louise is ok with this, then I would first ask yourself a question: Do you like Ursa? If you don't, then please stop where you are. If you do, well then I think you have some great ideas for dog training. The whole post seems driven by frustration though, and if that is the case, then I think you should relax first.
I've seen you with Ursa and you can be nice...but more often (and don't take this to mean much because I'm never over) I see frustration. From my experience, positive enforcement delivers positive reactions. The best thing you can do to train Ursa would be to ignore her when she is doing bad and reward her when she is doing good...but first you have to know what she considers a reward. I think Ursa is a great dog, and an energetic puppy. I think she jumps a lot, but she's a puppy. She loves affection and attention. Just make sure when you train her you don't try and change the things that make her who she is. I look at pets as companions. It sounds to me like you don't want a dog in your life. I think Brian is right though... Ursa is Louise's dog and you choose to live in that house. Maybe this is all shit and I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just worried about you. I've seen you more upset lately and I don't know why. Maybe it's my fault for not calling more often... but still, I'm worried about you buddy.
Love, Nick
Nick G 05.15.05 - 12:40 pm

Nick, your comment (especially the parts about my personal emotional state) come from SO far out of left field that I don't even know where to begin.
I did discuss it with Brian AND Louise, and they agree.
The only frustration in this post is in that she's learning, but a bit slowly for my tastes. The whole post? You've added that tone on your own. The listing her bad behavior at the beginning was to illustrate the WHY behind the training. Why I feel it's necassary. And the part in quotes that is from her point of view was supposed to be amusing. Would I quote the dog's imaginary inner monologue if I were frustrated? Also, look for the key phrase "the ONLY frustrating part" near the end.
I do like the dog, but her needs for affection and attention make her unruly and she causes actual physical pain. My friend Kelly had wicked scratches all over her thighs and stomach from Ursa's needs. Just like with people I won't accept behavior that causes pain. I can't tell her to stop, so I will train her to. If that is changing what makes her who she is, as you put it, then so be it.

Brian,
You're right, it's not your dog. I didn't realize I had said that at the beginning. It will be edited shortly.
Also, I never claimed the tips at the bottom were of my own devising, but I did forget to put a bibliography. The credit goes to Cesar Milan. He hosts a cable tv show called "The Dog Whisperer." The tips were given in an interview he did in Men's Health Magazine.

AND TO REPEAT TO ALL READERS: I like the dog. She is sweet and friendly, but she is also undisciplined and unruly so I'd like to teach her some better behavior. I'm not beating her, I'm not starving her, and I'm not singing off key. I'm just showing her that the people who live in this house are her alphas, not vice versa.
Joey 05.16.05 - 12:19 am

Oh, and I almost forgot:

Nick, Ignore bad behavior and reward good?!?! Ignore? Are you &@%$ kidding? Ignoring is an allowance. Without something letting them know that what they've done is bad they will not stop. They will have no reason to.
Joey 05.16.05 - 12:29 am

First, I didn't mean to start an argument with you. I was accually worried about what I though you might be going through lately. I guess I was wrong. I am sorry for misjudging you.

I don't want to argue...I'm done
I'm confused and tired.
Nick G 05.16.05 - 12:41 am