Cody’s obedience Sessions

[matese]

Getting Cody’s dog aggression under control…...

Friday’s session his trainer bought in a 7 month old (very well trained) Border Collie. The staring and lunging began. I got him under control and focused on me. While the Border Collie sat still, Cody was fine, as soon as his trainer walked him, Cody began the lunging. Cody’s trainer took his leash from me, The Border Collie’s trainer walk the Collie around, Cody started lunging, his trainer gave him his command and Cody stopped. All the while the Border Collie was walking and a time or two the Collie got playful and would jump, Cody sat still (his trainer still had him and Cody was staring at me, but he stayed sitting with no looking or lunging at the Collie, but the entire time Cody’s eyes were glued on me, I was standing appox. 10 feet away and not interacting) I was amazed that he sat still while the Collies was being walked closer and closer to Cody, and no reaction from Cody. I commented to the trainer, “I can’t believe how good he was with her” I asked did she think all his lunging when I have him is because he is protecting me. She said kind of, the trainer said “he is the pack leader, and I am part of the pack” I have to show him I am the pack leader. At home he listens to me, he is very good, No reason for me to be stern with him. There are times when he will be looking out of the window, sees that pesty squirrel, will come running to me all excited screaming at me he wants that squirrel, I will go to the window with him and watch that crazy squirrel, There will be times he is on the deck, I am in the house ,he will see the deer in the open field and comes tearing in the house all crazy and excited wanting to go chase the deer, I go on the deck with him, try to calm him by telling him “good deer, pretty deer” but he’s just focused on wanting to chase the deer. These are the only times I jump for him, At home he knows his place, He knows I am the boss and does not get his own way all the time. I have read some dogs on lease feel threatened when seeing another dog, feel they are defenseless because they are leashed and have no way to escape if the other dog attacks, so they show this other dog they are fealess and that’s why the lung and bark. Again, Cody was raised by a little 8 y/o girl he was her dog, she walked him I am sure with adult supervision, she had him for 3 years, now she is 11 y/o, still walking him I am sure with adult supervision. I am sure the adult would not allow Cody to meet other dogs on these walks as the little girl had the leash and would not know how to handle Cody meeting other dogs, and if the other dogs were a bit aggressive the child would not know how to react, so for the safety of Cody
he was not allowed to socialize with other dogs. This is all speculation on my part. So Cody never learned how to approach other dogs in a friendly manner, I believe he wants to be friendly, just does not know how to go about it in a calm friendly way, that’s why he lunges. Again, just my thoughts. We all know ppl and dog socializing MUST start at an early age. I believe if Cody was off leash with a dog his size he would not be so aggressive. He has NEVER been close to any dog, has never sniffed another dog. His trainer says he “stares” at the dogs he has worked with, I think he stares because 10 feet away from another dog is the closet he has ever been to one. He wags his lil stump of a tail, trainer says that is not always a sign a dog is friendly, it just shows they have an interest in the other dog.. I am by no means am I trainer, All my past dogs I had as puppies, I raised them socialized them with ppl and all animals, this is my first rescue, and do not know how to eliminate or control his behavior. With the lessons we have had, I was given the tools to work with, was told what to do when he gets aggressive. Now I am told Mr Cody thinks she is the pack leader and I am part of that pack and he is protecting his pack. So now what do I do. The same question I asked the trainer. She says I have to show him I am pack leader,!!!! How does one do this when he is a good boy at home, he listens to me, we work at his lessons, he is very smart and learns so quickly I am amazed by him. One thing she told me was, when I put his food down, make him wait to approach his bowl, give him a command when I want him to eat. Is this a way to show him I am the pack leader? The poor thing is always starving, and wolfs down his food, It would case me great pain to put his food down and to not allow him to eat until I say it’s ok, but if this will teach him I am his leader and I am the one in control I will do it, IF it is going to help him be less aggressive around other dogs. If by not allowing him to eat until I say it’s ok, if this is one way to show him I am the one in control, what other things can I do to teach him I am the pack leader. I am at a complete loss here. Also the spray water bottle has been eliminated, it does no good when he gets into what the trainer calls “the red zone” he was soaking wet while lunging and the spray had no effect on him, this was a session when there were 2 Border Collies in the session with him several weeks ago. Sorry for such a long thread, I am trying to put all the information out there, so there will be no confusion with his training sessions. Also 4 weeks ago Cody started intermediate sessions, new day ,new time, new trainer, I like this trainer better then the first one, the first one was to rough with him, I think she caused him to get confused, yet he loved her and was always glad to see her. This trainer is more gentle with him, firm, but gentle. Any tips what I can do to show little boy I am the pack leader.

[gemy]

Pack Leader how to show it?


This is going to sound really simple if not stupid, but sincerely believe that you are! Dogs do need a leader.


You walk and talk with confidence.


When you walk in your home, expect your dog to move out of your way. now initially they won't do that (I expect). But slowly move up on your dog if he is laying or sitting in your way, and if he doesn't move, tell him too. Firmly. If he doesn't move gently push him out of your way.


When you climb the stairs, have your dog sit at the bottom and wait for you to go up first.


On exiting the house, you go first, Cody either sits stay , or stands stay, until you invite him to exit the house.


Pack leaders control the food. Look at Nothing in Life is free Program. You can hand feed him his food, once he has done some command to earn the reward.


On every walk, take treats with you, and intersperse obedience commands into your walk. Walk easy, sit, stay, turn around, any and all commands. Reward for obedience.


Just a few suggestions for you. Let us know how you and Cody do.

[matese]

Thank you, I started this morning with his food. Poor thing was so hungry,I had him sit & stay, I only waited a few seconds, this coming week I will increase his wait time. I will start using your tips tonight. He is a smart boy, learns really fast, Thank you for your help.

[Graneet]

Lol your cody and my boo two of a kind but i blame princess so now i have two. Gonna try the high pitch thingy see if it help. Hoping the training worked for you.

[matese]

Originally Posted by Graneet

Lol your cody and my boo two of a kind but i blame princess so now i have two. Gonna try the high pitch thingy see if it help. Hoping the training worked for you.

We are still in training, I signed up for the intermediate course after completing the beginners session where for 6 weeks Cody worked with 2 diff. dogs. While they were taught the sit, stay etc. Cody already knew that, we were trained how to distract Cody's attention away from the other dog. the trainer trains YOU, they teach you how to train your dog, if you don't practice with you pup what you are taught, that is precious time & $ just flushed down the toilet. Unfortunately unexpected business has taken priority in my life, so practicing with Cody has been limited. I have to drive to a pet smart or a pet supply store where dogs trickle in. Where I live there are no dogs walked, dogs are in back yards, unless one escapes from house or yard. So Cody does not get to see other dogs, only when we go to the vet, that's another iyiyi.

[Graneet]

We live in apt complex so my dogs see plenty of dogs. Which right now in their state is not great. Hoping when my recovery is done i can handle taking them to training. But meantime gonna try the bark controler. Worth a try. Think like you they want to play but princess just dont know how to. Shes fine when she first gets up to them but then they move and wham here we go.
Just not safe. Plus i keep them on a leash. 5 yes 5 of those retractable ones broke and here they go. So using cloth ones now and what did princess do went around a bush and she wanted to get to the little dog and pulledout of it backwards. So now got to try a different leash. One thing or another sigh

[matese]

I have a soft cloth harness, several weeks ago the trainer had 2 Border collies brought in, Cody turned Cujo, I thought the leash was going to rip out of the cloth harness, he was airbound that's how fast he went after them, if the dog sits, Cody is fine, it's when they walk he goes nuts, I had to buy a diff. heavier harness. I use retractable when I walk him in my community, no dogs around, but I only give him 6 to7 feet of line and keep it locked , if he saw the pesty squirrel, Mr. Chipmunk or lady deer he would surly break a retractable if all the line was out. Besides I don't like him to far from me, he eats what ever he finds yuck

[Graneet]

When they want to go balistic they are strong. Boo is so much easier than princess she weighs about 10 lbs. boo is half her size. Boos also in chewing mode. Which is not good thought he was to old for that guess not.

[matese]

Cody weighs in at 13 lbs, at training I have him on a 6 foot leash, when he lunges he gets air bound, good thing he is teapot size, he would have broken ribs or legs.