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Originally Posted by Nancy1999  I think a frustration for me is that every time I give a suggestion on a training thread that I learned through Cesar's show, I'm barraged with replies about how awful Cesar is. I had a real problem with Joey when other dogs were visiting and I had to feed them both. Joey became terribly aggressive, and I read another trainer who said feed dogs in separate rooms. So that's what we did, occasionally trying to feed them in the same room, but even a treat or chew toys became problems. I learned from Cesar that establishing yourself as a pack leader is very important, and your dog must learn all food comes through you, and he suggests teaching them to sit and stay before you set the food down, and don't allow them to touch the food until you give the release command. I really didn't think it would work, Joey was a little Mike Tyson, where food was concerned, but I tried it anyway, and the very first time it worked, one trial learning that hardly ever happens! There were no fighting or switching bowls; they each ate from their own bowl. Am I being abusive by doing this? Isn't this better than them being abusive? I also learned from Cesar the difference between a power walk, and a playful walk, I had always taken Joey on playful walks, but I could see how his attitude change on the power walks, he really looked like, took on a different attitude, and seemed serious about doing this job. There are several other things I learned that helped me with Joey, but when I try to share what's helped me, I get all these responses about how Cesar's so abusive and a good pet owner would never use any of his techniques, and dogs aren't pack animals. So then all these other training threads become debate threads, and I'm just trying to share things that worked for Joey.
I think many of you overestimate how much we love Cesar, it's just many of us are grateful to have learned something that works, and his shows are interesting to watch, even if what he's doing doesn't apply to your own dog. I do think the average pet owner should become acquainted with the typical food reward training methods. I applaud you Quicksilver for opening this thread, and I intend to link it every time a training thread gets hijacked. |
Nancy, I understand completely about Joey and his food aggression. I dealt with the same problem with a 1200 lb. quarter horse stallion
. Although the specific methods were different, I taught GW that I was the boss and he had to "earn" his dinner. It was all very simple. I went into his paddock with the feed bucket and when he threw back his ears I charged him (meaning I ran in his direction from about 10 feet away screaming like a mad woman). Although he was not afraid he was alarmed and he backed up. I put his food in his bucket, gave him a pat on the neck and left. Next day same thing, day after he didn't lay his ears back, day after that he backed away from his food bucket. Now when I go to feed him I wiggle my pointer finger and he backs up until I tell him to stop. He stands while I empty the food into his bucket and signal him to come forward. His release signal to eat is to place his muzzle in the palm of my outstretched hand.
I generally combine thought processes from many trainers to come up with specific training methods. We all need to be "thinking trainers".