[peanut]

Originally Posted by Erin

Counter conditioning, desensitization and behavior modification can be used on dogs that bite. You can't say he doesn't believe in forcing a dog down except in this situation or that. Forcing a dog down (ESPECIALLY a fearful biter) is not a good option. It makes them more fearful or makes them think they need to bite HARDER next time.

Choke chains are physical force.

Not having access to the recent new episodes, just watching ONE clip on Cesar's site - the one with Brady and the pool - you can see how stressed the dog is. His tail is down, he is panting (I bet not because he's hot) and he's whining. If Loki's trainer were teaching her dog not to jump in the pool the dog would be sitting politely but eagerly watching her, tail up and wagging, awaiting her command to jump in the pool. He forced that dog to submit to him, saying "The more they shake, they can only shake for so long and then they go into the peaceful state." I believe that's called flooding and it's not "peaceful" It's a dog's version of crying uncle - saying "I give up". And that dog looked like he went from loving the pool to being afraid of it, just based on his body language. I don't even have a trained eye and I picked up stress signals. At the very least he was extremely confused.

He also used flooding on Nuno the Chi and on a Doxie. (Also force.) He also used a choke chain on a doxie! And what is with the clip of the lady dragging the Basset across the street?? I hope that was a before, not an after! I'm wondering how these dogs can trust their owners after any of this?

Just watching those clips makes me sick to my stomach.



The first option for anyone with a "vicious" dog should be immediately meeting with an animal behaviorist to determine the problem, probably after ruling out any medical reason. They should not be handling it on their own. Otherwise, according to one of her books, you manage the behavior and work on modifying the behavior. If you really are interested, join the Peaceable Paws Yahoo! Group. (It's a fast moving email list with a lot of professional trainers, but anyone is welcome to join. They have a lot to share.) All of the positive training books I've read say pretty much the same thing. Determine cause of behavior and work hard to modify it. Using conditioning you can teach your dog that "bad" things are really "good" things. There's a lot more to it, which is why I have so many books. And it takes a long time. There are no quick fixes, despite what you see on TV.

I sorry I don't argee with you...do you own a dog that weights over 100 pounds....I just started to use the prong choke, I have only had to pull on it twice in the past week, Max already knows....I love my dogs more than anything, and if your trying to tell me I am cruel...I am sorry I am not!