TRAINING YOUR DOG (Alpha or Leader of the Pack whatever you want to call it)

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

Pat, this is great

After I mentioned "training" I had alot of requests so I sent some wonderful books that I no longer need to people who requested info. I guarantee a happier home for those that train their dogs.

I've bought a few books myself:
Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion
Don't Shoot the Dog
Clicking With Your Dog

I have also preordered Cesar Millan's new book coming out in April. It's called "Cesar's Way: The Natural, Commonsense Guide to Understanding And Correcting All Common Dog Problems"

I can't wait to read them all. I just wish that I could retain and use everything that I read. That isn't the case when you get to my age!*! lol

[crystalsmom]

yorkie mum, that info is SUPER GREAT

[Yorkie Mum]

Originally Posted by diva pup

Wow! You put alot of work into this post! Good Job .
On the lighter side, I am not Alpha, Rio is. He is and always has been the boss of me. I am one of those bad owners who think his personality is cute, even when he is telling me it is time to go home and what time he wants his cookie. He even tells me when it is bedtime and what time I need to take care of horses.
He is a charming bossy little dog and he has no bad behaviors. He has never bitten or even offered a growl even when small children are squeezing his guts out.
He has me trained perfectly and we get along just fine after nearly 4 yrs. I see no reason to change things now and won't. Although training is wonderful and necessary for some dogs it just wasn't for Rio. He has a very strong personality and I enjoy every second I spend with him .

Little Mignon, well thats a whole different ball game . I think we might try that obedience class with her. Rio and I got kicked out. Our trainer said he had already made all the rules and nothing was going to change now.

I think things differ with every dog, they all have their own personalities. While I agree some alpha dogs NEED this type of training I think it would be scary to a very submissive dog.
But I am NOT a dog trainer and IF there were behavior issues I might be thinking a little differently. This is just what we are all happy with in our house. or I should say Rios house, we just pay the mortgage. LOL.

I would say that the trainer failed you.
HE was unable to train to your dogs ways and not enlist your dog to work with him or you. That is a bad trainer and not the dogs problem at all.
I would have you look at Click for joy or the clicker posts here at YT.
I would think you have a very smart little one that if you turn on his brain and ask him to work with you he is going to shine.

If I was at home I could post a ton of reading as I am not try Clicker Solutions form for training articles and have fun.

Joy

[Jaspermom]

Pat, my good friend, I am happy to see that your reseach capabilities encompass more than Healthy Eating! Yorkie Mum, I swear you and Pat are two peas in a pod!!

Thanks, ladies, for this insightful and informative thread. I think it ought to be made into a sticky!!

[Yorkie Mum]

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

I've bought a few books myself:
Little Dogs: Training Your Pint-Sized Companion
Don't Shoot the Dog
Clicking With Your Dog

I have also preordered Cesar Millan's new book coming out in April. It's called "Cesar's Way: The Natural, Commonsense Guide to Understanding And Correcting All Common Dog Problems"

I can't wait to read them all. I just wish that I could retain and use everything that I read. That isn't the case when you get to my age!*! lol

Can I suggest
Dog whisperer by Paul Owen ( hope that is the right way to spell it)
http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.c...45027&Method=3
Nice read, great info.

Joy

[diva pup]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

But you do admit you wanted it for Rio or you wouldn't have taken him to training. Crystal still tells me when to go to bed and when she's getting hungry etc . Training
doesn't mean taking the personality out of the dog. It pretty much means that they know
the commands that will help them all through their life. Good Luck, with that little cutie Mignon and hugs to them both.

Oh Joan, I know that. I certainly didn't mean to imply that it did take away their personality. I am against any very aggressive kind of training but obedience training is great. It just didn't work with Rio LOL. IF he had objectionable behavior I would have stayed in that class, I just wanted him to come when I called him. He had gotten himself into some pretty precarious situations when he was younger . He is much better now with a confined area and he needs to be on a leash for our walks still but all in all he is a VERY good boy,however Alpha he is.

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Yorkie Mum

I would say that the trainer failed you.
HE was unable to train to your dogs ways and not enlist your dog to work with him or you. That is a bad trainer and not the dogs problem at all.
I would have you look at Click for joy or the clicker posts here at YT.
I would think you have a very smart little one that if you turn on his brain and ask him to work with you he is going to shine.

If I was at home I could post a ton of reading as I am not try Clicker Solutions form for training articles and have fun.

Joy

I agree with you, Joy! I don't think that was a very good trainer to give up so easily. I'm sorry that you had to go through that.

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Yorkie Mum

Can I suggest
Dog whisperer by Paul Owen ( hope that is the right way to spell it)
http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.c...45027&Method=3
Nice read, great info.

Joy

Yes, that's probably the 1st one that I finished. You know how you read something and some things clicked with you and other things didn't. Guess I'm looking for the book that has it all but I'm sure there isn't any such thing!

I like to read things in very simple format. It's easier for the ole' brain to absorb then! haha

[diva pup]

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

I agree with you, Joy! I don't think that was a very good trainer to give up so easily. I'm sorry that you had to go through that.

Oh I am ok It wasn't the trainers fault or even Rios. It was mine. I should add that the trainer is my neighbor who trains Search and Rescue dogs for Fema(Fima?) and other groups . She IS very good but she knows me and she knows Rio. I am sure it would have been obvious to even the most casual observer that I thought my dog hung the moon and I was never going to be a strict disciplinarian EVER. Nobody to blame for that failure but me
Can I add that my GSD is very well trained Just so you don't think I am a total idiot LOL.

[crystalsmom]

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

Yes, that's probably the 1st one that I finished. You know how you read something and some things clicked with you and other things didn't. Guess I'm looking for the book that has it all but I'm sure there isn't any such thing!

I like to read things in very simple format. It's easier for the ole' brain to absorb then! haha

Pat,you would LOVE this book since it is simple and makes so much sense. It's a complete book of dog training with lots of pictures
to accomplish the task and lots of work to help you with puppies. There is more to the title and
I don't remember but I just checked and it's the one I sent to Ponyup so you could
pm here in a few days and get the author and complete title.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

But you do admit you wanted it for Rio or you wouldn't have taken him to training. Crystal still tells me when to go to bed and when she's getting hungry etc . Training
doesn't mean taking the personality out of the dog. It pretty much means that they know
the commands that will help them all through their life. Good Luck, with that little cutie Mignon and hugs to them both.

I am agreement as well as to how important training is to the dog and the owner. I like your comment about it "doesn't mean you have to change their persoanlity" but can you imagine a dog who is forced to be the one in control?? That is a lot of stress for a small dog and I think they would all prefer that WE be the ones in control. I just think it is psychologically healthier for the dog for the human to assume the alpha position.

I have also owned and trained a lot of different breeds of dogs throughout my life, poodles and shepherds mostly who are known for their intelligence and ease of training. When I was a child I entered a few obedience shows. It was fun. There is a such a bond that develops between animal and owner that I cannot now imagine not having that with my babies.

My yorkies are a challenge but we work on it every day and they are all different and have different personalities but they all LOVE to do the training exercises. They want to please and they want to learn new things!! I believe it gives them a "job", a purpose to their lives and they KNOW they are helping.

I try not to push my views on those who disagree but I was bold enough to send clickers to both of my dogs' Valentine Pup Pals!!!

[Yorkie Mum]

Originally Posted by Muffie's Mom

Yes, that's probably the 1st one that I finished. You know how you read something and some things clicked with you and other things didn't. Guess I'm looking for the book that has it all but I'm sure there isn't any such thing!

I like to read things in very simple format. It's easier for the ole' brain to absorb then! haha

Click for Joy: The Clicker Training Answer Book, by Melissa Alexander
This is easy and simple book. Like you would post a question here and I would answer it.
The Other End of the Leash, by Dr. Patricia McConnell
Little harder but well worth the read.
On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, by Turid Rugaas
This is a most short easy and a gem of a book. Simple and a most read.
I just read it again this weekend and learned more it not bog but it is packed.

Joy

[Princessyorkies]

Thanks for taking time and doing all the hard work. And for posting this. Although I don't agree with everything in the post I do agree with some of it.
Thanks again for the effort and time you put in to this.

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

Pat,you would LOVE this book since it is simple and makes so much sense. It's a complete book of dog training with lots of pictures
to accomplish the task and lots of work to help you with puppies. There is more to the title and
I don't remember but I just checked and it's the one I sent to Ponyup so you could
pm here in a few days and get the author and complete title.

I don't know "Ponyup" but I'll check the members list.

Thanks - sounds interesting.

[Muffie's Mom]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

I am agreement as well as to how important training is to the dog and the owner. I like your comment about it "doesn't mean you have to change their persoanlity" but can you imagine a dog who is forced to be the one in control?? That is a lot of stress for a small dog and I think they would all prefer that WE be the ones in control. I just think it is psychologically healthier for the dog for the human to assume the alpha position.

I have also owned and trained a lot of different breeds of dogs throughout my life, poodles and shepherds mostly who are known for their intelligence and ease of training. When I was a child I entered a few obedience shows. It was fun. There is a such a bond that develops between animal and owner that I cannot now imagine not having that with my babies.

My yorkies are a challenge but we work on it every day and they are all different and have different personalities but they all LOVE to do the training exercises. They want to please and they want to learn new things!! I believe it gives them a "job", a purpose to their lives and they KNOW they are helping.

I try not to push my views on those who disagree but I was bold enough to send clickers to both of my dogs' Valentine Pup Pals!!!

I enjoyed reading what you had to say. I agree with training the dogs. It's so very important for everyone in the family.