Another dog whisperer!
 

Gracie and I attended our first kindergarden class today. I was so impressed by the instructor that I just had to share. Yes, I have been doing everything wrong, doting over my baby rather than establishing myself as the pack leader. I just can't not allow her not to sleep with me or not to snuggle on the sofa with me, whether she has earned those priveldges or not. With that said, this instructor is something special. He began in equine/horse training, and was trained by a horse whisperer, Frank Bell. I swear he trained with Ceasar Millan! He took this roudy puppy and had it submissive in seconds! I tried the technique with Gracie and it worked wonderfully, not that she is all that rowdy to begin with. He taught me how when she froze on the leash, that she was establishing her role as the pack leader and she was controlling me. He taught me how to be that leader, and off she walked. I know I have been carrying her too much! I guess the point of this post is, research your puppy trainer! Find out with whom they trained and what their background is and make sure their philosophy matches yours. You might very well get what you pay for! My instructor is a retired cop that reminds me so much of Roseanne Barr's TV Husband. A large, gentle giant. Happy training to all!

For those of you in the greater Seattle area, visit http://www.puppymanners.com for more info about this wonderful training program!

Lucky you. I hope i can train my babe all bymyself. I just psoted about it in another thread, but he did that "i am not budgeing thing with me today and this leash i had. HE wanted so bad for me to tak it off and acted like superman with kriptonite around his neck. I also read a few things about making sure they know ur the leader of the pack, and i told my son, "he thinks if he stands there long enough i will take it off his neck." we watched my lil RYO in awe for like 4 minutes as he stood his ground. I told my son ignore him, he will come and sit down. We watch some movie and looked down and there he was sitting at my feet with the leash still around his neck. Now i just have to stand my ground with this food because he thinks imma get some other food for him ( he at 1/4 cup of food for 2 days and only at that much because i hand fed him because i thought he was sick.) Yorkies are special i tell ya.

Congrates on your classes!

Congratulations on your achievment. I know it is hard to not let them cuddle with you, but I thdink as long as they understand that you are to boss it's OK.

Good Luck with your training and give us updates on how it is going.

Sounds like you learnt a lot. Please, share some tips with us.

If your dog freezes on the leash...
 

If your dog freezes on the leash, this is what our instructor taught us to do.

You have to take control of the dog. You walk away holding onto the leash until you can't walk any farther because your dog won't move. You just keep tugging, and say "come". Drag your dog a bit if you have to. Within a few minutes, your dog will get the idea and will walk with you. It used to be when Gracie froze like that, I would just pick her up and go on my way. At pet stores, she would always freeze so I would pick her up and carry her. I thought she did it because she was scared. In reality, she was just controlling me. Our instructor says that carrying your dog puts your dog at your own level, a rank that he or she has not yet earned. Your dog belongs on the ground. His feet work just fine.

Well, the fact of the matter is that neither you, your instructor, nor I know what your dog is feeling. She may be scared, she may just not want to walk. Plotting to take over control? I doubt it. Nevertheless, she does need to learn that when you want to walk, she needs to walk.