Tallulah (great name, isn’t it) is an adolescent Labradoodle. She lives on a farm with a lot of open space. The house itself is big and open. Apart from sleeping in a crate she has had few physical boundaries. A bit too free-range! Now Tallulah, a typical adolescent, is pushing Read more…
The problem seems simple enough. They want to be able to get Working Cocker Milo’s focus and attention on them when the are out. When the eight-month-old has his head under a hedge or down a hole, when he’s playing excitedly with other dogs, he goes deaf. Attention has to Read more…
I ask what people want of their dog before we start. The gentleman said ‘an obedient dog’ and the lady said a dog that she could walk. The two are part of the same thing. In my own words what they want is a fulfilled, happy and motivated dog. The Read more…
NO NO isn’t conveying to Buster what they do want of him No No is a sure route to making an already confused dog even more bewildered – and frustrated too. They picked up Beagle mix Buster from a rescue just a few days ago and though totally in love with Read more…
Sometimes there can be a bit of conflict, in my opinion, between what is learnt in formal training classes and the sort of behaviour that is needed for real life. My views may not be popular with everyone.
For first-time dog owners they had started off brilliantly, so it was unfortunate they temporarily got themselves ‘tarnished’ by this dog trainer’s archaic methods. With the right approach and the family’s level of commitment I reckon they will be quickly back on track, so long as each family member ‘drinks out of the same water bowl’ so to speak.
The problem with trying to ‘discipline’ an unruly dog is that it’s all about preventing the dog from doing unwanted things in a ‘disciplinarian’ sort of way which implies being confrontational. A confrontational approach can generate an aggressive response in a strong-minded dog. ‘Discipline’ does not teach the desired, other, preferred behaviours.
The trainer sat on the sofa, ready for the three-month-old Buddy to be released from the kitchen. He flew over to her in his exuberant and friendly fashion and what did she do? She sprayed in him the face with bitter apple.
While the puppy was going mental after this, she then pinned him down. She even tried to show the two-year-old little girl how to use the spray on her puppy.
Then, Buddy back jumping up at the kitchen gate, she threw her keys on the floor in front of him.
This little dog is a dream. I’m in love. The lady is wheelchair-bound and has had 20-month-old Chihuahua Pepe for ten weeks now. Apparently he came from a home where they also had two big dogs. He doesn’t bark too much, he isn’t demanding in any way, he doesn’t pull Read more…
If our dog doesn’t find us sufficiently relevant so doesn’t listen to us at home, then it’s not reasonable to expect him to come to us in a field full of smells and little animals to chase.