I've always preferred male dogs. Where as my brother only had 3 male dogs in his life and I gave him 2 of those. Which in turn he gave them away and the other got stolen. He says males are hard headed and harder 2 train. I've run across a few males that seem 2 try you more than normal in establishing Alpha status. But persistence let them know it was me. Back in my AB days & not fully understanding patience I'd kick off in their butts. Now I know its patience and love that works best in training animals.
On 12/24/04 4:22 PM, "Dana Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Very well said! The Alpha and pack status "must" be established very soon > if not immeadiatly in the relationship. It does not mean hitting the dog, > it can be done with body language, tone of voice > being consistant and then when you tell him what to do-tell him 'once' and > then make him do it! > > I will argue that yes, some breeds have been bred to be less aggressive in > their "job" than others, but even in those more 'amiable' breeds even tho > they have good breeding, good socialised raising > and a well rounded training regimine--it eventually comes down to the > individual dog! > When I got my last program dog-a female yello lab--there was a smallish > black lab male in the class. Very mellow, got along well with his 'person' > even tho she did not have very good 'dog handling' skills. After graduation > she stayed with her mother for several weeks before going back to where she > actually lived. Something happened with this dog--he was trained to be a > mobility dog, so would help with walking, 'bracing' for the girl to keep her > balance etc., and also retrieve trained and such. When she got to her > mom's, the dog began to 'startle' which would make it jerk. > There were re-modeling people coming and going, he began to bark at them. > He was startleing more and more to the point she would fall, then he would > shake. The program came and worked with them more, but he did not get > better. They took him back to the kennel and gave him 2 weeks off. When > they brought him out again, he was a nervous wreck. He was placed in a pet > home. > The dog I got was a lump on a log. Her world ran at 33 1/3 rpms and nothing > would make her go faster. On top of that, she did not like the work. Her > puppy raisers were suprized she made it. > What she had learned she did well, but would not learn much of anything > else. I really tried with this dog--I had 2 other service dog trainers look > at her and they wondered why she was even in this line of work! I retired > her after 3 years to her puppy raisers who used her in therapy work. She > loved it! She would mosey around a nursing home all day and be petted. She > did this 3 days a week. Now she is just the lady of the house. > > My dobe, altho a stray, had a perfect service dog temperament! Plus, I was > finally back with the "working group"! My golden retriever was the best > "service dog" I have had, but deep down inside I was 'happiest' with Sabre. > He was a very good service dog and tried his hardest to figure out what was > needed and he loved problem solving! I had to spend a lot of time in bed > during having him unfortunately, but was up enough to get him trained go to > an agility class, several obedience classes and to teach him the "hot and > cold" game! I would put him in a sit stay where he could not see me, hide a > milk bone type treat, or a rawhide chew, go back to where he was--to make > sure he stayed for one thing and for 'him' to learn he needed to stay until > I came back and released him. I would say "look!" and he would start > searching with his eyes first. I would say his special word that meant > "your doing it right" when he got close to the goodie and would either say > nothing or say "look" again when he went away from it. After a while of > playing this game he learned to 'look' with his eyes 'and' nose. It got > hard to find new places to put the goody, so "I" had to start thinking > harder! > > My basic point in all this rambling is, I will take a dog from the working > group anyday over the sporting breeds. It may take longer to find one with > the right service dog temperament, but its worth it! Plus I like the boys > better than the females. On the dobe list I'm on this question comes up > once in a great while. Some like the males, other like the females, some > like both. Nobody knows why. Need to go. > > HAPPY HOLIDAYS! > > > Dana and ? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Houston809" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Dana Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "quadlist" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 12:27 PM > Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Nan - Training Dogs > > > I love dogs every since I can remember I�ve had 1 as a pet. Since my injury > this is the longest I�ve gone without 1. But on 2 temperament as U stated > Nan retrievers & labs have a better temperament around people & other > animals than say a dobe or rott they were initially bred 2 be territorial > and guard/attack animals. As in every breed the owners can bring these > instinctive traits out more or with a lot of work and love can train an > animal another way. But some animals in certain breeds are going 2 be > naturally aggressive & protective beyond the point where they would make a > good service animal a great great protector. Being that we can spend > unlimited amounts of time with our animal and shower love upon them. As long > as u let them know who the alpha male or female is in the house ... THAT�S > ME IN MY HOME!!!!! that�s very important whenever you have a dog no matter > what breed ... Another hidden natural instinct in dogs is 2 be loyal & > submissive 2 the ALPHA MALE or FEMALE as all dogs can be traced back 2 > wolves or wild dogs. > > > On 12/23/04 7:10 PM, "Dana Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> When getting a dog for self training or using one you alrady may >> have--pick >> with your "head", not with your heart! Temperament is paramount in >> service >> dogs! I have seen more badly tempered service dogs than good ones! Dog >> aggression and barking have been prelevant in the dogs I have been >> around. >> It took 8 months to find my last dog. He was a rescue. The wait was >> definitely worth it! Nan saw Sabre, maybe she will say something about >> him? >> hint hint >> >> I am now looking for another male dobe, as I had to put Sabre to sleep >> because of cancer. That was last september. I can tell in 3 days if a >> dog >> will have the right temperament. This is 'before' >> any training has happened. I have 'looked' at a few dogs over the >> internet >> and even paid for shipping one to me without getting her assessed because >> the gal who had her was supposed to be such an "expert" in dobes. She >> ignored my wanting to get her assessed. In 3 days I knew it was not going >> to work. We agreed to try andfind her a home somewhre around me. I had >> her >> a month and the longer I had her, the worse she got. She was sweet and >> loving but just could not adjust to the surroundings she was exposed to. >> She became very "reactive"--could not adjust to the sights, smells and >> actions going on around her. She got to where she would growl, got very >> worried if many people were behind us and eye contact could make her bark, >> The final straw was one day my attendant was going to take a bone away >> from >> her as it sounded like it had cracked and needed to be checked. She >> growled >> and snapped. She went back to the lady. >> >> In nearly every case of bad service dog behavior I've seen, it has been >> labs >> and golden retrievers. >> Some program traained, some owner trained. One golden was so bad in >> public >> it took 4 people to surround it as they sat there or moved. This was at a >> city council get together--informal--on service dogs. >> >> The other incidents were at other places and the dogs had to be dragged by >> us snarling, growling, sucking air and toenails sliding across the tile. >> I >> have a list that is a copulation of behaviours recognised as being needed >> for a good service dog temperament. I will post it tommarrow. >> >> I "would" highly recommend a first time service dog user to get one from a >> program! Especially if you do not know much about dog handling--which is >> different that training--or training!! >> Must go, take care, >> >> Dana and ? >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Lori Michaelson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "Quad" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 1:59 PM >> Subject: [QUAD-L] Nan - Training Dogs >> >> >> Nan... >> >> I think places like Canines for Independence has a waiting list of over a >> year. It was when I called them 3 yrs ago and am sure the need is as >> great. >> PLUS you have to go there and stay for like 3 weeks with you paying for >> all >> food and accommodations IN CALIFORNIA! >> >> My point? >> >> I learned that dog training and dog awareness in all areas is HUGE here in >> Tucson. TWO organizations have a program whereby you train your own dog. >> And many individuals do the same (teach classes). About 6 months after we >> got Brandy I began to take her to classes at one of the two local orgs. I >> chose Handi-Dogs. >> >> A certain type of positive reinforcement training called "Clicker >> Training" >> is used here and has swept the nation. It's easy, quick & efficient. I >> went to classes for 2 yrs but then stopped because it seemed they wanted >> you >> to keep going and going. After 2 yrs I found I can do it easily myself. >> Anyone can. >> >> ANY breed of dog can be taught via this method but, of course, it's nice >> to >> have a breed more prone to working (like labs, retrievers) and they aren't >> as hyper as many little dogs. >> >> If you have a dog (any age) start today! >> >> I learned this late but THE ADA "DOES NOT" REQUIRE A SERVICE DOG TO HAVE >> BEEN TRAINED THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION! >> >> Some good sites about clicker training (I make a click sound with my >> mouth) >> are: >> >> http://clickertales.com/ >> >> http://clickersolutions.com/ >> >> Maybe you can find an individual in your area to get you started too. But >> have heard that whether you KNOW Clicker Training or are interested a >> great >> video is ... TAKE A BOW -- http://www.takeabowwow.com/Howvideo.html Worth >> the money I've been told by a great nationwide trainer. >> >> I hope you consider it :-) >> >> Lori >> >> > > >
