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Conference back40::soapbox

Title:Soapbox. Just Soapbox.
Notice:No more new notes
Moderator:WAHOO::LEVESQUEONS
Created:Thu Nov 17 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:862
Total number of notes:339684

169.0. "Dog training tips" by TROOA::TRP109::Chris (shirley you jest (a.d.c.m.s.)) Fri Dec 09 1994 18:35

Help! I'm serious.  I have a crossbred pup (mostly German Sheppard and 
Border Collie, some Lab) who is proving to be a real discipline problem. 
"Taz" will be a year old in February, so I don't know if we can put some of 
her behaviour down to puppy antics anymore.  This is my 3rd dog, and we have 
done nothing different with her than the other 2, but alas, it's not working 
the same.  Maybe our first two dogs were just extraordinary - when I tell 
other people the differences, that's what they say - "Oh you were just lucky 
with those dogs.. let me tell you some of the stuff mine does..".  It's not 
that Taz is a bad dog - she is extremely affectionate and I think pretty 
smart too - maybe too smart!  Anyhow, our main problem is that she will NOT 
socialize with anyone outside of the family.  If I take her for a walk she 
scares the beejesus out of people because she will wait until the very last 
second that they are passing us on the sidewalk and then try to lunge at 
them - never to bite (yet) and I don't think she would, but sometimes I 
think she's going to pull the leash right out of my hand. And I'm sure 
people are afraid to come to our front door - very loud barking. Taz is a 
big girl, and I don't blame people for being scared.  This is her main 
problem and the one I would most like people to share their tips on. How 
did you get your dog to accept other people?  My other problem with her is 
easily solved - we can't trust her to have the freedom of the house during 
the day without getting into mischief (mostly tearing up paper) so we simply 
lock her in the kitchen and it's not a problem.  It's too bad though, cause 
we have another dog who is 7 years old and has always been allowed to go 
where she wants, and now she is locked in the kitchen too!  I hope this is a 
puppy thing, but if not, that's ok.  She has lots of toys and doesn't ever 
seem reluctant to go into the kitchen.  I thought Taz would *never* get 
housebroken, but the accidents these days are very infrequent - only if she 
notices that the basement door is open, she will sometimes still sneak down 
there to leave her mark.  Gene, please don't "CRAP" me - I am seriously 
looking for some suggestions.  This is a really cute, affectionate dog but 
she is creating tensions at home that I'd like to solve.  Has anyone ever 
taken their dog to an obedience class?  Do they work?  Has anybody ever had 
a dog with similar traits?  How did you deal with it?  Like I said, we've 
always had a dog since I was a kid, and neither of the other 2 were anything 
like this one.  

Seriously,  thanks....

Chris
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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169.1and i didn't even notice it firstTROOA::TRP109::Chrisshirley you jest (a.d.c.m.s.)Fri Dec 09 1994 18:361
Oh....and a "topic" SNARF too!  
169.2CSC32::J_OPPELTI'm an orca.Fri Dec 09 1994 18:422
    	Try the CANINE notesfile.  Last I could access it, it was on
    	19646::CANINE, but I can't open it today.
169.3SEAPIG::PERCIVALI'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-ROSat Dec 10 1994 09:5321
              <<< Note 169.2 by CSC32::J_OPPELT "I'm an orca." >>>

>    	Try the CANINE notesfile.  Last I could access it, it was on
>    	19646::CANINE, but I can't open it today.

	Nodename is "DOGS". It did move a few months back so the number
	has probably changed.

	One immediate suggestion. Don't lock up the other dog. It hasn't
	done anything to warrant it. And the new one may just learn that
	the way to not be locked up it to act like the older dog. It's
	amazing, but ususally true, that they learn more from each other
	than they do from us.

	Less immediate, ask around (at your vet or call the local Kennel
	Club) and ask about "Puppy School". This is a very basic obedience
	class that any dog, and more importantly any owner, will benefit 
	from.

Jim

169.4CALDEC::RAHthe truth is out there.Sat Dec 10 1994 22:093
    
    teach it to stay out of the street, as I damned near got a setter
    who dashed suddenly in front of my truck today.
169.5CSC32::M_EVANSMy other car is a kirbyMon Dec 12 1994 10:1814
    I second the obedience class.  This will get her around, both other
    dogs and people and hopefully get her socialized.  
    
    I don't know what kinds of dogs your others have been, but it seems
    some breeds take longer for the brain kitinstall to come in than
    others.  My Chow took about 9 months to grow up and behave herself
    around people and the home, I didn't know how easy I had it, until I
    got a Samoyed puppy.  While she is much more affectionate than Iris
    ever thought of being, she still has puppy brains and from what I have
    learned probably won't get the brain upgrade consistantly until whe is
    about two.  (10 months to go and counting).  Firm consistant
    discipline, and lots of chew bones seems to be slowly working.  
    
    meg
169.616.72.32.32::CiarochiOne Less Dog...Tue Dec 13 1994 10:1921
Samoyeds have no brains, so don't be disappointed in two years.  Wonderful 
family doggies, though.

re: the basenoter, German Shepards (some of them anyway) don't ever get 
used to people.  They are one family dogs, and quite possibly the best that 
particular thing.  However, they are eminently trainable, and therefore can 
be controlled very well.

However, I would not count on this animal ever being friendly to strangers, 
or even aquaintances, especially in the house.  I inherited a GS puppy to 
my dismay, because I always disliked the breed.  I found that she was a 
wonderful animal to have, but treated everybody else in the world like all 
other sheperds treated me in the past.  I used to put her in the car when 
we had guests, although she was trained well enough that I could walk her 
confidently without a leash in public.  

There were some individuals who this dog would not tolerate under any 
circumstances.  In these cases, I simply took the dogs advice, and avoided 
them.  I found that the dog was invariably an excellent judge of character.

Never trust a person your dog doesn't like...
169.7MOLAR::DELBALSOI (spade) my (dogface)Tue Dec 13 1994 10:223
>16.72.32.32::Ciarochi

Not too memorable an address, there, Mike.
169.8CSC32::M_EVANSMy other car is a kirbyTue Dec 13 1994 13:0813
    Mike,
    
    maybe I should have updated that.  I know all sam's have the iq of
    broccolli, but they do tend to wise up a little by two, (according to a
    friend who raised them for 20 years, i didn't buy my mutt from her
    BTW), maybe to the iq of broccoflower.  
    
    You are right about the family dog aspect, however.  She more of the
    monitor the kids so they don't do her damage than the other way around. 
    first dog I have ever had that seems to have no boundaries regarding
    space.  
    
    meg
169.9Beats having to find another home for dogDECLNE::REESEToreDown,I&#039;mAlmostLevelW/theGroundTue Dec 13 1994 19:5317
    Hmmmmm, a co-worker who is sight-impaired has a GS as her seeing
    eye dog and Rosie is a love.  Granted, the training these dogs get
    is intensive and JoEllen had to stay in NJ with her for 4-5 weeks
    so the two of them could get to know each other and how to work
    together; but this dog loves to visit all of us when she isn't in
    harness (i.e. working).
    
    I think obedience training will help the dog and you (I've noticed
    from my co-worker that the "human" has a lot of work to do to control
    the dog.  It's a constant on-going process.
    
    BTW, dogs CAN be trained not to bark; we're in the CSC at ALF and I've
    often marveled at the stuff that can go on around Rosie and she nevers
    barks (it's not allowed).  Her owner says at home and out of harness,
    she sets up a loud a howl as their chocolate lab when people come to
    the door :-)
    
169.10No Barking HereLUDWIG::JPROCTORIt gets late early around hereWed Dec 14 1994 04:074
    Re:last. You are right, I own a female Boxer who does not bark at all.
    She loves everyone to death. Best dog I have ever owned!
     
                Jon
169.11Helpful Hint to Jon of .10 -- you in a heap o'trubble!!LJSRV2::KALIKOWCyberian-AmericanWed Dec 14 1994 09:069
    Judging from your description of a female 'Boxer who loves everyone to
    death, but then calling her a dog, I'd say you have some serious
    apologizing due IMMEDIATELY to every single one of the MSO_BABEs.
    
    Now hop to it!  Flowers, Candy, badinage, the works.  We await Their
    decision on your life or death in ::SOAPBOX.
    
    |-{:-)
    
169.12GRANPA::MWANNEMACHERMontanabound, oneof these daysWed Dec 14 1994 09:108
    
    
    Gee Dan, it seems that you are the only one who made that connection...
    
    I hope you are on the phone to the florist as you read this. ;')
    
    
    Mike
169.13and Godiva, darks onlyPOWDML::LAUERLittle Chamber of PerditionWed Dec 14 1994 09:142
    
    MSO2-3/C1, I like daffodils 8^).
169.14LJSRV2::KALIKOWCyberian-AmericanWed Dec 14 1994 09:197
    Ya mean...  {blush} it is *I* who getz to exchange badinage with the
    _BABEn?  O frabjus day!  How deliiciously CHEAPENING!  
    
    ThankyouTHANKyou!!
    
    :-)
    
169.15SMURF::BINDERvitam gustareWed Dec 14 1994 09:543
    frabjOus
    
    yvw.
169.16snickersnackPENUTS::DDESMAISONStoo few argsWed Dec 14 1994 10:013
	dan'l, wanna borrow my vorpal sword?

169.17come to my arms, my beamish boyPOWDML::LAUERLittle Chamber of PerditionWed Dec 14 1994 10:141
    
169.18SMURF::BINDERvitam gustareWed Dec 14 1994 10:183
    .17
    
    oh, YESSSSSSSS.......
169.198^)POWDML::LAUERLittle Chamber of PerditionWed Dec 14 1994 10:211
    
169.20Get BACK, Binder!LJSRV2::KALIKOWCyberian-AmericanWed Dec 14 1994 10:296
    It's *SO* obvious.  She meant me!!!
    
    (Aside, to all:  If this troubles you, bugger off.)
    
    |-{ :-)
           
169.21COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Dec 14 1994 10:3334
Es brillig war.  Die schlichten Toven
Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben;
Und aller-m�msige Burggoven
Die mohmem R�th' ausgraben.

�Bewahre doch vor Jammerwoch!
Die Z�hne knirschen, Krallen kratzen!
Bewahr' vor Jubjub-Vogel, vor
Frumi�sen Bandersn�tzchen!�

Er griff sein vorpals Schwertchen zu,
Er suchte lang das manchsam' Ding;
Dann stehend unterm Tumtum Baum,
Er an-zu-denken fing.

Als stand er tief in Andacht auf,
Des Jammerwochen's Augen-feuer
Durch turgen Wald mit Wiffek kam
Ein burbelnd Ungeheuer!

Eins, Zwei!  Eins, Zwei!  Und durch und durch
Sein vorpals Schwert zerschnifer-schn�ck,
Da blieb es todt!  Er, Kopf in Hand,
Gel�umfig zog zur�ck.

�Und schlugst Du ja den Jammerwoch?
Umarme mich, mein B�hm'sches Kind!
O Freuden-Tag!  O Halloo-Schlag!�
Er schortelt froh-gesinnt.

Es brillig war.  Die schlichten Toven
Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben;
Und aller-m�msige Burggoven
Die mohmem R�th' ausgraben.
169.22PENUTS::DDESMAISONStoo few argsWed Dec 14 1994 10:455
>>    It's *SO* obvious.  She meant me!!!

	no, then she would have said "my beanie-ish boy"

169.23Umarme mich, mein B�hm'sches Kind!POWDML::LAUERLittle Chamber of PerditionWed Dec 14 1994 10:451
    
169.24B�hmer, maaaaannnn.COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Dec 14 1994 10:503
re .23

That's RAH, methinks.
169.25rah honey?POWDML::LAUERLittle Chamber of PerditionWed Dec 14 1994 10:511
    
169.27CALDEC::RAHthe truth is out there.Wed Dec 14 1994 11:502
    
    if i said that to a dog it would most likely pee on my shoe.
169.28JULIET::MORALES_NASweet Spirit&#039;s Gentle BreezeWed Dec 14 1994 11:581
    What did he say, what did he say???
169.29IabberwockumCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertWed Dec 14 1994 12:025
"cum snicker-snack iit"?

Time for lunch, methinks.

/john
169.26so there. (repost - angliski line removed.)SMURF::BINDERvitam gustareWed Dec 14 1994 12:1936
    .21
    
    Brilligum erat, et toves slithici
    In wabo gyrebant ac gimblebant.
    Omnes mimsici borogoves erant
    Etiam rathi momi exgrabebant.
    
    "Cave Jabberwockum, mi filie!
    malas quae mordent, ungues qui captant!
    Cave avem Jubjubem,
    Ac fuge Bandersnatchum frumium!"
    
    Gladium vorpalem in manum recepit
    Inimicum mancum diuternus quaeruit.
    Ad arborem tumtum ita reclinavit
    Et sic providus stetit.
    
    Et cum anxie uffice stetit
    Jabberwockus, oculis scintillatis
    Per silvam tulgam whufflicus venit
    Et ventus garrivit.
    
    Unum!  Dua!  Unum!  Dua!  Omnino
    Gladius vorpalis cum snicker-snack iit.
    Mortum relinquit, ac caput cepit.
    Et regalumphit.
    
    "Jabberwockum necavis?
    In bracchia, puer mi beamice!
    O dies frabjus!  Calooh!  Callay!"
    In laetitia cacchinavit.
    
    Brilligum erat, et toves slithici
    In wabo gyrebant ac gimblebant.
    Omnes mimsici borogoves erant
    Etiam rathi momi exgrabebant.
169.30MOLAR::DELBALSOI (spade) my (dogface)Wed Dec 14 1994 12:523
I much prefer the Latin to the German. It rolls more trippingly off the
tongue.

169.31Thanks everyoneTROOA::TRP109::Chrisshirley you jest (a.d.c.m.s.)Thu Dec 15 1994 15:3722
Thanks everybody who replied... I am *slowly* making my way through all the 
notes I've missed.  Taz has been really good the last week or so - maybe 
there's hope?  I'm hoping that the Border Collie traits will be stronger 
than the German Sheppard traits and cancel out this anti-social behaviour. I 
think I will look for an obedience class to take her to in the new year - 
seems that this may help her get used to other dogs and people.  Somebody 
asked what breeds our other dogs were - we had a male Dalmation for 18 years 
that was the BEST dog - the whole neighborhood loved him - we used to live 
across the street from a large park and at the time could just let him out 
the door to take himself for a walk (wouldn't do that anymore) He taught 
himself how to ring the doorbell when he wanted back inside!  Don't ask me 
how - at first we thought somebody must have seen him on the porch and rang 
the bell and then left, but no.... if you watched from the living room 
window you could see him go up on his hind legs and scratch at the doorbell. 
Quite a trick at parties - the poor dog got sent outside more than he 
wanted!  The 7 year old dog we have now is a female Lab/Sheppard cross - she 
amazes people by how easily trained and well behaved she is.  That's the dog 
that everyone always says "oh, you were lucky with that one" and I guess we 
were.  Too bad for Taz that everybody compares her to "Buddy"  It's funny - 
somebody mentioned that the dogs train each other and it's true - except Taz 
seems to be training Buddy her bad habits instead of the other way around - 
oh nooooooooo......
169.32HBFDT1::SCHARNBERGSenior KodierwurstFri Dec 16 1994 04:3225
    
    Chris, as you are not a first-time dog owner, you probably know how to
    get your dog realize that you don't like what she had just done. 
    
    My personal advice (worked *very well* with Pelle, our 1 year old
    Retriever) is not to hurt the dog, but show your disappointment and
    anger in other ways. When he has really done bad, I usually push him to
    the ground, stand right over him and act and look as if I'd like to
    kill him. This proved to be pretty impressive to him when he was a bit
    younger. Nowadays he has realized, that my love and affection will
    return within the next 2 minutes, so he just stands up and strolls away
    (when my 'fury' is over), but I believe he still gets the message.
    
    I don't know much about GS, though. I know they are very sensitive
    dogs. One bad experience as a puppy (with a stranger) will affect their
    lifetime behaviour. It will be hard to re-socialize him. 
    
    The basic question is whether her behaviour is a sign of fear or a sign
    of agression. In either case, I'd also suggest to go to obedience
    classes. If the problem is fear, she might learn that people are not
    *really* that bad. If the problem is agression, you may not be able 
    to reduce it (the agression), but train her to stay at your side,
    calmly, when you want her to. 
    
    Heiko
169.33TROOA::TRP109::Chrisshirley you jest (a.d.c.m.s.)Fri Dec 16 1994 09:296
Thanks Heiko - I hope you're right and she learns not to be afraid - I 
think that what the problem is much more than one of aggression.  I have 
never hit any of our dogs - have found that a very angry voice and being 
sent to her corner is very effective.  Once there, I hold on to both sides 
of her face (so she can't look away), look her straight in the eye and 
tell her what a bad girl she is.  She knows.