Dog Question for Nick

[greg683x]

Hey Nick, Ive noticed during my time here on celticsblog that you seem to be somewhat of a dog expert.  I noticed you put a lot of info on humane treatment on dogs on a thread about Michael Vick.  Well, I have a question for you regarding my dog and I was hoping you could help me out.

I have about a 7 month old Boston Terrier, Ive had him since he was 9 weeks old.  Ive got him house broken, and for the most part hes pretty well behaved, but lets face it, like every kid, he gets himself into trouble every now and then.     My problem has come up when Im taking him on walks.  He pulls me everywhere, i'll be standing at my mailbox trying to look at stuff i got in the mail and he'll be jerking on the leash.  It's annoying and embarressing when other people are around.  I know the quick easy solution to this is a 'choke chain'  I already know that will work.  However, I really dont like the idea of choking my dog to death just to teach him to walk properly, forgive me, but the dogs only 7 months old, thats like choking a 3 year old human.  So I guess to end this long novel, do you know a method to teach a dog to heel, or to just stay with me when we go on walks?  Thanks in advance.

[nickagneta]

A quick release choke chain is not inhumane and properly used is the best training device you can use on a walk. Couple points.

Teach your dog you are in charge and the dog must follow you. That starts in the house. Lead the dog out the door and down the steps and make sure the dog follows. When you walk, the dog must be at your heel or behind. If the dog tries to run ahead or in a different direction a quick jerk and correction with the lease is needed. Doing this every day, twice a day for a nice walk will get the dog knowing that you are in charge and that walking the dog will become easier.

Once the dog is walked a bit and some of it's energy is released start teaching it to sit when you stop, especially when crossing streets. Don't try to do it when the dog still has a lot of pent up energy. Dogs are easier to teach when tired. Start with stopping and telling the dog to sit and forcing it to sit by pushing it's hind quarters down. Soon the dog will understand and when you say sit and give the leash a jerk the dog will sit. Soon after when you stop just a jerk will get the dog to sit. Before you know it the dog will just be sitting when you stop.

Be in charge and be confident and a leader when you walk. Relax and just lead, the dog will follow. Have patience, some pups will get it quick, others it will take a while. Keep up the leadership at home.

[greg683x]

Thanks for the good points man.  It's very well appreciated, and of course Tommy Points for you.

[freshinthehouse]

That's very interesting.  I'm not a dog owner, but I always respect people that have well-trained pets.  The flip side to this is that out of control pets drive me up the freaking wall.

Keep fighting the good fight.

[RockinRyA]

to nick and anyone who can give advice...

i have a problem with my dog lately. he's a beagle and he's 1 1/2 yrs old. lately he's been escaping through the gates especially when someone is going out. he became friends with the rottweiler of my friend and a stray. whenever he escapes he usually go and meet with them, heck he even went back here with the two.

now my dog has fleas  he looks really bothered with it. my friend said his dog now also has one. we think they got it from the stray.

what can i do to remove the infestation? ive read somewhere that flea powders and like products are not good for the doggies. any suggestion?

thanks

[nickagneta]

to nick and anyone who can give advice...

i have a problem with my dog lately. he's a beagle and he's 1 1/2 yrs old. lately he's been escaping through the gates especially when someone is going out. he became friends with the rottweiler of my friend and a stray. whenever he escapes he usually go and meet with them, heck he even went back here with the two.

now my dog has fleas  he looks really bothered with it. my friend said his dog now also has one. we think they got it from the stray.

what can i do to remove the infestation? ive read somewhere that flea powders and like products are not good for the doggies. any suggestion?

thanks

Consult your veterinarian. Some dogs have bad reactions to flea powder and others to some of the different medications to fleas. Your vet should help.

Once your dog is rid of the fleas, capture the stray and bring him to the pound. By capture I mean see if you can trap him in your yard. Do not try to touch or grab him and never allow him in your home, especially if he is the cause the the infestation.

As for you escaping problem, set up play dates with the owner of the rotty. If you both have closed in yards, offer to take the rooty over to play with your dog for a few ours and see if the rotty's owner will do the same. Once the dogs see they have a regualr meeting with their friends on a regular basis, they will be less inclined to try to escape.

[greg683x]

You can get monthly meds from your vet.  the stuff I have is called Vectra 3D.  It comes in these tiny little individual squirt bottles, and every month you take one of the bottles and empty the liquid onto the dogs skin inbetween his shoulder blades.  It works very well, it protects them from ticks also.  What it does is it just does something to the dogs skin that makes these bugs uninterested in it.  Thats what I would get, it might be a little more expensive than some of the stuff you might find at like a pet store or something, but this stuff will work and it's also not harmful to your dog.  I just do it on the same day every month I give my dog his heartworm pill.  Hope I was helpful.

Good luck!

[nickagneta]

BTW, greg, if you re-read this thread, PM me and tell me how puppy problem turned out.

[BBS]

Watch the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan if you want to learn how to handle your dog watch it. I have a Big Boxer and I have him trained like a cop dog now and lot of it is thanks to that show. Cesar also has many books out that will help. So my advice to anyone is watch the show read the books and pay attention to your dog and your own behavior with the dog. Almost 90% of your dogs problems are actually your problems and not the dogs.

[nickagneta]

Watch the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan if you want to learn how to handle your dog watch it. I have a Big Boxer and I have him trained like a cop dog now and lot of it is thanks to that show. Cesar also has many books out that will help. So my advice to anyone is watch the show read the books and pay attention to your dog and your own behavior with the dog. Almost 90% of your dogs problems are actually your problems and not the dogs.

Cesar is awesome and TP for the suggestion because you are 100% right. I've owned and been around dogs most of my life and over the last 12 years got very knowledgeable about dogs because I pick the brain of my sister's wife because she is a dog officer for the state police and has taught me invaluable training techniques, much of which Cesar also uses. Of course, because of the unique difference in training a problem dog to be good and training a dog to be an attack/guard/drug/search dog, there are some major differences, but she does use a dog psychology method and not a whistle/clapper/reward system, much like Cesar.

There are all sorts of different training techniques that work, I just ask anyone reading this to not use violence as one of those techniques. Hitting a dog might cower a dog to get it to be afraid of you and train it but it also teaches the dog that violence is acceptable and will lead to a very bad ending at some point.

[nickagneta]

Watch the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan if you want to learn how to handle your dog watch it. I have a Big Boxer and I have him trained like a cop dog now and lot of it is thanks to that show. Cesar also has many books out that will help. So my advice to anyone is watch the show read the books and pay attention to your dog and your own behavior with the dog. Almost 90% of your dogs problems are actually your problems and not the dogs.

Oh, more TPs to come for owning the best breed ever...

[BBS]

Watch the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan if you want to learn how to handle your dog watch it. I have a Big Boxer and I have him trained like a cop dog now and lot of it is thanks to that show. Cesar also has many books out that will help. So my advice to anyone is watch the show read the books and pay attention to your dog and your own behavior with the dog. Almost 90% of your dogs problems are actually your problems and not the dogs.

Oh, more TPs to come for owning the best breed ever...

Here is another of by beast. I do allow him on the couch so he can be in the window and this is so he can be seen from the street just incase someone wants to wander into my house when I am not there.    thats the only thing I let him do that most would look down on I guess.


Thanks and your right best breed ever. TP4U also.

[nickagneta]

Holy Cow BBS!!! His thigh muscles are HUGE!!!!! He has such a cute little face for such a big long body. On most beastly sized male boxers you see the face get gigantic, almost mastiff like. But your boy still has that little puppy sized face.

He is awfully cute in that photo with his happy "flying nun" ears!!! If you are old enough to remember that old Sally Field show you'll know what I am referring to.

[BBS]

Holy Cow BBS!!! His thigh muscles are HUGE!!!!! He has such a cute little face for such a big long body. On most beastly sized male boxers you see the face get gigantic, almost mastiff like. But your boy still has that little puppy sized face.

He is awfully cute in that photo with his happy "flying nun" ears!!! If you are old enough to remember that old Sally Field show you'll know what I am referring to.

Oh ya I remember the Flying Nun. Here is another pic it shows his head alittle better. Plus he is almost 2 so he is still kind of a puppy in that respect.

[RockinRyA]

thanks guys  i will certainly try out your tips. my problem is money though and im on a tight budget.

where can i watch said show? i dont think they show it on tv here. hope i can find it online.

im doing my best with my dog, hes been with me for 4 months and i dont think his 6 previous owners treated him well. they said he has some bad behaviours but so far i havent seen them since after the 2nd week. thanks for helping a newbie dog owner