How do you train yours?

[porshiepoo]

I've seen various different methods and beliefs on here lately about the correct way to train our dogs, so I'd be interested to hear what y'all think.

Do we know the best way to train our dogs? Do you prefer the obedience approach or do you believe that pack leadership comes first and obedience naturally follows? Should we even bother training them if they don't cause us any problems?

[buggyracer]

the owner needs to be alpha, everything else will come into place after that.

[veekay]

If you don't know talk to someone who does. I mean would you attempt to rewire your house if you didn't know what to do? A dog is dangerous if not trained properly not only for the owner but for the public at large,

[porshiepoo]

Personally I prefer to use pack hierarchy to assert leadership and have found that alot of the other stuff falls into place so much easier.

Dogs can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands and I'm reluctant to believe there are dangerous breeds rather than dangerous owners. Any breed of dog can become a nuisance or killer in the wrong hands.

I personally think that Cesar Milan is spot on with his theories and I have based my 'dog training' using similar methods for a few years now.
Many people don't agree with Cesars methods or those of his ilk and I guess as long as we have happy healthy dogs then it should be each to his own.

I used to take my GSD's to obedience classes, the boy moved to the highest grade within months he was so easy to train but the girl was a nightmare. She was hyper, uncontrollable and would have me in tears of frustration. Their training was the exactly the same so why the huge difference? Looking back I can see the difference in their actual upbringing in the house. We took no chances with the boy and were very clear on his limits and boundaries within the pack, he was so huge that we felt very aware of the danger he could be if we raised him wrong. He turned out to be a real softy. The girl was a different story - she got away with murder at home, she was just so darn cute. We didn't set he real limits and boundaries, whatever made her quiet was fine by us and she turned into a neurotic tigger, half GSD half bulldozer.
Things could have been so different if I'd understood then as much as I understand now.

[dragonfly]

pack leadership works best with our pets, our 17 year old cat is still the boss!

Seriously, I'm the alpha and and then my 11 year old lab, our year old pup??? has learnt most from me reprimanding him when he's stepping out of line and a lot he has learnt from the older dog without me having to teach it (such as carrying his lead when safe to let him do so, sitting and asking for his food before being allowed to eat it and so on). have been to dog training with him and have learnt a lot about being the alpha. I would say whatever works best for you

[veekay]

[quote=porshiepoo;226584]
Dogs can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands and I'm reluctant to believe there are dangerous breeds rather than dangerous owners. Any breed of dog can become a nuisance or killer in the wrong hands.

Sorry to disagree but there are dangerous dogs. OK so man has bred them to be that way but they do exist. Trouble is the Omega man insists on having them and that is a really dangerous situation

[porshiepoo]

[quote=veekay;226651]

Dogs can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands and I'm reluctant to believe there are dangerous breeds rather than dangerous owners. Any breed of dog can become a nuisance or killer in the wrong hands.

Sorry to disagree but there are dangerous dogs. OK so man has bred them to be that way but they do exist. Trouble is the Omega man insists on having them and that is a really dangerous situation

My husband came back with his friends Staffie many years ago, his friend had asked him to have it put down for him cos it had killed a dog and was quite nasty. To cut a long story short, I fell in love with Buster and begged hubby (then boyfriend) to let me try to help him. We ended up with a dog that could be let loose with any dog no probs and not aggressive at all.
Nope, I'll always believe that there are not bad dogs just bad owners.

Every dog is dangerous no matter what the breed if it's in the wrong hands, it's just that a yorkie attacking it's owners doesn't grab headlines like a Rottie etc does.

[Jo.b]

Personally
I used to take my GSD's to obedience classes, the boy moved to the highest grade within months he was so easy to train but the girl was a nightmare. She was hyper, uncontrollable and would have me in tears of frustration. Their training was the exactly the same so why the huge difference? Looking back I can see the difference in their actual upbringing in the house. We took no chances with the boy and were very clear on his limits and boundaries within the pack, he was so huge that we felt very aware of the danger he could be if we raised him wrong. He turned out to be a real softy. The girl was a different story - she got away with murder at home, she was just so darn cute. We didn't set he real limits and boundaries, whatever made her quiet was fine by us and she turned into a neurotic tigger, half GSD half bulldozer.
Things could have been so different if I'd understood then as much as I understand now.

I believe it's all in the breeding, i also have worked / trained many GSD's and you start to soon realize which ones were from the same breeding lines. They do take on fighting / aggression habits from there parents AND from bad experiences. I agree that with training you can correct these habits, but as you have described your bitch was much harder work than your dog, not necessarily because of her spoilt upbringing, but possibly from her breeding lines. That is why it is so important to know where your dog has come from, by meeting the parents.

[brandy]

umm yes, but i was thinking more of a time out.. just like i would send sam and ben to their room for a time out..
its more about calming down and chilling out than.. your bad go to your room.
at least thats how it is with my kids.. when they trow a tantrum.. and start screaming and throwing things.. i make them go to time out until they are calm. and the best place is where they feel safe and secure.. you would be amazed how snuggling up in bed under the covers when you are really angry.. can often drain the anger away.
my kids know when they can come out.. they will call down and say mummy!! and i will say are you ready to come down?
they say yes.. and come right back down..
im not talking about leaving a pup in for hours.. i was thinking more min, just until it calmed down.. or more like i got the mess cleaned up!
heres a scenario for you.. pup is in the living room.. you come downstairs from say the toilet.. and you find your potted plant .. well remains all over the living room floor.. with said pup rolling around having a ball.. after you say several bad words in your head.. and count to ten.. you take said pup put him in his cage until you can clean up the mess... and let him out again.. well open door and he can come out when he wants..
that dosent sound to terrifying to me.. now if i said loose your head.. scream, shout.. and take broom to the dog.. that is traumatic.. (and cruel)
or worse hand the broom to hubby and say .. you deal with it.. we are going for a walk! *Grins*
but as all this is hypothetical.. i am learning here..
it was just a suggestion.. its how i punish my kids.. funny how its ok to put a child in time out but cruel for a dog?

[golden]

If you don't know talk to someone who does. I mean would you attempt to rewire your house if you didn't know what to do? A dog is dangerous if not trained properly not only for the owner but for the public at large,

Agreed - every dog needs to be trained.

Regarding methods, well that's each to their own, what works for some dogs may not for another they are all individual. The good thing about pack theory is that it's been used for years and it seems to work for most dogs, however there is now more research being done saying the pack and dominance theory's are flawed.

I do a combination of pack and clicker training this seems to work for me and my dog.

I must admit though I no longer use the old fashioned "heel command" by checking the lead, I've found that the clicker has 100% sorted that, thankfully .... recall is another story though.

Again each to their own but either way the key is to be consistant.