i need dog training tips

the new dog treats my 6-year-old like a peer, has nipped at her a couple times and doesn't listen to her. we're all learning together, but anyone got a good book or some quick tips on things we should be doing to effectively teach the dog that even the smallest person in the house is higher in the pack than the dog?

The simple things help. How old is the dog?

My main thing is, the dog follows me. She waits for me before entering any doorway. When dogs are above they get confused and think they are in charge. Any time your child is lower, try to make sure the dog is physically lower. Any time I lay on the floor so does my dog. Any time your daughter looks the dog in the eye, make sure the dog looks away. Teach your daughter how to control the situation.

Specific situations would help me be more specific.

Also, what breed. I saw it was a rescue, which is great. Mine is too.

I'm not dog expert, this is just my thoughts. If your daughter can be a little assertive, and confident, she should be able to position herself above the dog and have the dog will listen to her. There are lots of exercises you can do to work with them together, but if she is timid and scared, it will be hard to get the dog to respect her commands.

In that case, I would want the dog trained to ignore all input from anyone other than you. This is how service dogs and healing dogs work. They can be patted and poked and stroked, but they ignore it. They only listen to their master. They will not take food from strangers, they will not follow a stranger if called. Its really quite amazing, and I wish my dog was like that.

If you are worried about her getting hurt, then I would recommend teaching the dog that she is just like the furniture that he is not allowed on. The dog must keep its distance or get reprimanded. You are setting the hierarchy, the daughter is your property, and the dog had better stay away.

Watch Dog Whisperer.

In addition to what Pinch said, if it is a herding dog, like mine, it is natural for them to try to herd children. There are ways around that, but just a caution to you.

I highly recommend "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell.

Definitely don't allow dogs on the furniture, only people. This helps them to see the order of the pack better. Feed dogs after people eat and never from the table.

A college buddy works for a dog training company. You might search through their blog for some tips.

This post is not intended as a personal watercraft.

I'd work on the 6 year old. Tell the child to leave the dog alone, and teach the dog to leave the child alone. Your kid is probably messing with the dog.

How old is the dog? If its still a puppy you might be able to enroll it in a "puppy kindergarten" to teach the dog the basics of being a family pet. I took my dog through a program like that and it was very beneficial. It was money well spent and I would do again. It was a group class conducted by a local dog trainer, and if you have children they are not only invited but strongly encouraged to come. Ask your vet if they know of any local trainers conducting this type of class.

dog is about 2 years old, still plenty of energy in her. her description says part collie, and her coloring supports that, so yeah she's got at least some herding instincts. today is only day 2, so we're very much at the beginning of establishing pack order. thanks for the feedback. i heart this board.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Definitely don't allow dogs on the furniture, only people.

Whoops.

Yes, at two years, they are just calming down. If the pup starts herding your daughter, get between them and calmly stay there. If the pup nips at her heals, she will need a no-bite command such as, "no bite," pull the dog back or a soft tap on the snout may work. Dogs bite each others snouts, so a soft tap shouldn't hurt. They are still learning plenty at two.

I wrestle my German/Aussie to the ground every once in a while and bite her just so she knows I'm still in charge.

Another good book to find is "Puppies For Dummies". It will cover issues that haven't arisen yet. Things like the correct way for the dog to meet folks, especially at the door, how to keep them off the countertops (tho for a collie sized dog that may not be necessary) and how to treat "friends".

As others have said, at nearly 2 years old, your dog is just on the edge of emerging from puppyhood.

I wish there was a -1 button on here..............

-1 for "Watch the Dog Whisperer". It really is counter-intuitive to have a show on TV for dog training stuff that starts with a disclaimer how you are NOT supposed to try any of the stuff shown in the program at home. Google cesar milan lawsuit and you'll get the idea.............. This guy is bad news. Pain/punishment/negative techniques will only stress you and the dog out and will not create the bond with the dog that you are looking for.

Now with that out of the way......

+1 for getting the dog into a puppy kindergarten kind of class. Even with the dog being 2, there is a lot to be learned from a class. You should be learning positive training techniques (also known as clicker training), and the dog will benefit from being socialized with other dogs.

Also -- the alpha/pack order type of thinking has been disproven. As it was explained to me by a trainer and a canine search-and-rescue guy, dogs don't want to be the decision makers. They look to us to guide them as to what behaviors are wanted and unwanted.

If you want the name of a trainer that uses positive techniques, let me know. I have a couple here in TX that are nationally recognized and they could have someone close to you that they could recommend.

And mega-kudos for you for choosing a rescue!!!!! We have 4 here and I will NEVER support a breeder. My youngest mutt is the smartest dog I know.........

I would try some on leash training when the child is around, so that you may have the opportunity to redirect your dog to something positive when he nips. I would try giving an "NO" or a sound he associates with stop right as he is nipping and then give him a toy or something he can chew on in place of the child. Dogs are also very sensitive to high pitched sounds, so if the child is wound up, that may make it harder for the dog to control their herding urges.

orphancars wrote: -1 for "Watch the Dog Whisperer". It really is counter-intuitive to have a show on TV for dog training stuff that starts with a disclaimer how you are NOT supposed to try any of the stuff shown in the program at home. Google cesar milan lawsuit and you'll get the idea.............. This guy is bad news. Pain/punishment/negative techniques will only stress you and the dog out and will not create the bond with the dog that you are looking for. Also -- the alpha/pack order type of thinking has been disproven. As it was explained to me by a trainer and a canine search-and-rescue guy, dogs don't want to be the decision makers. They look to us to guide them as to what behaviors are wanted and unwanted.

Disagree, disagree, disagree. But I respect your opinion.

So if you're the decision maker, you would be the pack leader. You kind of contradict yourself there.

There's nothing wrong with Cesar Millan's techniques, generally. Some of his rehab work that involves "flooding" I may take exception to. But, I have implemented a lot of his teachings in my pack and it has made a big difference. It also has helped immensely when I meet strange dogs. If you think Millan is using pain, you have not watched the program thoroughly.

Both Millan and positive reinforcement techniques work, and I use a combination of both. I do chuckle, though, at some of the It's Me Or The Dog episodes as I watch the gal struggle through getting dogs to behave using treats when the Millan method would have them obeying in short order. But hey, if it makes the owner feel better and you get there anyway, that's fine. Just don't dismiss a training method based on some internet lore.

It's all about training the owner anyway. Ya gotta think like a dog. It's harder than it sounds.

It's all about letting them know this is NOT tolerated. I had a 100 lb. Akita and anytime they were playing (the dog and a kid) I'd always make sure the dog ended up in a submissive position with the child ending it. But, she was an incredibly good-natured dog so it was easy.
She knew her place with humans. The only issue was her dog aggression. ANY time a dog was on "her" territory she was letting them know. She never killed a dog (just a few cats and lots of 'coons and groundhogs) and usually didn't start it, but man did she end it. Man I miss her.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Ya gotta think like a dog. It's harder than it sounds.

Not according to some women I've encountered.

I'm not a big fan of using treats to teach dogs basic commands. Have no problem with it for teaching tricks, but IMO, ddavidv's right about using a blend of pos/neg reinforcement to teach stuff as basic as No, Sit, Stay, Come, or Leave It. Problem I have with Millan is that he uses parts of his own body to give negative reinforcement. Not his method, but how he applies it, I guess. FWIW, most of the folks I know that work/volunteer at shelters, or who are members of dog rescue groups say they can always tell which dogs have been abused. They're the ones who either cower in fear when they see a human hand..or the ones who come out biting.

Perhaps I'm just old school, but I never, never, ever! give negative enforcement with anything other than a towel (you don't have to snap it like it's gym class, just a little flick on the hindquarters will let the dog know you're unhappy), or even the rolled up newspaper like my grandparents talked about.

I'm actually having a little trouble with this at the moment..SWMBO gave treats for sit, stay and come. I've almost got them (3yr old Beagle, 10mo old Coonhound mix) retrained to do it "because I said so!". I'm lucky, our back yard is kind of small, but it's the one place they can run raps for days without being on a leash. More often than not, when they see that I'm actually holding the leash, they know I'm not happy with them.

And really, they're pretty well behaved

EastCoastMojo wrote: It's all about training the owner anyway. Ya gotta think like a dog. It's harder than it sounds.

Most women think most men act like dogs...

We took ours through a local dog obedience class. It was something like one night a week for six weeks. If you missed one class, you were out of the class and had to start over next session. There was no yelling, no negative anything, but it totally transformed our monsters.

When it comes to treats, I let the dogs know I have them and I give them out sparingly. I apply the slot machine method of treat doling out, versus the coke machine method (one treat for every good obedient behavior).

When it comes to play, you decide when play starts and when it ends. Always leave them wanting more. When you see them getting tired of fetch, keep the ball and redirect to a low activity toy like a chew toy. You determine when play ends before the dog runs off with the ball. You are the leader, you decide.

When it comes to encounters with children that are getting the dog riled up, put your hand on the dogs' muzz. Reassure the dog that he/she is being a good dog and redirect to a sit or down. All children should be instructed to approach calmly so as not to appear threatening. Some breeds, especially herding breeds, are not well suited to homes with children. You have to play that as it comes. Keep your hand in between the dogs mouth and the child to show that you don't want that contact and redirect to positive behaviors and toys. Be firm but not openly aggressive.

There are some great in home trainers that can evaluate your situation. Even the dog's diet can affect their behavouir. Ask your vet for a local dog trainer reference and talk to them. Herding breeds need lots of exercise, a dog agility course would be a fun outlet for that.

friedgreencorrado wrote: Problem I have with Millan is that he uses parts of his own body to give negative reinforcement. Not his method, but how he applies it, I guess. FWIW, most of the folks I know that work/volunteer at shelters, or who are members of dog rescue groups say they can always tell which dogs have been abused. They're the ones who either cower in fear when they see a human hand..or the ones who come out biting. Perhaps I'm just old school, but I *never, never, ever!* give negative enforcement with anything other than a towel (you don't have to snap it like it's gym class, just a little flick on the hindquarters will let the dog know you're unhappy), or even the rolled up newspaper like my grandparents talked about.

So you're training your dogs to be afraid of towels.

The misunderstood thing about Cesar Millan and his 'touch' is that it's what it's called; a touch. It's not a strike, grab, shove or pinch. It's a touch. It's not the easiest thing to learn, which is probably why a lot of people don't understand it. All it accomplishes is the same thing the leash 'snap' done by most trainers does. It's to break the concentration of the dog to whatever it is focused on and get it back on you. I use it sparingly. New dogs get it a few times, and after that they learn to listen. It's more of a surprise to the brain than anything.

Do it to the wrong dog and you could get bit, hence "Do not attempt these techniques without a professional". Or accept the risk like I do. Now, the "Alpha Roll", that's a whole different ball game. I've done those too. Only used for post-fight discipline in my home. Again, once or twice usually gets the point across.

The biggest route to success with dogs is to pick the right one (which is why we don't do puppies). If you start with a fairly well balanced dog, it's easy to look like a dog training hero.

A couple things I have learned: The word 'no' can be too generic of a term. Use very specific terms for each behavior either good or bad. Another thing is never give a command and allow the dog not to comply; otherwise they just won. If you think about each interaction as a win/lose situation, it will be easier to determine how to react. After awhile it will be second nature for you and the dog will not know how to challenge you any more.