Submissive, Yet Aggressive!?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Show dogs can have obedience training, and many do.  Some people believe (wrongly) that a show dog shouldn't do obedience because they might accidentally "sit" when they should be stacked.  Free stacking is just like any other behavior - if the dog is fluent in it, and you ask the dog to stack, it will stack.  I do notice that some show dogs are not that well socialized - they don't seem to get a lot of off leash socialization, and they are taught to keep to themselves at shows.  No one wants a St. Bernard to walk by and slime the Poodle they just spent three million hours grooming!

    Wink 

    • Gold Top Dog

         I just wanted to update on this situation ... it is so much improved that Bailey is actually inviting play with the other dogs now!!!!! Party!!!  Thanks SO MUCH for all the tips, because they definitely worked! The first thing we did was to make it known to her that furniture was off limits and have been doing some obedience with her (stay/come/off - but no sits or downs, tho). Normally I let the pack work out their own pecking order w/o interfering, but for some reason didn't do this initially. Bailey is fine beign on the lower end of the totum pole, but as someone mentioned I think I was confusing her with my coddling her & allowing her couch privelages. I also know that the poor thing really must have been in pain when she arrived here. Her sores have dried up nicely, and the vaginitis she had is clearing up as well on the amoxicillin. Her coat is really looking nicer, she's gaining weight, and those teeth are starting to look semi white on a steady diet of raw. Also had ear mites, ugh, and is still being treated for that. She is much more receptive to the other dogs, and as I mentioned, just began inviting them to play! Looking back on it, I definitely think that 60% of her behavior problems were due to just not feeling well ... Again, thanks for all the suggestions Smile