Dog Community

Posted : 9/18/2006 9:08:33 PM

ORIGINAL: ron2

Ron2 you totally lost me with your comparison

I'll try it again. I was raised not to hit or pick up dogs or mess with them while they are eating or poke at them or otherwise physically abuse them, give them their space. I was taught this, as well as everything else, at the end of a belt, backhand, stirring spoon, peach tree switch, whatever was handy. Meaning it sunk in. The one time I did abuse a dog, retribution was swift and overpowering and painful. And I never did a wrong thing towards animals again, ever. I was somewhat unaware that people would need to know something that I was raised with. It's not a judgement of you, it's just a different world than the one I was born in. OTOH, the only time I help Shadow up is when he wants to lay in my lap and can't get his back end up, if I'm in the computer chair. Then he doesn't mind, I get rewarded with kisses.

Ron2, I guess my confusion comes in with WHY I need to know this about you? What point are you trying to make? I hear what you are saying, You knew not to abuse your animals because it was knocked into you when you did. And you didnt do it again. Are you suggesting that my children would abuse them and I might need to knock it into them? I get that times are different for my children than they were with me. I was switched/spooned/whatever you want to call it for doing something wrong or incorrect as a child as well. Where my children are spanked when they do wrong it is no where near the treatment I received as a child. BUT again what does this have to do with my dog being picked up??? Hence the confusion..........[

]

spiritdogs....thank you so much for your advice. I do understand what everyone is saying about my children. As of this AM where my 8 year old does help she is no longer allowed to pick up Dixie. Im going to test this theory and see how it goes. She has to remove the gate and then I will come put it back up. So far today.......no growling, but again she had been improving already and we have had way less growling than before. My 10 year old.........same rule applies. Now Dixie loves to jump up on your lap weither I am sitting at the computer or on the couch and she allows us to pull her up the rest of the way, with NO Growling.[

] So we shall see how it all goes........
As for the food aggression..........it was not just with food it was with everything......treats, rawhides, toys, pigs ears you name it. So I have been working with her to release the treats and she has improved 100%. WE have been working on this though for 10 weeks. So at this point she will give up whatever Im asking for without complaint. I had to work on that right away though because of my children and toys that Dixie might pick up that they may grab out of her mouth. She really really has improved so much. I have no clue about her back ground as she came from a rescue in TN and I got her at a shelter here in Ohio. She is a quick learner so I know she can kick this growling........and Im willing to do whatever needs to be done.
So we will go with the no picking up and see how she does when I do need to pick her up.
Thanks again everyone!!!

spiritdogs

Posted : 9/19/2006 6:33:49 AM

I hope that the way you are "working through" the food aggression resembles the protocol in "Mine! A Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs" by Jean Donaldson, because if it doesn't involve that sort of conditioning, you still may have problems later. You can get a copy on dogwise.com if you want to make sure you are on the right track.

Vivian

Posted : 9/19/2006 7:28:12 AM

buy a gate that is e asily opened by yourself and your children.

Elizabeth Lutz

Posted : 9/19/2006 7:52:45 AM

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

I hope that the way you are "working through" the food aggression resembles the protocol in "Mine! A Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs" by Jean Donaldson, because if it doesn't involve that sort of conditioning, you still may have problems later. You can get a copy on dogwise.com if you want to make sure you are on the right track.

I am thank you.[

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And I do plan on getting a baby gate that you can step on to open , just need to wait for payday. [

] Thanks again everyone!!!

Need some more advice........