I recently moved from two acres next to BLM land to a small tract house. I have a 10 year old male Australian Shepherd, an 8 year old female Australian Shepherd and a year old male Red Heeler. All dogs are neutered. My problem is that both males seem to compete for my attention- they are always grumbling and growling at each other under my feet, and sometimes fight on their way in and out of the door. One time I was bitten when one dog missed the other and got me instead. I've been trying the dominance down on them. I've been thinking of setting up dog beds in different rooms for them, and "sending them to their 'rooms' for time-out" when they get into their macho thing (making them sit, lie down, and stay in a designated area) or putting them in crates. I take them out with me twice a week to ride my horse, and am trying to work in more walks and ball play time for them (especially the Red Heeler- he really needs a job). I may be able to work stock with them once a month. Ideas?
2007-01-02 13:02:53 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
First stop with the Alpha rolling - you're going to wind up hurt in that process. You need to learn to deal with your dominant dogs.
EVERY dog in your household should be wearing a dominant dog collar or prong collar AND dragging a lead. If you cannot have eyes on your dogs, they should be confined to individual crates.
Here's a great website complete with DVD's if you choose to help you deal with the dominance issues in your pack: http://www.leerburg.com/dominac2.htm
In the meantime - do not allow the dogs unsupervised at any time. Do not allow any of the dogs on furniture of any kind, do not allow them to display food aggression of any kind, do not leave 'toys' out for them to fight over, and do not allow them through doors, gates or up/down stairways before you. You need to restablish yourself as pack leader. Pack leaders decide who fights and when. Sounds like your dogs are challenging each other and you.
Good luck!
2007-01-02 13:08:40 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work with Aplha issues with both of them to teach them both that they do not get to make judgements like that. Have you found the NILIF, Nothing in Life is Free online? It's a great start. http://dogs.about.com/cs/basictraining/a/alternatives.htm .
Utilize those crates. Keep them both crated. Move their crates around from time to time. This teaches them they dont' pick where they sleep (as Alphas do) but it's all subject to change. Work with them both on lead, with basic obedience. Maybe find a good local behaviourist to come work with you. And this is opinion, but while you want neither to act aggressively toward anyone/thing, also don't encourage the one being attacked. Give you an example. I have a Chihuahua who's 8 lbs. She tries to dominate larger dogs (always has, and has a tip missing from one ear due to this). Our big dogs now, could care less. Totally ignore her. But I get onto the Chihuahua for even trying ot get attitude with them. I don't want to make her futher think she's in the right for trying to be dominant, because she needs to accept she is NOT. Also, learn triggers, like toys and food.. Avoid those. I have dogs that are very trained and socialized, but a few that I know can NOT have food inbetween them. Getting to the point where you can give verbal commands and get both to do a down-stay or sit stay in opposite places is great, that means you have alot of control over them. Hope you get to the place where you don't have to physically break them up anymore. Good luck.
*Adding that if you are talking about Alpha rolling or similar above, I'm not advocating that when I say work on dominance*. While I do think it's a good thing to have your dogs accept you telling them to roll over , because this does show submission.. I do not believe in the way the "Alpha roll" is done/advocated. Especially in certain situations, this is a way for a lot of people to get hurt.
2007-01-02 13:15:39 · answer #2 · answered by chinchillasundertherainbow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A dog should be trained on how to eat, walk with you, not to bark, potty training and sleep on its place etc. You can teach anything to your puppy, dogs get trained easily with some good instructions. If you want some good training tips visit https://tr.im/SIjnC
If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.
It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.
2016-04-22 17:50:03 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are pack animals. There is a heirarchy and you have to be that Alpha... the leader. When you are the Alpha leader of the pack, they are the submissive.
2007-01-02 14:16:27 · answer #4 · answered by bakfanlin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recommend this dog training course: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572
. It has fantastic videos on dog training. It explains good, gentle, simple and effective techniques to stop stop unwanted behaviours of your dog. I recommend it.
Hope it helps.
2014-09-14 08:31:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem. Unfortunately there is nothing you can but keep them in cages or get rid of one. My two males were fighting once and the bigger male killed the smaller one.
2007-01-02 13:09:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try going to training classes at PetSmart or anywhere else that offers those services. Give it time, though.
2007-01-02 13:07:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
have one fixed and see if he becomes submissive to the other otherwise there is no way
2007-01-02 13:13:04 · answer #8 · answered by edward m 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
2007-01-02 13:07:51 · answer #9 · answered by connie sue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋