Help with being pack leader of my 2 dogs?

Question

I have 2 dogs, a german sheperd and a lab. Both are female mixes. We are working on correcting barking, aggression to strangers/children, food aggression and general unwanted behavior. I know that I helped contribute to this behavior unknowingly and I've made some changes to start fixing it. Heres what I've done:

*I walk through doorways first and make the dogs follow.
*I allow them on furniture, but regularly put them off for a while to show that it's mine.
*I practice sit and stay daily.
*They must sit and stay for treats.
*No jumping, pawing or mouthing anymore...
*I stare them down or walk them into a corner when they bark after I tell them to stop.

I don't know what else I need to do? There is improvement but it's still lacking. I've been working at it for about 10 days. They still pull on the leash but not as bad. What other things can I do to assert myself as pack leader? I leave food down all day and have heard this is bad. Please be specific...

Lab is 1 1/2 yrs, sheperd is 3 yrs
Lab is from breeder, sheperd was from pound
No professional training, they're not related, I've had the lab since 8 weeks, sheperd since 5 months.

Both are spayed, current on shots and in good health.

I don't know of any problems in their past, but couldnt say for sure about the sheperd as I didn't get her until 5-6months of age.

Answer 1

It isn't bad to leave food down all day, AFTER they are well trained. That bowl of food is a very important training tool..Until they are trained and responsive to you, there is No Free Lunch. they have to show submission ('sit' or other command) for each and everything that goes in their mouth.
Until they are moving better on lead, walk them separately. Keep the leas very short, so that they can't get traction/momentum to overpower you. EVERY time she pulls ahead, reverse your direction..EVERY time..Don't allow her to go anywhere that she pulls toward. She will soon learn that she only gets to move forward, if the leash is slack. I like to do this in an empty parking lot, or other wide area, as while training, often we are just walking in circles, back and forth until the dog quits pulling..

Otherwise, you are on the right track, and wise to address the issues before they become impossible. Your efforts will pay off, and your dog will love you all the more..Just keep up the good work.

Answer 2

I have never been able to train a dog not to pull on the leash, unless I used either a choke collar, or a stiff rope. the stiff rope method is to hard to explain. You can try having the dog on a fifty foot leash, go to an open area. Walk in random directions, give the dog no clue as to when you will turn or stop. The dog will tire of being jerked on the leash when it goes to far in the wrong direction. Gradually shorten the leash as the dog starts to learn to look to you for which way you will turn.
Second, You can assume a more dominant role with the dog by imatateing what the alfa dog will do. One of the best methods is biteing the dog on top of the muzle. I know it sounds silly, but does work.

Answer 3

When I was first training my puppy and he would try to get aggressive, I would put him on his back. I learned this from watching the dog whisperer. He said that when on its back it is being submissive. So by doing this I was telling my dog, I'm the boss. He is fully trained now and understands where his position in the pack is. This also works with aggressive dogs towards each other. Have the aggressive one lay on its back in front of the passive one.

Answer 4

For the leash pulling. . .
Take one dog at a time until they are full trained.
Go for a walk with a pinch collar, as soon as the dog gets to the end of the leash, tug, and switch directions. Continue doing this until the dog realizes that she needs to keep her eyes on you. ( your neighbors might think that you are crazy, walking back and forth but it does work)
As for the dog, you want her to think that you are crazy. The dog need to think that you are crazy and she could keep an eye on you at all times so that she knows what you are doing.

Answer 5

you need to make them submiss a few times and how you do that is you get on your knees and lean over them and grab their front right paw and pull it toward theyr back leg and take them down to the floor and roll on to the back its klind of a lift pull roll action all in one and stratle them why they are on their back and stair them into the eyes until they look away from you if they dont they say to kind of bounch their head on the ground very softly and continue to to stair them in the eyes till they look away and continue to do this everytime they dont listen untill it gets easier one other good thing for leash pulling dont get the retractable leashes just get a straight leash and when they start to get out of control pull back on the leash to your side and bring them to your side and at the same time tell them to heal do this several times and they will get it. also let them walk around the house with the leash dragging I leav food down all day and they are fine its better they eat when they want and are hungry I have always done this the vet will even tell you its ok. If they start to bite on you make a loud welping sound like a dog crying and they will back off. With children you are going to have to find achild the dog knows really well and teach them to play nicely with them and keep correcting its all repeative do it a few times and it becomes habit if they go to jump up on you put your knee out they will back down give them stern nos

Answer 6

You do not need to be in some power play with your dogs, like a military drill sargeant, that is not what being a pack leader is about, is is about earning the dogs respect so they want to please you,

How many different bosses have you have? which ones did you like the best and were more willing to do extra for, was it the one that acted like the drill sargeant ordering you around and intimidated you with threats or the one that used praise as a way to motivate you and who treat you fairly and with respect. The same applies to dogs.

Being lord and master over them does not teach them what you expect from them.
my suggestion is take them to a clicker training class so you can learn how to motivate and have them understand what you want fhem, the class is not so much to teach the dogs but teaches you how to motivate you dogs into doing what you want, without having to initimidate them, dogs are more willing to learn if they know that will it earn rewards and know that when they do it pleases you. Domineering them makes them behave submissively but does not earn respect or a desire to please you.

Answer 7

Can I get a little more info
-how old are your girls
-are they pound dogs, breeder found or...
-have they had formal training???
-Are the related
-how long have you had them
-anything else in their lifes (abused, neglected,sick, hurt, lots of babies)
-are they spayed?

Tell me and I'll do my best to give you some ideas. OK!

Answer 8

Yea, you want to fed them around 2 times a day at the same time, their learn to go to you for food at that time. And I think it best that you keep them off the furniture period. Dogs don't really understand "sometimes". Its either all the time or none at all.

Good luck!