BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 07:35 PM

Well, Max always gets to sleep where ever he wants as do all our dogs after housebreaking is reliable. Until they they are crated, and if puppies, then together.

Yes, Corgis ARE herding dogs, as is half of Max, the Aust. Cattle Dog/heeler half, BUT he has NEVER shown any interest in herding at all. Just reading the newspaper and looking for His Boy, slowly...in no hurry to actually get anywhere...but...
Keep the suggestions coming...we may hit on it soon!

And yes...Corgis are PERFECT therapy/daycare etc dogs!!!!! LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:18 PM

The system I put in is installed for you, and they have trainers who come out a couple of times after the installation. You can buy similar systems for less at Petsmart and such, but the collars fail pretty regularly and if people aren't consistent with the training (the first couple of weeks the dogs can't be in the yard without you there to offer correction) then the dogs don't really get the point. These collars are guaranteed from the life of the system and my life, not that of the dogs, so they're replaced if they're anything but lost. Batteries are about $60 per year per dog. A half-acre yard cost about $1400 for the wire, the collars, the first year of batteries and several trainer visits. I'm paying on a no-interest loan (12 months, go over that and they add back in the interest).

It's as much about training as it is about the system itself. You could put up the flags every 3 feet or so and if the dog approaches do a sharp tug on the collar and "no!" so they get the idea to stay away from the flags. But you'd have to do that for a couple of weeks until the dog is accustomed to the boundary, and gradually remove the flags. But without the collar, there isn't an occasional correction when you're not there.

The sleep in the room thing is an idea, and it doesn't need to be on the bed, but remember--dogs don't need you to hug and kiss and pamper them to feel accepted and part of your pack. They'll enjoy your company even if you're just sitting outside with them nearby or at your feet.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 10:31 AM

Here's a different tack entirely:

A friend of mine took in an abandoned puppy which had been living rough under the air conditioner at church. It was very afraid of people. She fed it, captured it, and took it home, yet it didn't get tame or friendly at all. Named it Lacey, for Lady-a/c.

She did some reading and learned that she needed to let the dog sleep in her room at night. When a pack of dogs rejects a member, it refuses to let that dog sleep with the pack. So when my friend made Lacey sleep in the kitchen, Lacey thought she was being rejected by her new pack. When she got to sleep in her owner's bedroom, she calmed down and became a good pet.

So, where does Max sleep? If not with you, then maybe he too thinks he is being rejected by his new pack.
--------
Another friend had a corgi who often ran away, trying to find a herd to herd. I always thought she (the corgi) ought to get a job in a day-care center.

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 02:17 AM

OK..I'll check it out..but I bet it inolves 'someone' ie, NOT me to bury something..prob won't happen aroud here...the unfinished pond system is now on year 3......and covered with weeds...(which I must keep watered so he can pull them 'tomorrow') Hee heee...oh wel....thanks for trying and keep on trying!!!

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:46 AM

No, it's a collar with a small battery and it gives a muscle stimulant that they don't like. The battery is too small to give much of a shock, and it lasts for three months. It's entirely about training the dogs to stay away from the fence. The few times they get close the collar makes a sound and gives the unpleasant but harmless discharge. The boundary is a buried wire transmitter and the collar picks it up. It's very finely tuned so I can move the boundary as little as six inches in or out if I want.

Say what you will about a system that delivers a correction--it keeps the dogs in the yard and out of harms' way. Considering the number of strays that pass through the neighborhood (and my pit bull was a stray I rescued last year) and the hardships of a stray life, this isn't a bad system at all. The dogs are basically self-regulating--they know their boundaries and are careful to stay within them. It is a real pleasure to be out in the front yard with them. The times that people have come by walking their dogs (on leashes) my dogs have known they couldn't approach so simply stayed put, lying nearby and watching peacefully. This would not have been the case were they loose or on a leash before the invisible fence was put in.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:34 AM

Yes...but that involves a shock collar which I DO not approve of..it is fixing YOUR problem not the dog's problem. I want to fix the dog's problem, and if you think they don't know when it's turned off, or batteries are out, think again....

And IF it's NOT Shock collar Invisible Fence, eddicate me please?

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 12:23 AM

I put in Invisible Fence to keep my pit bull in the yard (and the catahoula hadn't tried it yet, but we know she could jump the fence if she tried). PB Cinnamon would go out over the chain links but under the top rail at places where there weren't enough wires twisted to keep the links against the top bar. I thought I'd fixed that but she was still getting out, just wanting to visit and explore. I put this Invisible Fence in before I understood about walking them every day, but it is still good because it keeps them away from the fence and there are several places in the far back yard where people could approach the fence and grab one of the dogs (they are stolen too often around here). I also don't want the dogs to accidentally scare the little kids who visit their grandparents next door. Invisible Fence was expensive but it works very well. But it is a system meant for a yard where the dog spends all of its time, probably not so helpful for a casual visitor unless he's back regularly and is trained to the collar and the boundary in both places.

There are other training systems, most with a shock collar, that you can use to train the dog. Best to use it with flags to give them a clue as to the boundaries.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:55 PM

SRS...BEEN there, DONE that...lead walks are NO prob..its unsupervised, off lead in the fenced yard...gonna go find Dad and read a few newspapers....he is NOT unexercised...just wants DAD....IMO that is....

but i was wrong once before

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 11:53 PM

Hands down, these days Cesar Millan is the one to watch. He has a program on the National Geographic Channel called Dog Whisperer.

His answer to many problems: master the walk. Take the dog for a walk, at least 45 minutes of exercise. Walk tall, shoulders back, so the dog recognises you as "pack leader." And don't let the dog walk in front, he must walk directly beside or a little behind you. This is imperative, because the pack leader is in front.

Sounds overly simplistic? You should see the man work. He's amazing. It isn't rocket science, it's mostly common sense. You have to take charge, it's that simple.

I see that beginning Sunday they're going to play a week of a lot of his programs. I find the last season most helpful because you get more time with the animals and a more holistic view of how the animal lives and what contributes to the behavior problems. And he spends a lot of time talking about animal behavior. Millan says he "reforms dogs and trains people."

There was a very good article about him in The New Yorker in the first week in June. I have that here--if you want a copy of it PM me and I'll scan it and put it in the mail, or I can make a PDF and email it to you.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: number 6
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:48 PM

Sounds like separation anxiety .... allow Max to have an artical or 2 of Dad's in his favourite 'nesting' spot.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:45 PM

Thanks..and I'm gonna go ahead and ask my ? here in Hopes that someone can help.

Most of you know that I do speak Dog, MOST times...but...
We are keeping our Grand dog, Max, who is VERY tightly bonded with his 'dad'.
Max and very very seldom have problems, but he does like to go Walkabout....we have fixed every escape hatch he comes up with but he always finds another...

I think that he leaves to look for his Dad, whom he will NOT find...Dad is 300+ miles away...any ideas how to convince him to stay here??? Cause he KNOWS it's NOT Home...

PS...he is never in any hurry, even if gone 2 hours he is usually within 3 blocks of here...he has to take time to read the newspapers.

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: number 6
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:36 PM

Interesting ... I was talking today with the president of our Greyhound Rescue organization ... she was mentioning her.

will watch this thread.

Thanks for posting this Sorcha.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: bobad
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:35 PM

Stanley Coren knows a lot about dogs.

Subject: RE: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:35 PM

The Monks of Skete?

Subject: BS: No Bad Dogs...the Woodhouse way...help?
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Jul 06 - 10:31 PM

I tend to agree with her methods almost 100% but she died in 1988...has anyone taken up her Mantle? I have a question......anybody know????