[jasonc84]

Ok so i have 2 great dogs a year and half year old cockapoo her name is Dahlia, she is a little girl only 10lbs but she has a strong alpha mentality and has no fear! I also have a 6 month old Beagle, his name is Tucker. The beagle recently went through an obeidence class, and Dahlia taged along for some of his classes once we got past the basic stuff. Ok so now onto the little problems we're having. They're recall is great when we are at our local dog park (its more like a big field with a walking trail its really a great place) but when we are around home they always run for my parents house! We get out of the car and Dahlia takes off towards my moms house (which is in front of ours) and of course Tucker follows his big sister. Dahlia will eventually come if i call her enough tucker normally ends up finding a scent in my moms yard and i have to go get him. I guess i allready know the easiest solution which is taking them inside on lead but i really want them to better off lead so i try and use this as a little practice session, i praise and treat them when they come with us without running towards my moms. Also both dogs have a habbit of barking excessively when someone knocks on the door (dahila is suprisingly worse than tucker). This follows with them jumping on the people when they come in the house, my mom and sister think its cute so they pretty much allow it even though i ask them not too. And finally tucker has a problem with trying to jump up and get things off the counter and also jump up and trying to get things out of the trash. I apreciete any sugestions or tips to solve these problems. sorry for the long winded post just thought i'd introduce the dogs and such.

[blackgavotte]

Hi, more classes, books, forums, whatever you can find to gain more knowledge... About the running off lead. You are lucky so far Tucker has not been hit with a car or some other disaster, in fact also Dahlia...If they are not totally reliable in the command to come, do not take a chance. The Beagle is very young, and Beagles are not known for being great obedience subjects anyway, you are really flirting with disaster. You should have both on lead getting out of the car if they are not absolutely trustworthy, and that is going to take some time yet. ( in fact I do not think I would ever take the chance of having any Beagle off lead except in an enclosed situation and I do love Beagles, but I know how they can just get those heads down and GO ) Having one dog who runs, will make the other most likely follow its lead, and you have no idea of the sad stories out there, where people just say, " well, he never did that before " or some such. It only takes one time, one mistake. Get them on leads consistently until they are fully trained. You need more training, and so do they. I found it so interesting many years ago when I was training with a really locally well known man, Harold McCullough. I was so surprised to watch him moving very well trained dogs about, he was frail by then but in any case, he would have these mighty Rotts. and Shepherds etc, moving them about, and Harold, for all his years and experience, would hold the lead in his hand, then wrap the lead around his wrist. I was amazed, but then realized what a true professional he actually was. He knew one can never, ever take for granted what's coming around the corner at you, and he took the extra precaution with these very well trained protection dogs, regardless, because he knew things can happen unexpectedly. I tell you this so you will realize, people who are experienced do not take these chances that you are taking right now.

[jasonc84]

well i understand your concern for them being off lead getting out of the car but where i live there are next to no cars going through my neighborhood and they go straight for my moms porch when they go that way, they haven't ever left her yard.(like you said it only takes once so i will def be more careful with them) I know that it may come off as flirting with diaster but if you knew where i lived you might understand better what i'm trying to say. I wish i could get them in another class but the woman who taught the first class doesn't have an indoor place to teach so it doens't look like there will be another class till spring. And i live on an island so options are limited she is the only one with doggy classes. As far as books are concerned i'd love some sugestions on books, i'm always looking for new ones to read. I've read many in the past couple months since i lost my job and have had time to read. I've read ceasars way, the art of raising a puppy and a few others i can't rember the names of off the top of my head. Also i've read as many hand outs as i could from the doggy class instructor. Tucker is great when we are out at the dog park like i said with his recal, we have trained him with a whistle and honestly i think i exagerate when i say i always have to get him in most cases if i get to the whislte fast enough he stops before he gets to my moms and starts making his way back down the driveway towards me.(not very quickly though) I truly apreciate you response and your advice and may have to have to keep them on leads until i can work with them a little more, i guess maybe i should invest in a longer lead to work with them in the yard. As far as Beagles never being off lead i've known plenty of them who could be off lead and not take off i think it is def a matter of working with them until they learn to listen to you not there nose. I know anything can happen they could get a scent and take of but could happen with any number of dogs just as easily.

Any advice on the jumping and barking?? I've tried some of the methods i've read about for the barking, coins in a can to get their atention, and a few other things nothing seems to work. Esp with Dahlia she barks if you bump your hand on the table the slightest noise and she takes of to the door barking like crazy!