[Matt_2007]

Ok I've made some threads before, but if you haven't read them, basically.......... I have a 6 year old bitch Staffie who's very dominant, and pulls way to much on the lead!

Well I went ahead and got a dog trainer, who comes fortnightly. He's tried various things with her, we can now control her when the door is knocked, she's leaving the ball when you tell her to and a few other little things. But one of my main issues was the pulling on the lead, we took her out on a big field using the technique of changing direction on the lead but it just didn't seem to be working.
She'll take on board things in the house but as soon as that door is opened, she is so focussed on getting out that she won't listen for the duration of the walk. So the guy has suggested that we stop her from going upstairs, and it may bring her down the pack order so she'll start listening.
Well we're finding this extremely difficult to do, after 6 years of her sleeping on my bed all of a sudden she's getting locked in the kitchen and I think it's a bit unfair, she's looking at me as it to say 'what have I done wrong?'. I just think she's too old to make that change and i'm not really happy with it, come the night she sleeps on my bed and I don't want that to change.
So do you think he's run out of ideas trying to control her outside hence suggesting this, or will this actually make a vast difference?

[Matt_2007]

Anyone?????

[Curbside Prophet]

Practice intense NILIF...Nothing in Life is Free.

And hopefully these techniques will help...
(Loose Leash Walking Using Positive Reinforcers)Loose Leash Walking Using Positive Reinforcers - Dog Forums - all breed dog forum

[graficoartista31]

I remeber listening to a trainer one time tell me that if you don't take the lead of the pack, the dog will assume the role for you. Same thing with seperation anxiety. The dog isnt afraid of being away from you, they are afraid of you being away from them as if your a child who walks strait out the door without its parent. How would you feel if your child opened the door and walked outside without you. You would freak. And the crazy welcome home isnt cause they missed you, its cause they were worried about you. As soon as we showed dominance over our dog, his behavior changed. I think this is what the trainer is getting at. Same with a dog sleeping on the floor. You are the king/gueen and they need to know it. You wouldnt let your kids go jump all over the queen of england would you? No. Its a PECKING order. So by telling her she has to stay down stairs is like telling a child, you cannot free roam how ever you like. Its a tough one. But its not forever. Soon im sure he will let her come upstairs but sleep on the floor. Only after your dog learns your the boss.

[Tess&Coco]

Originally Posted by graficoartista31

I remeber listening to a trainer one time tell me that if you don't take the lead of the pack, the dog will assume the role for you. Same thing with seperation anxiety. The dog isnt afraid of being away from you, they are afraid of you being away from them as if your a child who walks strait out the door without its parent. How would you feel if your child opened the door and walked outside without you. You would freak. And the crazy welcome home isnt cause they missed you, its cause they were worried about you. As soon as we showed dominance over our dog, his behavior changed. I think this is what the trainer is getting at. Same with a dog sleeping on the floor. You are the king/gueen and they need to know it. You wouldnt let your kids go jump all over the queen of england would you? No. Its a PECKING order. So by telling her she has to stay down stairs is like telling a child, you cannot free roam how ever you like. Its a tough one. But its not forever. Soon im sure he will let her come upstairs but sleep on the floor. Only after your dog learns your the boss.

This sounds like Jan Fennell who wrote "The Dog Listener" and other books on the theme. Her theories are based on wolf pack behaviour. She's also had a TV programme in the 90s (which I didn't see) broadcast in the UK, don't know how widely she is known in the States. Her technique is very gentle but seems to get spectacular results. She focuses on four key areas where dogs pick up signals from their "pack" about the pecking order. 1. Regrouping after separation 2. Leading out on a walk (hunt) 3. Order of feeding and 4. Sleeping/resting places (I think). Her theories are similar to NILIF. http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/