Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

Thanks for the replies! I think I'm the opposite of oblivious - I watch Holly too much, and don't notice things around us sometimes! Any recommendations on a back-clipping, non-no-pull harness? A quick search revealed the EzyDog padded harness, which looks like it would work (and would also double a...

Holly does great when we actually leave the house (work, errands, night out, etc) - we'll occasionally come home to a chewed book or newspapers missing from the (42") counters, but for the most part she settles down, sleeps, plays with a toy, etc until we come home. However, if we close her out...

We got a K9 Bike Jogger attachment (used to be Walkydog) so we could more easily exercise Holly without tiring ourselves out. The problem is she pulls waaayyy too hard with it attached - (we think) due to excitement! Unfortunately, it makes actually riding the bike very difficult, if not dangerous. ...

Hey I'm glad you've already had success! Well done! DH I suggested a 6-foot leash because I don't know where shygamerchick is from, and some cities have leash laws that require no longer than 6 feet. Of course. I guess my question wasn't so clear - I was more asking what's wrong with taking the dog...

Ah, well if she only chews stuff while you're gone, the bitter apple spray sounds like your only option. She should grow out of the chewing eventually though (we're going through it with Holly too, and it is getting better!). I misread and thought she chewed while you were home too. Random times for...

First off: Do not use a squirt bottle! This is extremely unpleasant for the dogs, and teaches them fear rather than obedience. "Leave it" and "drop it" are difficult commands, because you're asking the dog to not do something that is enjoyable for them. Make sure to work on them ...

6 weeks is a bit young to get a puppy - it's likely Morgan hadn't learned all the basics from her littermates about appropriate playing before being taken away. For the time being, you should probably keep her separate from the other two (the other two get along fine?), until these issues can be sol...

The lawn chemicals were some kind of pesticide and/or weed killer :/ Don't know specifically which kind(s) though. We took her to the vet (new vet, and we like this one!) and the vet said it doesn't look like an allergic reaction. Holly's nails got a bit long, which caused some open sores when she s...

When you open the door to let them out, close it immediately if they don't stay sitting. Get them sitting, then open it again (probably only part way :)), and close it if they move. They''ll learn quickly that they only get to go out when you release them from their sit. This way, they start calm, t...

He'll learn, it just takes time 10 days isn't a whole lot of time, especially if he's having to unlearn bad habits (like pulling).

Is there a safer road you could walk on while teaching him to walk on a loose leash?

usually it goes something like this: dog is minding his business and one of the cats will want in another room, so they have to go past the dog. The dog sees the cat and immediately run to the cat, playbow and eventually bark and bounce around the cat. I can never catch the dog's attention fast eno...

Has he always been like this? When you did the initial training, did you ever add distractions while indoors? If he's not listening while you ask him to e.g., "Sit" it may be he only knows "how" to sit in your quiet living room, where you did all the training....

Recall is never 100% - there will be times when the scent, sight, sound, etc is just too interesting for your dog to not investigate. When you first start training recall, those time are frequent! :lol: As you work with your dog, the scents, etc that "block" his recall should diminish - bu...

For the pulling, you may just not be waiting long enough for her to look back. Alternatively, you may be asking too much of her at once - when Holly pulls on the leash, we stop and only wait for her to relax (and the leash goes a little slack), and then we continue. The tight leash is the behavior w...

What if the other dog isn't boisterous? Is it still wise to meet another dog on neutral territory (even if it is just outside his house), or can they meet inside one dog's house? Holly is very good with other dogs, but they've all been outside (though, one was in the dog's backyard). Don't want to h...