Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

I agree as well with not leaving her food bowls in the crate. Split into three meals, she gets twenty minutes to eat and then the bowl is removed. She will learn quickly to eat her fill. I would also make sure (at least in the beginning) that the crate be in the bedroom next to the bed if possible. ...

Can you afford to get yourself a book online?
If so I highly recommend Jean Donaldson's book "MINE"..what you describe is called resource guarding, this book deals specifically with this issue.

Good advice Emmabeth. It is also important to remember that two weeks is not enough time for a dog to bond to you, that bonding is NOT the same as training (though the bond can develop through training) and that she is a HOUND! Give it some time and work on training with her and things will improve.

Cracker's favourite thing is her Cuz ball.
My favourite thing is the easywalk harness and my clicker...these two tools have made walking and training Miss C a wonderful experience.

OHMYDOG..I wish I had the edit function! There's more! For the cats..I agree that the cats can be at risk..one, this dog is new to you and many behaviours don't come out until the dog is really settled in to the house so safety first. I would work on a strong "leave it" command with good r...

Oooops I forgot..I wanted to talk about the housebreaking issue... What I would do is ensure he is on leash when you take him outside in the yard, when you think it is time for him to go (he most likely has a "schedule" of when he needs to go..depending on when he eats etc) just like he wa...

Sometimes the leash thing is fear related (lack of escape) and sometimes it is barrier frustration ( I wanna go see that thing RIGHT NOW!). Since she wants to go towards the thing that has excited her it may be a case fo the second type. Impulse control is what to work on with her here. Keep working...

I'm glad you are managing and being responsible for your dogs' safety and well being. Have you had the thyroid and health checks yet? Resource guarding, anxiety and aggression have all been linked to low thyroid and to other diseases like Lyme. Housing them where they cannot see each other is import...

I need to ask first if you have had a trainer well versed in dog behaviour in to assess the interactions between the dogs? Dominance aggression is VERY rare and requires a diagnosis from a behaviourist as resource guarding and aggression towards the other dogs may be related to other thigns besides ...

Hi. It's hard to completely ascertain without seeing the dogs behaviour but it may be a case of intersex aggression (females commonly experience aggression issues) or it could be simply resource guarding..the food and the demanding of attention means she sees food and YOU as resources worth guarding...

No, it is not okay to not leave water down for the dog. The UK members will tell you it is not legal to do it there! Dogs cool down by panting and require water to keep them hydrated and able to cool off. Have you thought about crating her or using a puppy playpen to restrict her movements to you ca...

Teaching your dog through rewards that the best place to be is BESIDE you is easy, but yes it takes time. Is this happening when you are walking on leash? If so the leash may be too long and you can shorten it up when walking so that she doesn't have a lot of room to cross in front of you. Work on a...

Good post, Fundog. I agree more details are needed, but not only about the circumstances. How old is the dog? How long have you had him? Is he a rescue? When was his last vet check and does he have any spinal issues? Has he bitten before? Has he drawn blood? There is a big difference between a dog p...

Down CAN be hard and I don't ask for a down if a dog is feeling uncomfortable "socially"..ie unsure or anxious, or if a dog is very thin coated and has very little hair cover on their chest or belly they often don't like to do a down on a cold floor. I think for the more confident dogs it ...

This is a copy of a post I made in another forum under getting a puppy: Thinking about adding a pup to your family? Think you are ready? The most common age for young dogs to be given up to shelters or abandoned is between 6-10 months old. Often the reason is given as "he chews everything"...