A Long Moan

well this is going to be a long rant.

Lemmy started his 3rd training class today so he knows what to do we are just doing it more for the socialisation and he could do with a bit of improvement and advancement. So anyway off we go to class to learn some new tricks. We did STOP. The trainer held him I had to shout him to me then tell him to stop half way to me. This is taught by shouting STOP and throwing the treat so he stops and gets that. Good boy Lemmy came straight to me when I shouted him but as we thought for the first time he didnt stop not even to pick up the treat he just came straight in for the cuddle and kiss. Well whats she moaning for I hear you all saying he wasnt expected to be perfect first time. well here goes

we got there and i went in the arena with the 6 other dogs who all nicely said hello to each other. lemmy went and said hello to some of them really nice then instead of the initial excitement to play he went straight in for the throat teeth bared. 2 labs and a pug then it was the spaniels turn. on the above exercise i had to stand with him on the end of the row because he kept trying to get to the said dogs he only ignored them when i shouted him to me.

pete was outside the arena with lottie who as we know right now barks at strangers. so she kept distracting him as well hwen she barked quite a few times. new place for her so we expected it. pete took her for a walk round when he noticed and so lemmy turned his attention back to the other dogs. half an hour of fighting him trying to get him to do the basic SIT and DOWN was just impossible so i gave in and let pete take over.

me and lottie sat outside on a sofa watching them she never made a sound just sat next to me chilling and watching the dogs and people. a man and his dog walked passed and she never even blinked at them. lemmy in the arena was a little angel with an effing halo for pete.

well you can imagine how i felt the little rat bag. he usualy always is very good in class and has his certificates for passing the other 3 classes and i did some of them with him so its not cos it was me and not pete.

i will put it down to first class naughtiness if you can call it naughtiness to me he was a little @*"@"*

anyway i asked the trainer at the end of the class WHY and she said that pete was the calmer of the 2 of us and lemmy knows which buttons to press to get me going. she then asked how long we have had lottie and how they get on. she is going to suggest to the trainer that does lotties one to one assessemtn next week to see them both seperately and then together to assess them as a pair and see what she thinks we can do with them. Lemmy was always a good boy well he wasnt a fighter so i dont know if its because lottie is here and he is fighting for position or cos he still has his bits. i will chop the effing things off myself one day. pete wants to wait another little while so even me and him are disagreeing on that as well.

we got home from training and pete took them both out on his own then when they got back lemmy went to bed and lottie went and laid on the living room rug. they are both now fast asleep me well i am raiding the cupboard cos i know i had some valium in there at one time

I'm sorry that happened! I know it can be frustrating. My wife often feels the same about me and Monte. It isn't you, they are just like kids. Sometimes they act up for one and not the other and you don't always know why. Makes you mad though for sure!

Oh, dear, you poor thing!

I think Lemmy's feeling the hormones kicking in, and with Lottie there, he was telling everyone who's boss before they even asked! Don't forget that Lottie's not been with you long, and Lemmy will think he 'owns' her & he has to show everyone else.

Personally I would agree with Pete - wait a little while before you chop his bits & let him mature a bit more. He'll be better for it.

As for him behaving differently with you, the trainer could be right - he knows how to wind you up! After the first 'argument' he would have felt your apprehension & would have reacted to that (he'd have probably been the same even had he been already castrated). When Pete took over, the worst was over & so with a fresh handler he was calmer.

.........deep breaths, close your eyes, count to 10 & start again!

Caryll wrote:Personally I would agree with Pete - wait a little while before you chop his bits & let him mature a bit more. He'll be better for it.

!

we have always said that but just tonight in that arena if i had a knife handy ..............

have calmed down now and am gojng to go have a nice bath with a good book (the illustrated man) get rid of the doggy smell dust myself off and start again tomorrow.

_julie_ wrote: just tonight in that arena if i had a knife handy ..............

........oh, do I know that feeling!

I swear these things are here to test you! Stay strong, its a huge change for Lemmy, and you, and OH and Lottie. Give it time Xx

Oh dear........does'nt sound like much fun at all. As mentioned above, they can be cheeky lil' beggars at times and behave just like kids.

Hopefully it was Just a one-off with the aggression ( yikes ) and next visit to the arena goes better for you all.

Hope you enjoyed the long soak in the tub with your book and came out feeling refreshed and rejuvinated.

(Now.......Lemmy you be a good boy for your Mummy, tutt tutt)

I think it's because hte dogs haven't been together long and are still trying to settle in and Lemmy could be protective of Lottie.

Dogs will indeed react differently with different handlers. Suki is more of a mommy's girl but as long as you are both consistant with training and handling there shouldn't be a significant difference.

Before we take Suki into a new or potential stressfull situation we make sure that she is well exercised so she doesn't have alot of excess energy.

You poor thing... they sure can drive us crazy sometimes...

Next time you go is a new start... hopefully Lemmy will be a good boy for you.... yes like Jstaff I thought if you take him for a long walk before hand he might be too tired to put up a fight!

Poor you Julie, I know just how you feel. Although Tyson is doing well at training, he is constantly trying it on so I have to work really hard at being calm and firm. My son takes him and he suddenly becomes a superstar!

I do find that he is calmer and more attentive when we have had a good walk before going off to classes.

Today is another day and time to get back on the horse, Valium in hand of course.

oh julie how awful for you, at least it sounds like you have a good trainer, stay positive and if the valium does not work, there is always wine

><

well am better after a nights sleep

we are all on that learning adjustment with lottie's arrival so we will put it down to a one off and see how he reacts next week.
we thought it would be good for Lottie to wander round the place for the socialisation and get used to it which it was i think she behaved better than we thought she would.
anyway lemmy is back to his usual this morning. pete has had them out and not one reaction to any of the other dogs he saw and lottie never barked at any strangers.

Long may it continue Xx

We all get those days, when the dogs are driving you insane and the minute you start to feel a bit wound up they just get worse!! Next week will be better, and I think Caryll's theory about him trying to show everyone whos boss because of Lottie is spot on. His pack balance has shifted slightly and hes acting up like a silly teenager! Its great though that Lottie seems very relaxed and isn't trying to join in with his stupidness, shows she must feel settled.