Good Advice/Information

The following advice was given on another forum (not a staffy forum!) in answer to someone whose dog was constantly ignoring & mouthing hard! I just thought it was something that was worth passing on...............

"I believe they have a heirachy as do most social animals, insects etc
once they know a command if I tell them to do something or to ignore something I expect them to do as they are told
but likewise if I asked rather than told I would expect them to ignore
an example my dog and his ball
if I 'ask' for it to him its a game and he will run off with it but if I 'tell' him to drop/give then I expect obedience
re meals my dogs get fed at a time that suits me, whether I have already eaten at that time or not is irrelevant - I am in control of the food supply
re doors/gates i expect them to wait whilst i open gates doors and not try to barge ahead, i always enter the house first, but if i want to send them in the garden then i open the door and 'tell' them 'out' and i remain inside, i dont go out to get them to follow just to get back in again it would be pointless

some dogs are 'dominant' by nature and other dogs sence that and will avoid or became submissive around even if they are not normally a submissive dog
dogs learn a lot by body language, not only other dogs but peoples as well
some fearful dogs will 'smile' at humans, show teeth as an appeasement as they learn this is what humans do even though it is not natural for them and the opposite of how they would behave around their own species

if you observe dogs behaviour especialy when there is a pack you will learn a lot by watching their interactions with each other
it is insecure dogs who tend to barge past and rush everywhere, it is insecure dogs who are aggressive to other dogs/people

a dominant dog will use body language, eye contact etc and is very confident in all situations and as no fears, will warn by a look, tail set, ear set etc be bold enough to stand on hind legs (off lead) and give a warning bark face to face with aggressor/threat (human), not attack from behind or bite for no reason

you need to adjust your body language and your voice
stand upright be firm with your voice"

good advise caryll

great advise!

Good Advice

got everything there except telling him to go 'out' I have to walk out so he follows me lol... sometimes I push him out...

Caryll you should make it a proper subject thing, thats great advice X

That was written by someone I know with a GSD (well, a couple of them actually) & she has a 'working lines' dog which is a real handful - constantly on the go, needing stimulation 15 hours a day, mental & physical. She's trained him to schutzhund status (ie working trials including man work).

In her hands he's a pussycat. She knows her stuff.