Puppy care

[qwertz]

One example of him using a shock collar was on his pit bull to scare him from snakes...there are countless other times too.

And to add, the type of training you both do are in two different categories. He doesn't train dogs to flush out ducks or pose unnaturally for show. He is a dog behavioral expert. So you are comparing apples to oranges.

And you clearly don't know much.

For one it is not my job, I do it as a sideline. Two, I dont train dogs to "pose unnaturally for show" I train and compete at the highest level in agility and obedience- both which require a great deal of accuracy and obedience from the dog and handler. I also work with dogs and their owners that have behavioural problems- many of which are similar or the same as what CM deals with in his shows. He repeatedly reprimands the dogs and hardly praises their good behaviour. He does not 'fix' them in the short one hour period that the show lasts for, he uses many aversion techniques behind the scenes. He is outdated.

Victoria stillwell is a much better trainer.

[IndiReloaded]

My neighbors dog, who wasn't a puppy, was attacked and killed by coyotes

Same. We lose them, and even more cats, every year. Its a west coast thing. We have coyotes, cougars, bears... same as you (not sure about the bears).

[IndiReloaded]

Rather than get into an argument about training methods, you might find this interesting Risa (I did):

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_training[/url]

FWIW, I grew up with dogs. I will say they certainly do have a pack mentality with humans. Can't fight biology, and why would you want to? Personally, I think its always best to positively reinforce where possible. The methods trainers use seem to be the same psych training you already know about. Different applications of the same principles. I don't much like Cesar Milan's methods, but I can see where they might be useful where others fail.

Enjoy your new family member!

[IndiReloaded]

I have never ever see him use shock collars, or punishment, or abuse. He barely touches the dog. You are wacked.

Actually Smackie, if you watch carefully he uses this very nasty 'pinch' that is like a bite to the dog. The thing he calls just a 'touch' (and then the dog howls). Its like a shock.

I'm not commenting on his effectiveness, mind. Negative reinforcement can be effective.

[smackie9]

If you read the articles about this matter he does not use these methods for regular training. He doesn't endorse the use of such methods to any one, and that he will only this method at the request of the owner only on extreme cases where the animal will be put down. As usual the media will blow things out of proportion, and get animal activists all riled up before the actual facts are placed forward....the typical lynch mob mentality at play here....plus he actually trains the owners on how to behave, and not the dogs.....but as they say there is more than one way to skin a cat. So I'm not saying his methods are the be all and all....there are many choices one can look at to train their dog. And btw any idiot knows that he has taken more than an hour. They actually show how much time has passed.....usually it's weeks to a few months plus.

[IndiReloaded]

I'm sure dog training is like any industry. The top players all bash each other in order to gain prominence.

[qwertz]

If you read the articles about this matter he does not use these methods for regular training. He doesn't endorse the use of such methods to any one, and that he will only this method at the request of the owner only on extreme cases where the animal will be put down. As usual the media will blow things out of proportion, and get animal activists all riled up before the actual facts are placed forward....the typical lynch mob mentality at play here....plus he actually trains the owners on how to behave, and not the dogs.....but as they say there is more than one way to skin a cat. So I'm not saying his methods are the be all and all....there are many choices one can look at to train their dog. And btw any idiot knows that he has taken more than an hour. They actually show how much time has passed.....usually it's weeks to a few months plus.

LOL. Have you seen him work in person, have you actually spent any time with this man and seen his methods used? Have you seen first hand the problems caused by owners following his methods?

Negative reinforcement does work to a degree, but why use it when you can get 100 x better results with positive reinforcement? Why mentally stress a dog (do you actually know the physical signs of mental stress in a dog?) I have lost count of how many dogs that were on 'death row' for being biters that I and people using the same methods have turned around and they have gone on to have happy lives.

I'm not a fan of treating a dog as part of your pack in terms of going through doorways first, eating first, alpha roll etc- its all one and the same. I have numerous dogs living in my home, none steal food, are aggressive or have any bad manners, 3 are on the british agility and obedience teams...all trained by positive reinforcement and I can name countless others who have the same.
I know were not talking about the advanced training, but I cant think of one successful competitor that uses negative reinforcement...this in itself proves that positive works best.

[Sonrisa]

I was thinking about giving it to an obedience school, but that seems to run into thousands of $ around here.

[smackie9]

I was thinking about giving it to an obedience school, but that seems to run into thousands of $ around here.

Maybe you could find an independent trainer....they don't have the overhead like schools do.....so pricing might be a little cheaper. Just take a few lessons here and there. You could even try searching on youtube for some training videos.

[Sonrisa]

Maybe you could find an independent trainer....they don't have the overhead like schools do.....so pricing might be a little cheaper. Just take a few lessons here and there. You could even try searching on youtube for some training videos.

a guy i know enrolled his puppy for two weeks into a school and it came back all trained

[smackie9]

a guy i know enrolled his puppy for two weeks into a school and it came back all trained

Yes but if you don't continue with repeating the lessons with your dog, the dog will fall back to bad behavior. You have to review the lessons everyday, just as you need to walk your dog twice a day.

[Sonrisa]

The newest member of my family - Gaia:

[smackie9]

Habonese?...........................

[IndiReloaded]

What kind of dog is that? It took me a moment to sort the dog from the teddy bear.

[Sonrisa]

What kind of dog is that? It took me a moment to sort the dog from the teddy bear.

I know, my friend asked me if i adopted the bear cuz he couldn't see the dog, lol. it's a labradoodle.