Dogs

Now you've hit on one of my favorite subjects.

When a dog is in an excited state, you, as the alpha, need to remain calm and confident, first of all. You can allow the dog to do what you want the dog to do, but you must require the dog not do what you don't want to allow, and you can accomplish this without having to cause the dog any pain.

I would practice going to the car with the dog on a leash, stop at the car door, make the dog sit, open the car door, keep the dog out of the car until he displays a calm and submissive state, then invite the dog to enter the car. Practice, practice, practice. The dog will get it. If you let him get in the car while he's still excited, you will be positively reinforcing that excited state. You might even walk the dog first and make sure he is exercised, before attempting the car exercise. That way, his excess energy will be spent and he will be more submissive and pay more attention. When you walk the dog, don't let the dog lead you, you are the pack leader. Hold the leash to your side, only allowing the dog as little slack as necessary for him to walk beside you, not ahead of you, and you need to walk with your head up, chest out, focused ahead, as if you expect the dog to follow your lead and your confidence. Dogs understand what that means and it may take practice, but that's one of the first steps we take in making sure a dog understands their position and ours in a pack.

Remember, if you watch a pack closely, you will notice that, first of all, the alpha dog is ALWAYS calm and confident. I would recommend you watch The Dog Whisperer if you are able to. In my opinion, Cesar is terrible at actually explaining or verbalizing what he is doing, but watch closely how he does it and what he does. He really does understand the silent body language type communication that dogs have. I have learned a lot from watching him.

I think what is meant is that dogs are different than humans, they have a different way of acting and communicating, different ways of behavior. The first tendency of many people is to treat the dog like a little child. They speak to the dog in a high pitched, child-like voice, which puts the dog in a highly excited state. Once the dog gets into an excited state, it's a lot harder to teach them anything. Puppies naturally learn by watching their mother, and while they are watching, they are calm and focused on what she is doing. The mother is in general ignoring them and focusing on what she is doing, whether is burrowing for a critter, or whatever.

Another example of the difference, when dogs get in each other's faces, that is often a sign of aggression. When people do it, it's to kiss or show affection. How many times have we seen somebody come up to a cute dog they don't know well, and try to kiss the dog on the head, only to get bitten. They showed aggression to the dog and the dog responded in kind.

When people smile, they show their teeth. When dogs in a pack show their teeth, there's about to be a fight.

I could go on and on...

Thank you for your responses. Obviously you know a lot about pack mentality, what with 5 dogs all living together. :good!:

I agree that Cesar has a certain way with dogs. The few times I've watched the show, I've been impressed with how dogs respond to him. It's almost like his aura calms them.

It's interesting for me to see how Colby has adjusted now that Peyton came along. He was so hesitant and leery of him at first, but now he would be heartbroken without his buddy. They are so sweet.
 
I know someone who had a pit bull and she was the sweetest dog. Whoever had her before tried to make her into a fighting dog and actually cut the flaps of her ears as torture. Fortunately she was rescued and given a good home but she passed not long ago. It makes me sick people do that. They could be great dogs if people would stop mistreating them, IMO.
Ear cropping is actually done for looks. Not only pit bulls, but mini pins, dobermans and a few other breeds. It's usually done as a surgical procedure by vets, but some people do it their self(stupid).It's usually done for showing the dogs and or just preference
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I used to have some pits. I have found that they are people dogs and love attention. Mine werent too fond of strange dogs coming around. Once they got to know them they were fine.

Yes they are great companion dogs. Very loyal and caring. That's what people misunderstand about them. They were bred to fight other dogs not to attack people lol. They usually are dog aggressive unless well socialized with other dogs. It's in their blood. They are the perfect athlete of the dog world. They are not just good fighters, but weight pull, show, protection, agility, hunting and even shutzhund. Most you see today are not truly pit bulls, but bullys. The huge overdone pitbulls that look mixed with english bulldogs. Short, wide and fat. They actually established it a real breed, but ppl mix them and back yard breeders sale them as pitbulls.
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I think I've posted these pics before, but on the subject of Pits, this is Behr and his Brindle Pit girlfriend "Sugar". Her name was given to her by my friends 8 year old daughter....because she is so sweet.

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I think I've posted these pics before, but on the subject of Pits, this is Behr and his Brindle Pit girlfriend "Sugar". Her name was given to her by my friends 8 year old daughter....because she is so sweet.

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Can't see on mobile. I just had a brindle in my last litter that I almost kept. Had 9 pups. I tried posting pics from phone, but didn't work. And don't feel like uploading to a site and all that right now
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Tina Mae--you're dog is so cute! I used to put clothes on my dog when she was a puppy to keep her warm because they get really cold. Now if I tried to put clothes on her she would just stand there and stare at me all stiff. She hates it so I don't even bother.

Thank you!!! She is my baby girl!! She doesn't mind wearing clothes, but she definitely doesn't love it either, but she will wear em...she always shivers and stays under the covers any time she can, cause she's always cold. Do u have any pics if ur doggy?
 
< bad ass

I had my boy tank stolen from me a year and a half ago right from my home on a dead end road. I got him back in June this past year. His temperment was really bad because somebody was mean to him. Always putting his head down when he came to you. I've had him for about 8 months now and he is getting really good about not growling and not attacking people that come into the yard that he does not know.

Now to my favorite part.

The dude you see in my pic is absolutely fearless. I've saw him stand noes to noes with a 1,400 pound cow and back the cow back. I personally watched him chase down two coyotes while in the field behind my house which was sorta scary at the time. I was yelling at him to stop and he just kept right on trucking. I also heard the sound of two guys getting put back in their truck while looking at a fourwheeler I was letting them look at.(trying to sell)

Anyways dude gets ill when he wants and he loves you when he wants. I feel like they are the best dog you can have. I had a labrador when I was young and he will always be my first dog, but he just doesn't compare physically or mentally.

He use to sleep in my bed at night before he was stolen. He had his pillow and I had what he did not use.
 
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Thank you!!! She is my baby girl!! She doesn't mind wearing clothes, but she definitely doesn't love it either, but she will wear em...she always shivers and stays under the covers any time she can, cause she's always cold. Do u have any pics if ur doggy?

I actually just posted some last night if you go back to the first page where I originally posted. My Lola is always cold too. She loves to hide under my comforter and lay in my clothes if there is a pile. She also loves to lay on top of the vent where the heat comes out in the floor.
 
Ear cropping is actually done for looks. Not only pit bulls, but mini pins, dobermans and a few other breeds. It's usually done as a surgical procedure by vets, but some people do it their self(stupid).It's usually done for showing the dogs and or just preference
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Oh, ok. I think the people did it themselves. I do know she was mistreated before she came to the last owner. I guess I don't really understand the point even if it's for looks.
 
just something I noticed. I had to drive by a trailer community (some refer to them as trailer parks) the other day and I was amazed that there seemd to be a pit bull out in front of every single trailer.....that and a kiddie pool
 
just something I noticed. I had to drive by a trailer community (some refer to them as trailer parks) the other day and I was amazed that there seemd to be a pit bull out in front of every single trailer.....that and a kiddie pool

I drove past a Waffle House near me and someone had tied their dog to a telephone pole in the parking lot. It may have been a Boxer. My neighbor used to have one and that dog was always outside. They had one of those cable leashes and he had the garage as shelter via doggy door.
 
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BTW Rocky is only on chain when I let him out unsupervised
 
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