MalsInOz
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Mar 1, 2004, 2:06 AM
Post #18 of 31
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Re: [RealityDreamer] Need advice & opinion
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Hi RealityDreamer, Like i say it's impossible to really tell without seeing the behaviour for oneself. But i'll try to give you my ideas based on how i understand what you've described. For me, at just 12 months, Ty has more growing up to do before real training for defense. I personally would just be working on his Prey/Play drives and bite skills and even though you're after a PP dog, not sport dog, for me Prey drive is still desirable to support training and definitely for bite skills. He has lots of time and specific training to come that will/can teach him how to use his drives to defend you, as long as he has the drives/nerve to carry it. Socialisation as i think most here are referring to here, is more "exposure" to all and every environmental influence, so he can think clearly and not be influenced by the environment in his future work. Socialisation is not so much just how he interacts with people, but more so how he is comfortable in his surroundings and not feeling threatened or unsure. For me this is where Prey/Play/Food drives will support him right now if he's not immediately comfortable with his surroundings. With him in drive it's far easier to introduce new environments without him worrying about them. Socialisation/Exposure to anything and everything, without him feeling threatened or unsure, that for me would be the goal right now. Busy streets, Shopping Centres, Bus Depots, Car Parks, Train Stations, Indoors, Outdoors, Sportsfields while people are playing, cheering, yelling and moving fast, different flooring as in slippery floors, metal grates, plastic sheeting etc. etc. Any new sound or sight that Ty hears or sees and does not concern himself with is another success! Go slow if you need to and as soon as you see any sign of unsureness start to play/ distract him or even back up a little and get a game going that will allow you to move closer with no problems. While introducing him or continuing to expose him to these things, be sure to remain calm and decisive and have food or toy ready to reward him or distract him long enough that he's no longer worried about the situation. He must feel that all these non-threatening, new experiences are good or at least no problem. "...The last month or so however,he started pulling and growling as well. Sometimes he would be abt a foot or 2 from the threat and would be in the bark and hold position..with less sitting. Well,he would be show a moment of hesitation and when the threat doesn't really react then his bark will intensify and he will "hop" more(on his front legs),with more confidence..." Could you just tell us a bit more about this, what was the threat? What sort of situation was this? You need to be careful though i think as just because a dog is pulling/growling toward the percieved threat is not always power - it can sometimes be a case of get you, before you get me, sort of thing. For me this is not really what you want if it's in response to something that isn't really a threat. I hope this may give you some ideas, please let us know how you go. Regards, Evan
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