Accidental repeat thread-Mods Please Delete.

[Germanshepherdlova]

After reading several comments on various threads, I am a little confused. I do believe in a lot of what the Dog Whisperer says and teaches. However, there are many people on this forum who I also think make good points. I am trying to understand exactly what I need to work on with my GS. Maybe I have been fretting over teaching him things that aren't that important. And also interested in other training methods.

Here are some questions, and the answer to them will help me to determine what to worry about and what to let to.

1.Do you let your dog enter and exit doorways before you do?

2.Do you make your dog heel when out on a walk, or is just not pulling good enough?

3.Does your dog have a certain area in your home that he considers his "spot" such as a couch or chair, and do you frequently make him move-to remind him that it's YOUR couch?

4.How do you go about correcting your dog, if you feel he needs to be corrected?

[gsdraven]

Let me preface this by saying that my dogs don't have any major behavior problems or my answers may be different.

Originally Posted by Germanshepherdlova

1.Do you let your dog enter and exit doorways before you do?
Yes. Sometimes I send them through doorways or up/down stairs before me on purpose. Like if my hands are full.

2.Do you make your dog heel when out on a walk, or is just not pulling good enough?
Heeling is not required. Loose leash is. They are free to sniff when they want as long as they move on when I say.

3.Does your dog have a certain area in your home that he considers his "spot" such as a couch or chair, and do you frequently make him move-to remind him that it's YOUR couch?
No, they don't have an area that is just theirs but are allowed on the furniture and bed. They get off when I say to but I don't do it just to show them I can make them. I do it because I want to sit/lay there.

4.How do you go about correcting your dog, if you feel he needs to be corrected?
Depends on the offense. Prong is used for walking but not currently used for training. Sometimes a simple verbal command. Sometimes, I grab them and make them sit and "have a talk" or do some obedience.

That said. How I approach dogs with behavior problems is different. I don't flex my muscles just because I can but I do control what they do in a fair way. I may make them sit and wait in doorways or for eating or require heeling for walking and control what they sniff while we work out the issues. It's part of showing them I am the leader in fair way, not about dominance.