Dealing with a roommate!

685 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by big_dog7777, May 28, 2008

Foo Lyn Roo

Discussion Starter · May 28, 2008

Arrrrg frustration has set in.

We have a 14 month old Shepherd Echo
and just got a (approx 10 month old) GSD we named Indigo.

We also have a new roommate which is my best friend.

She is NOT a dog person, but kind.

We take Echo to a training school, and impliment the muscle control collar. He attends classes 1-2 times a week and is a very
well behaved well adjusted doggie.

Indigo is new to the house, no manners and of course other rescue dog issues.

To compound the adjustment my "roommate" refuses to just shut up and understand our methods of training.
Of course Indigo can't start training , nor are we even sure the collar will be appropriate for her. But we are following the same commands as Echo already knows.
Such as Off, sit instead of NO!
or Off, come instead of NO!
basically we use the Off command to stop the behavior and re-direct with a command that they are then to hold sit, down, come, heal etc.

This is what echo knows, he responds well with this.
This is what we are already teaching Inidgo but this roommate, i've had "discussions" with twice now (in 5 days people!) about her shouting NO at the dog.

I'm thinking maybe taking roomy with us on a training day for Echo so she can see we aren't "word elitist" that there is indeed a method ot our madness that we just didn't think up.

I just don't want the new puppy confused.

Am I being too much of a "crazy dog lady" about this?

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SunCzarina

· #2 · May 28, 2008

Have you explained that dogs need consistency? Everyone in the house needs to use the same commands or they don't listen to the person who just keeps shouting NO.

Tell her NO is too vague and should be saved for emergencies - like a few weeks ago when I was standing at the counter at the vet w/Morgan (80 lb GSD with crazy prey drive). A little scooby snack dog came out of the exam room on a retractable leash. It got right in Morgan's face and I screamed NO. Instinct, I'd forgotten that leave it was the right command.

So maybe NO is just what immediately comes out of your roommate's mouth. Yes, the roommate does need to goto training!

If it helps, I had a roommate for many years. She was a cat & bird person, clueless about dogs. My dog was 2 when we moved in together. Did she screw him up, no, he figured out he just decided she didn't make sense so he didn't listen to her.

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chachi

· #3 · May 28, 2008

I don't think so, we are very select in our commands and like you, it is not always "NO". And for some reason why can't people realize one word commands!!!

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Foo Lyn Roo

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 28, 2008

Thanks guys. I think one 45 minute class with Echo not listening to her random words and a sore arm later she'll realize maybe we and the trainer with 25 years experience in k9 knows better than she!

Sun- I get what you say, NO is an instict we have but she was arguing "well if no is just a word so is Off.. bla bla bla" i could of clawed her face right then! haa haa

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big_dog7777

· #5 · May 28, 2008

Originally Posted By: Foo Lyn RooI'm thinking maybe taking roomy with us on a training day for Echo so she can see we aren't "word elitist" that there is indeed a method ot our madness that we just didn't think up.

I just don't want the new puppy confused.

Am I being too much of a "crazy dog lady" about this?

This will only work if the roommate wants to learn and interact with the dog. If not, there's nothing you can do about it. People that do not like or have dogs are completely clueless how to properly interact with them. Heck, most people that DO like and have dogs don't know how to interact with them! If she really wants to learn, take her. If not, you just need to crate the pup unless you are there.

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