kirbydog

Look up this website. www.cesarmillaninc.com. His show is on the Bio Channel on Foxtel as well. I have started putting his techniques into place and my dog has started responding terrifically. Hope you will find valuable information on this site.

I think it is time to assert yourselves as a leader in this pack. Nipping when you touch her? Now this is totally unacceptable. Training is always good, but you have to make sure that your dog knows that you are the pack leaders. The way you do this is to establish rules, boundaries and limitations which you enforce consistently. Only give affection when the dog is calm and submissive, because that is the state of mind you want to enforce. Destroying stuff is definitely boredom. At 5.5 months your dog needs exercise. Drain her energy in the mornings and afternoons, but remember that on the walk she is meant to walk next to you or behind you. Walking means working not necessarily for the dog to go around and do whatever she likes. Heel work needs concentration and will help drain energy even quicker. Best to apply these rules Exercise - Disciplines and then affection. Most importantly of all! Stay calm and assertive. Envision how you would like your dog to be and work towards this goal consistently. You will see that you will get results quite quickly. Good luck with everything.

Now from my understanding and seeing what my dogs did with other dogs going into their territory the one that should be corrected is the puppy and not the shepherd. The Shepherd is above the puppy in the social order and once he sees that you correct the puppy about lying on his bed or eating his food the world should be the way it should be in the older dogs eyes. The more you correct the shepherd about him correcting the puppy the more his world be out of whack and the more aggressive he will get towards the pup. I would also think that any issues will be settled quite quickly or will not arise when you are not around. I know it is hard, because our natural instinct is to protect the little one, but if the shepherd gives the pup a nip it is probably for something the young one initiated. Removing the bone of contesion is probably not a bad idea so conflicts cannot arise. Maybe not necessarily his bed, but food bowls are easily put away. check out this blog that sort of relates to your question as well. http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/column/20061106a.php

No offence, but does your pup get enough exercise? My 9 month border goes into destructo mode when he does not get enough exercise. I walk him every morning and afternoon, play fetch und go to ydog training once a week. As we live in a seasonal environment I did not have enough time during winter and he allmost destroyed the house. You also need to claim you stuff and make him understand that your stuff is your stuff. Calm and assertively show him that your shoes etc are off limits. It is important not to take stuff away from them, but make them drop it by walking up and claiming your things. If you take it and substitute it with a toy dogs do not get the message. Ensure that they will drop it and then take it. Good luck!

Walk them together when you can start walking the little one. Dogs as a pack walk so to establish the pack get them to take walk with you. Your german sheppard is a senior citizen so there will be probably never be much playing of them together. Senior dogs do not educate puppies, adult ones do. look up my favourite website for all dog and puppy questions you may have. I started following these techniques and my life has changed! www.cesarmillaninc.com Have fun with your puppy

I did not do it in front of my child and I only did it once to see my dog's reaction. It was merely a test to see how he would react to me. My concern in my first post was to see if I can do things to build up my dog's tolerance to the awkward things kids do. She did not hurt him at all, allthough I agree with everyone that she should not do it and will be trained to leave pup alone when asleep or eating etc. Not withstanding that I still do not think nipping my child is okay under any circumstance as it is not okay to nip anybody else. This is dangerous behaviour and that is why dogs get put down and given to the pound because owners cannot deal with this behaviour. I just heard another story about a BC that got put down because it nipped a child while playing. As I think supervision is always necessary and I do not trust any dog with my child alone due to these risks I still think a family pet is not allowed to nip family members as a child is not allowed to torment a dog. In my mind this always goes both ways!

He is 7 months now and this has been going on for about 2 months. First I thought he heart this leg repeatedly jumping down a retaining wall during play. Now I am not so sure anymore. Because he has not visited my sister's place, where it happened, in a while and I have not played any strenous games with him we only did obedience and walks on the lead. I have read up about growing pains, which are usually a symptom of a bone desease, so I am really concerned now. Don't panic too much - if it is something like growing pains or Pano, they often get through it with rest. Maybe a second vet opinion would be best just to make sure there is no drama with the cruciate ligaments etc. It's hard to get a busy puppy to rest isn't it! I do lots of brain work with my lad - even sitting at a cafe for an hour is enough to tire him out....or searching for toys in the house or some clicker work. Make sure you've got his diet covered off too....whether you are feeding raw or commercial food, most importantly ensure the calcium to phosphorus ratio is correct - too much calcium is as bad as not enough. Good luck! THanks! I will speak to my Vet again. As mentioned one leg was xrayed and it was fine. I may get the other one xrayed if problems persists. The next available Chiro is in Tumut 2,5 hours away or Canberra same distance. He has been getting only walks on lead and obedience work to keep him from running in the yard too much. He still digs holes, but seems to be quite happy otherwise. Not getting too distructive as BC's tend to do if underexercised or stimulated. We are currently waiting for our next obedience class to start.

THanks for everyones replies! Firstly I would like to stress that I do not constantly wake or disturb my sleeping puppy. I do handle him a lot when he is awake and not on the leg which is lame. I posted this to get some opinions on what is the right way to proceed from here. My pup does not have a crate, but a bed were he is meant to retire too, when wanting to sleep. I do try to keep my daughter away from him when he is sleeping and resting, but I wanted to get an opinion on him giving her a nip when something like that happens if this is a behaviour to be worried about or not. Obviously not since the fix to this is educating her more than him. I was made to feel in this as if I am tormenting my dog without reason, which is definitely not the case. He is very much loved and cared for family pet, but having a baby and a pup is sometimes very stressfull and I need reassurance that I am going about things the correct way to keep my daughter and my dog out of harms way.

Kirby is usually pretty good with my one year old unless he is off in lala land. Yesterday she grabbed his hind leg while he was sleeping and he nipped at her. Luckily I stopped him before he could get to her, I never leave her with him without supervision, but I want to make sure that he understands this is not okay. What is the right way to reprimand this behaviour? I yelled a quick "No" and grabbed his snout, but I do not think this is enough. I handle him all the time and grab his leg and other body parts when he is asleep and he never would dare to do anything to me. Obviously he regards the little one below him in the hirachy. What can I do set the right order in place and establish a good relationship between the two?

What did you puppy have? I am thinking it may be Pano, but I am not a vet of course. Like I mentioned the first xray of leg one came up clear. No dark spots, no bone damage, but I will definitely go back on Tuesday for another look and consultation. I also will try to get a second opinion if this does not improve.

He is 7 months now and this has been going on for about 2 months. First I thought he heart this leg repeatedly jumping down a retaining wall during play. Now I am not so sure anymore. Because he has not visited my sister's place, where it happened, in a while and I have not played any strenous games with him we only did obedience and walks on the lead. I have read up about growing pains, which are usually a symptom of a bone desease, so I am really concerned now.

My BC's front leg lameness (previous topic) has shifted to the other leg. We had his front leg x-rayed before and it come up clear. Now his lameness has shifted to the other leg. I am a bit concerned about this now and am seeking advice again. Thanks!

Thanks for that! We really do not try to yell at him or say no all the time. But when you have a baby and a pup all I seem to do is say "no" all the time. Can anyone relate to that feeling? I encourage encounters between Kirby and my daughter under my supervision. Whether is toy exchange. She gives it to him and than then takes it back. And I also ensure that he does not get enough and reacts aggressiv. So far he has been really good with her, but at times it becomes a handfull. But I would appreciate some more tips on how to encourage the right behaviour with my daughter. He is a lover but a bit boysterous at times so we have crying incidents. Thanks!

Kirby licks my daughter all the time. It is hard to have in the house together, because he follows her around and licks her face all the time. After a while she gets really frustrated and starts to cry. I am trying to get him away from her without making them enemies. In the long run he most of the time keeps left outside, because it is too hard to handle two "babies" at once. My daughter is one and kirby is six months. Any ideas why he could be doing that and how to redirect this?