food aggression....continued.

[aphoto]

i posted a bit ago on my rotte growling at me. since then he's been doing everything i say without even thinking. everything except....coming when called. he'll sit across the lawn and just stare at me. (is he testing me?
and if so, how do i get him to come because i said so and not to just get a treat?) if i go half way...he'll cower and come to me. today he didn't even do that. i had to go get him, i corrected him and he humbly went inside. i just feel horrible when i'm not gentle with him. i feel like i'm mistreating him. i know, i am stern and have to be if i'm going to be a rottie owner. but where's the line? i feel like he's thinking "can't i ever do anything good anymore" "why does she hate me"
we've been playing ball, and doing easy stuff that he gets lots of praise for and i'm about to take him for a walk. so i'm giving him positive attention as well. being a rottie owner is tough work, i just want to do the best job i can.

anyone got an opinion?

[Judi W]

To expect an obedience type recall when you haven't taught one is an unreasonable expectation. Of course he feels intimidated when you start marching up looking annoyed. Teach your recalls on leash so you can pop and bring the dog on in to you then reward reward with bait and/or praise. Then move to a long line and do the same thing. Don't recall if you are in training classes or not. If you are not, get there and they will show you how to teach the exercise.

[sarahd]

how are you calling your dog to come? are you sure he understands what you want? In the obedience class I am taking she has us do the following:

Have a helper with you and a leash on your dog in a contained area (backyard, etc). Hand your dog's leash to the helper and walk away from your dog. Stop, face your dog and say the dogs name then the command..."doggie, come". Make sure the helper lets the leash go as soon as you say the command as you don't want the dog to get a correction when they try to come to you. Make sure you say it in a happy voice and only say it once. If the dog starts to come to you, praise...big praises when they get to you. If they do not come the helper takes the leash and without saying anything starts guiding them to you...no correction and no talking...once they get to you, big praises. Treats in your hand work as a motivator too.

One thing she did say is that if your dog is fearful at all be sure not to lean over as your dog is coming towards you as this is seen as a dominant posture (lean over as in leaning over arms out to welcome your dog). Also, never use come as a punishment, ie your dog does something bad so you say "dog, come" and then proceed to give it a what-for. When they come it should be a big praise and positive reinforcement so that they associate coming to you with good things (treats, scratches, pats, etc).

Its working with Kyla so give it a try! I am sure there are tons of other methods too...

[Sargeant_C]

I was taught come by allowing the dog to come to you praise and treat and then send him away. Why should they come when each time they do the fun is over?

[aphoto]

oh, be sure he know how to come. my question is: when he doesn't come when i call him...is he testing me? is that one of those little alpha tests that i've missed in the past? he knows what "come" means. why isn't he doing it?

[Judi W]

I suspect that all of this is just a sneak up of generalized behavior that was not really a problem until you started paying more attention because of the arrival of the newcomer. It is very common for everyone to get comfy at a certain point and for little things let ride until one day there is a wake up call. It has probably been some time since you required an immediate and prompt response to formal commands. After your other incidents you have realized that he's gotten a bit big for his britches and now are being more demanding of his responses, but he's gone a while without that. You need to go back to only issuing formal commands when you have him on leash and can require response. To some degree, it is starting from the beginning, but it won't take you as long to get where you need to go. Redo your foundation and work on lead or with a long line. Maintain your patience. You can be requiring without losing patience.