Dog is starting to BITE

[Ostory]

Originally Posted by legend1983

Before I feed him i make him sit for atleast 2 mins, but last night i made him sit for close to ten mins and i can see him getting mad but stayed in lay down position.

I have concerns with this comment. When reading this I am concerned that it is not the dog that is mad, but the owner. It would only be natural for the dog to exhibit frustration going from a typically 2 minute waiting period to a 10 minute waiting period. However, if the handler is taking on an aggressive posture then it would be nature for the dog to react to such body langauge in a more aggressively. Trainers/owners have to extremely aware of what they are saying to their dogs with their bodies.

It is only natural to have the desire to show the dog who is boss after such a situation in the car. Just Keep in mind that a good Boss is fair, and just with his dog. The Car situation was not the fault of the dog, but the owner. This doesn't mean that the dog doesn't respect the owner, only that the owner was caught off guard.

Also keep in mind that dogs don't associate any punishment (correction) with any behavior outside of a 2 second time period.

[legend1983]

I didnt make him sit that long because I was mad, I read somewhere online it calms the dog down before he eats, but now i wont be doing that.

[jakesfostermom]

Legend - you'll really see the benefits of working with a qualified trainer on specifics like this (duration sit or down stays). A trainer will help you learn what works for YOUR dog (both temperament and age related) and you won't be working with generalized information. Each dog is different and having a qualified trainer to work with is priceless - because the trainer will teach you how to not only teach/execute the command to your dog, but can help you with the resulting 'reaction', should there be one you need to address.

Once you get with a good trainer - you'll be surprised at how much of your dog's behavior is a direct result of YOUR training techniques - even those you think you are currently doing 'right' This won't be a few short weeks and you're done either - you do know that, right?

[Ostory]

Long downs are ok, but it is important to build up to long durations. 10 minutes is a pretty long time for a young dog, not hard for a dog that goes from 2 minutes to 4 minutes to 6 minutes and so on. But to put a dog under the pressure of staying for 10 minutes for some dogs is tougher than others. Some dogs will just comply and seem to even go into a deep rest, but some will become frustrated.

The best method to get a dog to be calm is to be calm. That can be hard to do when trying to figure how to handle your best buddy gone nutty on you.

What made you think he was "mad". What did he do? Did he stare at you? Was his ears laid back, or pricked up? Did he show teeth? Did he aviod eye contact? Did he attempt to get up, or move around?

[legend1983]

Well let me take that back, he was not mad but getting anxious he started whining and was he was acting like he was going to get up but didnt.

[Staff's]

Your dog sounds very smart!...You need to "think" like a dog and not a human. His corrections must be quick and fair. You are reading thoughts into his actions and dogs do not get mad like we do. He is probably very puzzled by your corrections and is still obeying by staying in a down for a very long time for a puppy. LOOK for a good class and you will see how much you and your dog will learn.

[zorro13]

legend: Basically you don't need to put a dog into a sit before feeding time. Unless of course a dog is crowding you while trying to feed them. If you have a dog that does not crowd your space nor have any food aggression type problems, there really is no need to do this. And, to extend a 2 min. sit to a 10 min., a training session is lost on the dog, you have now frustrated your dog and therefore have broken some trust with him. If you get mad at the dog, you will compound your problems. Please get with a good qualified trainer, you need this.