dreambarks
Junior Member
Every Dobe has his day!
Posts: 66
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Post by dreambarks on May 26, 2013 15:07:02 GMT -5
It sounds like you have two dogs that are fairly dominant, rather than one that's dominant and another that is more interested in maintaining the relationship than in being on top.
You might need to be more assertive with both of them so that they realise that neither one of them is really dominant. This isn't a relaxed position to take, but in the end there will be more peace. When they are off leash they have more control in the situation, so you might need to control them more.
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Post by nzelic01 on May 26, 2013 18:03:42 GMT -5
Yes i absolutely agree with you. Zeus is more so than Porscha but between them two they definitely always fight to be on top. And you nailed it right on when you say that when they are off leash they have more control of the situation. We have always battled that with Zeus. Porscha isnt quite like that and she is well behaved when she is alone. Personally i feel Zeus needs to be worked on more, amd the Porscha because she is quicker to learn and isnt quite as dominant with us as owners.
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Post by dobermoms on May 27, 2013 5:25:56 GMT -5
wow....great story to share. We only throw sticks when retrieving in the water, and I think we will keep it to that source of play. We also have floatable toys, so we will choose wiser now.
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Post by Lisa on May 27, 2013 9:35:04 GMT -5
We also use sticks to play in the water only.... floatng sticks should not be as risky. Mostly we use mini logs with no sharp endings.
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dreambarks
Junior Member
Every Dobe has his day!
Posts: 66
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Post by dreambarks on May 27, 2013 12:40:06 GMT -5
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Post by hooligan on May 27, 2013 17:12:14 GMT -5
Ooowwww!! I could barely read those articles without wincing. Of course, I'm a complete wimp about such things. As a pup, Jack loved to chew sticks. But we couldn't allow it because when he did, he would hork up the bits, usually in the middle of the night. Sigh. So he learned early on that sticks are an absolute no no, and now he ignores them. Well, pretty much. LOL.
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Post by nzelic01 on May 28, 2013 20:45:06 GMT -5
thank you for sharing those articles. definitely has me rethinking about my choice of "tool" to fetch. ill have to get something else
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Post by Dobereich on May 29, 2013 23:50:13 GMT -5
Zeus is possessive over sticks, balls and ropes. Now that ive heard these stories ill definitely have to get another tool to use. Either way i have to target his possessiveness. I've just read through everything briefly, but there are some signs of trouble brewing here, and then there are things that you might be overly worried about that I wouldn't be. Males and females do not typically fight to the death. Males usually take the crap from a female, but from time to time they stand up for themselves and say enough. But a stable male will not usually harm the female, and a stable female will realize when she's pushed too far. But all and all you, the human, should be the true alpha calling the shots. So the point of trouble I see is the possessive behaviour. When dogs possess anything, to me it indicates a level of dominance, and that is an issue you need to address. Its not just keeping the sticks away, its teaching your dog to give you whatever it is he or she has and you want. Females are pushy, so its not wrong for the male to give into her. But when he doesn't want to, he will tell her off. Chances are they would settle this with nothing more then a few nicks and scratches. It always sounds worse then what it is. I am not really a fan of pulling on a dogs back legs, as you still stand a really good chance at getting bit. If at home I would throw a blanket over the two dogs, if they break apart it takes them time to try and connect again and that gives you time to choke them off by grabbing (two hands under-handed) under the back of the collar and lifting the dog off the ground. Again it takes two people, but if you are alone you can tie the back leg of one, blanket their heads, then choke off the other dog. They can't bite you because they can't reach behind to get you. The blanket just prevents them from spinning and connecting with a target because they can't see. However I have to stress once again that a female and male don't usually fight to the point of real harm. How much training have you done with your dogs, and is the younger Porche getting training separately? A lot of times people think that they don't need to take the second dog to class because they've learned what they need in the classes with the first dog. But classes teach your dog to be appropriate, and you learn with each dog individually, as each dog is an individual. The dog and handler also learns how to handle different levels of distraction, etc. So I think you need to get the respect level of both of your dogs for starters, and your plan to return to training is a good start in the right direction there. Second, work with the possession and release aspects with your male. Then teach your female to act appropriately with other dogs... or she could get into a good fight with a female.... and that one will be a real battle! My Eden is one of those disrespectful females with the boys. She gnaws on their legs, jumps all over her father Rogun. That is until he's had enough... then he pounds her, she yelps, and for a moment she backs off... LOL. just for a moment. Then she will try him again, and if he beats her again she will stay away from him and let him do what it is he wants to do... which is usually just go potty without his daughter hanging off his ankles...lol. I've rarely dealt with a male that would really hurt a female, and if he did, I would think that dog has a poor understanding of his role as a dog. Honestly, its usually a lot more bark then bite between a male and female housemate. Preventing the fight is always the best bet. But you have a few ideas about breaking them up if something happens.
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Post by nzelic01 on May 31, 2013 15:10:33 GMT -5
Thank you so much for your input Monica. My husband is so much better then me at keeping them in check. We are still working at it and practicing daily. Porscha is still taken separately and is being trained alone.. No fights in the home ever, few little scuffles in the yard and always only in the forest if it does happen but nothing since this last incidence. I dont take them together yet - only if my hubby is there because he snaps his voice and they stop right away. But so far so good. No issues in two weeks and they still snuggle and play nice so i think we are making progress.
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Post by Lisa on May 31, 2013 19:47:45 GMT -5
You made me laugh Monica! Eden is a true sister to Asha even they are not from the same litter It took a while for me to settle down Asha's drive. Now she is a perfect Dobergirl. She may tease Gino occasionally but not much anymore. Here is how they "fight" these days. Note Asha is checking on me. She knows I don't like it. She expected me to say NO but I did not and she went on... Watch their body language. That's a typical male-female "talk".
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Post by nzelic01 on Jun 1, 2013 7:31:09 GMT -5
Lisa thats how exactly how Zeus and Porscha play minus the ankle bites that porscha does. Usually there are no sticks involved at this point
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Post by Lisa on Jun 1, 2013 15:44:26 GMT -5
I just found this picture how Gino helped me to train Asha LOL He had many scars from her nipping... then he learned how to say NO. I am lucky none of my dogs has possessiveness issues.
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Post by dobermoms on Jun 1, 2013 17:51:32 GMT -5
Hahaha....poor Gino. Perhaps he can come and help "settle" Kazi. She keeps re-opening a wound on his one ear that that has a little cut from them rough-housing. Now, every time it's almost healed, it gets re-opened. He needs a friend to help him.......can you put Gino on the train?
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Post by Lisa on Jun 1, 2013 18:56:55 GMT -5
LOL Barb you may send Kazi to Calgary Did you watch the video? Does your dogs play as rough? Did you notice how GIno protects himself with the front legs... it looks funny.
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Post by hooligan on Jun 2, 2013 9:04:01 GMT -5
You made me laugh Monica! Eden is a true sister to Asha even they are not from the same litter This made me laugh, too. I remember the time Eden and Jack played together at Monica's. Eden was still quite young, and the two chased each other -- flat out -- around the pool. And around . . . and around. First one chased, then the other. But Eden already had a well-planned and very effective strategy. When she needed a breather, she would stop and do a girlie thing: tuck in her tail and cringe a little, as if saying, "Oooh, Jack, you are such a big dog. I'm scared of you, please don't hurt me." Jack, who is very good with females (not so much with males), would fall for the ruse, pull up and look puzzled. But as soon as he turned away, Eden would leap up and nip him on the bum -- and the chase would start again. Here's a pic from that day, taken after Monica brought Cajun out. With two girls to play with, Jack, who is in the foreground, was in seventh heaven. Attachments:
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