Question:
I have a 10 month old rottweiler and a year and a half old lab. Both are females. The lab always gives into the rot when they have toys or bones. The rot will take all the toys or bones and not let Cory, the lab, near them. So Cory will just go lay down and say to heck with it. Or so it seems.
I just gave them each a shin bone from the locker. They were out in their kennel as I won't let them in the house until the bones are somewhat clean. By the way, I always boil the bones first because if I don't they get diahrea.
Moments later I went out to check on them and Nicki, the rot, of course had both bones by her. So I picked one up and took it away and then I let Cory have it. Then Nicki came over and looked like she'd grab it up the moment Cory put it down. I then went in and haven't checked again. I'm not sure whether I should be doing this or just let them handle it themselves. But I'm pretty sure Cory will not have a bone if that's the case. Until the good stuff is all off of them anyway, and then when they're old news, Nicki doesn't care so much.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Answer:
first NEVER leave two dogs alone when they are given bones if one isshowing alpha positioning like the Rotweiler, especially when you challenged the alpha position by taking the bone and giving it to the other dog. This could and probably will cause fighting.
Second, the Rot has shown the other dog that it is higher in the pack and this is a form of aggression even though the rot is not biting YET. By taking the toys, bones etc it is showing a form of jealousy and not concern for the welfare of others as well but do not allow this to fool you, it can and will escalate unless you step in now and correct the problem.
In the future, feed them in seperate areas and when given bones, give them to the dogs in seperate areas. If you have a basement or mud room use that. If you have a bathroom where there is no carpet and can be cleaned easily, put one of them in it to chew the bone while it is messy.
When the rot takes toys off the other dog, walk over to the Rot, say nothing and take the toys off it and put them away and then go about your day. Offer the toys back later on in the day and if the same thing happens, follow the same process.
The Rot will soon realize that everytime it gets greedy the toys are going bye bye.
If it growls at the other dog, reprimand it and send it to its spot, that you send it too when reprimanding it. if you need more help just let me know.
Also try the NILIF training listed at the beginning of this thread.
Answer:
Thank you, I will do this next time. Also when Nicki steals Cory's toys I have been taking it away and giving it back to Cory. I should be putting them up for the day? I try to let them have lots of chew toys available so they don't get greedy and also because if they don't have a lot they have been known to chew up my "new boots". This was the rot. Boy was I mad!!!
Answer:
put them away for the day and they BOTH learn. Let them have alot of chew toys but the toy that is taken from one by the Rot should automatically be put away. The rot probably ate your boots out of anger. The dog seems to think that it is the alpha even over you and by chewing your boots, it challenged you as well.
Start the NILIF training and get them into obedience classes.you will all be much happier for it.,
Answer:
The only way this statement could be true is if your dog ate the boots straight off your feet.
Dogs don't understand that some things make us mad, and if we made them mad they should make us mad. They ONLY understand consequences. If I sit, I get a treat. If I go potty outside, I get praise. If I chew on a bone, it tastes good. And hey! if I chew on boots, they feel just like rawhides, AND smell just like mom! Dogs ONLY do things to make themselves happy, NEVER to make us, or any other animal, mad.
Answer:
The only way this statement could be true is if your dog ate the boots straight off your feet.
Dogs don't understand that some things make us mad, and if we made them mad they should make us mad. They ONLY understand consequences. If I sit, I get a treat. If I go potty outside, I get praise. If I chew on a bone, it tastes good. And hey! if I chew on boots, they feel just like rawhides, AND smell just like mom! Dogs ONLY do things to make themselves happy, NEVER to make us, or any other animal, mad.
actually liz you are very wrong about the statment being wrong unless it ate the boots right off their feet.
dogs do understand anger, they understand revenge, and they understand how things work, you give them little credit. If you think that they only function in the way that you describe then i feel sad for you because you are obviously missing out on a loving relationship with animals. Dogs will and have been trained to do tricks obey their owners and receive lots of love and hugs for their work, nothing more.
dogs love to hear happiness coming from their owners voices. those so called owners are their parents. animals in general are capable of thought process. Have you ever gone to a zoo and actually studied animals in whole as to behavior? I have for years and i obtained a masters and BA in animal behavior. When i ask questions i do here it is because sometimes it is better for someone to step back and get a fresh opinion on a problem especially when you are emotionally involved. As they say, 'he who heals themself or represents themself in court has a patient or client that is a fool.'
But on the same hand, pretending or refusing to see taht animals can think or reason is also somewhat the same. To think in such a close mind means that a person would not be able to train an animal as the dog or horse whisperers do and you know what? their methods work wonders and work better and last longer than anyone elses. Why because brute force and ignorance do nothing.
Answer:
bearlasmommy: Are you suggesting that the dog chewed the boots out of spite?
Answer:
OMG, I don't even know where to start.
Ok, how about one sentence at a time.
Yes, dogs know that when we are angry, they are probably going to get hurt. THat's the extent of their knowledge, and the extent of what I agree with you in this post. I have a bachelor's in psychology as well as extensive knowledge in dog training and behavior, including a CPDT certification. If you believe this, PROVE IT. Give me some research that supports this idea, written by a credible trainer/behaviorist.
DO NOT, EVER tell me that I don't love my dogs.
Yes - Because happiness means that they're not going to get hurt because you're mad, and happiness is what they hear when they're getting treats, toys, massages, etc.
This doesn't even make sense to me. For one thing, if you've graduated from grad school, much less high school, you'd know that it should be "he who heals HIMself..."
I DO know taht dogs can think and reason, any dingbat who has taught their dog to "sit" would know that! I'm sorry, I don't really know how the so-called "dog whisperers" train, but I use classical and operant conditioning, scientifically proven methods of teaching that psychologists and biologists have been discussing for nearly 100 years (I'm sure you've heard of those methods, since you've been to the zoo and everything). I read books by Dr. Ian Dumbar, Karen Pryor, Patricial McConnell, Jean Donaldson, Emma Parsons, and other REPUTIBLE trainers and behaviorists. If you still can't possibly agree with me, please suggest some books by "Dog Whisperers" and all those voodooists you've studied in your behavior classes.