I have had two dog who had some issues with looking me in the
eye or even at my face for different reasons. Charlie does not look at me
when he knows he has just done something wrong. Hilda, a Great Dane, was
trained to hand signals and she would emphatically turn her back to indicate
that she was refusing to pay attention – but give it away by looking over
her shoulder to see if I was watching!
I’d be curious to hear from others, but I thought a dog
looking another dog straight in the eye until one must turn away – a staring
contest – was an act of aggression. Even if it did not progress to
a contest the one who looked away first was subordinate. Same thing
about who goes through the door first. Charlie and the Vet had a
problem for a while and the Dr was very careful not to look Charlie in the
eye. He urged me to make sure I could out stare the dog, as well as other
obedience training, so I would be top dog, but he was not going to pursue
it because he did not see Charlie often enough. And with age,
Charlie has mellowed. Charlie does recognize me as top dog and always
gives in to me even for yucky stuff like brushing out burrs that he would not
allow anyone else to do.
I have always clapped for my dogs because I cannot
whistle. They love to get in the car, so chirping the alarm on the car is
a very fast way to get them into the house in the morning. If I ever get rid of
this car, I am going to have to keep the alarm chirp. Only my car works,
they could care less about my husband’s – I assume because they
never ride in it.
Amy with Charlie, Sweetie and Harry Pugger
From:
owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org [mailto:owner-pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org] On Behalf Of Laurie
McDonough
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 3:44 PM
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Subject: Re: [pyrnet] Pyr in Suburbia
Thanks - we worked on "watch me" in obedience
class, so "quiet" might go well with it. I did find it can be
very difficult to get Bacchus to look me in the eye when he didn't want
to! Whereas my Labs would always watch my face.
I will also try the clapping. And hopefully two
years or more from now he will be a little quieter!
--- On Sun, 3/28/10, marymjm <marymjm@aol.com> wrote:
From: marymjm <marymjm@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [pyrnet] Pyr in Suburbia
To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
Date: Sunday, March 28, 2010, 1:25 PM
I've
found that the "Quiet. Just Listen." command works wonders. (for
the Pyrs & myself) Also, "Quiet. Watch." This, of
course, works only when the pups are inside or I am out with them. Left
alone outside they will always do what they were bred to do. Guard and
Protect.
Rainbow
is 7 and Whisper (31/2) learned from her example. I do believe it takes three
+ years for a Pyr to develop and mature in many ways.
That
being said - I do live in the country so a city/suburban setting might
be more problematic.
Start
the "Quiet" command with much praise when he does it right.
It takes a one on one process but it's great when everything starts to
connect. Remember - you are the Top Dog in the pack:-)
In a message dated 03/27/10 19:10:16 Central Daylight
Time, laurie88888@yahoo.com writes:
It's 8:00pm and just got totally dark outside.
Bacchus is out being a great guardian dog but wow, has his bark
matured! It's loud! And insistent!
Is there any way to teach a Pyr that it's OK to give a
warning bark or two at someone walking by but that most walkers
are OK? Not to bark incessently in the loudest possible bark at every
innocent person trying to get a little exercise, from the time they turn on
to the street until they are a speck in the distance?
I realize there are times when it's OK, when his instinct says someone is
really suspicious or hanging around, or if someone is walking a dog with a
crazy light on the collar causing the light to bounce around like a
strobe (he just about goes insane). But he barks at the same
people every day, some who walk by twice a day! He may just want to
go greet them but I'm sure the people see him as a loud threatening dog.
I always pet him and praise him for being a good
guardian and tell him he's right to bark, he's just doing his
job, and then try to explain why he doesn't have to *keep* barking,
hoping that my calm tone will rub off. Then I may take him inside but
of course he wants to go right back out.
Maybe I just need to adopt an older Pyr with a little
more experience and common sense to teach him a few things?
Laurie (my neightbors must be getting sick of this)
& Bacchus (but they should thank me for keeping all the bad people
away)
|
|