Tuesday: kk,you REALLY,REALLY need to start with the steps I told you about tho first...I know,someimes you HAVE to go,lol....but like while you are watching TV this evening...during the commercial breaks,start doing the steps I told you about....even get the leashs out and just set them by the door..they have to..and WILL learn that JUST BECAUSE things are happening,it doesn't mean we get to act like fruitloops...you will giggle to yourself the first few times,because even AFTER you take your shoes off and hang your keys up and go sit down,they will be dancing around like...COME ON,COME ON!!! this needs to be baby stepped,Tuesday...I PROMISE you,it WILL WORK....but only IF you do it in the order it needs to be done :) good luck!!!

Tuesday: I would double check with your local agency,but I would say,no,she has no rights to the dog at this point...quick question...is YOUR name on her dog license??
I would say that...since you have been taking her to the vet,buying her food and providing the daily care,she is YOUR dog...If you can prove,by receipts or even just the vet records would work that YOU have been the one providing the care,she really has no claim on the dog anymore and you have every right to keep her...
Now,onto the first part of your post...YOU have to go out he door first..YOU have to come in the door first...If you know all about the alpha dog,then you know by allowing THEM to do ANYTHING first,you are giving THEM alpha rights in YOUR home.
How has the exercise of the shoes/keys thing been going??

Jim Dandy: most of it with Damien is that is drive is SO high...he isn't fixed either,so he has all that testoserone racing through his body...I have the screaming thing under control now and he still has his high drive,so it all worked out :)

Tuesday: lmao..that ione of the FIRST things I usually ask my clients ;) is there anyway you can chnage that when you are HOME with the dogs?...if not,we will work around it..but feeding time to a dog is MAJORLY important,and so is the way it is done...ok..next questions then for you.....when you do go out with the dogs...who goes through the door first and then who comes back intot he house first after the walk or car ride or whatever...be honest here too,please,lol....the more I know about the lil things like that,the better I can help you in the long run!!

anastasia: Has it been determined why they do it?

Jim Dandy: lord..I think I WOULD have turned around if THAT noise had come from him,lol!! I looked and looked on youtube to see if I could find something similar to what D use to do...but I can't...if anyone has ever owned a GSD...then you would know that famous..GSD whine....well,take that,itensify it by about 35....add a slight howl/bark,and make the pitch REALLY high and blood curdling...and then ya have what he use to do,lol.It was so bad,my niece and I couldn't have a conversation in the van because we couldn't hear each other

anastasia: You got me intrigued about the "screaming" I'm familiar with barking,but I was trying to imagine a dog screaming unless in pain......was it similar to this fella?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBwcmfilVgw&feature=related

Tuesday: Tuesday...this is not a lie...when we brought Damien home from the kennal we got him from I was THIS close to turning around and taking him back because he SCREAMED the whole way home...I thought,well,he's a baby,he's scared...almost ONE YEAR later it was still SO bad that your head would be pounding and you would be in a REALLY pissy mood by the time we got to the club because of his screaming..I don't mean whining..I mean SCREAMING!
Now,I can drive anywhere with both dogs in the van and never hear a peep out of Damien.Miss Nik has always been quite in the van..I PROMISE you,if you follow through with what I am going to have you do..it WILL get better.
Problem so many times is that people want that instant fix and unfortunaly,that is just not possible.
This past summer,I had probably...5 people that came to me for training..I would ask..what do you need/want/your expectations..their answer was always..ALWAYS...I want my dog to act like yours.I would tell them,well,Damien is almost THREE YEARS OLD...it does not happen over night..ok,ok,we get it..thats what I would hear.When they don't get that INSTANT result,they would give up..ya just can't give up.....think of it like this...you know how he is all jumpy and whiny,and excited...now step back and think..if YOU were in that state of mind...would you really be happy?? Think of how you feel when you are anxious...not a good feeling is it?? THAT is what your dog feels EVERYTIME he gets into that "excited" state of mind...that is why I am having you start with this excersise...so he (and your others) will see..HEY! mom is putting on her shoes..OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!!!...then you take them off and go sit down..they are still like..OMG!OMG!OMG!!..then they see you NOT going out the door...eventually the goal is that they will see you going for your shoes,and the keys and think...eh,who cares,lol....THAT is when we will move onto the next step...but not one minute before.
one question tho that I didn't ask you...when they eat..is the food down all day or are there set times?? you should see the question list I have for my clients,lol....it's like an interview,LOL!

Tuesday: I understand that,hun..BUT you can't get from A to Z without going through the alphabet...you HAVE to train this in steps....you need to get the excitement under control before you ever step out the door.

Tuesday: ...go over and put your shoes on...pick up your keys and walk to the door about 5 times while it loads,it's worth it

no,lol...you can't squirt them...and actually...after you come back from your walk is the PERFECT time to start the training.....when I have people's dogs that I train...we go for a 10 minute walk FIRST...then train for about 20...walk again for 10,a bit more training and then a short relax,play time before leaving each other!! good luck!! and remember...this is a full time commitment you need to make to them and yourself!! :)

lTuesday: ok...the first step then for you is...go over and put your shoes on...pick up your keys and walk to the door....DO NOT talk to the dogs,pet the dogs or in any way acknowledge them even being there....if they start whining or dancing around...there can be no..."oh,it's ok" or "be quite" NOTHING at all is to be said...ok???
Once you get to the door...turn around,hang your keys back up,take your shoes off and come back and sit down,if you were on the puter...come back to the puter and continue..if you are watchingTV,then go sit and watch tv...even AFTER you are sitting back down..the dogs wil still be anxious...please,please,PLEASE...still NO TALKING to or petting them,ok??
In about 5 minutes...repeat this process..same steps,same way...NEVER talking or petting them during the excersise.
You will need to do this...every 5 minutes...do it for about a half hour...then just stop and let them relax...only AFTER they are relaxed can you pet or talk to them...You need to do this excersise...maybe a TOTAL of 3 to say 7 times for every hour that you are home...I know this seems like alot...but TRUST me...this will work...it WILL NOT work the first time,or even after 5 times....might take a few days a week..but it WILL work ;)
Let me know after the first night of you doing it...lets say...about 20 times of working the routine...tell me if the dogs are settling any.

here's a great clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLTqJMxmTY&feature=related

Tuesday: all 3 will have to go through the same traning excerses tho....most times,while people are first starting the training,it is much easier to seperate them....so,lets say Oz is the one that gives you the biggest problem.....crate the other 2 in the basement,or something like that so that it will be just you and Oz one on one...BUT you actaully CAN start one small step (by the way hun...this kind of training is a LOT of baby steps,so it does take some time....) When does he FIRST start to act up...is it when you grab your keys? put the collars on them..grab the leashes..I need the PRECISE moment he gets himself worked up...so,if your not sure....go through your routine like you guys are getting ready to go soemwhere and watch him for the first signs,and then let me know :)

let me know when you are home and settled and we will start your dog training by proxy!! :)

anastasia:

Damien got high tracking!!! which means out of all the dogs that tracked...he got the highest score! He is so awesome,he worked his butt off for me for that!! If it was raining,he would track,wind,he would track,fog,cold,hot,dry,that dog would track because I asked him to and he loves to do it...my heart is BURSTING with pride right now!
And Thanks Do...I cannot express the pride I have for him right now!!
This makes his fouth title...and now we will go back to a more regular training program,less ridgid since trials are all over with!

anastasia: Three cheers for Damien! You have every right to be proud of him.

Jim Dandy: A clarification is needed regarding my comments regarding "mutts" I was speaking of the runt of a litter,a mutt is not the same,sorry for any confusion

well,Miss NIk decided it was WAY more fun to goof off and play in the snow (about 7 inches on the field) the to work...it was ok tho,even tho she failed the Bh,I still had a blast with her out there...
Damien tracked his best track to date with a 94 out of a possible 100 points!! I am so proud of him!

Tuesday: Thank you!! getting into the shower now and niece is on her way over!!

Tuesday: oh,awesome! we will have fun,lol! Usually I go to people houses to see the dogs in action and eval them and then help,but since this will all be done via dis board,it might seem like I am asking you a ton of questions in the process...I am,lol...

Tuesday: I'd be more then happy to talk you through the process of desensitizing him,if you would like...honestly,first thing,the way he enters the car would change....him getting in in an excited state needs to be changed...first step would be to calm him before he ever gets into to the car....let me know if your interested in the steps and I will be more then happy to share with you!!
It will have to wait tho till this evening because Damien and Miss Nik have a dog trial today...both are going for new titles....wish us luck!!!

Tuesday: Tuesday,does he do this whining the mintue you get into the car?? You can try using a technique called desensitzing..I have to use it often in my training of dogs because they have gotten to far beyond their owners ability to help...even had to to it with Damien in the car..he was AWEFUL taking for a ride,you'd get there and your ears would be bleeding (almost,lol)

anastasia: I'm speaking of when they are babies.With some love and nurturing they blossom

Jim Dandy: I don't know if I would want a "shaking in the corner" type dog around kids.

Artful Dodger: We always went for the mutt,the more "undersized and shaking in the corner" the better,and I must say they all turned out great.

Tuesday: I have seen that the females are far more affectionate then the males,BUT very goofy at times(think of how human females get moody)..males are more serious,altho just as fun!! Damien will let me snuggle him for about 5 seconds then is like,ok,Mom,seriously.....Miss Nik sits on me for hugs,lol.It all boils down to what each person prefers...I honestly prefer the male...and will never have anything but my GSD's