Training Sarge

A lot of people in my neighborhood have dogs.  Sarge loves them all, even the ones who aren't happy about a 70 pound Aussie-Rott mix sniffing them up.  Several people have told me that Sarge is the best-trained dog in the area.  He'll walk beside me without wandering off.  He'd never run away.  He obeys all the expected commands like sit-stay-steady-heel-come-down-speak-leave it. I can call him away from anything, from other dogs to squirrel chasing.

Most people think that dog training is about repeating commands and forcing action until the dog obeys.  I suppose bribing the dog with treats works as well.  There's been plenty of that in my “dog training,” but of course that's not how to really train a dog . . . or a person.

I've found that dogs really want to do what you'd like them to, but they don't understand what that is, so the best way to train them is to just sit and watch.  If you take some time to figure out what they're doing and how it fits into the instincts of a pack animal, you'll be able to encourage the favorable actions and convince the dog that this is what will make you happy. Dogs spend their lives studying you, take some time to study them in return.

When he sits, say “sit” and give him some attention.  When he's running around, just wait for him to come back, then say “come” and give him a piece of jerky.  It takes a lot of time, but the dog has instincts and by doing that you'll become the pack leader.  Don't force it.  A dog wants to be part of your life and is ready to make you the focus of its attention, to give you everything it has to give.  Unfortunately if the only attention you'll give it is domineering or angry, well that's the attention it'll work to get.

Some dogs like to jump up on me. That's unacceptable, but the dog's owners laugh it off as a “thing” they've been unable to control.  When I greet those dogs I put my hand right on their head and force them down.  Then I wait for them to calm down before I scratch them or let them sniff Sarge.  One of the owners told me today, “It's amazing.  You're the only one my dog doesn't jump up on.”  Yeah, Amazing.

There's only ever been one dog that Sarge actually had a fight with.  Freddie.  It bothers me when dogs are given people names.  Dogs aren't people and when they have people names it's a sure sign that the owners don't realize that simple truth. Freddie was an out of control Golden Retriever.  His owner, Kirstin, is proof that nicotine isn't an appetite suppressant.  I saw her once trying to hide behind a tree skinnier than herself while Freddie stole tennis balls from the court, mid-game.  The dog would shit everywhere, even on the sidewalk and I don't think Kirstin could bend down to pick it up.  He made a muddy disaster of the laundry room when one of our building's tenants was trying to fold his clean clothes.  Kirstin could only giggle in response. 

So, when that untrained mutt and her dog came to free-play at the local pet store, Freddie attacked Sarge. Probably because Sarge was the most dominant dog in the room and Freddie had been trained to think he was a dominant dog as well, he decided to test his limits.  One of the principles I've reinforced in Sarge is that despite his natural alpha mentality, there's no need for him to fight, growl, snap or protect us (his pack) in any way. I'm alpha in my pack and it was my job.  So, Sarge spun on Freddie and plowed into him knocking him off balance and getting Freddie off his back, but Sarge didn't bite or even bare his teeth.  I ran over and stepped between the dogs, then I put Freddie on the ground and shoved his neck and face into the pavement.  That dog had never been treated such.  It squirmed and yelped and cried, but I held it fast. Sarge sat down and watched and Kirstin ran over screaming that I was hurting her dog. 

People are the hardest animals to train.  They always have entitlement issues and they've been told they can do anything they want.  It's bullshit of course, but respect is dead in this country.

I held her dog down until it stopped struggling, then I gave it back to Miss Hysterical.  I checked Sarge and he was fine, just a little bleeding but no deep wounds.  Sarge was still happy and calm, he had no doubt that I was fine and would be his pack leader.  That's the way it should be.

I heard that Freddie was in obedience classes after that incident and I never heard of stolen tennis balls or muddy paw prints on clean linens again.  I guess despite the difficulty, even people can be trained.

- rick, dog lover

Comments

[Mark]

-rick, the dog whisperer

[Success Warrior]

Most dog training things that I've seen aren't about the dogs . . .

[Cherise]

I am Sending you my 175 pound Irish Wolfhound with ADD to train. Good luck to you! :) Clear your counter tops and warn the family. He'll be there by the weekend.

[Amy]

LOL, Cherise!

Just took receivership of my mother's dog today and will be babysitting him for nine days while she is in South America.

He's got Aussie in 'im, too, and he's one of the most intense dogs I've ever met -- very smart and very strong-willed.

[graeme]

i miss my dog

[CV Rick]

It really is about the people, not the dogs.

Cherise, my dog-training rates are very high.

Graeme, I'm sorry about your dog. Come on over to Minneapolis - you can play with Sarge.