quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkledaemon

Doesn't mean he can't learn now. My twelve year old cat knows six commands and didn't get her until she was about eight.

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ORIGINAL: lonlyrossInNeed

From a profesianl few yes you can hurt a dog no matter how you smack them
i dont belive in smacking a dog now one thing you do if a dog is in the way is never put you hands out and push them down becouse they think they are getting petted when you put your hands on them
if a dog jumps on you i sujest litly very lightly you push them off with you knee now hard just soflty nudge them a bit
if they are climbing on a table you swipe them under there back legs and let them drop they will lurn eventualy .

i dont agree with trat trianing becouse then they will start to get smart and they will do it just to get a snack wich is not good for there heath or you vet bill.

ross.g

animal advocat for cleveland ohio and pet groomer dog training .

quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkledaemon

Since he's so old, he probably has arthritis. I'd get him checked by a vet and ask for something like glucosamine and a pain reliever. Have the vet check his hearing and eyesight too. Dogs that are going deaf or blind sometimes get confused and upset easily, which can look like the dog is being "crabby" if you aren't aware of the problem yet.

In the mean time, instead of being unhappy with bad behaviors (and biting is a very bad one), fix the problem. Don't push him away from you if you have something he wants. Stand up, but the plate where he can't get to it, and escort him out of the room or into the back yard until you're finished eating. Pushing him is probably painful to him. If you need to pick him up, put a muzzle on him. Even the best dogs may lash out if they're in pain.

And please don't "go after" a dog if it growls. The growl is a warning to stop what you're doing. The dog really doesn't want to bite you any more than you want to be bitten. It's a lot better to walk away, get a leash, and lead the dog out of your room than it is to get closer to him and chance getting bit.

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ORIGINAL: FelinePersuasion

My mom says one of these days she's going to smack my dogs nose because he pushes people when he wants to get indoors and you're in the way she says that's how you train dogs, by smacking them on the bridge of their nose. I do not advicate smacking him for any offense exept biting, and then it's one  whack to the butt a very firm NO BAD NOT OK! and then he's put outside. or leaves my presence.

Anyway I told her not to ever be hitting my dog and she said she'll do it if she wants and I won't see it. Can you hurt them by whacking them on the nose?

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ORIGINAL: ExtremeMP

one thing that i have found to work EXTREMELY well in training is a new (never used) spray bottle filled with water and some vinegar. whenever they exhibit unwanted behaviour give them a spray. in time they will learn the sight of the bottle means they are up to something they should not be doing. they tend to learn very quick and it causes no harm. as for jumping up grab their paws and hold them away from you in the up position a few seconds longer than they would like. after a few times they learn they shouldnt do it either.... or a good spray works also

quote:

ORIGINAL: ExtremeMP

it's not a good idea to hit a dog in the nose. they have millions of scent receptors in their nose that they use for everything from identifying friend or foe, food, other animals scents, defining territory etc.

dogs by nature are pack animals and will try to test their limits in the pack just as any wild animal would do. as long as you show the dog that you are the "pack leader" or are in a higher part of the "pack" i.e. more dominant than he is he will understand that and respect you. once you begin to let him get away with stuff he will invariably push for more in an attempt to raise his "pack status"

it sounds like he knows he can get away with the unruly behaviour with your mom and thats why he does what he does. she needs to enforce the rules on him just as you or your dad do or eventually there will be an incident. as another poster said consistancy is the key.

usually a stern yet firm voice is all that is needed but you should not hit them especially in the nose or your asking to get bit. the advice given by another poster about blocking the door and extending the time limit is one good way to do so. there are many good training books out there, also places like petsmart usually have obedience classes either for free or very cheaply.

<---edited to add...>

one thing that i have found to work EXTREMELY well in training is a new (never used) spray bottle filled with water and some vinegar. whenever they exhibit unwanted behaviour give them a spray. in time they will learn the sight of the bottle means they are up to something they should not be doing. they tend to learn very quick and it causes no harm. as for jumping up grab their paws and hold them away from you in the up position a few seconds longer than they would like. after a few times they learn they shouldnt do it either.... or a good spray works also

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ORIGINAL: Aileen68

You can't teach old dogs new tricks.  You're screwed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkledaemon

quote:

ORIGINAL: ExtremeMP

one thing that i have found to work EXTREMELY well in training is a new (never used) spray bottle filled with water and some vinegar. whenever they exhibit unwanted behaviour give them a spray. in time they will learn the sight of the bottle means they are up to something they should not be doing. they tend to learn very quick and it causes no harm. as for jumping up grab their paws and hold them away from you in the up position a few seconds longer than they would like. after a few times they learn they shouldnt do it either.... or a good spray works also

I agree. Spray bottles work very well. I've seen quite a few people try the "grab the dog's muzzle and hold it shut thing" and get bit as they're taking their hand away, so I'd try at least a few other options before resorting to that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkledaemon

quote:

ORIGINAL: ExtremeMP

one thing that i have found to work EXTREMELY well in training is a new (never used) spray bottle filled with water and some vinegar. whenever they exhibit unwanted behaviour give them a spray. in time they will learn the sight of the bottle means they are up to something they should not be doing. they tend to learn very quick and it causes no harm. as for jumping up grab their paws and hold them away from you in the up position a few seconds longer than they would like. after a few times they learn they shouldnt do it either.... or a good spray works also

I agree. Spray bottles work very well. I've seen quite a few people try the "grab the dog's muzzle and hold it shut thing" and get bit as they're taking their hand away, so I'd try at least a few other options before resorting to that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy


On a related note, pin the dog to the floor with a forearm across their shoulder and holding their bottom leg.  They cannot get up, they cannot really get their head in a position to bite.  In a word, they are helpless.  Hold their nose all you want.

Sinergy

quote:

ORIGINAL: sparkledaemon

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sinergy


On a related note, pin the dog to the floor with a forearm across their shoulder and holding their bottom leg.  They cannot get up, they cannot really get their head in a position to bite.  In a word, they are helpless.  Hold their nose all you want.

Sinergy

That's one of the things I learned in the first basic obedience class I took with my first dog. They made sure we had that down (and our dogs were calm about it) before they even let us reward our dogs for knowing their names. =) It really comes in handy.