I have a question for you guys. I take Mikey, Toby, Zoe, and Tucker to day care on average of about 2 days a week. They love it and I like it too. It's a really good facility and the people who work there are certified trainers so the dogs are always made to mind and the trainers know each dog well and they use the same commands with the dog that the parents of the dogs use. I also trust their judgment and they make sure to have 1 trainer for every 5 dogs so they're also well looked after. They usually have 4 groups of dogs. They divide them up by temperment and size. On Wednesdays they are really crowded so they have more groups and more people there. Okay, here's the thing. Zoe is extremely dominant. She's big on humping. Yesterday they decided to put Zoe in the room with the big dogs just to see if that would help take her down a notch or two. They called me and asked me and I said that would be fine. She was scared to death in there. She ran around most of the day with her tail between her legs. It took her down a notch, that's for sure. I know you're thinking that these trainers should be able to get Zoe to calm down on her dominance but you don't know Zoe. I consider myself a decent trainer but she's a constant struggle with me every day. She's like the super aggressive dog who can't get over the aggressiveness except hers is with dominance. She has issues. My question is do I have her put back with the little dogs and we'll just deal with her dominance/humping the best we can, or do I put her in with the big dogs a few times and see if she will open up and not be so scared? Once she's not scared in there she may be very dominant with them also, who knows? She's not aggressive in any way. She's just very bossy and she humps them constantly. I just don't know if I should leave her with the little dogs or see if she'll open up and not be so scared with the big dogs so I thought I would get your all's opinions.
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Saving just one dog won't save the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog. -Richard C. Call
It sounds like Zoe is dominant with the little dogs because she can. And like you said, once she is used to the bigger ones, she will be dominant with them as well. What I would do is ask the trainers what kind of reprimands they could do to discourage Zoe from displaying these behaviors in the little dog room. Because it's kind of like with kids...if you have a kid that is picking on other kids, the problem is not going to remedy itself by just changing the group of kids your kid is around (if that makes sense, lol). I would talk to the trainers and say that you don't want a 'quick fix'. That you want to address the actual problem. That you would like to know techniques to curb this behavior. Maybe they could squirt Zoe with vinegar/water when she does it, or maybe they have other ways of handling it. But I think by just putting her with different dogs is just avoiding the real issue she has and the problem won't go away.
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-The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
Thanks hunter, I know exactly what you're saying and it is a wonderful idea, except we've done all of this already. We've tried discouraging, we've used vinegar water, and lots of other techniques. Zoe is a little over 1 and she's been going to daycare since she got all of her shots so for about a year she's been going. They know I don't want a quick fix. Our hopes is that since Zoe is so much smaller than them she won't feel dominant over them and she won't be humping them and hopefully she never will. The problem is that, what if she doesn't open up, what if she's always scared with the big dogs, what if she always runs around in the room with her tail between her legs and won't ever let the big dogs get near her? As much as I want her dominant behavior to stop I also don't want her to be scared. A trainer yesterday described her to me and they said, "She's like a dog who was taught to fight and they will always be dog aggressive no matter what training they have." They all say they have never seen anything like her. Maybe I should put her with the big dogs for a few days and see how it goes and if after a few days she's still scared maybe I'll put her back with the little dogs?
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Saving just one dog won't save the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog. -Richard C. Call
Tanya is like that . I took her to class last night, and she was nipping and pinching me in her enthusiasm and would have loved to pounce on other dogs and people there. One old gal that is always in class with her well trained dog said" I remember her, she bit, well, pinched me" [I reminded her that at graduation the instructor held out the traditional dog cookie with diploma, and almost lost her hand-up to the elbow, throws cookies for my dogs on the ground now The old gal last night asked me my name and smiled and asked if Kitty could come to class next week. Kitty is very affectionate and docile. I agreed that 2 sessions was enough for Tanya not to feel left out. Kitty goes next class, and Megan the class after that. Honestly, Zoe, the dogs really don't change too much from their original mold, trainer or no...
You know, Zoe has me totally stumped, lol. You have patience of steel girl! I don't know how you do it! lol Maybe those big dogs will be the ticket then to shaping her up.
Sorry, saw this smilie and just had to add it considering the topic...lol
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-The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all
That smiley cracks me up. It looks just like Tanya. She is merciless. Won't even let the other dog pee before she grabs them and humps away. She is a rude beastie. I am lucky they tolerate her. I don't release Kitty with her. Kitty would be very indignant, she is very polite.
I think she just needs to get used to the new dogs. She may act differently knowing they are larger. When I first brought any of my dogs to the dog park, they acted scared and stuck by me. Now its much different. Some are a little bigger, some are much smaller. This is in the smaller dog section. Your dog is very young still too. Maybe she needs to have a more mature dog show her how to respect. Not by fighting, but by them just sticking up for themselves you know what I mean. Any dog that tries to mount my girl gets the scare tactic, any and every time. She does not bite them, but shows them they can not mess with her like that. And they do give up. Now with my dog rufus, he will not stick up for himself he will just run. After about 10 minutes or so of a dog trying to mount him, he will finally give off a little grumble. I say give it a try. If its just a dominance thing and not a biting attack scenario.
Hey Zoe, did you find the grid for your screen door at home depot? You could probably get them at lowes or another place like that too.
Puttin, I have looked everywhere for that silly grid and I can't find one anywhere. The people at Lowe's and Home Depot look at me like I'm crazy!
I took the dogs to daycare today so that I could take the girls swimming and take them to gymnastics without worrying about the puppies alone. Now its raining. I had them put Zoe with the big dogs just to see how she'll do today. She ran in the room this morning with her tail up so we'll see.
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Saving just one dog won't save the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog. -Richard C. Call
Yes , O I bought mine at h.d. but I've seen them at other places too. What did your hubby use O. I bet there is plenty of things you could substitute it with. Heck pitpatz hubby is an iron worker the gate in the back of her avatar is one he built himself.
. I took her to class last night, and she was nipping and pinching me in her enthusiasm and would have loved to pounce on other dogs and people 
there. One old gal that is always in class with her well trained dog said" I remember her, she bit, well, pinched me" 
[I reminded her that at graduation the instructor held out the traditional dog cookie with diploma, and almost lost her hand-up to the elbow
, throws cookies for my dogs on the ground now
trainer or no...
Maybe those big dogs will be the ticket then to shaping her up.
I had them put Zoe with the big dogs just to see how she'll do today. She ran in the room this morning with her tail up so we'll see.
