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Permalink Reply by Ashley R on March 1, 2011 at 2:50pm

try this

 

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/feeds/cv-seo/D...

 

then choose How to Raise the Perfect Dog from the options at the right.

I

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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on March 1, 2011 at 12:59pm

It really seems that a basic obedience class will fix the issue. Many times if you enroll in a basic obedience class the trainers are more than happy to help you with other issues (like biting). A class would be a good idea because it will help you save money but you will still have some instruction on how to establish yourself as a dominant pack member. I do have to say, in my opinion, a lot of Cesar Milan's methods can do more harm than good. Too many people try to use his methods when they don't really know what they are doing and end up creating a confused dog with more issues than he started with. It is really important to seek help from a trainer (and I don't mean somebody at Petco or Petsmart). Look at your local corgi club website, find a trainer from their list. Often these trainers cost a tiny bit more than your big chain store trainers, but you get a person with A LOT more experience and knowledge. It also helps to get somebody who knows the breed. Also, sometimes just a one time private session will give you the tools you need to work with him. To me it is worth the money spent on training to fix the issue because that money may end up being spent in the hospital on your son or husband in the future. Its money saved in the long run and on top of that you will gain a happy and safe dog.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy on March 1, 2011 at 3:59pm

In what type of situations do the bites occur?  Can you describe the incidents?  Many times there are things that happen that you are unaware of that can cause the reaction.

How do your husband and son interact with the dog-when you are around, on their own?  Other dogs?  Cats?  Has he had a full medical exam to rule out anything phyiscal or the like?

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Permalink Reply by Lesley on March 1, 2011 at 4:18pm

My incidents have occurred over food guarding and when Herman was almost stepped on.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy on March 1, 2011 at 5:01pm

The good trainer in me has more questions to ask!

Okay, so food guarding-is this as in you give him a bone and attempt to take it away or if you go towards your dog and he growls or bites or lunges? 

Stepped on--I agree with the dog.  It's a reaction to a sudden and painful stimulus.  Rather then just jumping back like a human, a dog will defend itself, which is a growl or a bite.  I don't know of a dog that will just lay there and willing be stepped on and take it.

 

 

More on food guarding.  Start playing a game that is based on food value.  The gal on Animal Planet with the British accent(name is escaping me right now) played it with a dog using food lids with peanut butter on them.  Give the dog one lip to lick off the peanut butter, then place another one down, but away from the dog.  Once the dog goes to the other one, pick up the first one and repeat. 

Basically, what you want the dog to realize is that giving something up is good because you get something else in return.  You always have to make sure when taking something from a dog that you have something as good or better then what they have to exchange it with.  You can also use the same method to teach a drop command, making sure when the dog drops the item you have very good reward to give them before you reach for the original object.

 

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Permalink Reply by Lesley on March 1, 2011 at 5:26pm

My fiance was trying to keep Herman from stealing food from his dog and that is when the aggression started. Good idea with the food value game. We have been working on leave it, and taking food gently and this will give me more to work on. We also feed them seperately now.

If I almost step on Herman he barks, but if my fiance or his male dog bump him or almost step on him he bites or nips.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy on March 1, 2011 at 5:40pm

Okay, that makes a lot of sense.  First off, you have to think of it from the dog's perspective--there is a little jealousy going on between the humans as well as the dogs.  Both dogs need to learn what is correct behavior as well as the humans on how to correct something that isn't right. No playing favorites, both dogs get equal time. 

Set the rules for both dogs-they should be the same.  No stealing food-period.  A good start is feeding them seperately.  When giving treats, they both need to do something to earn it.  A good starting point is asking both to do a sit stay and then give each one a treat.  Do not place both dogs right next to each other either.  That's just asking for trouble.  Have your fiance work on this and make sure that he acknowledges both dogs and that he takes turns at giving each dog the treat first as well as giving it to them at the same time.  If they are chewing on bones and one dog goes to get up to approach the other one-immediate sit and take away both dog's bones.  like kids, if one can't play fair then it goes away for all.

As far as the bumping goes, I think that's more of a getting to know you area.  He knows that you aren't doing it on purpose.  But with the others, he's on high alert that something bad could happen to him and they are the trigger.  It's a new area and he, hopefully, will adjust to the new dog and human in his life.  Your fiance needs to be extra careful and also watch his dog more in order to prevent altercations.  Don't walk on egg shells around him but be aware he's going to be jumpier and more prone to react then normal. 

The only other thing that I just have a feeling about with the bumping is that at some point while you weren't around, your dog grumped, growled or something to that effect and was reprimanded about it by someone else.  So now his reaction is a little over the top as in I'll get you before you get me this time.  I've done a lot of couples obedience training or kids and parents--lots of things can happen that one person doesn't know about and didn't realize the long reaching effect on the whole home.

Good Luck!   Oh and the NILF stuff--good idea but use it on both dogs and hey, sometimes it works on humans too :)

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Permalink Reply by Lesley on March 1, 2011 at 5:59pm

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the help.

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