Gus is a 2yr old Bully. We’ve got to do something about the breed name; it’s so, so  wrong. Gus is a 60lb teddy bear. He’s sweet-natured, extremely intelligent, and eager to please. He’s also big and strong and bouncy. He wants desperately to play with poor Tommy but he’s too rough. Tommy, never shy about speaking out, gets angry, barking and snapping, and I worry about his weak heart. Then I’m upset and yell at Gus. He’s crushed and I feel even worse. Nobody wins.

How do I teach Gus to be gentle?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Paula B

P.S. When I chose to adopt Gus, I realized that life would become difficult for Tommy. But Gus’s options were dismal. Libby, my daughter’s 3yr old Staffie/Pit mix, stays here 2-3 afternoons a week and, while having some behavioral problems of her own, is inordinately careful of little Tommy.

PB

I did have one question about something I want to make sure I fully understand before pushing it more heavily.

I understand the principle of not “entertaining” unwanted behavior — not reinforcing it with positive or negative attention. That makes total sense for attention-seeking behaviors.

But when it comes to behaviors that could be unsafe or harmful, like my dog chasing the cat or jumping on someone, simply ignoring it doesn’t seem effective in the moment because the behavior continues.

What’s the recommended approach in those situations?

Is the goal to calmly interrupt and redirect to a correct behavior without adding emotional energy, or is there a specific method the course prefers for handling unsafe actions?

I really want to make sure I’m using the system correctly as I’m applying it in real life.

Thanks again — I’m genuinely enjoying the content and looking forward to working with it more.

Best,

Russ

I have a 16 month show cocker spaniel and when the phone rings he barks and jumps. I struggle to get to the phone and he then barks jumps and nips at back of my top or elbow area. This continues on the call.  How do I address this please?

The first couple of days we had him he wouldn’t pee or poop outdoors-we attributed that to his being overwhelmed and/or intimidated by all of the other dogs and new sights/smells in our urban neighborhood.

After those first few days, however, he has become  comfortable with eliminating outdoors, and willing to spread the wealth in an increasingly large radius from our home.

However, once a week, he now pees inside the house, not in the same place, seemingly without any notice, not attempting to hide, and within a few feet of us.

Is this just a matter of him suddenly realizing he really has to go and not being able to hold it in?

We are guessing he’ll grow out if this, but any suggestions for helping him along would be welcomed.

Thanks.

I have 3 dogs, a 13yo (m), 2 yo (m) and a 1 yo (F)

Unfortunately, back in Nov my 13 yo pit bull passed away suddenly during a visit to the emergency vet (ruptured spleen). and sad to say she passed at the hospital.

I always try to have my pets pass at home so the others know what happened and it can help them process the loss. Unfortunately, she (at 13) was my 2 yo (m)'s BESTEST friend (and a mommy figure) for the 6 months since I had gotten him. In January I got the girl because there was room for another rescue. They love to play and romp, however I realized that he has been resource guarding me (growling at anyone who tries to get in my lap (cat or dog) keeping them off the bed etc. since she's come into the house. He's not overly aggressive, a little chase, a little growl.  It only just dawned on me that his best friend left (and didn't come back), he has no idea why and it's made him anxious and he's guarding me.  He's grieving and I feel so badly for him.  So, we are going to up the brain games, and connect in a healthier way for both of us!  Thank you for this!! This will also help my new girl... SHE IS SMART and highly energized. It should also help the old guy, just to get some new stuff to do!
 

And Frankie and the rest of the pack, thanks you too! 

All in all he is just a fantastic dog - better than I could have ever hoped for.  We live in a rural area and my wife raises chickens.  It probably took more time for the chickens to adjust to Lupo that it took for him to adjust to the chickens.

Lupo stays outside all day - we bring him in the house at night (after everything is locked down outside) where he sleeps in a "crate".  Other than the occasional wimper this has worked out very well.  He does not have the run of the house - but sometimes before crate time we will let him in where he will curl up on the rug at the front door.  He will rarely try to leave that spot but a simple pointing of the finger and he is right back curled up on the rug.

Every morning just after dawn, Lupo and I go "on patrol" where we walk the property to try to establish his boundaries.  He is really good about not trying to wander beyond where he is allowed to go.  I do the same in the evenings.  While he loves to tug at my pantlegs on these walks, I usually have a stick with me that I can use to redirect him and that seems to work well.  Sometimes he will just carry the stick for the rest of the walk as if that is his job.  Other times, I will start off letting him drag his leash and by the end of the walk he will carry that - just another "job".  He constantly throws glances my way to be sure he has me in sight.

We never walk him down the driveway as we do not want him to think its ok to do that himself.  If I want to take him to visit a neighbor or the neighbor's dogs I always put him in the truck and park down the road.

He is anxious about going for a ride and needs to be next to me - but I think he will get used to it with time.

I find Lupo is not food motivated at all!  And this has been a bit of a challenge - at least for me.  "Sit" is no problem.  "Down" is ok.  "Come" on the other hand is a bit of an issue.  He clearly understands the command, but sometimes refuses to execute.  Sometimes I feel like he wants me to get far enough away so that he can really run to me and other times I feel like he is thinking "I don't want to come".  Any pointers here would be most helpful.

If we go to an unfamiliar area he is really good about staying with me - either on or off the leash.  At home it seems he is more comfortable doing what he wants to do and pulling against the leash as a form of play.

Like I said the experience has so far been fantastic, but I feel like I am in some sort of honeymoon phase and the in a couple of months time he will go from adorable Lupo to Kujo.  My last dog was just over 15 years old when he passed so it has been a while for me working with a puppy.  I want to be sure we are all off to a good start and no unknowingly reinforce any bad behaviors.  Is he really going to start testing me as he gets older?

Thanks!

through the years that would be the routine, she goes outside & does her business, I tell her “go potty” etc. but i’ve been finding as she’s gotten older she’s been having more accidents inside the house, especially on furniture or her own bed.

I know it’s not easy for her to communicate that she has to potty but my sisters dog lets us know very clearly. he’ll bark really loud at the door. but my yorkiepoo doesn’t do that. she’ll just eventually use it in the house. 

she always goes to the front door and wants to wander around on the front porch but I can’t tell if she thinks she has to be taken on a walk in order for her to do her business or just to sun bathe because I know she likes to do that as well. 

now that i’m moved out of my moms house and into my own apartment i’m hesitant about taking her with me. I don’t have the time to take her on a walk three or more times a day and i’m afraid she will have accidents inside the apartment.  she also has anxiety so I’m not sure how she’ll adjust being away from what she’s used to & my sisters dog.

part of me thinks she’ll be fine staying with my mom but I also have an urge to have her all to myself. but if I do that how do I go about retraining her to potty only outside? is there a way that she could understand that she can only do that outside? 

thanks so much if you’ve read this far! 

First post!  I did look for this topic before posting, but I didn't see anything that matched my situation.

Puppy: 3 month old (as of today!) minature goldendoodle (62% mini poodle, kind of a F2B but not quite).  

I brought her home three weeks ago.  I'm taking time off to adjust to puppy life, so I'm home with her 24/7.  Her last shot parvo shot is next Friday, so we can't go for a walk or play outside -- our world is currently my 100sqft balcony, with a wire crate, a wire crate that I drape a blanket over in the living room, and a wire crate in the bedroom.  She doesn't roam the apartment because she's not potty trained.  I have a Doggie Lawn on the patio, and plan on just using that for potty training -- she goes pee there when asked, but only poops in the crate -- and only poops when I leave the room, she won't go any other time.  

I don't know if it count's as "separation anxiety" (I saw a post describing that as a condition), but she is very upset when I leave the room even for a minute, and barks -- I wouldn't say "yaps", she doesn't seem to bark just to hear herself bark, it's this desperate whiny "PLEASE COME BACK TO ME" tone.  

Yesterday and today I'm trying leaving the apartment and going to the common area for an hour or two to get her used to the idea that I'm not always around.  I have a camera, and see that she does have moments of settling herself and resting in the crate.

I ignore her when she barks, when she's on the patio and I go in the apartment / in the kitchen (where she can see me but only kind of), and when she stops barking I say "good quiet!" then go back to ignoring her when she barks.  

Growing up I had dogs, but they weren't treated all that well.. the excuse is they were hybrid wolves and had to "show them who's the alpha" but biological dad went overboard and I am now realizing anything I knew about handling dogs doesn't align with my values.  I came here because of the Instagram posts showing the methodology of being more of a loving partner, not the "boss" -- but that means when she does something like barking, I don't know what to do.

Please help 😵‍💫
- 🌲 Christi and Maple 🍁