I love my dogs story-update

[Carrie]

I have three dogs, but I mostly talk about Lyric because my posts are too long as it is and because he is the one who needs the most training. He's pretty big and assuming.....and a "vicious" Doberman Pinscher. The Chihuauas are great, sweet, well socialized, darling and know their basic obedience and a few tricks.

I just love all my dogs. Lyric is the one I spend the most time training and he and I have an intense bond. He is my heart dog. I just wanted to share how he's coming along because I never update anything. And to make one thing clear...I'm not really exactly bragging because the fact is, he's certainly not at a level of most dogs in competition...there are many things which we have yet to learn. But just on account of my blinding love for this dog, I think he's just wonderful. LOL.

First of all, no matter what I want him to learn, if it takes away from his joy of life, forget it. He is the most joyful, enthusiastic, full -of- life dog I've ever had. He's absolutely a character. He's very intuned to my moods, receptive to training and self driven. I don't have to push very hard at all to get my way but because of his drive and distractability, I have to try and be creative or he'll get the better of me. LOL. And I wouldn't think of dampening that enthusiasm so I have to make him think it was his idea. LOL. He has discovered the fun and importance of learning and following my direction, I guess.

He has learned quite a lot of things in his almost 3 years of life. I'm not interested in competition, at least not so far, had enough of that with horses....but just for our own satisfaction, fun and necessity do I teach him things.

He has the most reliable recall I've ever had in a dog, save for one of my GSD quite a few years back. He comes whether or not he's chasing deer, squirrels, he'll drop to a down when in mid chase of another dog out in the fields. He knows the good guys from the bad guys and is trustworthy out on an off leash walk or hike if he sees people and even if he sees dogs now. He's a tad aloof, but not unfriendly once we stop and chat. He does not have one aggressive bone in his body as long as things are normal to him, which just about everything that's normal is. LOL. Only when someone tries to break in does he get "vicious." He now will "leave it" or "come" even if there's another dog up the way. (still a little bit of that barrier frustration when on a leash coming face to face toward some dogs, not all and it's quite a bit toned down from what it was, certainly not perfect)

He waits in a down/stay outside of the little corner store here (very safe area) while I go in and get a few things. People walk inches from him in and out of the doors to the little store and he stays planted.

He automatically stops, sits and stays when we approach the little highway (more like a country road) while I cross to get my mail...no command needed anymore. He's very, very solild with that. (of course, I still don't do that if there are any cars coming and it's a straight-a-way so I can see)

He has several different commands for the recall, from just a hand signal, to "come" to a whistle, to a silent whistle. He absolutely slams into a sliding stop when I call him, does an about turn and races back to me with a big toothy grin. He all but plows into me. I pray that the pilot hasn't left the wheel house. LOL. (as in the book, Marley and Me) love that!

He has a lovely, tidy heel and is now learning to back up straight at heel. He walks with a loose leash which I can sling loosly around his neck, drooping down around his shoulders without any collar on. He does it willingly out of a habit of working for something HE likes.

All three of my dogs know the command, "trail." And when we're on a hike, I'll let them venture a little ways off the trail, but if they start to stray a little further than I'm comfortable with, I tell them, "trail." And they are ON IT! LOL. It is possible and kind of interesting to train 3 dogs something all together. Sometimes not as precise as seperately, but it works. They just stick around pretty close and are a pleasure to walk with. They have so much fun scampering along a trail.

They're allowed to walk or run in front of me, beside me or behind me, sniff what they like, pee on what they like and just be dogs. Intermittently, I'll have them go through a little obedience practice while we're hiking, but a good deal of the time, it's really for both of us. I'm trudging up the hill trying to catch my breath while they're figuring out how to get through a downed tree or brush. The little Chi's are really good at that, they can always find a way under a tree or around it. Lyric just flies over the logs and it's amazing how high he can jump....some of these are much higher than in agility. It's scary sometimes. But he tucks his feet up as tightly as he can, just like a schooled jumping horse. He loves it.

Anyhow, besides agility and other neat obedience tricks, (certainly not as impressve as a lot of dogs in competition) those are just a few of the more pracitcal things he's doing. I'm just in love with this dog and this unbelievably intelligent breed.

And all this without the use of force, harsh corrections, but showing him what I want, distracting from other things, motivation and reward. That's what has kept his lovely spirit and personality totally intact, I believe. He does not do anything in order to avoid something else. He does it because he likes to, pure and simple. And this is why I encourage motivation and reward interactions with dogs and humans rather than domination and force. They still have rules and boundaries but they're begotten not from avoidance of punishment, but from the prospect of receiving resources they need and like. I've trained both ways and never have I had quite the bond or quite the reliability or quite the spirit and sense of fun in a dog. Not quite. Sure, part of it can be the breed, but that's not enough to account for the huge difference. I really don't think so. And my little Chi's (nasty little ankle biters that everyone thinks they are) are also lovely, friendly, sweet, outgoing little dumplings. I hate how people hate people generalizing about Pitbulls, but they're OK with generalizing about dogs like Chihuahuas. *rant over*

[mrsgrubby]

Nice post Carrie, it's nice to see you take so much pure joy in your dogs. I know you have worked hard to get them to the point that they are at!!! Especially Lyric and the dog aggression thing. I remember when you began working hard on that a year or so ago.

[calgal]

I love it when people are that passionate about their "kids" as you certainly are. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone felt the same way. Makes me wonder now, why they don't.

[WolfRyder]

you're an inspiration to me Thank you for sharing your "fid" story

[Raised By Wolves]

Great job with this group of personalities!

Lyric made it through his "terrible two's" just fine. You've done a wonderful job with this guy. He is a very gentle soul...and one I've the biggest dobies I've ever seen! I want a poster of Chuli's "death grip" on Lyrics face!

Well done Carrie! And well done Lyric, Jose', and Chuli, (...not necessarily listed in descending order of dominance).

[Carrie]

Thank you for the kind words. I like to think that training is leadership because they have to follow your lead. LOL. And that leadership is training, that a person couldn't teach if they weren't in the driver's seat (teachers act, pupils react. "Now... class..." LOL) ....that you can't have one without the other. And if I'm lacking somewhere in that department because I don't think in terms of dominance or submission, and don't think I want to drag my 100Lb Doberman somewhere, well then, I guess what I don't know won't hurt me. And I don't think the dogs mind too much. They're pretty frisky, happy but mind me and the rules pretty well too, at least most of the time. In fact, on second thought, I'm sure not to drag my Doberman anywhere. If I did that, it could be pay back time for him. He'd have a field day with me. Ya really gotta sweet talk these guys or else. LOL.

And well done Lyric, Jose', and Chuli, (...not necessarily listed in descending order of dominance).

Well if you insist that we look at them that way, OK.....When Chuli is on the couch and Lyric gets up, no problem unless he touches a hair on her head or disturbs her beauty sleep. Then she's the dominant one. She tells him off and he sets back. If Jose has a toy and Lyric looks at him, Jose makes sure Lyric knows that it's his but doesn't make too much of a fuss. Lyric doesn't care that much about anything one way or the other. He just sort of observes them in a scientific sort of way. LOL. Now, this is only on Tuesdays. The whole thing can change on Wednesdays. Lyric is out the door first and Jose follows. Chulita is still on the couch like part of the upholstery.

When it's meal time, they get fed in random order. I'm too befuddled to pay attention to which one eats first. And I have no desire to eat a cracker first. So, it's a free for all but Jose definitely needs to be locked up when he eats or he'd blow up like a helium baloon. I wish someone would lock me up too. There is no fighting over food, even if I don't seperate them. But I can't let Jose get too fat and he's a chow hound.

Anyhow thanks again guys! Very nice.

[gsp4619]

Carrie that was a great post!!! It's realy cool to see or meet people who have that kind of a bond with their dog or dogs