Gone to the Dogs

[digitS']

 

[heirloomgal]

Almost done the beginner obedience course. What a ride! Had some big takeaways that I didn't think I'd have. Some of the dogs that started off the most 'bad' (constant demand barking, way too excitable, or just not interested in being told what to do) actually had the most utterly dramatic turnarounds. Everyone gets assigned homework and each new week they showed up, the 'bad' dogs had jumped in manners hugely. Unrecognizable from the week before. Would never have guessed that was possible.

The other takeaway I found even more surprising; based on breed, the most traditionally dangerous dogs actually entered the class with the most profound and shockingly ability to follow direction. It's like they started at master level with no prior training. They were super attentive to their owners, extremely able to maintain eye contact, interest and focus on the owner and what was being asked of them. Follow through was excellent. And yet you can see that despite their young age, they already have a serious interest in putting harm on the other dogs present, and in the case of the young one that tried to vanquish me in the parking lot, harm on a human. And the danger breed dogs all have identified the other danger breeds in the class, and it's weird to see the way that they set each other off. It's like they're reading each other's minds. So while the classes are easiest for those owners, in real life they are going to have serious obstacles ahead. Obedience is one thing, that mindset is another.

 

[flowerbug]

i would never put myself in a group situation with dogs if i could help it, especially unknown dogs that may not have owners who can control them. just sounds like trouble waiting to happen...

 

[Marie2020]

Here's my awkward girl

 

[baymule]

Almost done the beginner obedience course. What a ride! Had some big takeaways that I didn't think I'd have. Some of the dogs that started off the most 'bad' (constant demand barking, way too excitable, or just not interested in being told what to do) actually had the most utterly dramatic turnarounds. Everyone gets assigned homework and each new week they showed up, the 'bad' dogs had jumped in manners hugely. Unrecognizable from the week before. Would never have guessed that was possible.

The other takeaway I found even more surprising; based on breed, the most traditionally dangerous dogs actually entered the class with the most profound and shockingly ability to follow direction. It's like they started at master level with no prior training. They were super attentive to their owners, extremely able to maintain eye contact, interest and focus on the owner and what was being asked of them. Follow through was excellent. And yet you can see that despite their young age, they already have a serious interest in putting harm on the other dogs present, and in the case of the young one that tried to vanquish me in the parking lot, harm on a human. And the danger breed dogs all have identified the other danger breeds in the class, and it's weird to see the way that they set each other off. It's like they're reading each other's minds. So while the classes are easiest for those owners, in real life they are going to have serious obstacles ahead. Obedience is one thing, that mindset is another.

I enjoy your posts on training dogs. It's so nice to know someone is trying to teach humans how to teach and train their dogs. My Anatolian Shepherds have good manners, are responsive to me, but have no recall when going after a predator or what they perceive as danger. My female, Sheba, took off like a rocket one day last week. Absolutely silent, belly down, running as hard as she could. I could not see what she was after, but it was a deadly run. A house cat was INSIDE the fence and Sheba was running to kill it. The cat saw her coming and ran for it's life. It barely made it to the fence and got away. Sheba hit the fence and barked, plainly telling the cat, come back and you will die. I have warned my neighbors to keep their dogs away from my place. MY dogs are securely fenced IN. If their dogs should find a way in, and two fences have squares big enough for a small dog to go through, their dog is going to die. I have been very blunt about that. I don't want anyone's pets to be killed, but if their pet gets inside my fence, that is their own fault, not mine. It is the dog's job to protect the sheep and anything that is not a sheep, does not belong. I've found dead raccoons, a nutria, armadillos, had one dog that hated turtles and he crunched them up. I've had 2 dogs that hated and killed snakes. There are a lot of coyotes, but they have never come over the fence. The Anatolians bark a warning and so far, no coyote, bobcat or bear has tried them.

These are working dogs and I have a deep love and respect for them. Anatolians are a fierce breed, highly intelligent and independent. When I studied Livestock Guard Dogs, I realized they were too much for me, so I started with Great Pyrenees. My GP's taught me a lot and prepared me for training Anatolians. It takes about 2 years to get through the puppy and "teenage" stages, for them to mature. Many people do not do their homework and get big dogs not realizing the work that goes into them. I salute you for the work you are doing with "bad breed" dogs and their owners. Keep up the great work that you are doing!