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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Great article on how NOT to shut down your dog

    I really, really love this article and thought I would share.

    shutting a dog down | Nancy Tanner

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  3. #2
    House Broken Maggie's Mom's Avatar
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    A great read, thank you for sharing. Funny timing. A dog walker who comes and walks a pair of dogs in my neighborhood passed me today while I was walking Maggie (she is 15 months and still very much a teen puppy). She knows these dogs and became very excited when she saw them- wagging tail, hopping around a bit, pulling toward them, etc., but no lunging or barking. The dog walker shook his head and said, "looks like someone needs to take the wind out of that dog's sails." He them began lecturing me on how I needed to be very firm with a young lab, and show her who was boss. I told him Maggie and I were just fine, and kept walking. Honestly, most of the time she is reasonably well behaved. I work on training with my dog daily, she is not my first dog and I know that all the training in the world alone will not make a "calm" dog if maturity is lacking. I personally want to keep working everyday at teaching my dog manners using methods which will not negatively impact her joy and enthusiasm for life, even if it is long process. I would prefer to spend years working on manners and have a well balanced happy dog, than handle her roughly and hope to force faster "results."

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  5. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Excellent. Thank you for sharing.

  6. #4
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maggie's Mom View Post
    I would prefer to spend years working on manners and have a well balanced happy dog, than handle her roughly and hope to force faster "results."
    This! You can also replace the word "manners" with "training".

  7. #5
    Real Retriever Archie's Avatar
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    Love it. And it's a constant battle to stave off those who would take more drastic measures.
    Laura, Archie & Quinn
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  8. #6
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    Very good article. I've really been trying to do this with Bruce. No pressure, just let's have fun, and it's worked really well. It's very different than I did with Sophie, who I put a lot of pressure on, and I really didn't understand that I was doing it. The good this in she has come a long way since Bruce's arrival, and a lot of it has to do with the fact I've taken the pressure off her, and made things fun for her too.

    In reality you can make a dog do anything, but if you make it fun for them, they will want to do it. And that is what it's all about!

  9. #7
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    Lol, I just finished reading this article and then saw your post and was thinking you were probably referencing the same article.

  10. #8
    Senior Dog ChoppersDad's Avatar
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    Great advice. Really enjoyed the read and videos...

 



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