lucy is ok

[lil'lucybear]

so last night i had an old friend who is also a apbt trainner in NJ, come over and observe lucy, he said her wild behavior is just puppy stuff and in reality she is an incredibly well behaved well mannered puppy. i was so happy, i was starting to worry that i had done something wrong, but he said she is great, so yeah!!!!!!!

[Texasbulldogs]

“so last night i had an old friend who is also a apbt trainner in NJ”
What is a “APBT trainer”? Is this breed so rare and exotic, that it needs specialized trainers? In reality isn’t every owner of a APBT, a “trainer”?

“he said her wild behavior is just puppy stuff and in reality she is an incredibly well behaved well mannered puppy.”
I’d get another opinion! Judging by what you’ve posted about her problems and antics. Can’t see how he came up with that diagnoses. Seems like your “APBT trainer” friend, is much like you……always making excuses, about your dog’s misbehavior! She’ll always have “problems” until you raise and treat her like a “dog”. Trainer’s don’t deal with psychological problems in dogs, they only teach “commands”, thru repetitions. But never deal with the actual problem/s of the dog…………their owners.

[lil'lucybear]

ok so there is no need to be condesending. what i meant by that is that he has raised and been around and trained apbt for his whole life, him and his family have had over 40 dogs over the last 20 years or so. so i value his opinion, he told me that he has had plenty of puppies that acted just like lucy and they turned out fine, he also gave me tips on how to prevent her behavior from getting worse and also how to make it better. so please, enough with the attitude, just because you have been doing this longer than i have doesn't mean that you should be rude, i am just trying to learn more about this breed so i can raise a good dog, is there something wrong with that, i am sure there was a time in your life when you had to learn something new, i guess you were made to feel stupid so now you think you have to make me feel stupid. i love my dog, she is treated like gold, so don't sit there and tell me i am the problem, she is getting so much better, and that is because i have taken the time to go out and learn everything i can. you are an administrator aren't you supposed to be helping people? i guess i could just not care and not ask questions and let my pup be wild, would that make you happy? so i made a mistake and spoiled my pup, so sorry, at least i caught it in time and now i am correcting the problem, and what freaking excuses are we talking about here, what that puppies bite, well they do don't they...........

[GD2]

There Is Trainers That Specialize In Certain Breeds.

[lil'lucybear]

thanks gremlin, i know my friend will only train apbt's, he just loves the breed and won't deal with any other kind of dog, so i guess that makes him an apbt trainer right??

[miakoda]

Tex is just trying to help by being honest. You don't get the run-around from him. Let's take, for example, that you said your 11 MONTH old pup is biting at your pants legs all the time. Well, I don't know 1 trainer who would call that "normal puppy behavior" at that age & say it's ok. 11 wekks? maybe. 11 months? no. So what happens when someone who doesn't know you or your dog very well comes over, & lucybear goes for their pants' leg, grabs it in her teeth, l begins biting & shaking & having a good ole time. Can you honestly think that person is not going to be afraid of that & will think its ok? No, they won't. They will probably freak out & get the heck outta there thinking your dog tried to attack her & will also go around spreading the word about it as well. Now, because of some untrained supposedly "innocent" behavior, you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. Especially if lucybear also nips her leg in during this fun game.

At 11 months one might find his/her dog still chewing on some things around the house (a shoe, toilet paper) that he's not supposed to, but he should NOT be placing his teeth on a person or anypart of their clothing (that they're wearing). Your dog has not yet learned that you are the boss. He thinks that you & everyone els are just a member of his pack & at the same rank as him. But you're NOT & you cannot let him think that way! Those behaviors need to be stopped & need to be stopped now before something happens in which someone might actually get hurt, or in which they might misunderstand your dogs playful intentions & still go around stating that your dog tried to attack him.

A true trainer will NOT tolerate behaviors like that & would encourage you to nip it in the bud as well. Good luck w/your dog. Trust me, we all know this breed can be very stubborn at times-->they're bulldogs! But they are also not dumb & will take a mile (or 3 or 4) for every inch you give them.

[GD2]

Im Not Sure But When U Become A Trainer Its For All Dogs Then U Can Specailize If U Want. I Think

[lil'lucybear]

thanks mia, i understand that he is just trying to be honest but he can do that without being discouraging. and the leg biting has stopped, and now she just gets excited sometimes and nips while she is playing. by the way she is great with everyone else but me, i am the one who screwed up and spoiled her, but now i am back to ignoring her for a few days, i know she needs to learn who the boss is and she will, she is a very smart puppy, she does listen to me when she is calm, and sometimes when she is excited too, but she needs to learn that what i say goes, and she will........ i am trying my best here, i am making progress it just takes a while, oh yeah he wasn't condoning her behavior he was showing me how to correct it, he was just saying that she is not a lost cause, and that i have to work on her, and she will be great. he watched her play with the rottie down the street and she plays so nice with other dogs, even though if she wanted she could prob eat that rottie alive, lol just kidding. she will be a great dog, that is why i came here to learn new things and figure out how to do the right things with my pup, and i am learning.thanks for the advice, and texas sorry i got offended, it just seemed like you were looking down on me for not realy knowing anything

[GrCh_Jeff]

tex is right and so is mia...its better to have someone be straight forward,,screw beating round the bush....

[B]

Tex brings up a very good point. Sometimes the direct approach may not be the best but I don't think he's purposefully trying to get at you. Everyone starts somewhere but you also need to listen to what he has to say. I've only spoken with Tex a single time in chat but from reading his messages he understands canine behavior on a very high level. His words might not always feel the best and sometimes they could definately be worded differently but he knows his stuff and he wouldn't be commenting if he didn't care. He's here to help people just as many of us are. You need to realize that sometimes people aren't going to powder coat things. Some people, myself included will pretty much tell you straight up how things are. You would do great to click Tex's name and read through his posts. He has helped a large amount of people with his knowledge and experience. I think he was trying to say the same for you. Dogs can not be "spoiled" and treated like kids. They need direction and leadership to make them the best dogs possible. You need to realize that although you love your dog dearly, that the behaviors you are letting her get away with now could be dangerous down the road. If she's really getting worked up or playing rough you may need to put her in a crate and let her settle down. Ignoring her is not always the solution in my opinion. Does she have a room or area that is hers? Is there somewhere she naps or rests when she wants to? There are lots of ways to accomplish the same thing but you need to realize and not be afraid to let the dog know who is boss. I've never had a problem like yours but the dogs listen to me a lot better than my other half. I've always been firm and fair and they know what I expect out of them. My girl is a little softer and they treat her like it.

Regardless, I don't think you should take Tex's comments as him being rude to you but you need to realize that he brings up some valid points. Experience does not necessarily equal knowledge. It really depends on how open to new ideas and how well you learn from that experience.

Best of luck,

B

[lil'lucybear]

thanks b,
i know and i am a very straight up person too, but i have tact, anyway back to work for me, but thanks for your opinion, i really do appreciate the help.

[GrCh_Jeff]

its all good lucy..soon you wont be a newbie and will be part of the fam...takes a lil time for the ol tymers to get used to ya..lol

[Texasbulldogs]

“ok so there is no need to be condesending.”
None of my post are wrote, designed, nor meant, too be read as condescension!

“what i meant by that is that he has raised and been around and trained apbt for his whole life, him and his family have had over 40 dogs over the last 20 years or so.”
Ok, hopefully you can learn something from him. I still stand by my statement; “I’d get another opinion”.
“so i value his opinion, he told me that he has had plenty of puppies that acted just like lucy and they turned out fine, he also gave me tips on how to prevent her behavior from getting worse and also how to make it better.” Good. But, the vast majority of “trainers/behaviorist” wouldn’t find her (Lucy’s) behavior acceptable, and to me saying; “she’s a pup” is just making an excuse for a 11 month old pet. There are some actions, that are never acceptable, no matter what the age is!

“so please, enough with the attitude, just because you have been doing this longer than i have doesn't mean that you should be rude”
I don’t have an “attitude” nor feel I’ve been “rude” too you. Please, don’t misconstrue my post for anything but a reply.

“ i am just trying to learn more about this breed so i can raise a good dog”
That’s good!

“is there something wrong with that, i am sure there was a time in your life when you had to learn something new”
No, did or have I ever said, there was? I try too learn something, everyday.

“i guess you were made to feel stupid so now you think you have to make me feel stupid.”
Nope. You can only “feel stupid” if you allow yourself too. Refer to above!

“I love my dog. she is treated like gold, so don't sit there and tell me i am the problem”
You can think that all you want, but the facts are “you” are the problem. As any problem’s that arise from pets, its always because of the “owners” lack of knowledge, guidance, discipline, etc. etc. Case in point……a post reply, you made on the “Seriously way!” thread; “i just wanted to say something because i really do love my puppy more than anything, and i just wanna be a good mommy. all i am trying to do is learn so my baby will grow up to be the best dog she can be” You see the problem? You refer to your “dog”, like it is a “human baby”! How screwed up do you think a “human baby” would be, if you raised and treated it like a dog?

“she is getting so much better, and that is because i have taken the time to go out and learn everything i can.”
That’s good, wish you continued success.

“you are an administrator aren't you supposed to be helping people?”
Yes, and I do! Just like this post, I offered you sound advise. But holding someone's hand, in case they get emotionally enwrapped in "text", I've wrote, is not part of the "job description".
Just because someone raises these dogs for 100 years, doesn’t mean, you should take their advise, especially on training or dealing with behavioral problems! Most that have and raise this breed, spend minimal time with them, have way too many, and let them rot away on a chain with minimum care, feed sub-par kibble, provide no training, discipline, affection, etc. etc. etc!

“ i guess i could just not care and not ask questions and let my pup be wild, would that make you happy?”
Doesn’t matter how much care and/or how many questions you ask. Only thing that matters is what actions you take with the knowledge, gained!

“so i made a mistake and spoiled my pup, so sorry, at least i caught it in time and now i am correcting the problem”
Only a “mistake” if you do, nothing too correct the problem!

“and what freaking excuses are we talking about here, what that puppies bite, well they do don't they.”
Justifying, your “dog” biting you! Your dog is 11 months old, time to stop making “excuses”, for her unfitting behavior!

[Bluepit50]

Good post Texas, what it all comes down to is if you love your dogs then you must be loving but at the same time the leader. Once your dogs respect you as the boss then it will make training alot easier. 11 months old is getting there, first establish that you are the boss, then make a way or a command that you use to get her attention. With my dogs when I say "look at me" they know that means to sit still and look me in the eyes. Once you get her doing this then training will be much easier. Then after you get all the basics down, you'll be doing more advance obedience in no time. Read some good books or videos on training, anyone can train their own dog just as good as a trainer if you really try and study the methods, also you will have an advantage as you know your dog better than anyone and you customize some of your methods to fit her personality.

For example, I have a female who trains wonderfully when I am stern and strong with my commands. She enjoys a more military syle approach, lol.
My male on the other hand enjoys a more happier, softer spoken approach. He likes to know that its a game and that i'm happy, like this he does real well while training.

[GrCh_Jeff]

youve beat your male a lil too much then blue.lol

[Bluepit50]

youve beat your male a lil too much then blue.lol
neah, he just gets scared of anything that sounds like yelling, a stern voice scares him,lol. On the other hand my female just laughs if you yell at her, so she does'nt mind the military approach to some training.

[GrCh_Jeff]

i know what ya mean....with jigaboo i gotta be stern or he just looks at me like im stupid..but with casey i could just softly tell him what to do and hed listen just fine...

[idgie]

I went through something similar to you, Lucy, with my first pit bull puppy. I took her to three different trainers who all insisted I wasn't being firm enough, that I needed to be the alpha, and they recommended various behaviors (popping her under the chin if she bit or chewed something inappropriate) that seemed harsh to me. None of the trainers I spoke with said my pup's behavior was acceptable - according to them, as a pit bull, of course, she needed "heavy discipline" - and of course with their help, which meant $$$.

I ended up finding a book called Dog Friendly Dog Training that I liked and used and am really glad I ignored the a-hole trainers. Basically the idea in this book is to treat your dog like a friend, form a bond, and the loyalty they feel will carry through anything you want them to do. So I think a lot of dog trainers (certainly not all) are sort of fascists who get off on power. I don't even believe in alpha training any more. I also have a great bunch of dogs that are all well-behaved enough for my purposes.

[rocksteady]

Ok..the problem is that not every training technique works for everydog. YOu cannot expect good results if you do not stick with the program. The more you switch techniques, commands, what is ok one day but not okay the next type deals, you will confuse the dog/ pup and never get anywhere. Its one thing to be your dogs "friend" and earn trust ..but dogs must know their place in the pack . That doesnt mean you are harsh, it just means that you have rules and you dog knows it must follow them

in training, it is always best to stay consistant, training for short periods throughout the day (even one minute it better than nothing) Training doesnt have to be boring..you can incorpate games (which stimulate brain and learning). And dont be skimpy on the excersise!!! !/2 of all dogs issues are from lack of stimualtion and exercise ..

Dogs relaspe!!! You may for months have a dog that behaves perfectly then all of a sudden one day the dog wont do a thing (they also become "Burned out" if too much training) So you always have to give refresher courses lol

A trainer trains the dog
an Obedience Instructor helps teach the owner to train his /her dog
Behavorist deals with who what where why a dog is doing what it does

Vets are not trainers nor behavorists

[miakoda]

Dogs relaspe!!!
geez, you're telling me! kofax is 9 & is STILL being a pain!:rolleyes: