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RubyPitbull · Dec 3, 2007, 12:59 PM

Don't pat her head. Give her a good scratch under the chin and around the sides of the chin under her ears/below her jawline, which reinforces her to keep her head up. Patting on the head is a submissive reinforcment in that you are forcing her to keep her head down.

BTW, don't pet her when she is scared. That also reinforces the nervous behavior. When you do this you are telling her it is okay to show fear.

uhhleesha · Dec 3, 2007, 01:10 PM

So what should I do when she is acting nervous?

EDIT: Also I just noticed this, but I normally train them in the spare bedroom. When she was acting nervous we were in the kitchen, and Molly kept interrupting with me getting her to sit. Should I keep Molly away while I'm training her until kitkat's behavior is back to normal?

RubyPitbull · Dec 3, 2007, 01:16 PM

I know it is hard, but you have to ignore it. What will help her overcome this is if her pack leaders are not showing any fear or discomfort at whatever is triggering the fear. When she sees you reacting and interacting as you normally would, that helps to boost her confidence level because she will see her leader is confident and unafraid. For example, during a thunderstorm, you need to be very careful not to send out any signals that you are fearful. Just act as if it is not happening. Go about your business as you normally would. Possibly use that time to do some training with her inside the house.

labman · Dec 3, 2007, 01:37 PM

I often use the phrase ''control your emotions'' . Your dog knows you are afraid or a least tensed and stressed. Yes, get too busy training her and focused on each other so you both forget the storm.

uhhleesha · Dec 16, 2007, 10:07 PM

I feel like I'm going backwards. Molly hates the collar and now hides when I try to put it on her.

Ripley is struggling with the "stay" command. :\

Oliver is trimming up, a whole lot. He's starting to look a bit normal now.

Kitty is no lover growling/biting over food or play toys.

labman · Dec 16, 2007, 10:27 PM

It doesn't happen over night. Usually puppies are bouncing with joy when we bring out the leash. Our Holly would sit and look morose when we put the Gentle Leader on her. I should have gotten a picture. Hang in there. One 4-H leader used to say it took 90 hours to teach basic obedience.

RubyPitbull · Dec 17, 2007, 06:25 AM

Yes, uhhleesha, you are going to backslide at times. Or rather, the DOGS are going to backslide, not you. That is the great challenge with dog training. Frustrating when it happens but so rewarding when everything eventually clicks into place. Molly has been the alpha for so long. She recognizes that you are challenging her position and asserting your dominance. She will give you a hardest time out of all of them because she wants her control back. So, she is fighting you the best way she knows how. Be purposeful in your movements and intentions. She will buckle down and adjust. As labman says it just takes time. You have taken on a tremendous challenge of retraining 4 dogs at once. To manage to get 4 untrained dogs to begin cooperating, I would say you have done brilliantly so far! You will overcome these hurdles. Consistency is key. Just keep at it. ;)

uhhleesha · Dec 28, 2007, 12:45 AM

I mean to say "No longer growling" However, there was a bit of a backslide. She growls when she finds some treat things, and I take it away from her. Not because she's being bad, but to show that I'm the alpha. I read that somewhere, so I'm doing it.

Molly will now sit for anyone that tells her to, after two or three times. It's great.

Ripley no longer barks as much as he use to. He barks a few times, then stops and looks at who ever is at the door. He's so funny. He's so excited his whole body is shaking.

Oliver is still trimming up, and doesn't look weird. Almost normal.

Thus far, they all do sit. I'm working with the other commands, but it's taking time. Almost there.

Update on the puppy. I'm not going to get the puppy from the breeder. I'm going to visit pounds and adoption centers. I figure, if I'm going to find a small house dog that deserves a home-- it'll be there. It'll take time, but I'll be saving up for her, her stuff, her room, and her vet bills. I think it'll all work out in the long run.

labman · Dec 28, 2007, 07:59 AM

Good to hear from you, and that the dogs are doing well. All of us will be happy you plan to adopt a puppy. It is good you are putting it off until you have money for the vet. Good work.

uhhleesha · Jan 5, 2008, 05:20 PM

So my grandfather put 3,000 in a CD for me and the other grandkids. Taxes were taken out, and I get all the taxes that they had taken out as pocket money. That money will go towards the puppy. I just have to be patient. I'm looking around at adoption centres and what not. I have more spare time now, and I'm thinking about volunteering at a pound or something.

Oliver won't do "down", which is basically him laying on his stomach. He won't relax his legs out. Molly is the only one to do it.

Kitty will only do the sit command on carpet. Is the hardwood/tile too cold for her? She does spend most of her time at the heater or under covers.

Ripley's barking is under control, for the most part, now.

Molly is still being stubborn, but I'm working with her as well as having other people work with her in the house hold.

labman · Jan 5, 2008, 06:54 PM

Down is a toughie. It is a very submissive thing. Keep on him. Again, thinks for the update.

froggy7 · Jan 6, 2008, 09:32 AM

Also, the dog may not be physically capable of "relaxing his legs" the way you want. Sometimes their anatomy just doesn't allow them to do what we want them to. If that's the case, make allowances. I'm going to be working on sit with Trink, but recognize that I can never require her to have her butt on the ground. Greyhound thigh muscles simply don't do that. So my goal is to get her into a modified sit pose.

uhhleesha · Jan 6, 2008, 06:32 PM

He does lay down the way I'd like him to, when he wants to. I know he's capable of it. "Down" is just them laying on their belly. He will hunch over, but keep his legs up as if he's sitting.

I'd like to thank you, Labman, and Ruby for giving me encouragement and advice. The dogs are well behaved, and even one of the visitors complemented my mother on how Ripley doesn't bark anymore and also on how they're so well behaved.