what am I doing RIGHT??

[courtnek]

strange question, I know. I have NEVER been bitten by a dog. Even the most dominant ones back down when they see me. They lick me. love me.obey me after I have trained them. WHAT am I doing that enforces that? I have a friend with a dog who WONT obey. I have given her training
tips, suggestions, even worked with her to train this dog. He obeys ME, not her. He never acts bad, or disobeys in my presence. I have trained her to train him. he doesnt listen to her. .....WHY???

[Queen Bitch]

I don't know Court, but when I was 12 I would take my neighbor's Sheltie for walks all the time. I would make her walk behind me when going up or down a flight of stairs. ( And that was before I knew that that showed dominance, I just didn't want to get pulled. ;) ) Sandy ALWAYS listened to me and would never listen to them. When I would run into them on the porch, I would make her sit before I pet her. They could tell her sit several times and she wouldn't listen, yet I only ever had to say it once. They were kind of miffed that thier dog would listen to a little kid, but not them. Perhaps your friend doesn't enforce her commands, so her dog doesn't see her as the boss, wheras you do enforce them.

[courtnek]

maybe I'm an overpowering presence, without even realizing it :lol: :lol:

she seems to do fine when I'm there. Its when I'm not that issues arise...
but she is a gentle soul, so maybe she is afraid of him and not admitting it.
he's a shepherd/dobie mix, a headstrong dog anyway, but he seems so mellow when I'm there. thanks. maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. the more I think about it, the more it seems that when she asks for help, I take over and correct the dog. and he listens, so obviously he needs a firmer hand than she has....hmmmm...I have tried to teach her NILIF, but now I wonder if she's caving when I'm not there....and not admitting it when I am....she brought this whole thought to my attention, wanting to know why dogs "just listen to you"....I never thought about it before really...I just expect them to.

Poor Laurel. she's a timid, gentle soul, and she has been my biggest training issue ever....

[kendalyn]

I think it's just being able to read their body language and to communicate to them with your own body language. I've never been bitten by a dog either and it's because I know when to approach and when to keep away from a dog on the edge.

It also is important to adjust your own body language to communicate what you want to the dog. Dog's read body language very very well. It's no coincidence that kneeling down and opening up your arms will get a dog to come to you way better than standing with a ridgid posture and yelling. Have you witnessed your friend's body language while she is working with the dog? Is she making training fun and does she genuinely enjoy working with her dog?

I think 90% of the time someone is bitten, it could have been prevented if they were reading the dog more accurately. There are some times when a dog is completely unpredictable though.

[courtnek]

Kendalyn, that's an excellent thought. I knew that, but never really thought about it, or paid attention to hers. I dont really even think about it on the surface, I just interact to what the dog is "saying" from years of knowing how. But thinking back, she does seem a little stiff around him
(his name is Lark) and when he doesnt respond, she tightens up. I;m not sure if she's angry, or embarassed.....of course I dont know what she does when I'm not there. This is her first dog. Thanks. I think I'll call her later and will talk about it without the dog being around. Her husband is somewhat afraid of dogs (he was bitten as a child) and she wants to make this work out right. Lark is not taking over, just not listening real well.

thanks for all the suggestions.

[imported_Kat]

Its always down to body language. Someone with a very strong positive presence but still relaxed in the correct manner will be able to interact with a dog better than someone who is timid and not natural with dogs. In one of my puppy classes this morning I had a Cane corso who i fell in love with totally. She wasn't listening to her owner at all on the heelwork and her owner said that she won't do it. I took the dog and she was an angel with me. The response I got from the owner was "wow thats so goed, you're like a dog whisperer". I had to laugh at that but I've heard it before. Its just a matter of being very positive. :wink: