Comments for Blissful Dog Owner - Sacramento Dog Training and Behavior Modification http://www.blissfuldogowner.com Finding the Right Balance Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:28:33 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on What Is Dogsharing? by marianne http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/01/what-is-dogsharing/comment-page-1/#comment-11 marianne Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:28:33 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/?p=90#comment-11 I've been thinking about this idea for some time. I'd love to explore dog sharing if the situation were right. I’ve been thinking about this idea for some time. I’d love to explore dog sharing if the situation were right.

]]> Comment on What Is Dogsharing? by Malissat http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/01/what-is-dogsharing/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Malissat Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:23:16 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/?p=90#comment-10 I love the dogsharing idea. I travel a lot and my dog chews and barks. I love the dogsharing idea. I travel a lot and my dog chews and barks.

]]> Comment on Why a Slack Leash is So Important by Jaimie Scott http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Jaimie Scott Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:33:05 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/#comment-9 Hi cheese and thanks for the comment! I can see why it is confusing. I agree that sniffing and exploring are extremely important behaviors to dogs. I also agree that it is not reasonable to ask your dog to walk at your side or behind you if your dog doesn't get frequent opportunities to sniff and explore. That's why I recommend you stop every few minutes to let your dog off of a heel to "do his business." That's his chance to sniff, pee, be in front, do whatever he wants to as long as it's not pull on the leash. I am not of the opinion that a dog that is always in front is likely to feel defensive, but being out in front does put a lot of pressure on a dog. It basically sends your dog the message that he needs to figure out if anything you encounter on your walk is okay or not. Many dogs deal with that just fine. The problem with it is that it sends your dog mixed messages. When you tell your dog to sit, or not bark, it sends your dog the message that you are making the decisions. If you follow through and do it properly, it sets up the dynamic that your dog needs to take his direction from you. But then if you let your dog walk in front of you, or feed your dog before you eat (ever seen a wolf pack eat?), or let your dog choose where he wants to mark, it sends the message that he's calling the shots. It's these mixed messages that are confusing to a dog. Many dogs can handle some ambiguity and still be just fine. The dogs I work with on a daily basis cannot. So it requires the owner to tighten things up a bit to get the results they desire. Hi cheese and thanks for the comment! I can see why it is confusing. I agree that sniffing and exploring are extremely important behaviors to dogs. I also agree that it is not reasonable to ask your dog to walk at your side or behind you if your dog doesn’t get frequent opportunities to sniff and explore. That’s why I recommend you stop every few minutes to let your dog off of a heel to “do his business.” That’s his chance to sniff, pee, be in front, do whatever he wants to as long as it’s not pull on the leash.

I am not of the opinion that a dog that is always in front is likely to feel defensive, but being out in front does put a lot of pressure on a dog. It basically sends your dog the message that he needs to figure out if anything you encounter on your walk is okay or not. Many dogs deal with that just fine. The problem with it is that it sends your dog mixed messages. When you tell your dog to sit, or not bark, it sends your dog the message that you are making the decisions. If you follow through and do it properly, it sets up the dynamic that your dog needs to take his direction from you. But then if you let your dog walk in front of you, or feed your dog before you eat (ever seen a wolf pack eat?), or let your dog choose where he wants to mark, it sends the message that he’s calling the shots. It’s these mixed messages that are confusing to a dog. Many dogs can handle some ambiguity and still be just fine. The dogs I work with on a daily basis cannot. So it requires the owner to tighten things up a bit to get the results they desire.

]]> Comment on Why a Slack Leash is So Important by cheese9333 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/comment-page-1/#comment-8 cheese9333 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:12:10 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/#comment-8 Jamie. I'm attempting to understand your full argument for slack leash requiring the dog to be beside you or behind you. I believe, at this point in my investigation, that a dog knows when it is pulling and can adjust its actions accordingly....ie turn towards owner to check his position. You dismiss a dog's preference to walk around you, sniff things, and mark things as a tiny behavioral activity. It is, in fact a very large portion of a dog's interest and they draw great satisfaction, on a primal level, from doing these things. I do not disagree that a dog who is constantly in front of you is likely to feel defensive and "in charge" when greeting new things. However, not all dogs that wander around you have to lead at all times. I feel that the satisfaction, exertion, and enjoyment of a "heeling" walk is easily a fraction of the that of a "wandering" walk. My time is valuable and walking my dog morning and night need to be high value times for my dog to get his needs met. A permanent heel seems to hold low value for dogs. Thx Jamie.
I’m attempting to understand your full argument for slack leash requiring the dog to be beside you or behind you.
I believe, at this point in my investigation, that a dog knows when it is pulling and can adjust its actions accordingly….ie turn towards owner to check his position.
You dismiss a dog’s preference to walk around you, sniff things, and mark things as a tiny behavioral activity. It is, in fact a very large portion of a dog’s interest and they draw great satisfaction, on a primal level, from doing these things.
I do not disagree that a dog who is constantly in front of you
is likely to feel defensive and “in charge” when greeting new things. However, not all dogs that wander around you have to lead at all times.
I feel that the satisfaction, exertion, and enjoyment of a “heeling” walk is easily a fraction of the that of a “wandering” walk. My time is valuable and walking my dog morning and night need to be high value times for my dog to get his needs met. A permanent heel seems to hold low value for dogs.
Thx

]]> Comment on What Is Dogsharing? by LittleGirlsMomma http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/01/what-is-dogsharing/comment-page-1/#comment-7 LittleGirlsMomma Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:09:58 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/?p=90#comment-7 Wow! This is a wonderful idea...I have a dog with separation issues and this sounds custom made for us. I don't have the computer expertise you need, but I would sure love to try to find it for you and offer my help in any way! Sign me up! Wow! This is a wonderful idea…I have a dog with separation issues and this sounds custom made for us. I don’t have the computer expertise you need, but I would sure love to try to find it for you and offer my help in any way! Sign me up!

]]> Comment on Why a Slack Leash is So Important by jmacek07 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/comment-page-1/#comment-5 jmacek07 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:44:49 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/#comment-5 I agree..Walking your dog on a loose leash is like the ultimate behavior many people wish they could train their pups. Looks like we have similar thoughts on the subject. I agree..Walking your dog on a loose leash is like the ultimate behavior many people wish they could train their pups. Looks like we have similar thoughts on the subject.

]]> Comment on Why a Slack Leash is So Important by Terrie http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Terrie Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:24:37 +0000 http://www.blissfuldogowner.com/2010/02/why-a-slack-leash-is-so-important/#comment-4 Interesting perspective on loose leash! Interesting perspective on loose leash!

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