Like you, I think we have to mimic mama animals in our responses to dangerous behavior. They cuff and bite. It’s not cruel, or unnatural. It’s a lesson.
I understand. With Auggie a scolding is all that’s necessary. He is broken hearted to disappoint. But we need to think like dogs, not like humans, and you’re showing that you do.
Dogs have to mind, that is all there is. A friend's Great Pyrenees kept going after the neighbor, did not want to let visitors in the house, etc. Finally the police were called and you know the rest of the story. He was actually doing what he was bred to do. When I got my rescue he was way out of control and extremely nervous. The trainer said, he has to mind. It is not about his feelings, it is about walking down the street safely without being pulled down. It was difficult to understand at first.
Yes - no mama dog ever gave her pups a treat for good behavior. It's all about correcting unwanted behavior. She certainly will deliver a cuff, a growl, a nip or roll junior over to make her point. However, the correction will be timely and appropriate. If I may beg to differ - a human physically striking and inflicting pain on their dog as a training tool is a controversial approach and can do more harm than good. There are many other effective methods of correction; as you say below, a verbal correction is all Auggie needs and the same is true for Rolo and has been for all our previous pooches. If real emphasis is needed, a quick scruff shake gets the message across well; dogs will remember that from times they incurred mama's displeasure and know they have been corrected for doing something inappropriate.
There are other far more gentle ways to teach dogs boundaries. It does require quite a lot of effort to boundary train a dog, but it's worth it because after the training, you can show a dog its boundaries in any location and they will remain within the boundaries until released. Auggie, being a GSD who obviously likes working with Mom, would have no problem learning.
Oh Auggie! Please don’t go in the road! 😲 Glad to hear he used the steps, and I hope Eli and Charlie feel better soon. Wishing you a peaceful day tomorrow.
Auggie, please no more playing in the road. Feel better. Arthritis really hurts! Mom and Dad are taking very good care of you and Eli. Relax and look for a pampering kind of day.
I hope Auggie feels better. Years ago my black lab and my sister's Golden decided to go "up street" into the Village we lived in. A neighbor called and asked if they were supposed to be doing that. We went after them and there they were casually walking up the sidewalk side by side, looking as though they were carrying on a conversation. We called them and they stopped with a look on their faces which clearly said "Who us?"
Years back, we had a wonderful doodle who, in her old age, had gone quite deaf. One evening she squeezed out the bungee corded gate (broken latch) and went wandering around the neighborhood. I was out whistling - which of course she couldn't hear. Luckily, a kind neighbor a few streets away called me. And, with her too, "Who, me?"
Listen, Auggie....don't be scaring your Mom that way.
Also 90 and plenty humid here in Central Ohio. Expected rain has not fallen. I really don't want to spend 3 hours moving sprinklers around in order to keep our mighty oaks happy.
My dogs are TOTALLY untrustworthy off lead!! And stink at recall efforts!Fortunately we live at the end of a peninsula and they have never gone the direction of the main road!!
I raised West Highland White Terriers for about 25 years. Over those years, I had 6, about 3 at a time. 4 females and 2 males. If one went out, that was fine, but if two or more got out, they were gone. And I mean GONE. They came back when they got around to it and always, filthy and stinky. It was like an assembly line here washing, drying and brushing big little dogs. They were fun and I enjoyed the puppy business, but I’ll never get a dog that requires grooming again! I’ll never get another dog, period. Too old. Stay safe and watch that old dog. Love to you and those biggies!
It was terrible! One time, years and years ago, one little old female, Fritters, never came back, ever. We never found her after searching and advertising and worrying . It’s possible she was bitten by a snake but we’ll never know. We did not ever LET them escape, it was always an undercover operation. They were smart little dogs. Together they were a “pack” with laws unto themselves. And we are RURAL! It was devastating for us. I looked for her for years. That’s the worst part, the “not knowing “. Sigh.
That is rather strange that he was wandering in the road, maybe waiting for you to come home. So hard to know what they are thinking. Yestie sees an osteopath but also gets a pain med daily since she was diagnosed with Arthritis in November 2023 - I had no idea how much that pain had been affecting her movement until day 3 of the Onsior tablets (5mg once a day for her size of 4.5kg) — she started running around and playing like she was young again. And as she’s now 2.5 years older, I keep watching for signs of her really slowing down with pain again, and then we will up it to two times a day, morning and evening meal. But it made such a huge difference. Many people try all sorts of holistic approaches (I’ve tried several but not all) and some swear by them — I will say the wrong thing, but green lipid mussels or something is a favourite — but what has worked for her is an NSAID that is typically easy on the stomach compared to some. It is taken with her food and we’ve not had any side effects, and after 2.5 years I think any would have become obvious by now.
Oh, poor Auggie… we’re all getting old. Maybe he was chasing a chippy? And I think we all have a “year” where it’s more difficult. For me I can report that 2025 beat the crap out me, because of my eyes. (I’m still driving with confidence and Dr’s blessing!😊) I’m hoping this year stacks up better… so far, so good. 🤞🏼
Your stories are the delight of my workday and I have followed long prior to Pete's passing. Today was the first I found out (or internalized) that Pete had lung tumors. I knew he was elderly and becoming increasingly frail, and somehow my memory has it catalogued as crawled up on Charlie's lap and crossed the bridge. I hope he was not suffering. 💜
I think you may have missed the mark on understanding your audience.
Like you, I think we have to mimic mama animals in our responses to dangerous behavior. They cuff and bite. It’s not cruel, or unnatural. It’s a lesson.
I understand. With Auggie a scolding is all that’s necessary. He is broken hearted to disappoint. But we need to think like dogs, not like humans, and you’re showing that you do.
Dogs have to mind, that is all there is. A friend's Great Pyrenees kept going after the neighbor, did not want to let visitors in the house, etc. Finally the police were called and you know the rest of the story. He was actually doing what he was bred to do. When I got my rescue he was way out of control and extremely nervous. The trainer said, he has to mind. It is not about his feelings, it is about walking down the street safely without being pulled down. It was difficult to understand at first.
Yes - no mama dog ever gave her pups a treat for good behavior. It's all about correcting unwanted behavior. She certainly will deliver a cuff, a growl, a nip or roll junior over to make her point. However, the correction will be timely and appropriate. If I may beg to differ - a human physically striking and inflicting pain on their dog as a training tool is a controversial approach and can do more harm than good. There are many other effective methods of correction; as you say below, a verbal correction is all Auggie needs and the same is true for Rolo and has been for all our previous pooches. If real emphasis is needed, a quick scruff shake gets the message across well; dogs will remember that from times they incurred mama's displeasure and know they have been corrected for doing something inappropriate.
I don’t think anyone is talking about inflicting pain. I know James. A swat is an attention getter. I am now finished with this discussion.
There are other far more gentle ways to teach dogs boundaries. It does require quite a lot of effort to boundary train a dog, but it's worth it because after the training, you can show a dog its boundaries in any location and they will remain within the boundaries until released. Auggie, being a GSD who obviously likes working with Mom, would have no problem learning.
We pet lovers sure keep the vets in business. I hope all three of your guys feel better soon. And please, Auggie, don’t play in the road!
Oh Auggie! Please don’t go in the road! 😲 Glad to hear he used the steps, and I hope Eli and Charlie feel better soon. Wishing you a peaceful day tomorrow.
A circus troupe is the perfect way to describe the actions baby squirrels!
Auggie, please no more playing in the road. Feel better. Arthritis really hurts! Mom and Dad are taking very good care of you and Eli. Relax and look for a pampering kind of day.
I hope Auggie feels better. Years ago my black lab and my sister's Golden decided to go "up street" into the Village we lived in. A neighbor called and asked if they were supposed to be doing that. We went after them and there they were casually walking up the sidewalk side by side, looking as though they were carrying on a conversation. We called them and they stopped with a look on their faces which clearly said "Who us?"
Of course, they were carrying on a conversation!
Years back, we had a wonderful doodle who, in her old age, had gone quite deaf. One evening she squeezed out the bungee corded gate (broken latch) and went wandering around the neighborhood. I was out whistling - which of course she couldn't hear. Luckily, a kind neighbor a few streets away called me. And, with her too, "Who, me?"
Shining healing light on both your beautiful boys ❤️🙌 🐕 🐕🙌❤️
Listen, Auggie....don't be scaring your Mom that way.
Also 90 and plenty humid here in Central Ohio. Expected rain has not fallen. I really don't want to spend 3 hours moving sprinklers around in order to keep our mighty oaks happy.
Yes, I’m relieved not to have to drag sprinklers around.
My dogs are TOTALLY untrustworthy off lead!! And stink at recall efforts!Fortunately we live at the end of a peninsula and they have never gone the direction of the main road!!
I raised West Highland White Terriers for about 25 years. Over those years, I had 6, about 3 at a time. 4 females and 2 males. If one went out, that was fine, but if two or more got out, they were gone. And I mean GONE. They came back when they got around to it and always, filthy and stinky. It was like an assembly line here washing, drying and brushing big little dogs. They were fun and I enjoyed the puppy business, but I’ll never get a dog that requires grooming again! I’ll never get another dog, period. Too old. Stay safe and watch that old dog. Love to you and those biggies!
Sounds scary!
It was terrible! One time, years and years ago, one little old female, Fritters, never came back, ever. We never found her after searching and advertising and worrying . It’s possible she was bitten by a snake but we’ll never know. We did not ever LET them escape, it was always an undercover operation. They were smart little dogs. Together they were a “pack” with laws unto themselves. And we are RURAL! It was devastating for us. I looked for her for years. That’s the worst part, the “not knowing “. Sigh.
Heartbreaking! I feel for you, Claudia. I can vividly imagine how devastated you were.
Wishing Auggie more ball time and snuggles and less pain, we would all agree getting older whether dog or man is not easy when health issues arise.
That is rather strange that he was wandering in the road, maybe waiting for you to come home. So hard to know what they are thinking. Yestie sees an osteopath but also gets a pain med daily since she was diagnosed with Arthritis in November 2023 - I had no idea how much that pain had been affecting her movement until day 3 of the Onsior tablets (5mg once a day for her size of 4.5kg) — she started running around and playing like she was young again. And as she’s now 2.5 years older, I keep watching for signs of her really slowing down with pain again, and then we will up it to two times a day, morning and evening meal. But it made such a huge difference. Many people try all sorts of holistic approaches (I’ve tried several but not all) and some swear by them — I will say the wrong thing, but green lipid mussels or something is a favourite — but what has worked for her is an NSAID that is typically easy on the stomach compared to some. It is taken with her food and we’ve not had any side effects, and after 2.5 years I think any would have become obvious by now.
Oh, poor Auggie… we’re all getting old. Maybe he was chasing a chippy? And I think we all have a “year” where it’s more difficult. For me I can report that 2025 beat the crap out me, because of my eyes. (I’m still driving with confidence and Dr’s blessing!😊) I’m hoping this year stacks up better… so far, so good. 🤞🏼
Snooter smooches sweet pups
I hope so, too. (The Germans don’t give chase to other animals.🤷♀️)
That was going to be my question: could Auggie have been chasing something? Could a coyote have intruded, maybe?
To paraphrase A.A. Milne, and the look in his eye seem to say to the sky, now how to amuse them today!
Your stories are the delight of my workday and I have followed long prior to Pete's passing. Today was the first I found out (or internalized) that Pete had lung tumors. I knew he was elderly and becoming increasingly frail, and somehow my memory has it catalogued as crawled up on Charlie's lap and crossed the bridge. I hope he was not suffering. 💜