Oliver Hurt Angel Tonight

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

Oliver hurt Angel, our 15 year old 12 pound sheltie, again tonight. Hubs said it  was dominance behaviour he tried to mount her after flinging her about the room  which apparently all happened in the bit of a heart beat.  I was doing  laundry so wasn't present. 

I'm at a loss as to what to do when he tries to  dominate her, and it's NOT playing!  I did finally find out from the  previous owners that he's an alpha male to the point that even the husband cowed  to him.  

He's ONLY nine months old and weighs 75-85 pounds already!  Submission techniques are  not working on him he wants to push everyone and everything onto the floor and stand on top of them.

No he's not neutered.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Fair enough - I think that technically if it's a prong collar then it's not literally a Martingale?  I just meant it has the Martingale thingy to tighten and release.

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

I see, you are right, that was misleading - especially since HS makes Martingale collars that are not prong collars.  Typing too fast and didn't proof.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I no longer use it like that since I have the leash clipped through both rings. Of course my collars have lots more prongs than yours : )

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Actually now that I think about it, what I do the most with it is just kind of jingle it.  That has kind of become a covert cue for "sit".

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

With Angel all I have to do is snap my fingers and point at the floor and she will sit, she's terrified of the clickers.  I'm hoping to get Oliver to this point as well, he's doing better today with the snap and point to sit. 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

"Can function as a slip lead in a pinch".  I crack myself up.  PUN NOT INTENDED.

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

thank you, I will show this to hubs, between the two of us we should be able to come up with something I can use, we may have to make two of them one for me and one for him since I'm shorter.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I have concerns or questions.

1. Many have suggested you tether this dog to you and it is a great idea, however you mention you have a heart condition and a bad knee.  This method does work great with new puppies who are smaller.  A large, untrained, puppy with a small woman with bad knees and a heart condition?   It is a good option for so many but I do not think this is a good idea at all.

2.  The Run.  Is this a cable run or a kennel run?  Truly, this sounds as if this dog may be outside and in a kennel.  

I know you meant well, and I have taken on several large puppies myself. I was young and it was still overwhelming.  My thoughts are that this dog may be too much.   

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

1. I"m not a small woman by any stretch of the means!  I'm also quite strong for my size, it's just taking me some time to get up to a three mile at a whack walk, but that's ok because apparently Oliver isn't up to walking that far right now as well. 

 2. It's a standard fence type run, cyclone fencing up to six feet with all the bells and whistles, we got it up tonight and took him off his leash and John played with him for a good half hour in there, while miss Angel and I watched from the side lines.  He absolutely loves the space and it was apparent he was enjoying himself being able to run full bore it's 10x30x6 feet and I'm looking for two more 12 foot panels for the run. 

 FWIW the run is ONLY for play time NOT a place to keep him full time.  I live in a community where dogs disappear and on a regular basis and I could never live with myself if something happened to him all because he was outside by himself!  How people can leave their dogs outside unattended is beyond me, I'd no sooner leave my dog outside unattended than I would a two year old human, which is what he is in essence! 

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

I'm not giving up on Oliver and the fact that others think I should is just plain offensive!

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

I will have to go back to my FB page, I think I may have been really upset when he tossed Angel.

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

I'm working on training hubs to crate Angel when things start to get rough.  Yes he may do it again, my biggest concern was is he playing or is he being aggressive.   I suspect that now that we have the run to play with him in, where it's safe from furniture, windows, etc., this situation will improve.  He was quite calm last night after his 30 minute play time and then walk.