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.

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

I'm sorry you feel this way, it's not a prank.

 

 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

No need to be sorry. I hope you get it all sorted out. Although honestly, as great and knowledgeable as the people on this site are, seems like maybe what you need is to get someone over there is person that is experienced with dogs to help.

[Becka]

I agree, Jay--and just a very quick google search for "dog trainer ames iowa" brought up many possibilities. I think Kim and her husband probably need someone who can help them first and foremost to communicate with Oliver.

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

I'm working on this.  I live in a university town and NO ONE is available until September, tis one of the problems of living in a university town.  But trust me we are working on this, and getting him neutured next week.

Until then I'm asking about what "we" can be doing to help Oliver become the wonderful dog we all know he can be and really is!

[Becka]

There's a big difference, though, between tethering him to you--which thus requires him to be tuned in to your every move--and tethering him to an inanimate object, which, as Karen said, is just going to be frustrating for a dog with so much energy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly!

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

when you tether the dog to you how are you doing so?  The only way I can think how to do so would be to hang onto the leash continously with my hand. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Leash goes around your waist. :)

Or clipped to your belt.

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

Ah ok, I don't wear belts, will have to get a longer leash then.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Or you could just wear an old belt around the house for just this purpose. :)

[Kimberly Baxter Packwood]

Good idea, will see if hubs has one I can use. 

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

Mine goes over my shoulder. I pretty much always have at least one dog attached to me when I leave the house, other than for work. Lola wouldn't need the leash at all, although obviously it is necessary as a safety precaution and for legal reasons.