Bear's first time off leash!! ... She wont drop things when told

[king2005]

To open a large dogs mouth- you did what you should. There is a spot on the gum above the canine- the skin is soft and if you apply pressure- they will open their mouths. Its like a muzzle pressure point- even used by vets to open the jaw of a dog under anethesia..
Take your hand on top the of the muzzle = with thumb on one canine lip area, pinky finger on the other side- gently press and say drop. The dog will let go- and as soon as the dog does- praise. Even offer another toy instead. ( pig ears withstanding but something else would work as well).
This is also the same part of the muzzle a dominant dog would mouth a subdominant dog. Do not apply much pressure- be sensitive when it opens. Attaching a brief video using hottie as a model to show you what I mean. View My Video

Thank you so much!

I was pretty close at do it like that.. I was a bit closer to Bears face, so I guess thats why I had to add a little more pressure... but now I know the sweet spot & will show the guys & start using it on her tonight with a pigs ear & other random things.

This is wonderful news
I know she'll pick it up fast, as shes sooo darn smart & loves to please for kisses, pats & hugs.

[borzoimom]

One more thing- the second the dog gives in, you release this as you saw in the video.. ( Borzois are drama queens- if this hurt him- you would have known it reallll quick!- its just a pressure point but better than getting into a tug of war..)

[BC_MoM]

Just another tip... don't overpraise! These are life essentials and things that will need to be followed the rest of Bear's life.

[borzoimom]

Exactly- as you noticed I only said good boy.. I did not say drop it because if I had, he would have opened his mouth and you would not have seen how to do it.. The words " drop it" should be said as well..

[king2005]

Exactly- as you noticed I only said good boy.. I did not say drop it because if I had, he would have opened his mouth and you would not have seen how to do it.. The words " drop it" should be said as well..

I don't have sound on my work PC saddly.. but now I know

Thank you guys so much for the tips

[Freedom]

I want to see TWO videos. The first is . . . a human repeatedly carrying a dog off the human's seat to the doggie sofa, only to have the dog rush back and beat the human to the first seat. Over and over. Like you said you did.

Next, I want to see the crate when it arrives. Because I have a feeling that, if given his choice, Mr. Biggles will have YOU in it!

Seriously, it does sound as though you are on the right track with both of them. And that is GREAT!!!

Only thing I am NOT sure of, is can you as alpha dictate which of them is higher in rank? I know you can insist Bear be first, in eating, praise, going out, coming in' but that is not rank. I always thought the human is the alpha and then the pack works out the rest between them. Maybe someone has some info on this, as I saw you wrote you want Mr. Biggles to learn he is at the bottom of the rank. Just not sure that is your decision, it may be between the 2 of them.

[king2005]

I want to see TWO videos. The first is . . . a human repeatedly carrying a dog off the human's seat to the doggie sofa, only to have the dog rush back and beat the human to the first seat. Over and over. Like you said you did.

Next, I want to see the crate when it arrives. Because I have a feeling that, if given his choice, Mr. Biggles will have YOU in it!

Seriously, it does sound as though you are on the right track with both of them. And that is GREAT!!!

Only thing I am NOT sure of, is can you as alpha dictate which of them is higher in rank? I know you can insist Bear be first, in eating, praise, going out, coming in' but that is not rank. I always thought the human is the alpha and then the pack works out the rest between them. Maybe someone has some info on this, as I saw you wrote you want Mr. Biggles to learn he is at the bottom of the rank. Just not sure that is your decision, it may be between the 2 of them.

The couch part is almost right.. I wasn't sitting on it.. He would only rush over to our couch when I left the room. Andrew is a push over so the dogs walk all over him. Mr. Biggles KNOWS when I'm in the room, he cannot sit on the couch... so when I'm in the laundryroom he thinks I'm stupid or something

I want Mr. Biggles to back off of Bear. She doesn't have a mind of her own, shes too dependent of him & he uses that to his advantage & also gets her riled up when out on a walk & they see another dog. He also nips her & pesters her pretty baddly. He'll try to bully her away from her food & water dish. He also thinks he boss with us.

So my goal is to make him a lower rank in the house, so I can gain control over him & so Bear can be a little more independent... She depends on him WAY too much, to the point that she'll only mess inthe house when he does, snarl when he does, eat when he does, & so on. Bear is so use to being walked all over shes not really dog like at times, but more robot like. Its really hard to explain. But Mr. Biggle is a HUGE part of that issue.

Humans are to be alpha, not Mr. Biggles.. Weather he likes it or not, hes stuck with us & will obey over time. Its just gonna take a lot of work.

Mr. Biggles is getting more & more bold & Chad has almost had it with him. Mr. Biggles doesn't care what you do, how many times you move him or scold him (verbal NOs & forcably moving him from one couch to the other), hes gonna do what HE wants to do... Hes gotten Snippy with Chad & thats one thing Chad has a HUGE issue with. Bear will grawl, but wont snap, so we get warning & can correct her ASAP(she has improved big time).. Mr. Biggles just SNAPS & he nearly bit Chad.

I need to correct his attitude before Chad looses it & wants him gone. Chad is around people all the time & doesn't want Mr. Biggles to bite someone if they try to shoo him off the couch or something. I'd rather not have to put him down from a bite, or return him to the shelter.

We love Mr. Biggles, so we'll work hard to make him a more family member suited in our home.. He just needs to learn is all... Once he's knocked down a few knotches in rank, everyone will get a long much better


its home time, & I can take photos of the pups as the house is almost finished being set up, WOOT!!

I'll try to make little videos of them singing.. yes they can sing (howl), its the funniest thing ever... Dale descovered it hehehe