Highly recommend this.....

[Canis-Lupess]

LOL, I bet they take up some space when all sprawled out like that. They wouldn't fit in any one room in our house, haha. Everything seems to be bigger in the states. On our little island, things are often much smaller.

I agree that dogs much prefer to know their place. People who allow their dogs too many privileges to the point where it thinks it is higher ranking than them don't realise how stressed their dog is because it is constantly being inadvertantly challenged and always on it's guard as a result. Such a dog can never relax.
Still, some people refuse to accept that dogs think differently than humans. They refuse to respect it for the creature that it is and insist it is a human child subsitute instead.

My aunt and uncle are like that with their jack russell, their obese jack russell I might add. Whenever somebody goes to the house like myself and my aunt pays attention towards the visitor, this jack russell screams it's head off as loud as it can. My aunt whinges at me to give her a fuss because thats all she thinks she wants but I always refuse and totally ignore her instead. Thats what makes her do it to start with, giving in and fussing her. Then when they get sick of hearing her because she really is loud and shrill, they shout at her and that just makes her worse but they refuse point blank to listen to me.
She's bitten them all too when they've tried removing her from the settee or bed and my uncle can't sleep in the master bed with my aunt anymore. He has to sleep elsewhere because she won't let him in the bed. I know what I'd do with her, haha. *Devil smiley*
I told them years ago she'd start doing that and I'm right but they still won't listen to me.

After I have finished my current painting, they want me to paint this jack russell for them. I said I'd do her providing the docked tail couldn't be seen and also avoid doing the fat body to start with so the painting will mainly be her head and such.

[borzoimom]

People make a big mistake of "WELL I AM ALPHA" and the dogs are whatever- .. dogs like to know where they go in the pack.. It prevents chaos and worries and behavior problems as well..

[K9soul]

I've read the book by Jan Fennell and really enjoyed it. She really lays out in easy-to-understand terms the way to be a leader without being "aggressive", but by consistent behaviors that dogs understand. I enjoyed her stories, although oddly I don't remember the one about two JRTs wanting to kill each other. It has been awhile since I read the book but I don't recall that one. The only thing I remember disagreeing with is that she seemed to imply that every single behavioral problem a dog may have has to do with either the dog trying to be alpha or the dog believing it has the responsibility of being alpha, or feeling insecure and uncertain of the pack order. While I do believe a good many behavioral problems stem from this, I don't think ALL of them do in EVERY case. Sometimes she seems to oversimplify it some, but I would definitely recommend the book to others, especially new dog owners or people not very familiar with dog behavior and a dog's way of "thinking." She really explains and illustrates her points well. I think most dog behavioral issues could be helped by following her advice on how to take the leadership role in the relationship.

[mike001]

I've read Jan Fennell's book and just loved it. I do disagree on the pack thing though. I too have made the mistake of trying to feed by taking turns, but have come to realize that their order should remain what it is. I feed by order now also. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed her book. I've also read "Beyond Obedience" by April Frost, didn't find it as interesting as Jan Fennell.

[whalelover]

If you're interested in this method, I would highly reccoment reading more on/watching Cesar Millan, (Dog whisperer), who has a show on National Geographic Channel. Ever since I've heard about him I can't stop watching his show, and his methods are unsurpassed (in my opinion). He also has a book out, Cesar's Way.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Excellent! I will be doing a lot of reading in the near future