Re: [PyrNet-L] chat: help ASAP

[BCavins303@aol.com]

I dont know if this will help or not but we received some exccellent advice
from a friend in England who has had a good deal of experience with pyrs.  We
make sure that Angel go thru her obedience commands every day.  Even my
granddaughter gets in the act.  Angel must sit when she gets a treat.  She
also must sit if she wants to go outside.  Daily, we give her a bone, and then
shortly afterwards reach down and take the bone from her.  Of course we always
return the bone.  But we praise her big time when we take the bone.  Bob puts
dog bisquits in his teeth so Angel can take it from him.  She knows to wait
until he says OK.  We continually find situations for her to be obedient.  I
think obedience must be practiced daily by all members of the family.  I would
definitely not allow Angel to sleep on either my or Bob's bed.  Angel has her
kennel which she has used as a pup and when its bedtime she immediately goes
into her kennel. Its like having her own personal place.  The kennel is in my
bedroom so I can hear her if she whimpers to go out for a middle of the night
to releive herself.  My granddaughter takes her for walks each day to remind
Angel what HEEL, STOP, NO, AND LET'S GO are.  We are in our second year with
Angel in our life and she remains a very sweet loveable dog.  She is
protective as far as when the doorbell rings and she always goes with me to
the door but she just stands next to me when I open the door.
I take her to Petsmart with me and she loves to have little children pet and
play with her.  They need to know that we are the alpha members in her pack
and not she.  The person who wrote in to say that they have had a problem with
their dog because they cornered the dog to punish it must have rocks in their
head.  No one who had an ounce of brains would put a dog into that situation.
We constantly reward Angel for her good behavior and that seems to work.  We
did have Angel spade while she was still somewhat of a pup.  I can see no
reason to not neuter a dog and I sure dont want her to have even one litter of
pups because I would be concerned what type of home those pups will go to.
I hope some of these suggestions help.
Angel will even go trick or treating tonight with us.  Its amazing how some
people will quickly back away from a big dog.  After all, Angel probably would
lick them to death.
Dave