30# of Bones !,,and a beef heart,, - Page 6

Slam: Your story takes me way back to a couple of real hard dogs that changed my life forever.  Thank you for the fond thoughts.

LF, it's easy to say, "if this were my dog, we'd have had a come-to-[insert deity of choice here] meeting long ago and the dog would never again do XYZ", when you haven't met the dog in question, or any of his relations who have similar personalities. I haven't met Prince, either, but I have met dogs of similar breeding who have/had the same point of view as he does, and part of the trouble comes from  being blindsided when these dogs start to show their attitude at 10 weeks of age, and are more serious about it than a lot of adult dogs will ever be. Kevin Nance's description of his experiences with Prince's mother gives me an even clearer picture of Prince--as does Ruger1's recollection about Prince's mother completely dismissing her from the face of the earth when Ruger went to see puppy Prince--and I'd warrant most folks here wouldn't have been prepared to deal with what Prince is laying down, either. Have you ever worked a 10 week old pup that was so outraged about being restricted by a leash that it came up the lead at you, with full sincerity and intention to punish you for that insult?  It's quite the experience.  With an owner who is committed to their dog, such a pup can become a legendary one in that person's life.  With the average owner, it either becomes a pass-around dog that bounces through home after home after home, or it doesn't even get those chances and is taken straight to the euthanasia room of an overcrowded shelter.

I agree with Slamdunc, that this one dog will teach her more than 100 easy dogs ever could--and every dog that enters Ruger1's life in the future will benefit from what Prince teaches her. I also believe that the two of them were paired up for a reason, because I do believe in the adage that a person "doesn't always get the dog they wanted, but they do always get the one they deserve".  Ruger1 is determined to put the work in with Prince, and I admire her for that commitment. Yes, she's missed opportunities, because nobody's perfect--but she doesn't cover them up, she asks for help instead.

Edited to add:  Every time I see this thread title, I can't help but think of the Beck song, "Where It's At (Two Turntables & a Microphone)". Yeah, I'm not right. But that is a great song.

Well said, Hexe. Anyone who would have tried to send Blitz to meet his maker would have lost at least a finger in the attempt. Before I owned him, I'd have said the same thing - no dog of MINE would ever get away with that.

"I agree with your entire post and Kelly is an excellent resource, Keith, sorry not so much."

Aw, see how you are?  Just when I was actually going to agree with some of what you've said in this thread, you had to go and be a jackass.  I'm sorry that your mommy didn't hold you enough as a child but if taking pot-shots at people who aren't even here posting most of the time makes you feel better about yourself, I'm glad to help.  You know, if you spent half as much time actually training dogs as you do posting on internet forums about how great you are, you might be 1/10th the dog person you pretend to be to those who don't know any better.

"By four he was a hot SchH 3."

Sure he was.  What was his registered name, again?

 

Paul,
Your story takes me way back to a couple of real hard dogs that changed my life forever. Thank you for the fond thoughts

They sure do leave a lasting impression and teach us some very valuable lessons. 


Keith,
Sorry that your offended, it's too bad.  Unfortunately, you would not be a person that I would suggest as a good source for training advice.  That was not personal, I am just unaware of any dogs that you have trained to do anything or any accomplishments that you may have in the working dog world.  So, to include you in the same reference as the other well known and respected trainers seemed a bit of a stretch.  I understand why your name was mentioned, because you owned a dog related to Prince.  However, that didn't go very well.  I am not sure how your limited experience, despite the fact that you think you are a real "working dog person" would benefit Ruger1.  Title a couple of hard dogs from pups, then I will gladly include you as a resource on dog training.  Your not there yet. 

Now on a more personal level, I don't need you to agree with me.  I don't care what you think or what you have to say to me.  I have little to no respect for you as a person and even less as a pet owner.  I train and work dogs everyday and do not need to explain myself to you nor will I bother. 

Aw, see how you are? Just when I was actually going to agree with some of what you've said in this thread, you had to go and be a jackass.

Yup, this is how I am, I have no use for you and don't care for you.  That is how it is and that is how I am.  You can try to insult me, I really don't care.  I would respond and tell you exactly what I think of you but it would be deleted for violating the TOS.  Plus, I'd rather not derail or hijack this thread.  Sorry, but we are still not having that bromance. 

deleted
..never mind..i cant respond to someone who did not read past 1st sentence...

LF, I DID  "...read past the first sentence"--and what I was addressing was your statement, "its hard to completely understand YOU because either we are "harder" people and would have never had this happen to us more than once ...".

Maybe you ARE 'harder' than Ruger1,  maybe you're harder than I am...and then again, maybe you're not. And then again, maybe you've just never dealt with a dog that required you to look at every interaction, each feeding, even just a casual scratch behind the ears through a lens of how it would affect the balance of power between your dog and you. Have you lived that way with a dog you loved?  Where everything those of us who have more biddable dogs take for granted--playing fetch using just a single toy, letting the dog sleep on the bed with you, tossing the dog a scrap of tomato while making a salad--is a matter of significance and must be rationed for best effect, or banned altogether? 

I found it offensive that you would accuse Ruger1 of  "...not teaching him that all this will be taken away and he has to earn his priviledges...", when she has gone far and away beyond what the average pet owner would likely do to address the conflict, and light years beyond the amount of effort someone who had purchased the dog strictly for show or sport would be willing to put into getting the situation straightened out.  You cited your experience with Dozer growling over his food bowl, but tell me this--what was your plan if Dozer hadn't permitted you to pick that bowl up that first time, and he instead 'tenderized' the meat of your hand with four puncture wounds and several lacerations [or worse, your face, if you were bending over to pick up the bowl]?

Yes, it is fair to say that Prince's temperament is faulty, because though he DID get the confidence, strength of nerve and protectiveness the breed is meant to have, he didn't get his full shipment of 'biddability'; that doesn't mean he's insane or Ruger1 is weak, and it doesn't signify that Ruger1 isn't doing anything to improve Prince's biddability.  She IS trying, she HASN'T given up on this dog, and she seeks out help when she recognizes that she made a misstep.  I read where you say you don't mean to be insulting, but whether it was intended or not, I found your post to be insulting and rather belittling. This is the first dog Ruger1 has had in her life who required a "boot camp" lifestyle, so every day is a learning experience for her and her family. And yeah, maybe you ARE harder than she is, but maybe she's a better singer than you are. Everybody's got their strong suits, but it's how we persevere and deal with the stuff that plays against our Achilles' heel that really show the measure of a person.

" Everybody's got their strong suits, but it's how we persevere and deal with the stuff that plays against our Achilles' heel that really show the measure of a person."

Hexe,,I don't know what it is about all your posts on this thread, but they all give me a lump in my throat!,,

I can not tell you how encouraging your posts have been,,Thank you so very very much,,,

This is not aimed at anyone and just a thought I had this morning.

One of the best tools I have is a kennel. I have new dog that is hard, aggressive, possessive and poorly trained. But he loves to go. I use that as my tool. If he wants to be an ass I will back the truck in the yard and load up another dog and ignore him. This works great for him. The point is, finding the right weapon (bribe) is the key in many cases. If you are not willing, ready and able to train and correct any behavior put the dog up. It is safer for you and the dog and can save a lot of bad training issues next week.