Meet SAM!!!

ehenry · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

Raising dogs is like raising kids. You got to catch them doing wrong and then get their attention over it. How you choose to get his attention is up to you. I know folks that will tare their kids a$$ up for doing wrong but when their dog does wrong all they'll do is shake their finger in the dogs face and say no and they wonder why the dog does things they dont want it to. Go figure.

LadyFish · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

I'm sorry to hear that Pogo. Sam is exactly 2 1/2 right now. Same personality as your "Bailey". I would be heartbroken if he got out and someone nabbed him. Dogs like this are worth a little money. Thats why we have to find a solution to him jumping the fence. Not to mention the leash law in our little community which they enforce with a vengence.

one more cast · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

Nice dog LF, I'm glad he went to a good home.

QC · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

I'm with efhenry on this one LF. Gonna take some stern stuff. I heard a guy say once when he was complimented on how well behaved his dog was "he's not well behaved, just well beaten . . ." Not suggesting that, but Sam'll need some work. I would try sternly telling him to stay at the fence, then walk away 10 steps and turn and say stay, then try ten more etc. I would reward with a treat fairly often during this process as I stretched out the distance and started disappearing (out of sight) for longer and longer. This may take a while, but he needs to be rewarded for staying put, and sternly disciplined for jumping over. I would start with a treat for staying put after the first ten steps even, and physically drag him back in with a lot of negative noise if he didn't. Good luck, he definitely looks and sounds like he is worth the work.

jtexas · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

Sorry to hear about your loss, sounds like you have a great dog there. This is what I learned from sending a previous dog to training school. Sounds like a case of "separation anxiety." Q/C's approach is good. Use a lot of positive reinforcement. Teach him "stay" and "stay-down". Tether his collar to the ground, give the "stay-down" command. Walk a few steps away, wait a few minutes, then praise him & give him a treat. Do that a few times getting farther away each time. Work up to where he'll stay without being tethered. Then walk away out of sight. Once he understands a command, just give it to him once, then say "NO" repeatedly until he does it. Repeating the command won't help because he already knows what he's supposed to do, just say "no" until he does it. No doubt he wants to do the right thing, the anxiety is just too much. Obedience school is expensive, but would probably do the trick. It'd be very effective for a smart dog like Sam. The electric fence is ok, but not a fool-proof solution...I have known dogs that will just get a running start and run through it if they want to bad enough. Another idea is a zip line - you should be able to give him very nearly the full run of the yard but still tethered. It'll help him learn his boundaries. I predict he'll grow out of it as he matures. But as a last resort, see a vet - a tiny bit of valium will help until then. Seriously, in some situations drugs are better for the dog than no drugs, if it's a safety issue.

ehenry · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

You'd really be surpised at how fast a dog learns that doing a certain thing causes pain and that its best not to do that certain thing or else there will be more pain. I had neighbors telling me that Jenny (my 3 year old at the time german shepard) was chasing cars. I saw her do it one day, called her and whipped her pretty good for it. It didnt stop her though. The next time I caught her I was coming down our road in my car from work. I stopped the car, whipped he with my belt till she was hollerin, slammed her head against each wheel of the car then physically threw her over the ditch in to our yard where she hit the ground like a sack of wet sand. Know what????? She doesnt chase cars anymore and she won't get anywhere near the road either.

Pogo123 · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

I've been raising and training dogs most of my life, LF, and Bailey was NOT a wanderer. She wouldn't leave the property unless it was with me. Even when the close neighbor (with whom she was good buddies) would call her over, she would look at me, but not move until I told her it was O.K. Being a batchelor, Bailey was a good companion. She went everywhere with me, was socially well behaved, didn't bark (not at all!!) and loved the outdoors (as all Labs do). She'd retrieve, catch frizbees, sleep in the bow of the boat when I was fishing and was learning to fetch me a bow line from the truck when I was pulling the boat onto the trailer. If you can believe it, I was in the front yard and she went out back which didn't worry me. She normally made her "deposits" in one spot next to the adjoining woods. After a few minutes, though I did get concerned when she didn't return (she was always curious about whatever I was doing). That's the last time I saw her. Through a small woods strip on another side of the back there is a road and a few houses that can be seen from my yard, but ... to this day it remains a mystery, but, I'd bet my next retirement check that she didn't wander off on her own. Of course, she had a collar with her name, my name and a Vet tag which is both good and bad. The Vet tag indicated she was healthy and, friendly as they are, they will respond to their name. Then, too, there are only about 2500 people in this small area and easily half of them knew her. One thing is sure ... whoever took didn't keep her here. Too small a population and too noticable a dog. For a long time after, shop keepers, Marina bums

and bar owners would ask of her when I'd go in alone. All I can hope is that she is in a home where she's appreciated. I'm only now getting to the point of considering another dog, LF. Having had a dog nearly all my life, there's an empty spot without one .. and after Bailey ... it's a very big empty spot.

KM2 · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

I swear I posted to this already, but my little monster must have been getting into something and I never finished. (avatar) Nice Dog LF, labs are wonderful and yours sounds like it has been trained so getting it to stay in the yard will only take a little work and patience. Dog thieves should be strung up by the... That makes me so freakin mad. Because of people like this I will get my pup the imbeded ID tag and considering the tatoo ID too.

ehenry · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

My neighbors have a Chocolate Lab thats been missing for over a week now. We're thinking he ran off with a female in heat and figured he'd come back all beat up and skinny but now I'm beginning to wonder if he's going to make it back. I dont know if the dog would take up with someone because he was pretty leary of strangers but if he's hungry and someone offered him food who knows....

Bob_VT · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

LF, consult the lab retreiver board and post the problem.... people will help. We recently had our lab Cooper neutered (ouch) and we also spent the extra money and had him micro-chipped. I think it was a good investment incase he should ever get away. Bob & Jenn

Bassy · Nov 30, 2005

Re: Meet SAM!!!

I also offer my sympathy, Ladyfish, for your loss. I'm a serious doglover also. Sam is a beautiful dog. there's nothing like the love of a dog. I know your frustration with Sam and he wanting to follow you whenever you leave. My Molly was the same way when we got her. I've worked with her and she's improved, but still needs more work. I am willing because she is just so precious. When we leave we just have to chain her up until we get home. Until Molly gets fully trained,if that's possible. I wish you and Sam all the best. Bassy

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