What do you do "wrong"?

[Zhucca]

I was out walking Journey earlier tonight (on leash to our park) and some stupid guy yelled to "who's walking who?" to me all because I let her walk ahead of me (not pulling). It's just a casual walk... I don't get what the bid deal is either. She certainly has no plans as far as I know to take over the world to me just because I let her walk ahead LOL.

I've gotten that too! I was walking Boomer downtown and he was walking in front of me, nicely, and a woman passing said "Who's walking who?" My goodness, mind your own business.



I'm not sure what I really do 'wrong'.

I don't transition kibble.

I let Duke beg, as long as he's "polite" about it.

I encourage him to disrespect barriers (climb/jump fences, open doors)

I bathe him once a week. Apparently that's bad because of the oils in their coat. But he gets so smelly...

He hasn't been to any training classes I said I was going to get him in like.. two years ago.

I don't leash Duke, ever. (or Boomer) Unless he's going for a leashed walk around the block.

bout it I think. He gets his daily exercise every day without fail, so at least I'm consistent with that!

 

[medusozoan]

:rofl1: @ the whole "not letting your dog walk out the door before you".. thing.
I mean come on honestly, why is this even such a "rule" with people, who cares? lol

I mean, I HATE pulling on the leash. But if he is a few steps ahead on the way out or runs out into the yard to play.. seriously is not a concern of mine.

When "working" sure, but that's part of being right by my side. but usually, like to go on walks.. I really don't see the harm of him walking in the door before me.

It's definitely a dominance training thing. Cesar Millan teaches this to people during his 'training' sessions. He claims allowing the dog to go in front of you makes it believe it is dominant. Basically, he is trying to go against the traits we have bred into guardian breeds for hundreds and hundreds of years.


Anywho, something else I do 'wrong'. Rockefeller has only had the shots he already had when he came to me at 6 months old. I don't intend on updating them anytime soon unless I absolutely feel that I need to. I do try to share with people the information available about over-vaccination, whether they believe it or not. But I feel much better with my decision not to haul him in every year or so when the vaccine is still viable.

I'm also perfectly fine with reasonable tethering.

 

[sassafras]

One of the reasons why I like working in the evening so much is because that way I can spend the morning exercising the dogs, and then I don't have to worry about doing it when I get home. And I worry about them less when I'm at work.

I'm the same way. As much of a drag as it is to be at work later, I get WAY more done with the dogs in the morning before work in the afternoon than after work in the morning.

Not trying to harp, but isn't it actually dangerous, not just "frowned upon", to mix kibble and raw meat into one meal because of the varied digestion rates?

Honestly, I've never bought into this theory. And I do it all the time.

 

[Saeleofu]

@ the whole "not letting your dog walk out the door before you".. thing.
I mean come on honestly, why is this even such a "rule" with people, who cares? lol

I mean, I HATE pulling on the leash. But if he is a few steps ahead on the way out or runs out into the yard to play.. seriously is not a concern of mine.

When "working" sure, but that's part of being right by my side. but usually, like to go on walks.. I really don't see the harm of him walking in the door before me.

My dogs are ALWAYS out the door before me. I'm the one who has to close the door on the way out. Why go out first just to turn around and close the door after my dog comes out?

Even working, Logan goes through doors first. Why? Well, he's in a freaking guide harness! Doing guide work! He's always ahead of me lol.

 

[crazedACD]

It's definitely a dominance training thing. Cesar Millan teaches this to people during his 'training' sessions. He claims allowing the dog to go in front of you makes it believe it is dominant. Basically, he is trying to go against the traits we have bred into guardian breeds for hundreds and hundreds of years.

I'm NOT a Cesar fan, but I do believe it helps in certain situations with certain behaviors. Not for 'dominance' reasons though . I think the point of going through the door first (at least for walks) comes around to more getting the dog calm, stable, and focused on you, rather than rushing out in a 'frenzied' state. I certainly don't care how my dogs go out the front door, but they aren't reactive. I do try to keep the dogs calm when going out back because 8 dogs going out at once in a ball of chaos can cause a squabble .

I think some of what Cesar does is right on (there are a few major things I disagree- "TSSSSST" :rofl1, but his ideology isn't the way I see it.

 

[sassafras]

But whether the dog is calm or frenzied at the door really has nothing to do with who actually goes out the door first.

 

[RBark]

I probably would not have left Priscilla or Ollie alone for 12 hours straight, like I do with Kobe. Kobe goes to a daycare for 8 hours a day (I work 10-12 hours a day, my neighbor brings Kobe to daycare and drops him off along with her own BC).

There's usually 1-2 days a week where my neighbor can't take him, and on those days he's home alone from 4am to 3-5pm. He gets free roam of the house, but that doesn't matter. He just naps all day long. I could crate him, and he'd be OK with that as well.

Kobe has the right personality for this activity level, and he's not what most people would consider "low energy", though he deceptively is. At the daycare, he's used to "test" new dogs, and has free roam of the place, and gets to play with both the big and little dogs. So he gets a lot of activity, interaction, and excitement during daycare.

These activities usually have him winded out that he's out like a light when I get home, regardless of whether he was at Day Care or left at home. This works for me at this point in my life. I do plan, hopefully, on picking up a more person-oriented pup in Spring 2014 (Kobe is overwhelmingly aloof) and my life would be adjusted accordingly, if it was not, I would not be picking up this puppy.

So Kobe is perfect for me at this point in my life given his aloof demeanor and extreme, to the point of absurdity, friendliness and interest in other dogs rather than to the people he's with. So yeah, 12 hours straight alone would be a lot of people's definition of neglect, especially considering I often don't do much with him in the evenings.

 

[Whisper]

I'm a meanie about the door. I always make them wait before I say "okay," and then they run out. Not for any "dominance" reason, or even NILIF, just because I knew a dog who bolted out the door and immediately got hit by a car.

Everything I do has already been listed. My dogs are rarely walked on a leash. I'm not gradual when changing food, etc., etc. I can't stand begging behaviors, though, and jumping on people is not okay.

When I do get a job I am worried about how long I'll have to be away from my dogs. My mom would be here if I still live with her, but the dogs don't listen to her.
I think some people are so silly about dogs needing you to be there 23 and a half hours a day. There is one situation that bothers me though, because it's very unfair to the dogs. This woman has 2 dogs. One is a puppy who is left free in the house all day with no toys, NOTHING to do. Then when the puppy chews up the couch she gets yelled at 12 hours later. Ugh.

 

[katielou]

Getting Abe out the door is a challenge for us so I don't have to worry about making him wait or anything. It usually goes "go on, out, go, get out the door dog, would you just get out the **** door Abraham!"

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm NOT a Cesar fan, but I do believe it helps in certain situations with certain behaviors. Not for 'dominance' reasons though . I think the point of going through the door first (at least for walks) comes around to more getting the dog calm, stable, and focused on you, rather than rushing out in a 'frenzied' state. I certainly don't care how my dogs go out the front door, but they aren't reactive. I do try to keep the dogs calm when going out back because 8 dogs going out at once in a ball of chaos can cause a squabble .

:rofl1: Gusto comes out more frenzied if I make him wait. Generally, I let both dogs just walk out the door. But Gusto (and Meg too, although to a slightly lesser extent) has done so many crate games that as soon as I tell him to wait, he gets into hyper-tense ReadyReadyReady mode, and goes bursting out the door like Mentos and Diet Coke the second I release him.

 

[StillandSilent]

I want both of my dogs in front of me. They both have stranger issues, and I much prefer to see what they see as they see it, so I can take appropriate steps. If they are at my side, or even slightly behind, I risk not hearing the person behind us until it's too late.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I'm NOT a Cesar fan, but I do believe it helps in certain situations with certain behaviors. Not for 'dominance' reasons though . I think the point of going through the door first (at least for walks) comes around to more getting the dog calm, stable, and focused on you, rather than rushing out in a 'frenzied' state. I certainly don't care how my dogs go out the front door, but they aren't reactive. I do try to keep the dogs calm when going out back because 8 dogs going out at once in a ball of chaos can cause a squabble .

Yeah, I feel this way too. Not for dominance reasons and whatnot, but I find it sooo annoying when a dog won't listen to me and STAY BACK away from the door when I want you to. I dogsat my grandma's Foxhound and she just had no concept of waiting and it was so annoying. You'd go by to open the door and she just shoves herself in between you and the door, nose touching it, waiting to fly out the door. She runs away too so this is a big problem.

Jackson understands he has to wait and even if the door is wide open, he's not going to go flying out of it. Only exception is at my dads house, if all 3 dogs see something outside and start barking, I just open the door and all 3 go flying out.

I guess I'm fairly lucky though because for the most part, Jackson is kind of 'naturally' well behaved. So, while of course he has his moments, and I allow certain things that some would probably find super annoying, but whenever I've dogsat for some other dogs, I'm always SO thankful mine is not like it, lol, and so much more appreciative of Jackson. Yes, he has a shrill high pitch bark and yes he begs badly for food (and will steal it if given the chance)... but he's pretty naturally 'easy' with no major behavioral problems. So I'm not sure what I'd be like or allow if I had a dog that did certain behaviors (i.e. pulling on the leash an entire walk annoys the crap out of me, I can't walk a dog like that. I could care less if I see other dogs doing it, *I* just couldn't walk a dog like that for an entire walk). Jackson walks in front of me all the time, and I could care less, I just don't want him pulling. Even if he's on the 26ft flexi, he'll go out to the end and then not pull once he's to the end point.

 

[LostAndConfused]

Hudson isn't super pushy about the door, but maybe that's because I've shut his head in it a few times when he has tried to sneak through behind me.

 

[Fran101]

"Don't overuse their names or they will learn to ignore it"

Me @ the park..
"MERLLLINNNN MERLLINNNNNN MERLIN MERLIN MERLIN MERLIN MERLIMERLIMERLINHEAD FLUFFY BUTT MERLIN"

Me @ home
"hey Merlin. Hi Merlin. Hi Merlin. MERRRllIIiiIIIIiNNnnN. Merlinator. Merlinbunnybutt."

While he's on my lap
*in the tune of Call me baby while flapping his arms around* "Hey Merlin merlin, hey merlin merlin, hey merlin merlin, MERLIN MERLIN"

:rofl1:

 

[Southpaw]

I hate when my dogs lollygag and don't get out the door before me! I like to shut the door as I'm walking out and that just doesn't work when they're in the way lol.

 

[*blackrose]

All of my dogs wait to go out the door (drives me NUTS when they door rush). Cooper, Gracie, and Cynder will even sit/stay and then go out one at a time when their name is called.

But as soon as their name is called, you bet they are barreling out that door like there is no tomorrow. LOL

 

[houlahoops]

I am a terrible dog owner.

RULE: Don't make a fuss when you walk through the door, as it encourages separation anxiety.
REALITY: "DOOOOOGGGGGSSSS COME SEE ME I MISSED YOU"

RULE: No dogs on the couch.
REALITY: -shoves dog off counter to make sandwich-

RULE: Use commands the dog is familiar with.
REALITY: "Shut up. Stop talking. Seriously? I am working and I can't handle your problems right now."

 

[sassafras]

I egg him on when he does stuff like this, then get punched in the chest.

 

[Cali Mae]

I see the majority are already posted, but the ones that are most suited to me are probably:

1) Dogs don't understand words, just say no.

"Moses, please go away... I'm trying to eat *throws a piece of food into the kitchen to get a brief moment of quiet*" "Moses, they're not going to come and break into the house... they're here fixing a window"

Or tonight: "Cali, you cannot go say hi to every single dog and person you see. I'm sorry but you're just going to have to calm down... or else we'll go sit in the car, okay?"

2) Use your dog's name sparingly.

Nope, not even close to sparingly... although she goes by many nicknames too.

3) Don't let your dogs on furniture/etc and don't reward for jumping up.

Not letting Cali jump up on people is a lost cause... she's too adorable and everyone she meets encourages it. But, half the time, she lays on their feet and rolls over on her back instead. She'd happily abandon me for anyone, as sad as that is. I got asked today if she was friendly, so I told them that she might even be too friendly... it didn't take them long to figure out that I was serious.

4) Keep your dog beside you on a walk, etc.

I'm not strict about that, as long as she's not behind me or pulling. She typically walks loosely right beside me or slightly ahead though... and sometimes stops to sniff grass or check and see if anyone is behind us.

5) Don't feed your dog people food.

Cali doesn't get table scraps, etc so begging isn't a problem, unless someone has an apple... my mom made the mistake of giving her a piece and now she has a huge obsession with them. Moses is horrible though about begging, we were four and five when we got him so we would always give him scraps, etc.

 

[OwnedByBCs]

I am a terrible dog owner.

RULE: Don't make a fuss when you walk through the door, as it encourages separation anxiety.
REALITY: "DOOOOOGGGGGSSSS COME SEE ME I MISSED YOU"

RULE: No dogs on the couch.
REALITY: -shoves dog off counter to make sandwich-

RULE: Use commands the dog is familiar with.
REALITY: "Shut up. Stop talking. Seriously? I am working and I can't handle your problems right now."

OMG this sounds just like me, I am so blasé when it comes to my dogs' manners LMAO