Another dog-related question - change in behavior - Page 2

**CingularDuality** · 11-30-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedogwarrior

Just last night, I was working at my home office, half of our downstairs, and my son and his two younger sisters were playing with him. Jack, the big dog, was in the other part of the room, and came toward my son, basically forcing him into a corner with a low growl. I stepped in and he backed off right away.

Man, that really doesn't sound good. My opinion only, but you need to put training that dog as your number one priority in life and never let him be out of your arm's reach when your kids are around, OR get rid of him. I don't know how it came to this, but having a large dog cornering your child is not good.

**Sawviper** · 11-30-2007, 11:10 AM

I have helped with and trained myself a number of hunting dogs over the years and have done it with and without shock collars. For training of behavior inside the house I don't really see much use in a shock collar as for the most part you have the dogs attention.

The only time I have ever used a shock collar during training is when the dog is too interested in another situation or is in danger. Having a dog on a leash while hunting is just not going to happen and if hunting with other dogs does not teach them much. Personally I find the beeping option on most shock collars is usually enough notice that they stop and take notice of their surroundings. My current dog has only been shocked one time with his collar and the rest of the time I just use the audible tone to get his attention if he is straying too far or venturing near a road.

And as the testing the collar, I have used every collar I have ever used on the highest setting on myself before I used it on a dog. Really the jolt is so mild on the setting I use that it feels like someone barely flicks you with a finger. It mostly suprises the dog that something touched them, my current dog the one time I shocked him just stopped and cocked his head. I have seen other dogs (usually worthless ones) yelp like they are shot just from the tone.

I think for any type of house training a shock collar is unneccesary, but I think it can be a useful device in some situations and not just being lazy. I personally find them as more of a safety device than a disciplinary tool. I can think of 5 situations off the top of my head where a remote warning device has saved a dog from being hurt or killed.

**FPS_Douglas** · 11-30-2007, 05:42 PM

It also wouldn't be a bad idea to check with your vet. Perhaps there is something physically wrong with the dog.

**khaerus** · 11-30-2007, 07:14 PM

I strongly second the "get the dog to a vet" line. Not saying it's this bad, but I've seen cancer cause this type of behavior in a couple of dogs.

I've seen a good bit of pack behavior, and it's always manifested itself once (albeit violently but never against a human) and never has it taken 7 years to manifest itself.

**BigGaayAl** · 12-01-2007, 02:15 AM

In defense of my first post, and my girlfriends pointers; I have to add that she is doing a course that learns training dogs without punishment and with only positive reinforcement. It is certainly not the quickest or easiest of methods, but it may be very good for a pet (vs an army/police dog).

It is not a voice of experience though, as others in this thread are.

**MDFubar** · 12-01-2007, 09:48 AM

I have to agree with Magnum, I am totally against shock collars of any kind and that is my opinion. I have had dogs and cats all of my life, they co-habitate just fine and I have never had a problem. All of my dogs have always been friendly, even the Husky that I took in when he was 4 years old and abused. Granted, the Husky took some time to "recondition", but the positive reinforcemnet was the best way to go.
For me, my pets are like my children and I assume that most would not put shock collars on thier children. Again, it depends on what you are riasing them for.
As for the most recent problem, definetly get him to a vet and have a complete work-up done. Ask yourself, how irritated are you with others when you are sick? They can not tell you what exactly is wrong, it also sounds like there may have been some jealousy that has manifested over the years.

Good luck!

11-30-2007, 11:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
Sawviper Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wichita, Kansas Age: 32 Posts: 474	Re: Another dog-related question - change in behavior I have helped with and trained myself a number of hunting dogs over the years and have done it with and without shock collars. For training of behavior inside the house I don't really see much use in a shock collar as for the most part you have the dogs attention. The only time I have ever used a shock collar during training is when the dog is too interested in another situation or is in danger. Having a dog on a leash while hunting is just not going to happen and if hunting with other dogs does not teach them much. Personally I find the beeping option on most shock collars is usually enough notice that they stop and take notice of their surroundings. My current dog has only been shocked one time with his collar and the rest of the time I just use the audible tone to get his attention if he is straying too far or venturing near a road. And as the testing the collar, I have used every collar I have ever used on the highest setting on myself before I used it on a dog. Really the jolt is so mild on the setting I use that it feels like someone barely flicks you with a finger. It mostly suprises the dog that something touched them, my current dog the one time I shocked him just stopped and cocked his head. I have seen other dogs (usually worthless ones) yelp like they are shot just from the tone. I think for any type of house training a shock collar is unneccesary, but I think it can be a useful device in some situations and not just being lazy. I personally find them as more of a safety device than a disciplinary tool. I can think of 5 situations off the top of my head where a remote warning device has saved a dog from being hurt or killed. __________________

11-30-2007, 05:42 PM	#18 (permalink)
FPS_Douglas Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 553	Re: Another dog-related question - change in behavior It also wouldn't be a bad idea to check with your vet. Perhaps there is something physically wrong with the dog.

11-30-2007, 07:14 PM	#19 (permalink)
khaerus Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 1,226	Re: Another dog-related question - change in behavior I strongly second the "get the dog to a vet" line. Not saying it's this bad, but I've seen cancer cause this type of behavior in a couple of dogs. I've seen a good bit of pack behavior, and it's always manifested itself once (albeit violently but never against a human) and never has it taken 7 years to manifest itself. __________________ TG Primer--TG FAQs--BF2 Rules/SOPs--TeamSpeak--Admin!

12-01-2007, 02:15 AM	#20 (permalink)
BigGaayAl Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: gent, belgium Posts: 1,437	Re: Another dog-related question - change in behavior In defense of my first post, and my girlfriends pointers; I have to add that she is doing a course that learns training dogs without punishment and with only positive reinforcement. It is certainly not the quickest or easiest of methods, but it may be very good for a pet (vs an army/police dog). It is not a voice of experience though, as others in this thread are. __________________ Support your right to arm bears. ~Cleveland Amory

12-01-2007, 09:48 AM	#21 (permalink)
MDFubar Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Castle, DE Age: 40 Posts: 1,688	Re: Another dog-related question - change in behavior I have to agree with Magnum, I am totally against shock collars of any kind and that is my opinion. I have had dogs and cats all of my life, they co-habitate just fine and I have never had a problem. All of my dogs have always been friendly, even the Husky that I took in when he was 4 years old and abused. Granted, the Husky took some time to "recondition", but the positive reinforcemnet was the best way to go. For me, my pets are like my children and I assume that most would not put shock collars on thier children. Again, it depends on what you are riasing them for. As for the most recent problem, definetly get him to a vet and have a complete work-up done. Ask yourself, how irritated are you with others when you are sick? They can not tell you what exactly is wrong, it also sounds like there may have been some jealousy that has manifested over the years. Good luck! __________________ "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." - General George Patton Jr Acknowledge your teammates' Outstanding and Distinguished efforts: Submit a nomination NEW TO TG START HERE SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP ADMIN LIST TG-21ST DIVISION**

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