I have a 4 year old dog that is outside only, a 10 year old beagle and recently came upon a stray boxer mix. I got the beagle from craigslist and was already house trained and the 4 year old pit mix, which i am trying to find a home for, is just a mess and is outside because we failed on house training. The puppy, super cute and calm and sweet but seems to be an alpha female and sometimes gets into an fight with the beagle, I can't tell who started it. Does getting a female dog have the same effects as a male, calming it down, taking that aggression down a bit? It seems to be only over food. Not sure. What is the best way to not have the dogs fight and what is the best way to house train. Has anyone done the bell training if so how?
We use Hilton Butler of K-9 Bootcamp in Frisco for training. He is awesome- ###-###-####.
I recommend watching the Dog Whisperer and buying his training tools (DVD's, books). He's excellent at teaching people how to fix agression and other behavior problems.
Hi T.! Sounds like a pack leader issue. Try Aaron at The Educated Dog (theeducateddog.com) - he does wonders!
D.
Crate training is the easiest way to housebreak a dog, and it helps keep them out of trouble by giving them their own space. Keeping them i the crate while you are gone and at night teaches them to wait to go outside, because most dogs won't mess where they sleep. Also when you first start housebreakig, take them out often- after they eat, and after they play hard, and always be where you can see them catch them if they start to have an accident. If you can't supervise them, put them in their crate for a little bit. We use the bell as well, just consisitently ring it every time they go out, and make a big deal of it when they go.
One thing about crate training, don't use it for punishment, they shoud want to go in there. We always give a treat when they get in their crates, and all we have to do is say "everybody in their crate" and the dogs dash down the hall and get in their crates and wait for their treat! It saves them from getting in trouble and saves you from being mad at them all the time.
And the new dog could definitely have some issues as it was a stray and you don't know what its been through to survive. Giving the pupy her own crate may also help her feel more secure with her own space. I agree with what someone else said, feed her separate for a while so she knows she is safe and no one is taking her stuff. She is a puppy, so she should adapt.
HTH!
HTH!
I do rescue and have a variety of dogs. Food aggression is common in dogs that have been abused or out on their own and had to fight to survive. First suggestion is to feed separately, second is training pits because of the breed takes special type of training as they have been bred for years as fighters. There is information on the net or you might contact a pit rescue for information/education about training the breed.....good luck!
