Say Helloses to Moses

[Finnie]

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[Blue Sky]

Moses. He has finally decided to throw his weight around. Good part is he’s watching the flock and patrolling but he’s pushy at the gates and challenging the other dogs at feed time, leaving his own bowl to eat out of others. More physical with me too. We’ll be ok but as someone a hell of a lot closer to 70yo I’m thoughtful. More dog work is indicated. Any advice on rambunctious is welcome.

 

[Blue Sky]

And yes sometimes my floors are that dirty.

 

[Baymule]

And yes sometimes my floors are that dirty.

They don't look dirty to me. Maybe that's because I'm used to piles of dirt I could plant tomatoes in.

On Moses, I teach my dogs to sit and wait for their food, and I sit with them while they eat. It took 9 months of me pushing Sheba's butt to the ground saying SIT and one day she just did it. I nearly fell over. It didn't take long with Buford because he had the added bonus of Sentry and Sheba whipping up on him for trying to eat their food. I had to teach Buford respect for me a few times by taking him down. grabbing the scruff of his neck, shaking him, snarling and growling.

Put a collar on Moses if he does not have one. Put a leash on him while he eats. Sit in a chair, hold a loose leash, if he tries to wander, a loud AAHHNNTTT! And haul in on the leash. when he returns to his bowl, heap praise on him. If he growls at YOU over his food, feed him separately, take his food away repeatedly, giving it back to him when he behaves. Once he has respect for you, go back to feeding the group, tie him up to feed him until he gets the message that only his food is his.

Sentry tried to take Buford's food, it was an Alpha dog thing. I started sitting with them and telling Sentry AAAHHNNTTT! whenever he left his food and tried to take Buford's.

Now I only have Sheba and Sentry, they have enough respect for each other that I can walk off and do other things when I have to, but I prefer to sit with them, it is our special time together.

 

[fuzzi]

And yes sometimes my floors are that dirty.

 

[Mini Horses]

My barn has dirt floors -- makes the house look ok

 

[Baymule]

Animals help us sort out what is important and what is not.

 

[fuzzi]

Animals help us sort out what is important and what is not.

 

[Blue Sky]

Thanks everyone. Moses needs a firmer hand than I thought he would. More training ahead.

 

[Baymule]

Thanks everyone. Moses needs a firmer hand than I thought he would. More training ahead.

Watch the pack order. It is astonishing how the dogs sort out who is the leader. That's why I knew to take Buford down, shake him by the scruff of his neck, growl and snarl at him until he whimpered. I established myself as the leader. And he adores me, you should see the love in his eyes! Sentry (RIP) was the pack leader, I just did what he did.

It sounds like Moses is the pack leader. A strong personality, he is the top dog and it is his right to push the others around to establish dominance. You have to assert dominance over him.