<p>I do not recommend using the crate as a time out or any type of punishment. You want the dog to like the crate and consider it a place of comfort. </p>
<p>I use the knee approach to jumping up - just put knee out and turn a little at the same time so there is not hard knock in the chest. The trick is timing. I also use pinch collars. They are only torture devices if misused. The dog trainer I used recommends pinch collars but never recommends a choke collar. She thinks they are dangerous. </p>
<p>Retrieving seems to be an instinct thing. Labs from a strong retrieving line - hunters or field trials - are more likely to love it. The longer the line of house pets, the less the retrieving instinct. Of course, you can train to retrieve, but I don’t think dogs who retrieve for rewards rather than because it is their job ever enjoy it as much. One of the best retrievers I ever knew was a corgi. He belonged to one of my English professors at college and he hung around campus bringing pine cones to everyone in hopes that someone would throw them. He was a stalker about it.</p>
<p>Pinch collars and other training collars should be pulled tight quickly and briefly for correction. It really just helps to get the dog’s attention. I accompany the yank with a very specific verbal correction. It is a firm sound I make that is something like “UH!!” The sound doesn’t matter as long as it is used consistently and only to indicate that the dog is not obeying a command. Pretty soon, the sound suffices and the collar correction is not needed.</p>
<p>Good point about the retrieving, cartera. I guess I was looking at it as being really fun for DH (which it was!) vs. fun for the pup. I suppose New Dog will find some other fun expenditure of energy. (And now that you mention it, Corgi does retrieve toys in the house when we throw them. Never thought to do it for real outside!)</p>
<p>I recently taught my three-year-old poodle to retrieve a ball. She’d never been interested until I discovered the Kong squeaky tennis balls. Those she’ll retrieve. But only if they’re clean. </p>
<p>HOWEVER, I also got help from a professional trainer… who observed that my poodle only brought the toy back if I did NOT chase her down. In fact, when I turned away and looked bored, she brought it all the way back to me. The INSTANT she dropped it, I threw it for her–so that a new throw/chase was the reward for dropping the ball. The first few times, I only threw the ball once or twice and then quit and put it away, which made her MUCH more interested in the game. You don’t want to play any game with your dog to the point where he’s bored with it… at least not if you want him to stay interested (unless it’s part of his genes, like border collies and herding or labs and retrieving).</p>
<p>If you want to learn more about how to make any game more desirable for the dog, google Premack Principle. (It works for people too.)</p>
<p>The corgi is a working/herding breed so they like to have a job. Retrieving is a good job. After the dogs are buddies, maybe the corgi’s retrieving will get the lab more interested.</p>
<p>Thanks for the continued good advice. First night home went well. The boys are wrestling here in my bedroom right now. Just saw Corgi licking New Dog’s ear, which he used to do with Great Old Lab. I still think Corgi could be friendlier. I’d bought a pad for New Dog to lie on in the kitchen. (Corgi already has one.) I left them alone for a bit in there and when I came down Corgi was lying on New Dog’s mat. I tried to put them back in their places but New Dog acted like he didn’t have permission. Or something. New Dog is getting better on a leash, and on the jumping, I think. However, I also got his electric fence collar this morning and we had a session with that–kind of made the no-pulling training go out the window. Oh well–maybe too much to think about at one time.</p>
<p>I am an absolute Cesar Millan fanatic. I think he’s wonderful and have some of his best episodes memorized from watching them so many times. Raising a dog is like raising a child. They know when you “really” mean what you say. If you don’t make it clear by your tone/energy/body language that you “mean” it, a dog will ignore you just like a child will. </p>
<p>Obviously, most of the cases on the Dog Whisperer are problem dogs who already have serious agression issues, neuroses, or obedience issues. The approach to dealing with problem dogs will necessarily be somewhat different than raising a puppy or dealing with minor issues. </p>
<p>He recently did an episode about raising the perfect puppy, choosing 4 very different breeds. Very useful!</p>
<p>Cesar also is careful to match his energy to the dog’s energy. He certainly doesn’t treat a lab or golden retriever in the same way as he would an agressive chihuahua or rottweiler. My 2 favorite episodes were the one where he desensitized the golden lab (former ATA bomb sniffing dog who had also served in Iraq) who was terrified by sounds. He was so gentle with that dog because that was what was needed to help the dog. The other episode was the one with the 2 hyperactive golden retrievers. </p>
<p>I have never felt he was harsh with the dogs. Sometimes he needed to respond forcefully if the dog is trying to attack someone, but he always acts thoughtfully and without anger, even when he has to match the dog’s intensity. If you are dealing with a creature (even a human one) who is out of control, you have to get their attention!</p>
<p>I also love Cesar Millan, and I feel I have learned more from his show and books than from all my other dog training classes (over the past 34 years) and books put together. I changed my attitude toward my dogs, and they are much more respectful of me now. </p>
<p>I also liked the puppy show (that is the subject of his most recent book, with those same puppies). I have a Schnauzer so I liked it that one of the puppies was a Schnauzer. </p>
<p>I liked that bomb sniffing episode too. I like the one with the teacher and her dog who was afraid to walk down the hall of her school. I also remember the episode with the very overweight, handicapped woman who needed help with her companion dog. Cesar was so respectful and kind to her. It was very touching.</p>
<p>I have subscribed to his new magazine and also got it for my mom and her H for Christmas. They like it a lot.</p>
<p>I’m curious how a dog would know you “really mean” SIT when you say SIT unless you actually train the dog to sit? I think Millan has some excellent advice (exercise the dog daily, for example) but… there are easier, more effective ways to train a dog than the ones he shows on TV. The fact is that training a dog requires some work and some regular investment of time; no amount of “body language” is going to change that.</p>
<p>I heard some good advice from Kathy Sdao last weekend: a dog’s first language is not English. It’s not even their second language. A dog has NO CONCEPT of language. </p>
<p>My dogs may not respect me, but they bow to me every morning.</p>