AboutKristen Cabe Expertise I can answer training questions, both basic and advanced, and am familiar with almost all of the methods and tools used. I am not closed-minded and do not think that one method and one tool is the best/only way to train. I answer questions with consideration to both the owner`s and the dog`s needs and abilities. I am also very knowledgeable about canine nutrition.
IF YOU HAVE A HOUSETRAINING QUESTION, PLEASE go to my web page on housetraining, located at http://housetraining.angelfire.com. If you try the suggestions there, and are still having problems, let me know.
Experience I have been training for more than five years. I am currently involved in the sport of Schutzhund, and also plan to pursue AKC obedience and tracking titles.
Question For the problem with overpasses, I've tried just holding him down and telling him no, which didn't work at all. I've also tried putting him in both the back and front, and even briefly tried muzzling him. My car is a two-door Civic, so there's really not much room inside for a crate. It seems that the only time he won't try to attack them is when he can't see them (I also tried covering his eyes a couple times).
For chasing footsteps inside, I again tried scolding him, someone also recommended shaking a can with coins inside, but that only startled him into stopping at first, and once he found out the noise wasn't going to hurt him, he started ignoring it. The only thing that would settle him down was tying his leash to my belt.
From what I was told, his owner kept him as an outside dog, and mostly just ignored him. He was neutered only a few months ago, and the foster family he stayed with lives on a farm, so city life is probably very new to him.
Thanks again for the help.
Answer I understand your dilemma about not being able to put a crate in your car. That's why I had to buy a Subaru Forester!
Is it possible to have someone else drive, or ride with you when you take him for car rides? A leash and corrective collar should be on the dog, and one of you (not the person driving), should have ahold of the leash so that when he starts acting up, you can say "NO" in a firm tone of voice and he can be corrected. I prefer the prong or pinch collar to the choke collar, because it is easier to use and more humane than a choke collar. It does not take a very forceful jerk of the leash when using a prong collar, because it distributes the correction all the way around the dog's neck, instead of just in one spot like a choke collar does. A small or medium size prong collar will be sufficient for your dog. Please see http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm to see how to correctly fit the prong collar.
You should only have to correct him one time. If you have to jerk, jerk, jerk, then you're not jerking quite hard enough. Increase the amount of 'force' the next time, until he is responding. Remember how hard you had to jerk the leash, and use that amount of force next time. Immediately following the correction (providing he stops the bad behavior), you should lavish the praise on him.
For a while, you need to probably keep him tied to you inside, so you can correct him for footstep chasing if you need to. It may take him a while to get used to the sounds.
