AboutLabman Expertise I can help you with your new dog. I am experienced in, and trained in techniques the average person can make work with dogs, especially puppies. I strongly believe in obedience training and the need to give your dog proper leadership. I have been raising a new puppy every year since 1991. I know housebreaking and protecting the puppy and the house from each other. I can explain the the feeding regimen you can easily follow to give your dog the same long, active life life as highly valuable dog guides. I try to give answers you can make work.
The mark of a real expert is knowing the limits of his knowledge. I will not try to answer questions on breed standards, AKC registration, etc. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience Like many, I grew up around dogs, but never realized how much I had to learn before my family started socializing puppies for a large dog guide school. The school shares their experience from thousands of dogs with the people they entrust to raise their puppies. Their recommendations on training, feeding, and care come from a large, well documented program. After it is a year old, they X-ray every one of the hundreds of dogs they breed every year. I continue to attend monthly training sessions with trained volunteers and professional staff. I share experiences with others doing the same. The school must have sturdy, healthy, well behaved dogs, that will have a long, active life. If that is what you want too, I can help you. In addition I have done extensive reading, and the 4 years my daughter was in 4-H were a real learning experience for Dad too. That exposed me to more breeds than the Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens in the dog guide program.
Question My question is in regards to our new dog, but I feel I should give you some background first. My husband and I have a 6 year old Jack Russell mix, Milo, who we have had since he was 2 years old. We got him from a shelter, and he has always been conflicted about his feelings around other dogs. He played with them in the beginning, but has gradually been more and more fickle in who he chooses to play with, despite our constant efforts at socialization. We adopted another dog when Milo was four years old, a three year old boxer. She had been abused and was very subdued in the beginning, but gradually came out of her shell. Milo was upset with her in the beginning and would growl when she came near him, which never completely ended, but they eventually became friends and would play. Unfortunately, at the age of 5 she became ill, and despite our best efforts, there was nothing that could be done to save her.
So here are my questions :). Recently, we decided to get another dog and adopted a 10 month old boxer, a rescue. He is very submissive, but definitely not subdued. He loves other dogs and wants to play all the time. He just doesn't seem to understand cues from other dogs. When we are at the dog park, other dogs will get overwhelmed with him and growl and jump at him, and he just keeps wanting to play with them. There have been times where they really go after him and he barks back, but then goes right back into trying to play. This is a particular problem with Milo. Wrigley, the boxer, will pounce at him (not on him), and Milo with bark and growl and chase him away. We try to let this happen so that he will learn, but he just doesn't get the message and Milo is miserable. He even hides under the bed a lot of times. I just don't know what to do to get through his head that all dogs don't want to play with him all the time.
Thank you for your help.
Answer You need to try to find other young dogs for Wrigley to play with. Once past 3 years old, many dogs don't want anything to do with puppies, their sharp little teeth, and their biting games. You need to teach the puppy to leave the older dog alone. As soon as the puppy starts to focus on the older dog, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and offer it a chew toy.
