Dominance Issue?? Need advice!Please Help! (rottweilers, bites, barking, rescue)

[World Citizen]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

Your 2 cents is appreciated. However, while I DO understand his "logic" in growling at me ( he and I ARE NOT morning "people".) I dont want him to think that its acceptable, you know?

They're just like kids... you have to remind them who's boss.

I do know exactly what you mean!...

[Colddiamond102]

YAY! Last night, went in, found him on my bed. Instead of yanking him off, I sat down close to him and tried it the way another poster on here said....He just looked at me like "What the hell are you doing?"

So I ended up just pushing him off by pushing his behind....but no teeth and no growling. ^,^

[Sam I Am]

You know, another thing not mentioned is what I call the "hairy eyeball". Whenever one of mine is bowing up on me, I do the Big Stare. Tell them "off", "down", or whatever your key word is...and when they give you the "yeah, right", repeat it more forcefully and do a staredown. I have one that will make my eyes water before I can get him to break the gaze, but when he looks away the battle is won. If you think about it, this is how dogs communicate as well...first to break gaze loses the dominant position. Lower your voice a lot...my husband calls it my she-devil voice - and when I break that one out everyone knows it ain't time to mess with momma.

There are numerous ways to assert dominance that aren't physical in nature...and I would also second Pudel's recommendation of no alpha rolls. Looks good in theory but can be dangerous in practice. Only for the very, very learned and trained, not for the average dog owner.

[Colddiamond102]

Another update:

He got off on his own when I entered the room. He was laying on my bed, and I gave his colllar 2 gentle tugs and said "Off...come on Heffalump, get off) and up and out he went.

Methinks the problem might be solved! Yay!

[World Citizen]

so... you must have scared him when you woke him up that time.

I'm happy to hear that you don't have a problem!

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by World Citizen

so... you must have scared him when you woke him up that time.

I'm happy to hear that you don't have a problem!

LOL oh gee, Citizen, make me feel bad why dont you... Meanie...

I really dont like having to discipline him...I really really dont... But I'll do it when the need arises.

[PudelPie]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

Another update:

He got off on his own when I entered the room. He was laying on my bed, and I gave his colllar 2 gentle tugs and said "Off...come on Heffalump, get off) and up and out he went.

Methinks the problem might be solved! Yay!

I love that his nickname is HEFFALUMP...LOL!!

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by PudelPie

I love that his nickname is HEFFALUMP...LOL!!

LOL he's got lots of others... Stinkpot, Jacka$$ (thats from my mother), Schmoopy...and Bubbers just to name a few. lol

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by PudelPie

Oh man, what a situation...everything, everything, everything I've ever read says NOT to alpha roll. Even the Monks of New Skeet recanted with later publications of their groundbreaking book, How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend...yet I've done it too. I don't know what the answer is, but it does sound like good advice to try and work with Jasper when there isn't an issue (i.e., not at 2 a.m.); as for your remark about you decide if he's in or out...maybe the inconsistency is part of it. Dogs thrive on routine--they are creatures of habit/predictability (mostly) and they love consistent schedules. It seems a bit erratic for his sleeping quarters to be at your whim. What about some kind of compromise of Jasper getting his own dog bed so he can sleep alongside yours?

Best of luck with this...

The reason everyone recommends the abandonment of the AWR is not because it isn't effective. It is because there is an inherent likelihood of being bitten and anyone who recommends (particularly in writing, a la the Monks...) rolling the dog is exposed to liability. This is a very litigious society we live in and you can't advise anyone to do anything that carries any degree of risk.

[World Citizen]

Originally Posted by jimboburnsy

The reason everyone recommends the abandonment of the AWR is not because it isn't effective. It is because there is an inherent likelihood of being bitten and anyone who recommends (particularly in writing, a la the Monks...) rolling the dog is exposed to liability. This is a very litigious society we live in and you can't advise anyone to do anything that carries any degree of risk.

It may or may not be effective. But is it the best way to train a dog?