Canine behavioural experts needed - PLEASE!!!! It's a Dallie, by the way ...
By jazzsue58
@jazzsue58 (2666)
September 14, 2011 4:58am CST
I put that last bit in cos apparently it makes a whole lot of difference.
My Dalmatian, Frodo, is coming up to a year old. Done all the usual training with him - admittedly through watching season repeats of Dog Whisperer rather than attending puppy training classes, as it's a whole lot cheaper.
When we first got him he used to make a dash for freedom from our house, shoot straight across the road etc. Up till he got neutered a fortnight ago, his behaviour was thus:
Still shot out the front door, but only to the grass in front of house; no longer ran over the road.
Pulled a lot on lead. Also on or off leash, would bark and jump up at people - scary for them as they thought he was being aggressive (which, actually, he was starting to be - didn't actually bite anyone but I was terrified he'd knock a kid over). But it was one of those things, you never knew if he'd do it or not. Other times, he was good.
Now he's been neuteured, I thought all this was over. WRONG! On other people's advice, I left off getting him done as they said getting him castrated (hate that word) before 14 months meant he'd "stay a puppy" and be impossible to train ever. BUT the vet said he was borderline at 11 months and was liable to stay a puppy for the same reason!!!
Worse. Yesterday he made a bolt for the door (nice job, brass fittings and all) and jumped up barking at EVERY ONE! including kids. But the growling had stopped. PLUS he shot across the road - which he'd previously stopped doing - and wouldn't let me approach him to put on the leash. Kept running away and wouldn't respond to the "down" command, just like the early days.
He seems better indoors, no longer barks at postman through the window etc, and pulls less on the leash but please, peeps - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? I don't want to get reported for having a "dangerous dog" - cos the only danger he is, is to himself! 
Is this normal for a dalmatian? I've no idea how, as a breed, they compare to other dogs.
Is this normal for a dalmatian? I've no idea how, as a breed, they compare to other dogs.2 people like this
3 responses
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
14 Sep 11
If you watched a few seasons of the Dog Whisperer, you must have known what to do.
You have to change yourself in order to have a well behaved dog. It's your energy that makes him behave like that. If you permit him to pull on the leash, bark and jump on people, he will do this with no question. But if you have the proper energy and you are serious about what you're asking him to do, things will change.
Cesar Millan is the expert you need. Try to watch his series again and you'll see where is your mistake and what do you have to change.
If you feel that you can't do this by yourself, it is better to ask for professional help, but not on a forum. Ask a real trainer to help you and to show you what you have to do.
1 person likes this
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
21 Sep 11
Hmm .. I get the feeling if Cesar Milan shot the series in "real" time it would help. Like, how many of those "shh" commands hit the cutting room floor?!
I guess I'm expecting instant results. But 15 hours of Dallie training don't make for good viewing figures. But I have put some of his ideas to use that have worked, like getting Frodo to lay down on his side when he's overexcited.
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
16 Sep 11
Neutering a male dog doesn't mean he will become another dog overnight.
You have to work with him seriously in order to change his behavior.
You said you did all the usual training with Frodo.
What do you mean by that? Did he really learn how to sit and heel?
If you did it properly, he should not have the behavior you're complaining about.
But it seems you were satisfied only to see him understand the word "sit" or "heel" but you didn't work enough to make him execute the commands in any circumstance.
If he really knows the command "sit", you should ask him to sit when he starts to bark and jump on people. As soon as he calms down, you reward him, giving Frodo the message that being calm is the only behavior you accept and reward.
As for the heel command, it's clear he has no idea what do you want from him. You have to start it from scratch but make sure you do it properly this time. There are plenty of videos on the Internet about how to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash. You said you watched Dog Whisperer series, you must have seen Cesar's way of making a dog walk nicely on a leash. Why don't you try Cesar's way?
You have to work with him seriously in order to change his behavior.
You said you did all the usual training with Frodo.
What do you mean by that? Did he really learn how to sit and heel?
If you did it properly, he should not have the behavior you're complaining about. But it seems you were satisfied only to see him understand the word "sit" or "heel" but you didn't work enough to make him execute the commands in any circumstance.
If he really knows the command "sit", you should ask him to sit when he starts to bark and jump on people. As soon as he calms down, you reward him, giving Frodo the message that being calm is the only behavior you accept and reward.
As for the heel command, it's clear he has no idea what do you want from him. You have to start it from scratch but make sure you do it properly this time. There are plenty of videos on the Internet about how to teach a dog to stop pulling on the leash. You said you watched Dog Whisperer series, you must have seen Cesar's way of making a dog walk nicely on a leash. Why don't you try Cesar's way?@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
21 Sep 11
Just getting round to these ...
He's so contrary! Like, he'll be really pulling one day then another he'll trot quietly at my side. Indoors, he's fine. But I get the feeling he gets sidetracked by what's going on around him.
That being said, he's getting better. One problem is my "little" voice - my ex gives a sharp "Frodo!" and he's like a lamb. The dog that is, not the ex.
1 person likes this
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
21 Sep 11
Your ex's power doesn't consist in his powerful voice but in his energy. Even if you are a petite person, you can still control the dog with your voice. Is your energy that Frodo will see, not your "little" voice.
If you are determined in what you do, it doesn't count how tall you are or what kind of voice you have.
There are moments when I "send messages" to my dog without any sound. It's enough to look at her in a particular way and she knows she did something wrong. And I am a petite person and my dog is a medium sized dog (though many people say Binne is a large dog 
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@LilyoftheThorns (12918)
• United States
14 Sep 11
Dalmations are very highstrong dogs, and they have a TON of energy...does he have a backyard to play in? He needs to get daily exercise or he won't calm down.
I have never heard of a dog staying a puppy because they get neutered too soon...neutering generally comes a dog down and gets rid of that male aggression.
If things are working for you I HIGHLY recommend getting him into professional training classes. Do you have a petsmart near you? Most (if not all) of them offer dog training.
One of the highest reasons peopel surrender dogs (or puppies) to shelters is because of behavioral issues that could so easily be fixed with the right training! I really hope this won't happen with you.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
21 Sep 11
My back garden is all ploughed up where he runs! He does get a lot of play time, and you're right - it helps quieten him down for walkies.DEFINITELY dog training classes are a must, but it's been suggested I start with 1-1 training, which is dearer than getting a personal trainer for myself!
