Haven't been on for quite a while cos one of my darling (? hmmm...) pups (Staff babies) chewed through the power lead to the laptop so no internet access! Nightmare! (Don't worry, it wasn't plugged it, thought I'd tucked it away out of their reach, but obviously not!)

Anyway, my 2 Staff pups are now 16 wks old and I have put a huge amount of time and energy into their training and even though I say so myself (sorry, proud mummy here!), they are brilliant out walking in terms of recall, manners and socialising (just not too good when it comes to demolishing expensive powercables!) but it just amazes me the amount of other dog owners who comment on them saying things like "gosh, aren't they well behaved", "how do you get them to behave like that" etc etc...when I explain that it's taken constant effort to get them to this stage, they look at me a bit strange as their dog is running riot and totally ignoring their every command as if I have some miracle dogs that were born this obedient!!

Classic example of this...couple walking their young male Akita on a very tight lead, the man desparately hanging onto it as it fought to get to my dogs (I don't think this dog was being aggressive, just enthusiastic) but the owners weren't having any of it and shouted at it and held it even tighter (poor thing), I called mine back to me (the 2 pups and their mum) (don't worry, in a large park, not on the road!),asked them to walk to heel, which they did, albeit really wanting to go and play with the Akita! (but they did all stay with me) and the woman (not holding the dog), exclaimed how well behaved mine were and wish their's was like that!!

Wanted to stop and explain that their dog probably needed lots more socialising and and heck of a lot of training but felt I really couldn't just stick my oar in somehow.

I just wish people realised just how much effort it takes to get a well-behaved dog (ok, so mine are well-behaved 90% of the time, but they just wee babies!) and they don't just "happen".

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest...feel better now!

Juliet

Hmmm - well, I put lots of effort into Willis, but he is still big and strong and I get sick of people looking at me like I don't put any effort in!

I would also put money on the Akita wanting to kill your dogs, and, as such, they sound like very responsible Akita owners to me. They are not (so I understand) the most sociable of dogs, and are, very dog dominant by nature :)

I know what you mean at times Chloe, when one of mine (or both!) decide that they really have gone deaf and all their training goes out the window ie the time the other day when they went to say hello to a geriatric springer and his equally-aged owner (with walking stick) and in their enthusiasm, they knocked over his walking stick - oh help! Poor chap, he was very good natured about it but must have thought I'd never done an ounce of training with them - v.embarrasing (sp?)

I've known a few Akita's that were (are) very sociable with other dogs but think a lot of that was to do with the fact they had very considerate owners who'd put a lot of time and effort into them...I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt and kind of hoped that the situation I described was because the dog was enthusiastic, albeit not well-trained, rather than aggressive!

One day, Willis will be a shining example of all your hard work! :-)

Thats if he lives that long :p :D

I hope the gorgeous Willis didn't read that last comment! :-)

Juliet, I'm not talking about you here but as an Akita owner, I have to say our nightmare is people who allow their uncontrolled-off-the-lead dogs to run up to him. "He won't fight" they shout gaily. Does it never occur to them that a HUGE dog like an Akita just might???? Akitas are dominant, not necessarily aggressive but they don't take kindly to strange dogs suddenly appearing right "in their face". As far as most Akita owners are concerned, it's the one downside of Akita ownership but, fortunately most Akita owners are responsible & don't allow their dogs off the lead where they are likely to meet other dogs.
Our Akita has been well socialised, he lives happily with his own girls, has been to shows & dog training, is a credit to us in his obedience & he loves the whole of Humankind, but I would still never let him near a strange dog. Akitas are FAST, so why take the risk? Socialisation doesn't come into it as far as dominance is concerned. An Akita will make up its own mind which dogs it will like & which it won't. They also have very long memories. As an 8mth old our lad was attacked by a black Lab (which came off worse, despite the fact the Akita was on a lead). 5 years later he only has to see a black, Lab sized dog & he's on full alert, waiting to be attacked.
So please - if you see an Akita on the lead, don't let your dog run up to it until you find out if it's dog friendly or not.

Thanks Anwen, as a general rule, if a dog is on a lead, I would never allow my dogs upto it - just in case, often there is a reason for their dog being on the lead.

I guess my problem with this particular couple was their intense nervousness with their dog and the fact that the man shouted at his dog so aggressively and was nearly choking it - I do understand Akita's can be very dominant but was concerned that perhaps they might be novice owners as so often happens - they just get attracted to beautiful looking dog and don't realise consequences.

It's not just this Akita owner that commented on my dogs, so many people have done so, and the majority with largely uncontrollable dogs and they just couldn't understand how 16 wk old pups could be better behaved then their dogs - as I said, I just wish people would understand that it takes months/years to train a dog, they don't just train themselves! :-)

Hmm, it probably sounds like I'm trying to say I have perfect puppies - I can assure you they most certainly are not and can be little hooligans, or that I am a perfect dog trainer - definitely far from the truth...I guess I was just saying that with (lots and lots and lots) of training, all your hard work can so pay off, but other people think that it must have all come so easy - I wish! :-)

Don't count your chickens - Willis was the perfect puppy at 16 weeks....then he hit adolescence!! :Eek: it all went out of the window!! :)

Absolutely! Same with Sparky. Now at 6 months, we are just starting to get it all back again, but it does make me cringe to think how I thought we had cracked it!!
Tracy

I know what you mean. Much as I adore the breed, the main reason I bought a male was because I didn't want to breed. The responsibility of finding the right homes is just too great. Sadly, not all breeders make sure new owners are fully aware of the great commitment Akita ownership is, altho' I have to say most of those we spoke to before buying told us everything - warts & all!
And yes, I hate you :D for having such well trained puppies!!!!
I remember years ago at ringcraft, someone told me how easy it was for me to show my dog because I had a free standing breed. I could have bitten her!!!!! Did she think we just superglue all 4 paws to the ground to make them stand 4 square & still???

Oh how I remember envying other people's so called "free standing" dogs at shows when I was trying to persuade the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens that they could remember how to stack quietly and calmly!!

Mind you, I never saw Akita owners have a really easy time, it was always the Whippets that always stood perfectly - how easy they looked!

I'm sure lots of Whippet owners will now tell me it was all an illusion and they really did own hooligans! :-)

I'm sure when my boys hit puberty I will live to regret saying I have obedient puppies! You can all have a laugh then and lots of "I told you so's" when I'm struggling to regain control and all yours will be nice and sensible by that time!

So pleased your pups are doing well, Juliet :) and relieved to hear that they do have "off" days as well! Despite my efforts we are still having off days and boy are they off! Please give us struggling owners a break/benefit of the doubt sometimes. I feel like having a reflective jacket saying IM SORRY printed on it just now.

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I feel like having one saying:

He doesn't mean it
Yes, I know he's 12 stone but he's only a puppy!
No, he won't eat you
Yes, we HAVE been to puppy classes and training
and
His name's KEVIN

Yup if we had chosen smaller breeds Chloe we wouldnt be so conspicuous! Morse and I toddled through a little housing development the other day and a little boy opened his front door, saw Morse and squeaked. Morse went " Oh look, a puppy!" and turned to the boy, who SCREAMED so Morse went " Oh its hurt, better go see!" and took half a step nearer as I yelled " STAY!" and the little lad fled leaving the door open. A passing neighbour helpfully told me she would report me as " Something that size shouldnt be kept in a residential area" Hope she never sees a Dane or an Irish Wolfhound!

No doubt the neighbour is herself of "Kylie" proportions otherwise the same could be said.........:D

Have to say when I first read this post, the word sanctimonious came to mind, then I had an out break of charity and thought well done to the poster she has done well, only hope she never owns a Spitz. Now I know Brainless's girls are well behaved but my boys would become demented if when on the lead some rapid moving fee range dogs ran up to them, I would have trouble controlling them too under such provocation and to be honest, being the short fused old woman I am, I would be a little tiny wee bit annoyed. :)

Oh Jackie they are no paragons, just so blase about other dogs and the busy places that it is oh so boring!!!

Now Jozi when she has a fly up her bum needs telling STEADYYYYY in a very firm tone. The best thing I ever taught them was the leave command and then walk on!!!

Actually today was fun, a friend took me and all five of mine (including 12 week Lexi) to Ashton Court Park. Now this has Deer!!! They are well fenced in though. I had 3 off lead, 1 on a flexi and pup walking on lead so as she didn't wear herself out.

They did find the deer interesting, but quickly walked on realising there was no access to them.

At one point we stopped to let the Park tractor by, and one of them went on point.

What had she spotted that even the thought of treats was not tempting, a horse! As soon as she saw what it was she came back for her biscuit, and as the rider seemed to be determined to go our way, I put them all on lead. Luckily mine have been fairly well socialised to horses, but I never take the chance of a spooked horse throwing it's rider.

Mostly it all amounts to thinking ahead and being careful. If in doubt get them on a lead.

You know, Tohme, I just assumed she was talking about my dog.......:D

I guess my msg got somewhat misinterpreted and I'm sorry Jackie if I came across as sanctimonious (sp?)...I guess it's very hard to convey what you really mean when not actually face to face. I'd spotted this Akita a long way off and my dogs didn't go anywhere near him, I called them back to me as soon as I spotted it and we had to walk a for a fair bit of time before we actually walked past it so there was no pack of dogs flying about near him at all.

I know no-one's dogs are perfect and can all be a nightmare at times, totally forgetting that obedience exists but I was referring to the people who I meet on a very regular basis who just let their dogs off the lead as soon as they get the chance and then ignore it the whole time whilst out walking, allowing it to charge up to other dogs without any consideration and just keep on walking and don't bother about checking where their dog is or if it might be hassling your dogs.

This board is generally very friendly and that's what I hoped my post was but I guess I've offended some people and appear to be "up my own **** - sorry.

That’s ok, expect I wished my dogs were like yours but they are not. Most of the time they are on my own land and do not meet other dogs when they are off lead. In public they are always on their leads, mostly because they are not used to being walked out in public except at shows where they have to be on a lead anyway.

Think what I really meant was that some breeds are more biddable than others and the Spitz are probably one of the most difficult. Also some people require a different level of obedience from their dogs than others and if they make sure that their wayward dogs do not interfere with others that is up to them is it not. Well that’s my exchuse anyway.

Well Im not offended at all and really glad youre having such success with your pups. :) I am scared of being taken for an irresponsible dog owner though and will insist on comparing Morse and me to people like yourself and my chum with her 3 Weims who will all turn on a sixpence. :D Not a good idea. I just wanted to give the view from other side as you might say. I look forward to hearing more about the pups adventures in future - tell me your successes and gimme HOPE, please! TTFN

Alison

I think it's excellent that you have posted to tell us of your success so far :) As Brits we find it hard to say " i feel great, my dog was so good" and tend to dwell on the bad parts of dog ownership :D

From your post it sounds to me as if the Akita owners were novice owners and needed some help. Most people who hang onto their dogs like you have described are unaware that socialisation is important (esp. with dogs such as Akitas) and that it is possible to train with effort. As you said the dog seemed playful rather than aggressive, i would suggest this is the case.

Most Akitas dont get on that well with other dogs, but should be able to be under control and walked past without too much mishap esp. if the other dogs are under control and not that close!

Just my thoughts :)

Lindsay

I read through and wasn't offended. But some people haven't got the time to devote to training and don't understand how much effort goes into it either (doesn't mean they are bad owners).
I go to a park regulary in a morning and one aspect of it is that alot of people i meet have been going there for years and they know practically every dog/owner that has visited for the past 10years :) so they in a way let there dogs off lead because they know them, and tough poo to the newbie dog owners lol.
It's like local park clique, you're either in or you're out ;)

The dog walking mafia ! Where we go is a bit like that but regulars are more friendly to newbies.

Hey Lorelei you ain't kidding :) !!
In a morning there is a little clique of about 7-8 owners who meet at i think about 9am and stay there till 11am just people/dog watching!

Can time our regulars too which is useful if you want to speak to a specific person. Recipes for liver cake/warnings about the council enforcers presence were being passed on recently. It is comforting to know most of the people and dogs who roam the place :)

Now Lorelei - there's a business opportunity if ever I saw one (the jackets - lol) ! I'd order one tomorrow!
Tracy

juliet,well done on having such well behaved puppies but don't you think they probably all walk together as they are a little pack? and the couple were actually paying you a compliment so perhaps if you had 3 larger more boisterous puppies you would'nt have done so well, you can't compare the 2 breeds 1 akita will be far harder to train than a couple of staffies!

My Mastiff was just like your Staffies at that age. She was a dream, walked to heal of lead, came when called,never ran at anyone etc.etc
The persect 'little' hahaha!! girl. Everyone praised her."What a well behaved pup" "How do you do it" "Wish mine was like that".
She turned 11mths 'BANG' "I am now a teenager" said my perfect pooch. I then went through all the training again, lunge line, recall, the works.
Well She is now 3yrs old (30/11/03) and only now has learned that yes she will behave, when she feels like it.
She only ever reverted with the recall and in every other way is perfect.
Now when people see me looking for her they say "What went wrong" "Oh! My dog comes back now" " She used to be so good".
To cut a long story short,same as with kids, don't criticise (sp?)  your pups are still babies and no matter how much training you put in they could go through this 'teenage' thing. If I know Staffies they probably will.

D4wn