Ah Denise,
All I can do is smile, since somehow my clear posting was misunderstood. :) :) :)
I've studied quite a few methods and like to pick and choose to adapt the various philosophies to my own life style. I don't need an "instant action" dog. The few times a trainer has attempted to make Samma into one, they learn she hasn't read their book :D :D

Um, Chienne has never was trained by 'treats.' Her nature is such that she prefers to be near and attentive to me....despite all of the distractions of the world. She graduated at the top of her class. Model citizen, even when pheasants cross her path :) :)
Just to let you know, I went through courses in AKC Obedience in the States. Didn't use treats, just praise. Worked like a charm for her...but not Samma. I had to adjust my thinking and style for her independence. I've also handled military working dogs without any problems in being 'wishy-washy'. I'm not an indecisive person around any animal and have 'helped' people to better deal with their dogs.

Using exactly the same method as Chienne with Samma, resulted in frustration, boredom, and irritability on both our parts. She just wouldn't comply after she reached her 'level' of repetition. My husband eventually became upset that Samma didn't respond as quickly or as eagerly as Chienne. No one was enjoying the 'training' :rolleyes:

Each dog was separate in their behavior and attitudes. Continuing the practise of this method resulted in a dog that wouldn't move after about the 10 minute mark. She knew what we were doing by then. Just because I wanted her to do it, didn't mean it needed to be done. And THAT's a terrier (or a sight hound, or other dogbreeds which lumping them into 'Pack mentality' does a great disservice.) :P :rolleyes:

Telling her come, setting off, and then dragging her wasn't the answer to this, neither was being firm. It WASN'T working! So we used a different approach. One that she is eager and happy... along with my husband who is now eager and happy to walk "his" dog :)

Accepting the slowness of a recall.....hmm. We're talking seconds here, not hours. What am I supposed to do? Beat or yell at her? That tells me that I have lost control of the situation. Besides, it would defeat the purpose. :rolleyes:

I've even turned around and walked in the opposite direction leaving her behind. That works well too :D Over the years, she's become more attuned and we work well together. I"m happy with her behavior now. She's a dog, not an automaton. I think in the last year, she's began to lose her hearing, so watching my actions instead of coming only by voice will grow increasingly important.

Regardless, I solved 'our' problem to our satisfaction and worked over the years to improve her consistency and predictability. She comes when I tell her to with her tail wagging. She doesn't cringe or run away from me. If I show her the leash or collar, she races up to be put back on. All of this....sometimes with a treat afterwards and sometimes not. Depends if I remembered to fill the bike pouch in the last month :D :D

Enough about my "so-called" problem. My question to you was do you adjust your philosophy to deal with individual dogs and their inherent traits to be non-push button dogs?

Since you replied to another posting that there is no such thing as non-pack thinkers, I guess that answered my question. Basically, you have a one size fits all method for dog training. Which is ok for most breeds. Just wouldn't work for the few, the misfits, the proud indies of the dogworld :D :D :D :D


BTW: If I ask my dog, "do you want a biscuit?" and she bounces around in delight and races to below the cupboard as a response, who do you think is trained? The dog or the owner?

Personally, I don't think it matters...... both individuals are happy with the result :D :D :D But I'm sure that someone 'official' has probably some psychological profile about this ;)

:D Good job Leigh made me promise to put a big Zip on my mouth !! ;)

Oooh Zippy! If we can find Bungle and George we can give you back to Geoffrey (he had the puppets stolen from his car yesterday apparantly)

Google on TV Cream and put Rainbow in TV creams search engine if you have no idea what I am blethering on about :D

:D

Melody

No, we were not stolen, I urged the other two to come and post on this board, but then I remembered Leighs warning about the zip :D

Luv from Zippy xxx

If you have lost George, he sleeps on my bed with Paddington :D

Leigh, I have been hunting for the little devil all night, and you had him all the time!!!! :D

So Phillipa,
Do you think that I would be a good owner for a 'mini deerhound' lurcher or a full sized one, eh??? huh, huh ppppplease :D :D

Actually, I was wondering about a "Toy" deerhound.... Bedlington crossed with a whippet, instead of a greyhound. Think it would fly???? well, figuratively, of course. A dog is not a bird no matter how fast it can run ;) :D :D :D

Hi toodles. Ooooooo, another Lurcher fan....hooray!!!!!! I think you would be a pefect Lurcher owner like sharon and I :D...(blows own trumpet loudly :) ) I love the whippet/bedlington lurchers, as in Heartbeat, but also greyhound/bedlington are wondeful too. Trouble is, Lurchers are great dogs, and I can never get my head round why they are not more popular as just general pets. There are obviously some crosses ie bully x, or (sorry sharon) saluki cross, that perhaphs would not be quite so suitable, but anything that is wolfhound/deerhound/whippet/greyhound/beardie based are totally charming, normally very easy to live with, and a new owner can near enough choose any colour and coat type that takes their fancy. I now have two working beardies, a beardie x greyhound, a deerhound x greyhound type, and a whippet x greyhound, so watch this space. To any posters who will frown at me and say something like" surely there are enough mongrels in the world?"....yes there are. However , my Lurchers will be bred just as careful, health tested if neccessary, reared as well and as carefully as my Wolfhounds have always been, and homes will be checked too. The new owners will also have to sign my contract, that the pup/dog will be returned to me if they cant keep it, or dont want it any more. No sign it? No puppy. Technically I suppose they are crossbreeds, but it is my hope and intention to breed Lurchers of a set type, temprement and coat type. These types of pups sell for about £75-£100 each, so please, dont anyone tell me that Im doing it for the money.Talking about flying, Daisy who is the whippet x greyhound could give many a bird a run for their money, as the crow flies :D Sorry toodles, Ive been rambling on, thats the problem when I start talking Lurchers !!!

Add Norwegian Elkhounds to that list, they are definately not a yes mam type of dog, and obedience is on their terms!

How wrong you are, a colleague of mine who also Instructs has two Elkhounds working at their Club. Also competing at Competition.

Denise.

Four that I have bred did/do compete at various levels in obedience, though the owners do mhave to convince the dogs it is worthwhile, lol!

Where are the Elkhounds you speak of as this is most heartening, as most people dismiss being able to do anything in this sphere with them, as they are unwilling or unable to adapt their methods!

In the USA there are quite a few dedicated folks, as in most breeds, that work their dogs. Make pretty good agility dogs too!

I admit to being too lazy to attempt competition standard obedience, and am happy with reasonable recall and good manners!

Hello Brainless,

Do you receive the Show Results magazine? If so, I will be pleased to contact my colleague (the Elkhounds in questions - two boys, one called Bodie, the other I cannot remember - train in Somerset. I will then obtain their pedigree names so that you can see for yourself. I believe they are working Novice.

Formal Obedience is a dedicated Hobby. However, the MOST IMPORTANT area is good manners and behaviour in the Home, and this you obviously do.

Well Done, and keep up the good work,
Denise.

Brodie is the boy I bred. He is going quite well. Unfortunately he has a stay problem. As he is an Obedient dog, and used to staying put in a relaxed stay anywhere his mistress tells him, until he is released, he is rather relaxed about it!

Her problem is, that he goes down on his sit stay when his mind wanders if he picks up a smell on the ground by his feet. at his last show where she lost only 3 1/4 if he had gone clear on stays he would have placed, and he went down at 42 seconds. Of course he doesn't break and go anywhere!!

He is free on her Dads nursery and up on the moors where there are deer!

His brother whose standard of work and respect/attention are no where near as good is being regularly placed in beginners, but Brodie is in Novice and has spent last two years just outside the placings!

If all goes well Brodie will have a son to follow him into Obedience in the Spring!

Congratulations on breeding some really good specimens. I understand that one or both also do well in the Show Ring.

Regards,
Denise.

Brodie isn't shown much but has picked up some nice wins, icluding best Dog and RBD at Champ shows without CCs. Now that his handler has overcome her ring shyness he is starting to perform well in the breed ring.

You must be very proud, and deservedly so. They are magnificent and striking to look at.

Have a good weekend,
Denise.

Denise can I email you about some aspects of control (recall) with one of mine. Must admit I have used titbits as advised by my Obedience friend, but only found them useful for getting the head up on heeol work, and have phased them out now she knows what is wanted. I do use them sometimes as a reward for a quick recall, but that as you said doesn't really work if what she is doing is more rewarding. I have found by making her wait befiore being allowed to eat from her dish etc has improved things in the respect stakes!

The others who I have had from puppyhood will come running if they hear that note in my voice, that I mean now! They also tend to keep within a certain distance when free, chase a squirrel, and come back to check on me and continue within sight of me. I do sometimes realise I have been a bit too easy with them, and a few quick recall sessions remind them what is required. It is almost like they think Oh god she has her nickers in a knot, so best hurry up :D

Certainly can. I will email you now from your Profile. Unfortunately, I am only home this evening for a short while, (has been a hectic day)! So if you email me back tonight, I will have to reply on Saturday. Speak to you soon.

Denise.

Hello Selladore (Janet),

The whole point about authority training is the fact that ALL dogs are PACK ANIMALS, and need/require a Pack Leader. They must learn to have respect for that person. The dog's instinct from birth requires a Pack Leader, (which I am sure you must appreciate).

They will have their Owners sussed in no time at all. Problems creep up on Owners without them even realising what is happening, until it becomes major!

Because you are the Owner, and the dog responds fairly well, and behaves fairly well, does not automatically earn your dog's undisputed respect. You have to earn that. They can read between the lines!

Certain breeds sadly have the reputation of being 'untrainable' - poppycock! - I repeat ALL DOGS ARE PACK ANIMALS and therefore if an Owner has proved his/her ability to lead, the dogs will listen and obey.

I sometimes feel that perhaps this assumption acts as a 'get out clause' for even attempting to train (Not intended towards yourself, I am speculating generally).

In another angle, some may say that Border Collies or GSD's are EASY to train. In the right hands they do extremely well (I am now referring to Competition Obedience), but in the wrong hands they can be a NIGHTMARE, because they are a step ahead of the Handler, and will 'chew you up and spit you out' (not literally hopefully)!

In fact a strong, and very intelligent breed is going to know and recognise the lack of authority of a treat training Owner. Probably consider he is owned by 'Woody Allen'. (I must assure you I am not referring to yourself, afterall I do not know you, I am simply attempting to give an example of a situation).

With Kind regards,
Denise.

I don't dispute that dogs are a pack animal with a hierarchy (though I am not convinced from observing both my pack and working packs of Maremmas that this has much relation to the usual human interpretation of "dominance" - but that is another topic).

But my question was - is there a difference between different breeds - I guess you are saying no. I'm afraid I can't agree. I have a breed that has been bred for centuries if not millenia to use its initiative, to work independently of people. Often there are no people there to tell them what to do - and even if there are the shepherds rely on the dogs' judgement and ability to assess a threat and deal with it appropriately.
These shepherds have the respect of the dogs - that is obvious from the way they interact - but the shepherds do not feel the need (or desire) to tell the dogs how to do their job.

This is not about being untrainable - Maremmas are very intelligent and learn very quickly - it is about respecting and working with the character of the breed. If I had wanted a dog that would obey me instantly no matter what I asked I would have chosen one bred to do so. But I want a dog that can assess a situation and choose an appropriate action. Now obviously they need to learn what is appropriate which comes from establishing appropriate boundaries in the first place - and I do expect my dogs to learn my boundaries (in the working dogs this is taught to the pups by the older dogs as well as the shepherd). But I don't require them to perform obedience "tricks" or glue themselves to my leg - and I don't see them not performing like this to be an indication that I am not pack leader.
Best wishes
Janet

Hi selladore, I agree with you totally, I dont want a robot either!!!

Hello Philippa,

I could not agree with you more, but in a different way.......

Once a dog has learned certain exercises, and can carry them out well, Owners then sadly just keep repeating a routine time and again, this is AUTO syndrome! - No one is now learning anything, just plain repetition.

When I know a dog is ready, I will look to extend and improve an exercise. This keeps the dogs mind actively stretched to his capabilities.

So a dog working well with precision, is NOT to be ridiculed, this is a dog working hard, using concentration and intelligence with the handler. That handler has spent time, patience and dedication to help him achieve it.

Regards,
Denise.

roflol.but I only typed one sentence!!!!

Ah, but so much can be said in just a few words!!!

However, I hope you understood the point, it is easy sometimes to be critical, but a dog working to a higher standard, is working hard and that dog should be appreciated for his/her efforts. I know I appreciate it.

Have a good day,
Denise.

Hi Denise, I want/expect my dogs to be obedient too, but also expect them to have a personality and a mind of their own from time to time. Sorry, but I find some very highly trained (Ob/Ch perhaphs) have a robotic quality about them, and as long as my lot are responsive when it is essential, that is enough for me.

I firmly believe successful training comes down to "motivation"..which is difficult to define, let alone see it in action. :D :D
I know someone who was ordered to change his doctoral thesis because "motivation in educational success" is considered impossible to measure in humans. Must be even more difficult to do in non-verbal animals, eh? :)

Traditionalists tend to see the dog as submitting to the 'will of the owner' who is the stand-in for the natural leader of the pack. The response is to be done quickly and eagerly, with the only tangible reward given as praise. "That'll do pig, that'll do" :) If a dog is not responding in this matter, the problem lies inherently with the owner/handler, not the dog.

Clicker/Tidbit training -- looks at the dog to be put into certain behavioral patterns with a tangible food reward when success is accomplished. Eventually, the pattern is set and the dog doesn't look for the food reward, just the pleasure of the handler.

This uses the concept that the 'leader' is doling out the resources at his/her pleasure for behavioral sucesses. The dog also learns by doing, not by being led. The problem can lie with treats being mistimed, or misrewarded. If the dog does not succeed in this method, the owner is looked carefully for mishandling the training as possibly being too lenient/easy.

Shun/exile concept --- uses the belief that a dog, as a social creature, desires human companionship. When misbehaves or acts up, dog is removed or ignored until wanted behavior appears. Works for many human tribes, even within today's societies :D :D. When it doesn't work --- not being consistently used, dog doesn't care about being part of the 'group,' or owners not responding when right behavior is shown. + other reasons possibly due to individual dog's psyches. Definitely looked down upon by traditional canine trainers as indecisive and not immediate reinforcement. :)

The third concept of training tends to go along with Tidbit/clicker style thinking....so I'm lumping them together for ease of writing :) Neither Tradition or Clicker/Tidbit proponents seems to respect the other as being 'true' dog people. :rolleyes:
Velcro/pushbutton dogs vs. spoiled monsters ruling their masters. :D :D :D
Both do tend to lump dogs as thinking/learning alike despite differing size and breed traits. I do think the "Treat" group has a more of tendency to consider dogs as individual learners than "simple pack mentality motivation" of traditionalists.

I know that "overtreating and being sometimes ineffective" in training is easier to tolerate than the traditional methods containing any/all of the following: "yank, hang, pull, treat your dog as a nonthinking instinctive machine and if it doesn't do things right, you're a worthless dog owner" style of training. :rolleyes:

I always get a real kick out of "well, your dog should just naturally be looking to you"
If not the occasional selected praise moment, which doesn't teach the dog when it's doing incorrect moves, so something else must be used ( --according to the trainers)

.......well, then, what else is there? This usually goes unsaid, because if one has to ask, then one is not knowledgable/therefore not worthy. Hmm. Catch-22 going on here.

Reminds me of a guy that wanted a wolf hybrid which was going to live with the family household who would 'naturally' look to this man as pack leader. :) No training involved at all :rolleyes:

The concept of time, which is a human construct, is important to many of the 'traditionalists'. If the dog is seen failing to respond without hesitaion, it's to be corrected so it can know it's behaving against the owner's wants. But how????? This is where blanks appear in the theory/action plans.

Today, it's not popular to talk about the harsh discipline of dogs during training. Rarely does anyone want to publicly advocate negative treatment, especially during training situations. I know I don't want to do it at all. I do not view myself as a failure to leave this limited arena of thinking either.

How many owners are dropping out or discontinuing training from this style of light carrot/ heavy stick attitude????? Is this why there are so many confused and frustrated owners out there????? Some dog breeds do respond extremely well to this style and need little of the stick part (so it can go unsaid), others just do not. It is not the fault of the dog, nor the owner...it is the method of the intractible training which views ALL dogs' learning processess as identical.

Dogs learn at different rates by different styles. Sure, they're DOGS, but they are not identical. I had a Yorkie that never got lost, despite being loose in deep forests. Samma will get lost/disoriented two blocks over from my house.

Education concerning adults and children has been slowly adjusting to variables within each group. Individuals learn in different ways. Unfortunately, the concept that 'all children learn alike' is slow to change. They don't and they have the ability to verbally let parents/teachers know.

How is a dog supposed to do the same or an owner frustrated, yet intimidated by a trainer's long experience of credentials? So many are walking away feeling guilty about not 'being a good dog owner' that it really concerns me. Esp. since I run into these dogs out on trails/streets on a regular basis.

{no, dogs are not children...but how many theories of learning methods are changing from the harshness of past education measures? If these values are so true, then they would stand up to a modern reevaluation}

Education on dog training should be addressing why so many owners fail to continue their dog's obedience training. Is it these methods/attitudes that are shying owners off????? Are dogs that are being lumped together into one single 'learning' category really working for the entire dog owning population???? Are assessments being done to determine what style is working the best in the long term????

I don't know these answers. Just postulating them because they pique my interest. I know that I"m not the only one who's had to 'adjust' thinking to suit an individual dog's style. There are others out there :D :D :D

jmho on an early morn. rant ;)
toodles

Denise,

By settling down at class, I mean that when he jumps up and down and howls, he gets taken outside for a 'time out' and is taken back into class when he calms down. When he gets the message he starts to work properly (for a Mal).

His recalls are improving by my standards in that he is now sitting straighter in front of me and maintaining eye contact.

Lying under the table at mealtimes is our decision, and has been the case with all our dogs. If a piece of food is dropped on the floor by accident, he knows not to have it unless we say so, and was taught this very early on.

When I said that he walked on a loose lead, he was beside me, and not ahead of me.

As I have said before, he is fine until in a very exciting environment, or a change in routine at home (such as visitors)but is already improving slightly. With luck, and time (lots of it), he may even be better than my last two! And don't all dogs like to vet out visitors? I think I would rather he greet them and be sociable than ignore them. What if it was a potential threat to me? A happy welcoming Mal is a sure put off to a pushy sales rep! I just want him to be a lot less effusive in his welcome.

Jean

Hello Jean,

So your boy is behaving badly at Club, and you simply WAIT until HE decides to calm down. What does your Instructor make of this? - Afterall surely you are missing the start of your Class, and the relevant teaching?

I would rather not interfere with questionning why the 'straight front recall' is taking a time to achieve, but would be interested as to how you are trying to rectify them. (Hopefully you are not simply still calling from a distance, and hoping with the help of holding a treat central to you that he will eventually rectify himself)!

I was pleased to hear that the dog being under the table at meal-times was YOUR decision. Now, try placing him elsewhere in the room (just occassionally), while you have a meal. Remember, if he is doing what YOU say, and because you say so, then this will be NO PROBLEM. However, if you experience any difficulties with this, then you will know that you do not unfortunately have the control you thought you did.

Greeting visitors fine, but not 'over the top', (or BEFORE ME), and when told to go and settle down, they should - (dogs that is - not guests) - Yes, I do also have a sense of humour!!

All the very best,
and good luck with the meal time seating arrangements!!

Denise.

Denise,

I don't think you quite understand - it is a rule at the training class I go to that if a dog starts to be disruptive, they leave the class for a 'time out'. This way, the dog finds out that he is missing out on a fun evening by his behaviour and after a few sessions of only a couple of minutes each will start to reconsider his actions - and it DOES work! Chewi only had two 'time outs' last Monday of only a couple of minutes each, right at the beginning of the evening, and then behaved acceptably. I have taken my dogs to these classes since 1983 and know the trainer and her methods very well. She is very flexible in her approach, adjusting the method of training to each individual dog, some working better with treats, others with just praise, her belief being that a dog performs better if it is working WITH you rather than FOR you. Some dogs take longer to learn this way (including Chewi), but they all seem to end up better for it. She keeps telling me that Chewi isn't as bad as I say, and that I am comparing him to my last two. Thinking it over she is probably right as I am so close to the dog.

And I like him lying under the table when I am eating - he keeps my feet warm!

Jean

'scuse me - 'Obedience' 'Formal Recalls' 'Returns and sits in front'?? We are talking Malamutes here??? :D

Have you met many Mals? :D :D

HI Jacquie

I think Ian Dunbar had a Mal who would do most of that stuff, but even he found it pretty difficult !! ;)

I think part of the trouble too,is that not every companion dog owner wants a dog who does formal recalls etc. Plenty of dogs are great in formal obedience classees, but won't come back in the park away from other dogs etc.

:)
Lindsay

Hi Lindsay,

Ian Dunbar's Mal is called Phoenix. I believe he found training the dog was a *bit* of a challenge :D

That's right Jacquie, it was Phoenix, and he had another Malamute before.....obviously a big fan of the breed :)

I have a video of "the ones that went wrong", and Ian Dunbar is trying to get his dog to do a recall - and she just got up and wandered away!!! It was very funny :D

Lindsay

Hi Jean,

Whereabouts in Hampshire are you? I live about midway between Portsmouth & Chichester.

Jacquie (Myatuk Alaskan Malamutes)

ps
Your boy's not related to Scout is he? :D

Hi Jacquie,

I live between Petersfield and Farnham. I don't think Chewi is related to Scout, he is from Sue Ellis' kennels in Wales.

Jean

I see you like gardening.......with malamutes!!!!!! Wow, I admire your tenacity. Can't really help except with just one word, maturity :-)

What kennel is your mal from? It's the same age as Kiera and i'm sure she has a relative in Hampshire...
Naomi

I love gardening, and am lucky that Chewi respects my planted flower beds. He won't walk on them even if a ball has rolled onto them. He waits for one of us to get it! He feels though that any plant not yet planted is fair game, so we plant up as quickly as possible. We also have no lawn whatsoever, just a large patch of brown with ankle breaking holes and sad tufts of green.

You're probably right, he may get better with age. By the time he is 20 he'll probably be perfect!

Jean

Sounds like our garden :D My husband started digging footings in our back garden the other week and as quickly as he could dig them out, Kiera would fill them back in :)

Well seeing as we are all introducing ourselves, Jean. I have 11 malamutes at the moment, fortunately 9 are puppies. My male, floyd, age 5 is from Jacquie. Floyd has Highnoons parents so maybe he is related to yours. My bitch Jasmine age 2 was from sue. Floyd and Jasmine have just had pups together, well 3 weeks ago. Who are the parents of your chayo dog?
Jayne

Jayne, sounds as though it's Blue's brother.

Naomi,
Yes this does sound like Blue Thunders Brother, I think there were 4 dogs born to that litter.:) Are you going to show him Jean ?

Just to add my two-penneth, I have done obediance with my gsd, and now have a malamute (Storm), From Jacquie (Myatuk) I do find that Storm is harder to train that my gsd was, but i see it as a challenge. That is paying off !!!
But i have found if i give him a inch, he will take a mile!!!!!! :D
That is what malamutes say "Me, Me, Me" I thought that was normal for a Malamute !!!!! :rolleyes:
Jane :)

Hello everyone!

Strewth, it took me ages to get down here, even skim-reading!

I have 2 Border Collies, half-brothers (also uncle and nephew, but let's not dwell on that!!) and almost identical in appearance.

However, their behaviour could not be more dissimilar. Dog senior (Kali) has always been a handful - the stock from which he comes has a reputation for that, we found later) and he went to Obedience classes, which, quite bluntly, did not work. Dog junior (Snorri) will fall over himself to do anything for you - you want a recall? Just smile at him and he comes properly.

Kali is now far more under my control nowadays (a mixture of praise and punishment worked for him), but he does have the idea that a) visitors are there to see him, and b) whilst he has to do what I tell him, my partner's instructions may be disregarded. Simply, my partner does not put sufficient authority in her voice, so he ignores her.

The wild behaviour on the arrival of guests (plus the overly violent dominance over his younger brother) had a simpler solution. One well-rinsed Dettox spray bottle (the trigger-operated air variety) with tap water in it. Now, all we have to do is say "PUFFER BOTTLE!!!" and he vanishes faster than Michael Schumacher. When he does reappear, it is with great caution. Simple and harmless, and after a few uses with an appropriate word, it becomes unnecessary even to pick it up.

Snorri,
I like your inventiveness and verbosity with the threat of the waterbottle :D :D :D

Hi Jean

Well mals are supposed to be the vocal breed. I know how you feel though. Soldier is four and is still very vocal. Like your boy he got a wonderful nature. When I take him to clubs, shows or working events he's extremely vocal (deafening at times) but I have to say the rest of him is controlable for which I am very relieved. However, my girl Willow is the one that gets over excited and you can't do a thing with her and she's quite quiet vocally. She is so submissive it's unreal but treats clubs like playtime. I used to get very frustrated with her as I'd take her to club and all she wanted to do was play. I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere. But at home and outside she was Fab. My friend asked me what I was worried about (she's got two mals also) so I told her so she said well she does everything you ask of her at home at when your out. She can go down off lead at a distance, do an excellent recall etc. so just let her use it as a socialisation class.
Which I did in the end.

I know how you must feel about the howling though. Peolple always used to stare at me especailly new people to the club and those who don't understand the breed when I had Soldier.
You want to hear him when there is a dog or a wolf on the TV!!!
He loves to talk and hold conversation with you as well.
I'm just thankful he's vocal in a friendly way and not an aggressive way.

I gave Soldier some of those valerian tablets once before a show and he was totally at ease. Too at ease so I've never tried them again.

Bachs (5 flower) Rescue remedy is supposed to be helpful in bringing calm and restoring emotional balance. It might be worth a try.
Or Lavender is pretty calming. Try diluting a little lavender oil and putting it near or on his collar so he can just a little woft from time to time.

I have to say though that Soldier was a lot easier to train than Willow. Soldier will do anything I ask him. He even closes Doors. It's a case of What do you want me to do? I can do it! Willow however was the challenging one. The typical Malamute. But we got there in the end Bless Her!

I love them both to pieces and wouldn't swap them for anything. :D

Wishing you luck
Ruth

Hi Ruee
Not even a Wolfie? :P
Nicky

Hi Nicky

No, as well as. Just said to Paul We've got Two Kids, Two Mals, Two Sibes one Lurcher (must get another one to get to two) and one Wolfie (I'm on your list for) so will have to get another one after that to make it two. BUT I will be drawing the line there. I don't think I could cope with TWO PAUL'S. The Thought of it!
Love Ruth

Hi Ruee
God no! not 2 MOG's! ;)
Nicky