>>> Part 2 of 3...

back to camp, in full retreat, and running.

  Thats funny about meeting another dog.  He is friendly, but other
dogs, while running free, get to a point, of being assertive
and Rusty then is force to growl at them.   As an abused dog it
should be the same as the loud engines and big trucks and it is
the opposite with other dogs, unless they get aggresive first.

 CH> Our latest project with Abbie is to make her SIT and wait as we go out
 CH> the back door for her to go play out back. She likes to BOLT out the
 CH> door. We're putting an end to that. She has a tendency to push Cosmo
 CH> aside and that is rude.. so we have to correct her on this. It's gonna
 CH> take awhile to instaill this good manners bit. The hardest part is
 CH> being consistent. Make her sit, calm down, EVERY time.

  Rusty and neighbour's dogs used to come over when younger.  But now
with a few passed, it doesn't happen anymore...but yeah...first out
the door, or if dark I go first the chicken follows..or perhaps together
getting jammed in the door...or well the cat get crushed in the rush.

<< Poor cat...she used to run with the dogs around the house in a
   game they had..until she oneday got underfoot and got crushed
   into a snowbank ... what was amazing was the pack came back for
   her....found she was missing, and came back, and got her out of
   the snowbank. >>
 
 CH> My point ! SEE? You really don't need the treats. But yeah they will
 CH> look at us expecting one.

  Yes, I don't need the treats, but I give him something anyways.
Besides, when we meet people and they see the antics, it is a part
of their day to look forward to ...     I have no problem with him
doing that and stopping at all roads.  Better that then going across
and perhaps being hit.

 CH> With Patches we quit treats on a walk because he kept begging for one
 CH> .. OH one fine day a car whizzed by and somebody tossed out a slice of
 CH> pizza. I KID YOU not! I didn't realize this though until I looked down
 CH> and there's Patches with a slice of very fresh pizza hanging out of
 CH> his mouth... No, he did not get to eat it. I didn't want him getting
 CH> sick. Heck knows what was on the thing.
 CH> .....

  aah....my dog scooped a chunk of fresh cooked lasana and learned about
hot stuff fresh from the oven ...then also a roast left in the wrong
place had us up all night tending to his needs.   They love curry too.
 
 CH> In the wild/ in nature dogs don't reward each other in the obvious
 CH> way. Simply being accepted in the pack is enough. Same is so in human
 CH> society I guess. But we humans do crave affection. Or dogs love it as
 CH> we do which is why so many of us prefer the company of dogs to people.

  They also provide food for the whole pack, and those left at the den.
I have seen their affection for each other on many occassions.  They
do have a way of rewarding each other, as each does have a function
in the pack that is reward.

 CH> You are reinforcing his fear. Wait for him to calm and THEN give him
 CH> the hugs. He'll earn he gets the hugs when he acts calmly. And that
 CH> will help him get over whatever is spooking him. But I agree saying
 CH> it's okay in a calm assertive way IS helpful. Just don't get mushy. :)
 CH> Getting mushy is a weakness, to a dog. It's a weak energy ; non pack
 CH> leader energy.

  When I am out anywhere with Rusty.   If he has fear, and I see it,
I am there for him.   That doesn't reinfoce his fear .  Where did
you ever get that idea from?   I have got this dog through some
tight times, by being there.  I have only one deep down nightmare
to go, which I am working on.   If you want to call it "mushy" then
ok...whatever...but it has worked.

If I had waited, as you state for him to calmdown, I wouldn't have the
dog he is today.  He might have ended up having to be destroyed.

Mushy?  Hmmm... He's been thrown from the deck of the boat offshore
and I have joined him there for a swim.  Yep...he's in his lifejacket
and we both just lazy about.  That got him over his panic in water.

 CH> You know this is something I would like to ask CM about. He says not
 CH> to let the dog be the boss. If he wants to go out and lets you know,
 CH> make him wait a minute.....  hmmmm...  Well we DO want them to let us
 CH> know if they have to go...

 Well if your "CM" wants to clean the floor I'd wait the minute...but
it means when I get the call from Rusty or his cats that they want out
I get up or stop what I am doing and I do it. 

Wild dogs, as well the wolf...don't mess in the den.  They go outside.

It has nothing to do with the dog wanting to be the boss.  He wants
out.  Simple.

 CH> Our is 4:30 but they often don't eat until after we do. CM says
 CH> followers will not eat until the pack leaders do. Well that may be so
 CH> but I think ours wait because they want to see if they get any scraps
 CH> first  BUT They never eat on Fridays when we go out to dinner,

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