0n (23 Jun 08) Richard Webb wrote to Cindy Haglund...

 RW> HI CIndy,

 RW> Cindy Haglund wrote in a message to Richard Webb:

 RW> A stranger should *never* be able to do that.  However, you should. As
 RW> you know, my two most recent were Rottweilers.  ROxy, being a street

CH> Absolutely. Now in situation where a trainer or vet had to remove
CH> something from a dogs mouth for one reason or another, they do so by
CH> first winning the dogs trust and using distraction. You would just
CH> go manhandle the thing away from the dog.
 RW> Yep, seen that done.  With ROxy I *had* to be able to inspecdt
 RW> anything she picked up, since she had been accustomed to eating
 RW> everything she could find that was even remotely near edible.

 Glad you noted my typo :) "Wouldn't: is what I meant. It's not that
the dog is being 'bad' he's simply acting on instinct. To get the item
awya from the dog, you have to think, rather than act on instinct
which would be to get angry and you'd end up getting bit.
..................

CH> This reminds me of what trainers say. As much fun as it can be,
CH> never play tug of war with your dog unless you know you will win
CH> because if you lose puts your dog in the alpha slot. Being the pack
CH> leader doesn't' mean we need to be MEAN, but we do need to let the
CH> dog know we are the leader. They expect us to be. Tug of war is for
CH> the litter mates. Besides if you ever played tug of war with say a
CH> English Bulldog pup.. they have very very strong jaws and wag their
CH> head as they would prey.. very strongly. They can do a number on
CH> your shoulder socket.

 RW> Schatze could do that right now.  Just in the last few months I've
 RW> quit playing tug-of-war with her, because I"m no longer sure I could
 RW> win.  SHe does like a bulldog, the shaking the head back and forth,

Yup. I dogsat a little English bulldog. He is a sweet tempered little
dog. But I don't think he knows how strong he is. He'd bring me his
toy to toss, and I'd get him to Drop it because if you grab it he'll
want to play shake your arm off  ...
.....................

 RW> those strong jaws. I had a nice tug-o-war toy,knotted rope with a
 RW> handle, but I've quit playing just for that reason. NOw our main game
 RW> is chase the dumbbell.

 Can you take him to a dog park? There's more of them now than ever.
Some better than others. I'm still investigating the Orlando area. My
daughter takes her little poodle/shih tzu to a dog park near her. He
has the best time ever . Several other dogs his size and breed to play
with. The small dog area is separated from the large dog areas, and
it's in a wooded area. Not too close to the main road.
................

CH> On a walk one time somebody threw something out the window of their
CH> passing car. I look down and Patches had picked it up. A slice of
CH> pizza!!! I kid you not. I did take it away and he was fine by that.

 RW> BUddy was a pizza hound.  BOth my ROtts have enjoyed pizza as well. 
 RW> IN fact, as we speak mama's getting Schatze the leftover spaghetti
 RW> .

 Dogs will eat just about anything the same way people will. They
don't always know better, just like people. Do you know if there's any
info on dog's tastebuds? I wonder ! Hmm. A google challenge ! 

cindy

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