Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Pozees]

You are exactly right!!! I thought I was the only one who had noticed that! Pitties for the lazy freeloader relatives and mean, too fat chi's for the old folks.

Must be something that all health workers encounter and notice as they go into these homes.

I've only had one dog attempt to bite me and that was a friend's Brittany Spaniel. A spoiled brat of a dog. She claimed you shouldn't look in her eyes because she would bite you...well, of course that makes a person have to look in the dog's eyes, doesn't it? I did. The dog lunged and so did I. She jumped and my hand grabbed her bottom jaw, along with her tongue, and put her to the ground and flipped her over. She started screaming and trying to get away and my friend was screaming that I was hurting her "Let her Ggggooooooo!" and "You're hurting herrrrrrr!". My reply? "She was going to hurt me, wasn't she?"

I just got to the hurtin' first.

I held her there until she stopped trying to get away and then I let her go. She ran like a scalded cat into the other room and until that dog's dying day I was the only person who could be approach their house or be in their home without them having to put the dog into the bathroom to protect visitors. That dog walked very meek and mild when I came to visit, stayed off the couch and would go anywhere I pointed my finger. Even my friend couldn't get that level of obedience out of her. Go figure...one little tongue twister was all it took to take the fire out of Hard Eye Hannah.

THAT is Alpha. Perfect.

 

[Pozees]

I should probably follow up with a caution about anthropomorphizing dogs:

Dogs are not people. They have a different set of wiring diagrams in their heads. They SURVIVE by knowing only one is in charge. The one in charge is always the strong, healthy, savvy pack leader - alpha. The pack leader ensures the pack has food and safe shelter. Even if the pack is one dog and one human, the alpha must ALWAYS be the human. This is why the Monks of Newskete train their dogs to not eat from a bowl placed in front of them until the human commands them to do so.

Dogs are not people; they do not think or feel like people. They spend each and every day in survival mode. Human alpha = survival. You are not hurting your dog's feelings by demanding respect, you are telling him or her that it is YOUR JOB ALONE to ensure food and shelter - resulting in the dog relaxing and listening and obeying. He or she will feel safe and will respect you - you point, they go. You say stop, they screech to a halt and LOOK TO YOU for directions. A dog in training should never look anywhere but at its human alpha so it knows what it is supposed to do. Eyes on you is what you seek.

 

[Beekissed]

I so very much agree. Even with Jake going into his 6th year I'm still having fun with training him on little things. That interaction, I think, makes for a stronger bond between the dog and human. Jake is very much a side kick dog instead of alpha, so it reassures him so much that I am in control. So much so that, if he is barking at a predator, I cannot go up to investigate because he will immediately stop focusing on the pred because he is expecting me to take over from there.

My other dog that is now deceased would take over as alpha when I was not around and Jake was her right hand man. He would not attack a dog on his own but would gladly join in with much gusto if she initiated the attack...and she did. When she did, he would join and they would work from both ends and try to meet in the middle. It was a great symbiosis of two different personalities within the pack and that working as a team should work for the alpha human and the dogs as well. If I were to attack someone or try to defend myself, I expect Jake would then take my cue and also attack that person, just like he did with Lucy. It's a beautiful equation.... and I miss Lucy out there being the alpha when I cannot. I really need another second alpha dog to help Jake guard the flock against stray dogs.

 

[thedragonlady]

Yes M'am your right..................... I have calmed down enough be very cold and calculating in this endeavor, not fool hardy, nor overly excited. Just firm, steady with my eye on the prize, I won't be seen I won't be heard just a breeze that makes the hair on the back of yer neck stand up, and it's done. Vengence is mine sayith AL.

Pity you can't erase the owners from the gene pool as well!

 

[Pozees]

I so very much agree. Even with Jake going into his 6th year I'm still having fun with training him on little things. That interaction, I think, makes for a stronger bond between the dog and human. Jake is very much a side kick dog instead of alpha, so it reassures him so much that I am in control. So much so that, if he is barking at a predator, I cannot go up to investigate because he will immediately stop focusing on the pred because he is expecting me to take over from there.

My other dog that is now deceased would take over as alpha when I was not around and Jake was her right hand man. He would not attack a dog on his own but would gladly join in with much gusto if she initiated the attack...and she did. When she did, he would join and they would work from both ends and try to meet in the middle. It was a great symbiosis of two different personalities within the pack and that working as a team should work for the alpha human and the dogs as well. If I were to attack someone or try to defend myself, I expect Jake would then take my cue and also attack that person, just like he did with Lucy. It's a beautiful equation.... and I miss Lucy out there being the alpha when I cannot. I really need another second alpha dog to help Jake guard the flock against stray dogs.

Jake is the true beta - perfect dog when alpha is always present, not always so in alpha's absence. You do need a second dog - and in all likelihood, it is around the corner just waiting for you

 

[Pozees]

Pity you can't erase the owners from the gene pool as well!

 

[Beekissed]

Doesn't it seem that, most often, those who choose breeds that need an alpha are rarely ever alpha? It's like they are trying to find dogs that hide their insecurities so the most undisciplined, weak people get pit bulls or other "bully" breeds and then have not one clue about how to train or control them. At least, that's just been my experience from what I've seen first hand and even on the Dog Whisperer. Rarely does the dog match the owner's temperament or capabilities as a trainer or owner.

 

[thedragonlady]

Doesn't it seem that, most often, those who choose breeds that need an alpha are rarely ever alpha? It's like they are trying to find dogs that hide their insecurities so the most undisciplined, weak people get pit bulls or other "bully" breeds and then have not one clue about how to train or control them. At least, that's just been my experience from what I've seen first hand and even on the Dog Whisperer. Rarely does the dog match the owner's temperament or capabilities as a trainer or owner.

That's the nitty gritty of the Alpha game. I really wonder, contrary to what Cesar teaches, if a natural BETA person can ever control an Alpha anything. Certainly not in horses, or the dogs that I have seen, but as you say, Bee, they are naturally attracted to them. Opposites attract; sometimes in a deadly manner.

 

[Beekissed]

That's the nitty gritty of the Alpha game. I really wonder, contrary to what Cesar teaches, if a natural BETA person can ever control an Alpha anything. Certainly not in horses, or the dogs that I have seen, but as you say, Bee, they are naturally attracted to them. Opposites attract; sometimes in a deadly manner.

I agree. I see him coaching these people about being alpha and you know that as soon as he leaves that dog is going right back into the same pattern because people cannot transition a lifetime of behavior as sweetly as can a dog. You are either born alpha or are strong and smart enough to see the necessity of becoming alpha and so work on it. Mostly, most are not smart enough to see how it would benefit their whole lives to work on becoming more alpha about some things and about the dogs and children in particular.

 

[galanie]

To bite humans for no reason, yes. Although some breeds are bred to be very protective and will attack any perceived threat with out training. Personally, I think it's unnecessary and asking for trouble to breed such dogs. Pit bulls are (or at least were originally) bred specifically to be NOT aggressive towards humans.  But the terrier blood and that gameness does give them a strong prey drive. Some this it as an issue, but really it just needs to be properly managed. But I don't think dogs make the distinction between domestic and wild animals...prey is prey.  Dogs attacking other dogs, in my opinion is either bad genes or lack of proper socialization.  The lab was not a well balanced dog at all, he was neurotic, then again so was his owner...not a strong, stable person at all. 

This is my experience with dogs and their owners. It's not the dogs. It's the owners. I am retired from carrying mail. I've dealt with dogs and their owners for years and years. Show me a crazy dog and I'll show you a silly, crazy, irresponsible, or just plain stupid owner. And I don't care what breed it is. Like the lady that reported me for not delivering her mail because of the dog and the dog was tied up. Sure it was. It was tied up.. TO THE MAILBOX.