Ceasar Milan - has made changes to the Dog Wisperer.

[SassyWindsor]

I been awakened on several occasions by owners whistling and calling dogs that have become lost. If you won't leash your dog, will you at least self impose a 10pm to 6am curfew on calling the dog when it gets lost?

[yari]

I get tired of the constant debate of what is the "best" method for training a dog. I have had dogs that right out of the shelter were the most compliant and well behaved animals to the overconfident somewhat dog aggressive beast that I have now. Crating can be wonderful for some dogs, for others it is a source of frustration and anxiety. There is no one method that will work for all dogs. Alot of the only "positive reinforcement" methods are the exact wrong thing to do with some dogs (my current), and will work wonders with a different one. A firm consitstant correction for a dog that thinks he runs the world is necessary and the kindest thing you can do. You have to learn from your dog what will work "best" for him/her. The "best" method is the one that WORKS for your particular dog.

[wirerat123]

As someone who loves my dog, I feel that a leash is one of the precautions you should always take.

Sure some dogs are well behaved. But sometimes things happen. A deer could startle your dog and the dog may well just run off after the deer. A person could poke your dog with a hiking pole spurring the dog and you into defensive action. I know if someone poked my dog with a hiking pole, I'm poking them with mine in the most unpleasant place possible.

I'm just saying. Leash the dogs. It's a better safe than sorry thing. And it's not that big of a deal. If you've trained your dog well, then there should be no issues with the dog walking beside you on a leash. Just do it, for your sake, for the dogs sake, and for the other peoples sake. Some people get seriously distressed when they see a dog running freely.

It's people with attitudes like Highpointbounds that makes me want to unleash mine. But I prefer to keep my dog on leash. If someone want to approach my dog then they are more than welcomed, if not, that's fine too.

[superman]

It seemed to me that there were more dogs on the AT this year.

[Wise Old Owl]

I get tired of the constant debate of what is the "best" method for training a dog. I have had dogs that right out of the shelter were the most compliant and well behaved animals to the overconfident somewhat dog aggressive beast that I have now. Crating can be wonderful for some dogs, for others it is a source of frustration and anxiety. There is no one method that will work for all dogs. Alot of the only "positive reinforcement" methods are the exact wrong thing to do with some dogs (my current), and will work wonders with a different one. A firm consitstant correction for a dog that thinks he runs the world is necessary and the kindest thing you can do. You have to learn from your dog what will work "best" for him/her. The "best" method is the one that WORKS for your particular dog.

Yari - dogs that pass the submissive test are the only ones put up again for adoption at the shelter. If they fail they are put down.

[yari]

Yari - dogs that pass the submissive test are the only ones put up again for adoption at the shelter. If they fail they are put down.

That's only some shelters. There is one here that doesn't test their dogs at all. Which is how my father ended up with one that bit my mother for walking too close to my dad. Besides, a submissive dog does not mean a well behaved dog.

[LordoftheWings]

A curfew? seriously?
@ Wise Old Owl-My dog was abused and literally cabled to a tree by her foot when a friend of mine at the shelter called me and told me her case. She was hyperactive, scared of her own shadow and seriously alpha around other dogs.
I trained her with Mr. Milan's training before he was ever on TV. It's just something I've always been good at. (I do love his work) My dog also has the peculiar trait of licking the carpet. I kept finding spots of wet and worn patches that I couldn't explain. I found out after leaving my camera on one of the spots, she would lick the carpet after i would leave because of anxiety. I made a habit of giving her a treat when I would leave (peanut butter inside a chewy) The licking stopped.

[Awol1970]

I trained her with Mr. Milan's training before he was ever on TV. It's just something I've always been good at. (I do love his work)....

Excellent thread Mr. W.O.O.

I agree with LOTW. Most puppies benefit from this kind of training if they need it or really most aspects of it whether they need it or not. Dog's personalities vary a ton. Just lik we are all peculiar, so are dogs. From the minute they are born, some dogs are just gonna be perfectly behaved right from 8 wks on. Likewise some dogs are just gonna be rotten without Ceasar like training. Some dogs are born to do an adventure like a thru. Some dogs (could be the first dogs bro/sis) are good for maybe 5 miles or perhaps just car camping. Who know? Maybe some dogs start complaining in their dogs head about even venturing outside for more than a half an hour.

Cesar's T.V. show deals with people who didn't have even an inkling about how to deal with a dog who isn't...hmm how do I say this... A BIT DENSE!!! when it comes to doggy manners. Cesar's tactics are what's perfect for these dogs who lack grace and finess.. There are a great deal of dogs out there who if they could watch cesar would say "duhhh I know my master is the pack leader. He feeds me and stuff and lets me have fun and want for nothing".

If a dog is perfect and can (and I'm sure there are a ton) walk 2100 miles or so without a leash and charm 97% of the people he/she encounters then to hell with the uptight 3%.

If your dog is less than perfect but willing to improve constantly (my IQ is probably lower than average so I fall into this category) then you should probably leash it for most of the time. Dogs dislike the anxiety of being offleash in a stressful situation even more than we dislike our dog doing something embarrasing, be it rush a child, defend us when for some reason the person or persons approaching are Bigfootish in their eyes. I have no problems with a less than perfect dog being unleashed in my prescence. It's all a learning experience. That being said the instant that someone crys "Dog foul!!! I'm scared poo-less and I have a huge dog phobia!!! it is on the dogowners shoulders to solve the problem.

[SassyWindsor]

When the Ceasar Millan method doesn't live up to expectations on the trail, the dog hiker can always fall back on the standard statement that I've personally have heard many times. It goes something like this "He (or she) has never done that before". To the credit of the dog hiker, an apology is usually offered if blood has been drawn.

The only training that a hiker requires, without a dog, is to stay outside the length of a leashed dog.

The dog hiker just needs to be trained to leash their dog, even if your name is Ceasar Millan, this will help eliminate most problems between parties.

[LordoftheWings]

If I decide to take my dog. She will nearly 100 % of the time be on the leash for these reasons.
1. She is a dog and dogs live in the now. I have no idea what she'll do when encountering wild animals (although I've trained her to attack people that show fear)
I would hate to have her injured or killed because I was too stubborn or proud to keep her on the leash. She could be attacked by a bear, shot by hunters for chasing a deer, kicked by a horse, bitten by a snake or stabbed by a scared hiker that should have turned in their Man Card a long time ago.

2. Liability- My dog plays with newborns and kids pull her tail and poke her eyes and she just takes it in stride. I would hate to have some dim-wit attack her and have her bite the jack@#$. The bills and attorney fees aren't worth it even if I do get to keep her alive afterward.

3. Continued growth and support of responsible dog ownership on the trail. It's better to be an ambassador of your cause than a bruised eye from my fist.

[Awol1970]

1. (although I've trained her to attack people that show fear)

Ok, you may be someone who falls into the category of people who dont REALLY need to be bringing your dog around on a hike. I guess i misread post two before this. And perhaps you neglected my post where I spoke of dogs who should be on or off leash.

Any dog who is "trained" to attack has NO business on a public trail. If you want a weapon buy a .38 If you feel the need to use a dog as a tool as far as personal defense then that is your right, but it shoud never be tolerated in public...much less a trail.

If a fellow hiker feels the need to stab your dog than I can assure you that 99.99/100 your dog needed stabbing.

I was bit by a dog @ 15. He was a trained attack dog who was doing a very effective job. He obviously would have never been an exemplary thru-hiker, or even a day hiker. Same with any dog (perhaps especially one who has been "trained to attack people who show fear") who has even thought about being kind of aggressive with stangers in the middle of the woods. INHO if a very stressful situation came up my dog (A big sweet "perfect dog" would exibhit concern and whining. She has been known to alert strangers if I wander off. I would not like to saddle her with the responsibilty of guarding me. All dogs have those tendencies to some degree or another but the more limited the better. My responsibility is far greater than hers.

I am after all the pack leader.

[LordoftheWings]

OK pack leader. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and guess you totally misread or misunderstood my posting. I understand sarcasm is hard to convey over the internet. I would kindly ask for you to reread my post with the understanding that I would never train a dog to be aggressive. I read the good SGT's request to keep debate out of the discussion and was trying to advocate owner responsibility and training to keep Dog lovers on the trail and lead by example to increase everyone's enjoyment of the trail. I'm sorry your childhood fears have stayed with you all this time and effect your judgement. I too was attacked by a dog. When I was 6. It wasn't the dogs fault. I tried to take food from a hungry, chained up wolf/husky mix that was abused. I had my right cheek torn off and had over 100 stitches from the inside out. I used that incident to learn from it. My father and I went to the library and we read about dogs and training. I now love and respect dogs more than ever. This had also made me more passionate about the responsible ownership, I hope this is where you heart lies too.

[Awol1970]

OK pack leader. I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and guess you totally misread or misunderstood my posting. I understand sarcasm is hard to convey over the internet. I would kindly ask for you to reread my post with the understanding that I would never train a dog to be aggressive. I read the good SGT's request to keep debate out of the discussion and was trying to advocate owner responsibility and training to keep Dog lovers on the trail and lead by example to increase everyone's enjoyment of the trail. I'm sorry your childhood fears have stayed with you all this time and effect your judgement. I too was attacked by a dog. When I was 6. It wasn't the dogs fault. I tried to take food from a hungry, chained up wolf/husky mix that was abused. I had my right cheek torn off and had over 100 stitches from the inside out. I used that incident to learn from it. My father and I went to the library and we read about dogs and training. I now love and respect dogs more than ever. This had also made me more passionate about the responsible ownership, I hope this is where you heart lies too.

Wow i guess i did miss the sarcasm... sorry dude. I mentioned the dog attack just to re-enforce where I was comming from. I only had 15 stitches but if i didn't have jeans on I would have lost my entire calf. It was a shepard who was guarding a farm. And it was totally my fault as well. It made me think about dogs and their behavior, and when I started raising pets I understood that my dogs would be pacifists. but enough of that.

I stand by all I posted though.

[LordoftheWings]

Understood. I despise the Michael Vicks of the world and would wish them a swift and just punishment worthy of their crime......insert your own punishment here.......
I will try to be more mindful of my sense or humor. I forget that none of you know me.

[jody]

The original post stated "the dog ran up to the woman", then went on to chastise the woman "for undoing 6 months of attack training"! First of all where is the womans rights? The dog ran up to her, so that tells me it was in her personal space! Second, how is she to know, when she saw it wasnt going to attack her and she pet it, that she wasnt supposed to?? I think you all are giving rights of the dogs way more consideration than people on the trail!! Also if a dog runs up at me aggressively on the trial and "I poke him with my walking stick", the first person who tries to retaliate is going to wish they hadnt!! Leash the dogs!!!

[LordoftheWings]

Forgive me Jodi if I'm wrong. But, Before you go poking anyone's dog, I think humor and sarcasm might have been used there.

[Deb]

If I decide to take my dog. She will nearly 100 % of the time be on the leash for these reasons.
1. She is a dog and dogs live in the now. I have no idea what she'll do when encountering wild animals (although I've trained her to attack people that show fear)

You're new here. In a dog thread, it's best not to say things like this if you don't mean them. People won't react kindly. If you're saying it sarcastically, it's best to use an emoticon to convey your intention. No emoticon = people will take your statement at face value, as I did.

Either way, welcome to the forum.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Sometimes psychology of dogs and owners isn't enough to keep this show interesting. On a same note, I too got burned out on what was my favorite forum here on WB because of too many posts of "leashes." ...

...Weigh in!

...LEASH!

leash your dogs?????

LEASH THE DOG OR KEEP IT HOME!

...leash screamers like highpointbound are infinitely more offensive than an off-leash dog...

Bark! Bark! Woof!

...If you won't leash your dog...

As someone who loves my dog, I feel that a leash is one of the precautions you should always take....

...Leash the dogs...

If I decide to take my dog. She will nearly 100 % of the time be on the leash...

...Leash the dogs!!!

W.O.O. while I commend your efforts to post a dog thread about the benefits of non-dog owners understanding body language, I think it is time to resign ourselves that no matter what, every dog thread will eventually be hijacked into a series of "leash" rants.

Now on the the original subject: Regardless if it is right or wrong to have a dog off leash (and all debate on this point aside), I think the consensus is that every hiker is going to be greeted/confronted by unleashed dogs on their trip.

I would suggest that all hikers at least learn a bit about dog behavior and dog body language, those that do will find it very useful both on and off the trail. Dogs convey their emotions and feelings through both body language and barking (both if they bark, and what kind of bark it is), once a person understands a few basic indicators it's easy to tell whether the dog is a threat or just trying to say hello. Once again I am NOT saying it is your job to deal with other people's dogs running up to you, I just think that it is likely it will happen and knowing how to tell what the dog is up to will give you some peace of mind YMMV.

Please also remember that when you run into an unleashed dog, especially on the weekends, there is a good chance that it belongs to a local who is on a day hike. Please be courteous to the extent it is possible (even if they are in the wrong), in the long run pissing off the locals just ends up hurting the backpacking community as a whole.

Finally, since I'm sure I will have to post this later if I don't say it now. Yes, my dog is always on a leash when she is on the A.T., I even step to the side to give other hikers the right of way

[Red Beard]

The old methods like if a dog soils your house and you if you discover it quickly and push the nose in it and then put the dog outside still works, but then you have to trail the dog to make a noise to be let out.

I have a bell hanging on the back door. Whenever my dog needs to go out, she nudges it with her nose. I give her a treat, she does her business, and everybody is happy.

[vamelungeon]

I have a bell hanging on the back door. Whenever my dog needs to go out, she nudges it with her nose. I give her a treat, she does her business, and everybody is happy.

My dog comes up to me, looks me in the eye, paws my leg and barks. The only other time he does that is if he needs to borrow money.