[Dailydrool] Overdue training

[erusselburg2 at aol.com]

Dear Pitiful Momperson to da boys,

Don't be too hard on yourself. . .it is never too late to train.? It may be harder now, but it can be done.? I have some suggestions about the fighting in the house issue.? First, expect good behavior from your crew and expect them to act like civil hounds in your house.? Accept no deviations.? Do not allow them to:
?
1.? jostle each other out of the way to compete for a pat on the head or a cookie
2. get up on any furniture (height is power), especially the bed
3. stare at each other - this is a precursor to a fight
4. block your movement -?do not step around or over them (the alpha controls the space)

Be especially aware of movement through tight spaces (like doorways), as this is where a dominant dog will body-block another, causing a fight.? Don't let them crowd small spaces.

If they start to fight, once you've carefully gotten them apart, do not separate them completely.? Put two crates side-by-side in the same room (about a foot apart so they can't still reach each other, obviously) and make them stay there, acting like respectable hounds, in each other's presence.? Do not allow them to growl or stare at each other while in the crates.? If they do, give them a firm "NO!"?? Remember, they must learn to co-exist peacefully, and they can.? Once they have had a cooling-off period, put them back together but ignore them.? Your attention and interference may cause them to continue their fight, especially if they are fighting over access to you.??

Dogs?do not usually fight to be alpha. . .they fight to be the beta (#2 dog) because the beta dog is closest to the alpha and gets better resources.? So this is not a case where the dogs are trying to take over the pack.? But it is a case where your leadership can nip things in the bud.

Good luck with your hounds!
Edy 
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