Sometimes we just need to step away from a situation, and our emotions, in order to assess. I think your analysis of Boone's behavior is correct, and so are your plans.
Hang in there.
Boone-My Anatolian Unicorn
- Thread starter peteyfoozer
- Start date
Hang in there.
rachels.haven
Herd Master
Those dogs were a threat and an LGD would rather die than leave you unprotected. His genetics code for bodyguard. He's your secret service. Your best shot will probably be to convince him that you've got it covered, but IDK how you're going to convince an Anatolian of that. His genetics also call for doubting you now that he's approaching grown up.
On the positive side, when you're out and about you're probably the safest woman for miles.
On the positive side, when you're out and about you're probably the safest woman for miles.
Baymule
Herd Master
If anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Boone is in not just good hands, he’s in the BEST hands. You have gone through a rough patch, but you are on the upswing, feeling better and can give Boone more training sessions.
Together, y’all got this!
Together, y’all got this!
My 90# GSD/Lab cross Tirzah had the bark and attitude of a GSD. I took her with me to the ATM. No one got close.
I miss her.
SageHill
Herd Master
On the citronella spray and not using it --- muscle memory, it's not there. Not your fault you forgot to use it.
Things like that - I had XYZ why didn't I use it happens to me as well.
This should be something that you try out, learn to aim, consider blow-back, and then practice with Boone so he understands it's not on him. If there is a next time you'll be ready.
I'm glad you took the time to step back and analyze it. Mr Boone did the proper thing - just not the proper thing for a service dog. But - he hasn't had the chance to learn what he is supposed to do. He did what comes naturally - and he did it in a very tempered/scaled down way.
Your plan to take him to where there are controlled dogs is a good one. If you've got people that will work with you, you can add in key word(s) that you say to them where they'll stop their dogs and either the same words where they move their dogs away. These are words that Boone would learn and understand that you are in control and basically you have his six.
He's still young, still part puppy. This was just a hole in his training. You have done so much with him extremely successfully especially going against the LGD nature. I have no doubt that you can do this and that Boone is capable.
Hang in there - you've got this.
Things like that - I had XYZ why didn't I use it happens to me as well.
This should be something that you try out, learn to aim, consider blow-back, and then practice with Boone so he understands it's not on him. If there is a next time you'll be ready.
I'm glad you took the time to step back and analyze it. Mr Boone did the proper thing - just not the proper thing for a service dog. But - he hasn't had the chance to learn what he is supposed to do. He did what comes naturally - and he did it in a very tempered/scaled down way.
Your plan to take him to where there are controlled dogs is a good one. If you've got people that will work with you, you can add in key word(s) that you say to them where they'll stop their dogs and either the same words where they move their dogs away. These are words that Boone would learn and understand that you are in control and basically you have his six.
He's still young, still part puppy. This was just a hole in his training. You have done so much with him extremely successfully especially going against the LGD nature. I have no doubt that you can do this and that Boone is capable.
Hang in there - you've got this.
- Thread starter
- #286
peteyfoozer
Herd Master
God bless you guys! Your support means the world to me as I know you are all animal handlers and have a variety of experiences, as well as some of you share your specific talents and experience with dogs and LGDs.
I had a great morning and amazingly my pain levels are quite low, in spite of the cold, wind and sleet. Dinner is in the Dutch oven cooking slowly for tonight and I’m a little woozy afraid I’m gonna take another fall. So we are working where I can sit, he has taken off my socks, helped me take off my shirt several times, and picked up my fallen glasses on his own. He ran to make sure the bathroom door was shut (one of his favorite tasks now)(
and he found my med bag in the other room and brought it to me and he’s learning to find an antler now. This kind of training wears him out pretty fast and he enjoys it and I’m happy he’s learning stuff that can be used to help me. I am so happy he’s learning to take off my jacket and socks and stuff because a lot of times I struggle. He really is so helpful and it’s hard to believe he’s only a year old.
I had a great morning and amazingly my pain levels are quite low, in spite of the cold, wind and sleet. Dinner is in the Dutch oven cooking slowly for tonight and I’m a little woozy afraid I’m gonna take another fall. So we are working where I can sit, he has taken off my socks, helped me take off my shirt several times, and picked up my fallen glasses on his own. He ran to make sure the bathroom door was shut (one of his favorite tasks now)(
and he found my med bag in the other room and brought it to me and he’s learning to find an antler now. This kind of training wears him out pretty fast and he enjoys it and I’m happy he’s learning stuff that can be used to help me. I am so happy he’s learning to take off my jacket and socks and stuff because a lot of times I struggle. He really is so helpful and it’s hard to believe he’s only a year old.
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Baymule
Herd Master
Buford would freak out if he was in the house, much less if I told him to take my socks off. 
He sits, waits, I set his food pan down and tell him take it. He comes when I call, most of the time. Sometimes he tries to hide and flattens out behind a weed with his big ol’ body. I walk out to him, tummy rub, and he jumps up and beats me back to the sheep pen. And I think he’s BRILLIANT!!
Boone is on a whole ‘nother level. And he’s there because of YOU. It’s YOUR training that has brought him this far and there’s more to come. You and Boone are partners. You rely on each other. Boone is attuned to you, your wants and needs. It can only get better from here going forward.
He sits, waits, I set his food pan down and tell him take it. He comes when I call, most of the time. Sometimes he tries to hide and flattens out behind a weed with his big ol’ body. I walk out to him, tummy rub, and he jumps up and beats me back to the sheep pen. And I think he’s BRILLIANT!!
Boone is on a whole ‘nother level. And he’s there because of YOU. It’s YOUR training that has brought him this far and there’s more to come. You and Boone are partners. You rely on each other. Boone is attuned to you, your wants and needs. It can only get better from here going forward.
- Thread starter
- #288
peteyfoozer
Herd Master
@Baymule
“He comes when I call, most of the time. Sometimes he tries to hide and flattens out behind a weed with his big ol’ body. I walk out to him, tummy rub, and he jumps up and beats me back to the sheep pen.”
For the life of me I can’t figure out quotes on here!
Buford is a star in his own right! I WISH Boone would come when I call! I can’t go out front or walk around the ranch because
1. Boone has a horrible recall and
2.because of the 3 dog packs
The boss and 2 of the triplets each have a pack of cowdogs that are loose outside. The son that lives across from us tends to sic his dogs on coyotes and they think that is a transferable skill to be used on Boone.
At this point I am lost as of what to do. He thinks the mob attack is fun and submits and rolls over like the puppy he is, but I fear for him becoming “unsubmissive” as he matures and killing or injuring one of them. A couple of them are old, one is a puppy and small, and when Boone plays, he is much too rough. I tried chaining him out on the front lawn one day so he could watch them and they could meet and greet while still able to avoid him.
One brave pup met him and they ran off together, Boone dragging what was left of the heavy chain after he had effortlessly busted the also heavy snap in half.
I sure as heck can’t hold him when he’s like that as I don’t outweigh him by much. I have a heavy duty kennel we made, but I’m afraid if I put it out there, they might fence fight.
There are a couple dogs kenneled out by the old loading chute. If I can walk or can hold him in my wheelchair to go that
far, it would give me the chance to use decreasing distance to settle him until he can greet them nicely. He’s extremely rude when it comes to k9 etiquette. Fen didn’t teach him well.
Feel free to share your thoughts on any solution. I can also use an e collar, start working him with it in the house with recalls and basic obedience and use kenneled dogs to start proofing him.
Feel free to share tour thoughts on it. I traun using positive reinforcement but I’m not averse to other methods on a dog like this. I keep a hermspringer in him when we go out as a just in case, and boy was I glad I had it at the bank!
4:00 am- I awake to sloppy kisses on my face from a very large, cold, very wet moose of a puppy. He made over me, wagging his big donut of a tail, until I handed him his two tiny, requisite cookies, kept behind my pillow for meeting midnight demands, then proceeded, with his huge, cold, wet carcass, to join us, head on my pillow, making moony eyes at me.
Then he takes his spot at my feet, using them as a pillow My hip is beginning to hurt but I can’t move or I will wake him.
He finally returns outside, to his big bed on the porch to guard and watch the snow fall.
“He comes when I call, most of the time. Sometimes he tries to hide and flattens out behind a weed with his big ol’ body. I walk out to him, tummy rub, and he jumps up and beats me back to the sheep pen.”
For the life of me I can’t figure out quotes on here!
Buford is a star in his own right! I WISH Boone would come when I call! I can’t go out front or walk around the ranch because
1. Boone has a horrible recall and
2.because of the 3 dog packs
The boss and 2 of the triplets each have a pack of cowdogs that are loose outside. The son that lives across from us tends to sic his dogs on coyotes and they think that is a transferable skill to be used on Boone.
At this point I am lost as of what to do. He thinks the mob attack is fun and submits and rolls over like the puppy he is, but I fear for him becoming “unsubmissive” as he matures and killing or injuring one of them. A couple of them are old, one is a puppy and small, and when Boone plays, he is much too rough. I tried chaining him out on the front lawn one day so he could watch them and they could meet and greet while still able to avoid him.
One brave pup met him and they ran off together, Boone dragging what was left of the heavy chain after he had effortlessly busted the also heavy snap in half.
I sure as heck can’t hold him when he’s like that as I don’t outweigh him by much. I have a heavy duty kennel we made, but I’m afraid if I put it out there, they might fence fight.
There are a couple dogs kenneled out by the old loading chute. If I can walk or can hold him in my wheelchair to go that
far, it would give me the chance to use decreasing distance to settle him until he can greet them nicely. He’s extremely rude when it comes to k9 etiquette. Fen didn’t teach him well.
Feel free to share your thoughts on any solution. I can also use an e collar, start working him with it in the house with recalls and basic obedience and use kenneled dogs to start proofing him.
Feel free to share tour thoughts on it. I traun using positive reinforcement but I’m not averse to other methods on a dog like this. I keep a hermspringer in him when we go out as a just in case, and boy was I glad I had it at the bank!
4:00 am- I awake to sloppy kisses on my face from a very large, cold, very wet moose of a puppy. He made over me, wagging his big donut of a tail, until I handed him his two tiny, requisite cookies, kept behind my pillow for meeting midnight demands, then proceeded, with his huge, cold, wet carcass, to join us, head on my pillow, making moony eyes at me.
Then he takes his spot at my feet, using them as a pillow My hip is beginning to hurt but I can’t move or I will wake him.
He finally returns outside, to his big bed on the porch to guard and watch the snow fall.
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Mini Horses
Herd Master
Instinctively, they're bred to defend & protect, so these other dogs are a challenge. He's still young and told to stand off, that's going against his own built in thoughts, esp as he ages. It's why they rarely work as he is trying to, for a service dog. He's ok with helping you but that protector mode is calling when out of house. IMO it's a "programming" thing. His built in programming and your needs. 
He tries very hard but, like a kid, some days don't make the cut. His time out corner calls.
He tries very hard but, like a kid, some days don't make the cut. His time out corner calls.
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