[gorbasevhuynani]

training his stuffed dog lol. I have been teaching my son Dixon how to train Tank. The other day I told him that he needed to practice training so Tank will start seeing him as a leader.

I was in the kitchen when Dixon came in and grabbed a small bag of treats. Not thinking anything of it I kept doing the dishes. When I was done I stared to walk down the hall hearing "Sit", "Watch me", "Leave it"..."Good boy!". Peeking in his room I see Tank on the rug watching Dixon feed treats to his stuffed dog.

While Im talking about my son being a leader to Tank instead of just someone to play with, can anyone give me ideas on how to get him listening more to my son? I think my son isnt loud enough, and since he's only two size is a factor as well. I tried standing Dixon on a stool and coffee table but it didnt seem to help.

[XiWm9O9S]

I would drop the whole "leader" bull shit act and just have your son involved in teaching your dog in order to build a BOND not leadership.

[feeshyLew]

This is true...the whole leader thing is not really effective. Like Ali said, have your son involved so that the dog sees him the way he sees you.

[boizzones]

Must say i agree. A 2 yr old cannot be a leader. But you (the pack leader) can confirm to you dog that your son is a 'senior' member of said pack. Bottom line - you and your son need to spend time with him together, and affirm the relationships wanted.

Good luck.

[adesseridopaw]

But you (the pack leader) can confirm to you dog that your son is a 'senior' member of said pack.

Read more: http://www.pitbull-chat.com/showthre...#ixzz26NkDa6Aw Well no my whole point was that the "pack leader" crap doesn't work.
Your dog does not view you as another dog there for trying to act and establish leadership is going to do nothing.

[BostonDoctorTTT]

Its pretty cute that he was training his toy dog lol

[gydrorway]

Well that is very good ''positive reinforcement'' for Dixon, every time he says to the the Stuffed dog ''sit and stay'', the dog does not move one inch, that's is a confidence builder.

Eddy

[Atmotteenrift]

Leader was kinda the wrong word to use. Im not really looking for him to see Dixon as a leader but just less like a someone to play with when it comes to our daily training....And of course I know my son is only two and Tank is six months old. It takes lots of time and practice. We are taking things day by day and working on everything, including Tank and myslef.

Must say i agree. A 2 yr old cannot be a leader. But you (the pack leader) can confirm to you dog that your son is a 'senior' member of said pack. Bottom line - you and your son need to spend time with him together, and affirm the relationships wanted.

Good luck.

They spend all day together. Besides cleaning up poop in the yard, Dixon does just about everything for Tank. Feeds him, plays with him, walks him, lets him outside, put him in the cage when its time for us to eat, and helps me give him a bath. It has been like this since they day we got him.

[QuidQuoPro]

I just stood right behind my son while he worked with Harley when they started out (or if we are working on something new). He would give the command and I would have to repeat it myself while standing behind my son with my hand on his (we also use hand commands) and the treat in my sons hand. Eventually we got to the point where I would just say "Haarrleeey.." with a 'look' if he didnt listen to my son and he would then do it, that turned into just the 'you had better listen to him' look with my eyes to now he will listen to basic commands from my son (whos now 4) without me being anywhere in the room (I can ask my son to let the dog outside and he calls him "Harley come" then invites him into the kitchen "Harley here" then has him sit at the door "Harley sit" then "Harley wait" and opens the door before releasing him to go out the door with "ok"). It took time, and we didnt/dont work on it very often, just now and then my son will get the bug to do something I do and I will always just make sure Harley listens to him.

[Gazeboss]

I just stood right behind my son while he worked with Harley when they started out (or if we are working on something new). He would give the command and I would have to repeat it myself while standing behind my son with my hand on his (we also use hand commands) and the treat in my sons hand. Eventually we got to the point where I would just say "Haarrleeey.." with a 'look' if he didnt listen to my son and he would then do it, that turned into just the 'you had better listen to him' look with my eyes to now he will listen to basic commands from my son (whos now 4) without me being anywhere in the room (I can ask my son to let the dog outside and he calls him "Harley come" then invites him into the kitchen "Harley here" then has him sit at the door "Harley sit" then "Harley wait" and opens the door before releasing him to go out the door with "ok"). It took time, and we didnt/dont work on it very often, just now and then my son will get the bug to do something I do and I will always just make sure Harley listens to him.

Yup! Exactly My dogs listen to my kids because they understand that if they don't mom will not be happy. We achieved this through lots of training and consistency. It has nothing to do with the power of your son's voice...you should be able to whisper what you want. Remember, dog's hearing is well above ours.

But at 2 years old, you really need to train WITH your son. He is too small to be left unattended with your dog. Which is great because you can help solidify a relationship between the two of them that is respectful...which correlates to him listening to what is asked.

Its awesome that your son is really interested in training! And shown correctly he will one day be a great dog person

[Wluwsdtn]

you son doesnt need to be louder to get the dogs attention. i think a good thing for your son to practice doing is to teach tank to "look" at him without the command to do it automatically BEFORE getting any toys or treats from him. i teach my dogs to look at my face to get anything from me from treats or toys they have to give me eye contact first i also use this when feeding,playing or before i let them off lead because it teaches them to pay attention to me if they want somthing they should look at me for guidence FIRST.

its very easy as for dogs its pretty instinctual for them to look at us for guidence and most dogs will do this without having to be forced to or guided including little puppies.
first hold a treat in your hand, let the dog see it and smell it but not take it, hold it down (let your arms dangle freely with yourh and around the treat) more then likely the dog will nose your hand for a few minutes then stop and stare at your hand if you just keep waiting your dog will look at your face, the second he does reward him with the treat. little by little make him look at you longer and longer before he gets the treat. do this also with toys before throwing a ball or a toy for the dog make the dog look at your face because when a dog is looking at your face he is far more likly to respond to your commands (and your sons as well!) do this with feeding time before setting the fod dish down just stand there and wait.
have your son do this with tank and before long tank will learn
"okay, so if i want somthing from this person all i have to do is lok at his face and pay attention to him first!" THEN you can start having your son give the dog commands because it will be MUCH easier for your dog because he is already paying attention to your son and NOT whats in his hands also by not useing a command to go along with this in the begining your not setting your dog up to ignore you if you begin useing the command 'focus" or "lok at me" your setting your son up for faluire as the dog will ignore the commands in teh begining so dont use a word untill the dog is doing it automatically because so far it sounds as if the dog may be ignoreing your son when he gives a command.