Dogs Training Blog

The older dog is a Blue Heeler, and is probably mixed with something else. Her name is Micha, and I got her from a shelter. I assume she was abused, because she responds terribly when I approach her with a broom (or really any other object) in hand, or when I reprimand her with a firm voice. She was abandoned and adopted once, but returned to the shelter. Obviously, I have her now.Micha is completely untrained, and unfortunately, unexercised. This might be a part of the problem I’m going to describe. When I approach her, she immediately ducks her head and gets on the ground, as if I were going to hit her (I never have) – she’s shy with me and other humans. When I play with her or pet her, though, that pent up lack of exercise comes out and she jumps all over me, to the point where it’s obnoxious. Now we just got a puppy from a shelter. His name is Blake, and I assume he’s some sort of German Shepard mix. He has the common black/brown coat, a rather pointed snout, and pointed ears. He’s five months old, maybe a bit more, and will obviously grow into a large dog. I haven’t had Micha very long, and she was the first dog I’ve had since entering my adult life – that is, the first dog that I have had to train. I haven’t trained her or provided routine exercise. I was unfamiliar with dog raising, but now that I’ve gotten this puppy, and researched more thoroughly, I have a better idea. Now, obviously, I want to train Blake and get him off to the right start. But Micha is making it impossible. I think she’s having some jealosy issues, which is understandable, but those mixed with her untrained, attention needing state of mind make things untolerable. And worst of all, she’s making it impossible to train Blake.I’m having a hard time getting Blake to trust me, because Micha terrorizes him if they have any sort of conflict – and I think she looks for conflict. When I’m doing one-on-one with Blake, Micha jumps in my face and all over him. She tries to take his treats away and keep him away from his food. I’ve gotten into the schedule of walking them both at 6 a.m., every day. It’s hard to connect with Blake at home with Micha being such a negative influence, even if I tie her up. I can’t just take Blake for a walk, either, becuase then I would have no time to walk Micha later in the day, and that would just make her energy problem worse. What can I do for Micha? I really do care about her and I don’t think I can deal with the guilt of putting her back in the shelter – this is a very small town and I’m sure she’d be put down. Please help. I’ll provide any more information you might need for your input.No, no, you misunderstand. I simply said I wasn’t going to take her back to the shelter because I was afraid some of you would have suggested that. I’m glad you haven’t. Like I said this is my first formal dog training experience – or rather, the first time training has been my responsibility. My whole life I was used to just ‘having’ a dog. I had very little part in its upbringing. With Micha, I guess I just had the same impression. It wasn’t until I got the puppy that I realized how much work it takes, and how much work a dog deserves. I really love them both. Just now I want to do whatever I can to get them both on the right track. To elaborate on the ‘we’ part, I’m 20, and I’m back home for this college fall semester to work and pay off some debt. My mother lives here alone, and she got Micha for companionship. Neither of us really understood her problem, but my mother thought it right to get her a companion.Contd…I don’t want to give either up. I do still think Micha could use a companion (becuase my mother has little time in the day,) but I now think she just has to be trained first. If I can, before I leave (maybe 3-4 months), I want to leave both Micha and Blake on the right track, and help teach my mom how to maintain their behavior and happiness.

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