Does anyone have a stupid dog, that is almost useless?

[Zip7]

Unless my home is invaded by racoons, possums, squirrels, or any furry critter that's willing to climb a tree, these two are pretty useless.

 

[astark]

Here are some pics of my pup playing sit, stay, guard and swim while having fun.

And one of my carry gun too.

 

[mbt2001]

For instance, a dog can tell the difference between a metronome going at 98 and one going at 100... They can hear a whistel up to 1 mile away.

Most likely, the dog knows it is you that is coming home, as he can hear your engine and what not. No kidding, they have an amazing sense of hearing.

When the chips are down, the dog will due his duty. Most likely, you will not see that side of him in his lifetime, but it is there. Aggression shouldn't be confused with a well adjusted dog with a guarding instinct. A lot of people think that because a dog isn't aggressive, that he is useless and they couldn't be more wrong.

Just something to think on.

 

[Pilgrim]

I had a whippet once I thought was useless and a wuss. One day the UPS man came with a package and handed it to the PMS. The whippet came up and grabbed the UPS man's arm as if to say, "No one touches my mama." He didn't bite down hard, he just held the UPS man's arm.

Pilgrim

P.S. I have two whippets now who love everyone. I only depend on them to tell me someone is at the door.

 

[Phonetic Diabetic]

Like I said in the other HD post, my dog is a Chihuahua. Not much of a guard dog, but definitely a good alert dog. Maverick:

 

[conw]

Try testing the water with a friend the way I, and others, suggested...let's hear the results.

I didn't mean to sound harsh in my post, btw, but the attitude a lot of people tend to have toward their dogs is self-defeating.

Keep workin at it and keep coming back

 

[Treo]

Let's see, Free room & board, free medical for life ( If you're really out there) free dental, a nice soft couch to sleep on & all the chew toys you could ever want.

Who was the stupid one?

 

[Nate C.]

My dog is far from stupid, but he is pretty much useless. Unless I need something drooled upon or chewed to shreds. Or unless I need a hole dug in the yard.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yes, and it's still more useful and smarter than the smartest cat. I have some good watchdogs too.

 

[rondog]

My two female Beagles are useless guard dogs too. They'll jump up at noises in the night, and go see if it's someone there to give them a treat, but I've never heard either bark in the night. Extremely lovable though, that's what I wanted them to be anyway. They're really good at looking cute and passing out kisses.

If you want a dog that'll raise hell at bumps in the night, get a Schipperke. Very small, looks like a black bear, but fearless and very territorial. Too small to do any real physical damage, but they'll wake up the whole neighborhood.

 

[conw]

Treo, let me pick on you a little...

Here's a passage from that book I'm pushing, Cesar's Way:

Like all other animals on earth, dogs need jobs. Nature designed them for a purpose, and that inbred desire for purpose does not go away when we bring them into our homes. Neither do the specific tasks humans have selectively bred into them--tasks such as hunting, retrieving, herding, running. But when we domesticate them, we often take their jobs away. We spoil them with comfortable beds, piles of squeaky toys, dishes of free rich food, and tons of affection. We think, "What a life, to be such a dog!" Maybe that would indeed be a nice life for a retired accountant relaxing in a condo complex in Florida after forty years on the job. But the genes of a canine are crying our for her to go out and wander with her pack, explore new territory, roam around, and search for food and water. Imagine how it would feel to have those ancient needs embedded deep inside you, then to have to live your life locked up alone in a two-room apartment all day. Millions of city dogs live like that. Their owners think that taking the dog for a five-minute walk to the corner to poop and pee is enough for them. Imagine how those dogs are feeling in their souls. Their frustration has to go somewhere. That's when they develop issues, and that's one of the ways I get so many clients.

 

[Titan6]

Yes, and it's still more useful and smarter than the smartest cat. I have some good watchdogs too.

Not to bash cats but you sure hit the nail on the head. Even the most useless dog is better than the most "useful" cat; if there is such a thing.

 

[qwert65]

Actually from a public health perspective cats are way better than dogs they started killing cats off right before the black plague turns out rats are pretty good carriers of yersinia(plague)

 

[wheelgunslinger]

+1 on Caesar Milan's book.
Every dog owner should have this book and read it. We'd have a lot more happy dogs and owners, if they did.

 

[Zip7]

+1 on Caesar Milan's book.
Every dog owner should have this book and read it. We'd have a lot more happy dogs and owners, if they did.

+ another 1

He often has a different objective than I do when training dogs, but his methods are correct. Most problem dogs are a product of problem owners.

My red dog pictured in this thread is the smartest dog I have ever had, but she's a bit of a wild child even at 8 years old. But she minds me absolutely. My wife and kids can't manage her because they aren't consistent, and they aren't in charge of here in the way Cesar explains. I can handle her without a leash anywhere. Most people would have a lot of trouble with her because of her energy level, but for me, she is the best dog I've ever owned.

 

[XDKingslayer]

How does your dog act when people it's never met come to the door?

Just because the dog doesn't bark when you come home doesn't mean it won't bark when it feels it's territory is threatened.

My dog doesn't bark when I come home. My dog hears my truck at the end of the road and knows it's me. I can blow up a ton of dynamite outside the front door and he won't bark because he knows it's me.

But if someone he doesn't know comes to the door it's a completely different story.

It may be a good thing he doesn't bark at every noise. If so, then you'd have a dog that barks at ever squirrel, cat or bird in your back yard which is annoying.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Yet another +1 on Caesar Milan's books. The funny thing is his thoughts on the matter are how my father and I have raised and trained dogs since the early 60's but when I tried to articulate to my wife how dog training works I was having a miserable time.

Stumbled upon Caesar's books accidentally and immediately realized that reading them would make it all clear to my wife (and it has).

Now about watch/guard dogs (not the same thing by the way). Our recent pound rescue "Donny" is fast turning into a great "watch" dog. He'd watch anyone break in and take all of our stuff <grin>.

Actually though, he had a cluster of medical issues when we rescued him. Now that he's feeling better and has some energy we are able to get him exercising and "balanced" and he's really coming around as both a companion and a "property monitor". He's very energetic and friendly but very reliable about letting us know if someone is around, which is what we really wanted.

 

[bdickens]

Our Lab mix is as yet untested, but she is a big, friendly doofus that thinks everyone is her friend. Our Beagle mix is very reserved and would rather sleep. However, one night we had him on his leash on the property and he just went to the end of the leash and froze looking into the distance and let out a low growl. We looked up and saw a coyote in the shadows. Our little guy was ready to fight to the death!

 

[conw]

This reminds me of a little story...a friend and I were hiking with my two dogs, one of whom was a German Shepherd/Aussie Shepherd mix about 45lb, and the other was a short little mutt about 25 lb...

A chow came down an "easement" or powerline area, and the shepherd mix barked halfheartedly and fled...the 25 lb mutt stood her ground, growled, put her head down, and advanced...the 60+lb chow retreated!

Dogs can really surprise you when the ante goes up.

 

[bogie]

The probably scenario with a great dane....

Family member gets scared. Family member is threatened by someone.

Chomp.

Okay. Can I go back to bed now? You guys have a mess to clean up.

 

[CWL]

Here's my stupid beagle...still prefers a pistol over shotgun for HD!

Seen here doing a "press-check".

 

[conw]

Oh yeah, thought I'd share a cool little trick for the Cesar fans...

I recently got a blackthorn Shillelagh that's about 3'. I take it walking, and hold it in my right hand and the dog's leash or dogs' leashes in my left.

Cesar recommends "biting" a disobedient dog with your hand, and I started substituting a gentle prod with the shillelagh. This really helps keep them behind or beside me, rather than dragging on the leash.

I came to find out they now respect the shillelagh so much I can easily take them out without a leash and keep them behind me...if they start to run out in front of me, I just wave the stick a little.

 

[gripper]

Beautiful dogs!!! I definitely miss having dogs around ( living arrabgements-no room,time or flex from the landlord)...That said'I had really good luck with Dobies(dru.org) and pBT's (pbrc.net)...BTW;one of my pitties used to do what the Whippet did,i.e grab a limb without biting to either greet or communicate a warning.
For some reason;all of my Dobies were females;go figure...That said I definitely agree with the whole "Mommy is here;so BEHAVE!" apporach they brough tto the table.

 

[V1K1NG0]

I know how you feel but you never know when the "stupid" dog will come through. I myself thought my female rottie was too laid back because she snored more than barked. Strangers always come up to the fence to pet her and a deep grunt is the extent of her vocal noises for some reason.

Yet, one day when we were out, a guy jumped our back fence and proceded to kick in the back door. Per my neighbor who saw the whole thing said my rottie calmly walked up the stairs where the guy was and sat down. He kicked the door again and out of nowhere she unleashed the devil dog inside her on the guy. Guy fell off my deck breaking the railing trying to get away from her. Few minutes later I got a call from my neighbor telling me what had happened and I could not believe it.

Like others have said, dont expect the dog to do something you did not train it to do. Yet, every once in a while they surprise you.

 

[tomh1426]

I have 3 dogs and they'll let me know if someones tryin to get in
This is Shaina when she was a puppy

This is Bobby, just found out hes a weaton

and this is Ralph, in addition to barking he will pee the floor if someone comes in.