It's funny you should tell that story about your grandpa.
When my last Rotti was a pup, I was the one who trained her. I don't have any formal education on it and wasn't always 100% sure what to do, but I knew one thing and told everybody.
""when she gets over 100 lbs, y'all will be glad she listens to somebody!"
At times they thought I was mean, but I was just strict.
And when she grew up everyone who met her had the same comment.
"That's the best behaved dog I've ever seen."
I never hit her (well only once, other than a swat on the rear) rarely had to raise my voice and the most effective method was using food.
(I think I told this once before, if so, sorry)
When she was about 4-6 months and teething, I came home one day to find the potted plant, various papers, my roommate's Italian leather shoes and a few Bic pens all chewed up on our white carpet in the living room.
Not good.
She knew she had done wrong just by looking at her, but I didn't get mad. I got even.
I gathered up the pieces and put in her bowl (it was almost dinner time) and left it.
Every time she waltzed in the kitchen expecting to be fed, I'd point at the dish and say, "There you go. You want to eat it, then eat it."
On the third day she would have stood on her head and stacked BB's with her eyebrows.
I soon learned the perfect solution for teething pups is an ice cube treat. (Good tip)
Needless to say, we never had another incident.
Oh, and the time I hit her closed fist wasn't even her fault. I felt like a low-life.
I'll be brief.
Lexus (my Rotti) had to take a daily steroid pill for a jaw problem.
Normally only my roommate or myself fed her.
Well...........along comes his psycho girlfriend and she moves in.
She occasionally feeds the dog too, now.
One day, I come home, go to give her her pill at feeding time and accidentally drop some pills in her dish.
No problem, I just bent down to get them out when.........GRRRRRRRR.............the bitch snaps at me out of the blue.
Well I just reacted and gave her a Mike Tyson uppercut and informed her who was really the BIG DOG in charge.
I couldn't believe what happened and was telling Gordy about it later when psycho-bitch is feeding Lexus and I watch as she starts to put the bowl down and snatches it away......repeatedly, until my Rotti is a snarling mass of teeth and growls.
I thought I'd blow a gasket.
After some choice words to Sybil (y'all know what I mean) I went outside and apologized to my dog.
Yeah, it might sound crazy, but she was pretty damn smart, so I think she understood.
I also gave her permission took take any piece she wanted anytime out of the other bitch, LOL!
Whew! My fingers are tie-red....
Oh.
The moral is...........y'all train your damn dogs, will ya?
