Knocking People Over is not Nice

Wrigley is a perfect one-year old golden retriever, except for one very bad habit. You see, he's the kind of dog that loves people and interacting with them. He gets so excited that he jumps on the person and at 80 pounds, that can actually be dangerous...not just annoying. If he doesn't get a massive amount of attention from this person, he will lunge at them again.

My dog trainer told us how to turn around and ignore him, which actually works, but unfortunately, strangers and guests are not aware of this tactic. I've also tried distracting him with treats, but friendship trumps treats at this puppy age.

The other day, we were walking on the golf course behind our house and an innocent woman was taking her morning walk. Wrigley was off leash (shhh! don't tell!) and he spotted the woman and before I could say, "come Wrigley" he was tromping towards her. Then he proceeded to try to get her undivided attention by jumping up on her again. Apparently, she was having a bad day, and she barked at me! "Get a leash!"

I need each and everyone of you to give me their best advise because I cannot afford more dog training at this time and don't want to lose friends with this bad habit. To a golden retriever, everyone is either a friend or someone who is going to be a friend. I cannot change this part of his nature, nor do I wish to try. In fact, I wish more humans had this personality trait. But, it's time to stop this jumping ASAP.

Using a Shock Collar on Your Dog

I look over in the corner of my little office and see Wrigley curled up sleeping the afternoon away while I am busing reading blogs and writing posts, and I think to myself, if anything ever happened to him I would be so upset.

Which brings me back to the decision of calling Altmoor to discuss the use of a shock collar for discipline. You see, we live on a golf course and they are kind enough to allow us to roam freely on the course before and after the golfers are playing. Wrigley has his gang of dog buddies that he romps and plays with daily. They really live the life! But the course also has many coyotes and a mountain lion every once and awhile and my puppy likes to take off and explore. Also, a busy road is just behind some large hedges and if he ever decided to take off in that direction, I fear he would be hit by a car. I have done some training and that works well most of the time. I am thinking for those emergency situations, the shock collar might come in handy.

It's a difficult decision, so maybe a poll will help me decide.....

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