PLAY: Adminstering the proper correction

In these videos we have Blaze and Jasper. Jasper is a 1 yr old intact male wirehaired pointing griffon (Griff). Blaze is a 10 yr old Griff.  This breed is very in tuned to energy and are natural interrupters they just need to be taught sometimes how and when to interrupt and in this post we are going to talk about the correction and the levels of warnings given before a physical touch ever happens.

This First video is the very first time both dogs are meeting off leash. Prior they met briefly behind a fence and during a walk to this location. Blaze is very honest and reads Energy fluently and he indicated he wanted to greet Jasper.  This is a very good example of how a true neutral dog (blaze) is able to show each phase of warnings leading up to a full on correction.

The phases go like this:  These are all appeasing moving into warning signals.

FREEZE I call this standing for inspection. The neutral dog will stand and allow the other dog to sniff him. His body may look ridged but it is not. The placement of the tail is in a neutral position either straight parallel with the body or slightly raised on an angle not high and stiff. High and stiff is ridged and signifies the next reaction will be a fight. 

LIP LICK This says I mean no harm just give me some space. Blaze does this in the very beginning of the first video.

BARK, SHOWS TEETH AND AIR SNAP This is a warning and most often matches the intensity of the infraction the other dog has done. In the first video blaze does this to jasper after jasper touches him with his paw in an attempt to hump him. Blaze fully follows through and walks off once he is done with his correction.

BARKS, SHOWS TEETH AND OPEN MOUTH GRAB This is a final correction and is usually done as the last chance to stop the unwanted behavior. I believe Blaze does this once to Jasper in the second video after Blaze attempts to show Jasper how he wants to play. Jasper begins to walk by Blaze and head butts him and Blaze does a bark and full mouth grab and then faces off with Jasper. Jasper accepts this and walks off then tries to engage again. The full correction can be seen at the very end of the second video. You will hear me say there wasn’t any teeth and there wasn’t until that last correction. I wasn’t sure what warranted that is when I slowed it down and if it is possible for you to do that then please do. You will see Jasper do the head butt and immediately Blaze gives a nice full on correction. 

** It’s important to seek the expertise  of a Professional Dog Trainer when deciding to use an e collar. Learning what level to use and the correct timing is paramount in helping the dog understand what is going on **

If you are using an e collar on low level stimulation or vibration when you see Jasper begin to amp up with the dancing around Blaze and the rushing in to do a nose touch this is when you press and hold the button till you get a change of behavior. Meaning the offending dog Moves away. We are just beginning to introduce the e collar to Jasper so we have not used it in any of these videos.