I have a Newfoundland named Gytrash. He is quite “personable” for such a large dog, but very independent-minded. If he decides, for example, that he wants to go in one direction while I in another, he will come to a stop, and no amount of tugging on his leash will budge him. We have been together for more than nine years and had many disagreements, but have finally come to an understanding: he does whatever he wants, and I let him do it. Now we get along just fine.

You need to watch The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. You have allowed your four-legged friend to become the "pack leader" and that's really not how it's supposed to work. Ceasar (the Dog Whisperer) will show you on his TV show how to re-exert control and gain back pack leader status with your dog. His methods which are non-punitive really work. I have three very high-spirited and independant-minded dogs, 2 Pekes and a Pug and if I hadn't followed Ceasar's advice, it would be a complete madhouse around here. Now, it's just a partial madhouse.

Aquilla

I doubt that a dog whisperer (even one named “Caesar”) would have any influence on Gytrash. He is not like other dogs; he does not have the slightest interest in pleasing me or anyone else. Really, the only complaint that I have against my dog is that he is more virtuous than I am. However, that's not his fault, and I'm the only one who can do anything about it.

Of course he doesn't...he thinks he is the pack leader. Why would the pack leader worry about pleasing others? This is just another symptom of what Aquilla described.

The others are quite correct- you have allowed him to become pack leader- you need to re-exert your control. Far worse dogs than yours have become much less neurotic and much better behaved by owners being trained on how dogs think.

It is also a very dangerous situation you are in- if he feels HE needs to exert control- he may very well turn on you.

Personaly, a dog that big that doesn't follow direction would get a cattle prod next. I run m y house- not my dog!

I love watching the Dog Whisperer. It is amazing what this guy can do with dogs.
It is not so much your dog is a pack leader but your leader.
He his leading you.
Trust me watch the program once and I think you will gain control.
Doesn't matter how old the dog is and he is not cruel at all to the dog. Just how to let the dog know who is the owner and who is the dog.
Good Luck!

I am quite happy with him as he is. He has such a sweet and gentle disposition, and I would not wish to change him in any respect. I raised him and treated him as an equal member of my family, and not as a pet to perform tricks; and I think that we are both the better for it.

This owner has more than 9 years with this dog. They have come to an agreement, but for those that HAVE dog problems, you can turn this around in the matter of a few weeks, if not days.
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Its really important you DO assert Alpha status. Its really important with puppies from the get go. Dogs that consider themselves alpha over humans are not good dogs. If you ruin them as puppies, they will be horrible spoiled adult dogs. They are not really serene in their minds either, its BAD for THEM, because of dog psychology.
You guys know this from Ceasar, and even this 9 year old dog CAN be taught new tricks.

Dogs need human Alpha, and we need it too for their safety and both our peace of mind. We cant coddle dogs in a human aspect, they NEED Alpha , its just who they are, pack mentality, it comes from wolves, their ancestry.

First I would make the dog not sleep with you or on any furniture, (this can be hard if you have been spoiling them and are attached to thier company, but you MUST do it) Always on the floor, this establishes dominance. Whenever mine starts thinking too much of herself, she HAS to stay on the floor, lower than me.
If you have dog dominance problems, your dog Always has to be on the floor. They should have their own special Place, a blanket, bed or kennel. This is their serene place. They like this place. It quiets their mind.

Make sure you only give your dog food at certain times, morning and night, dont freefeed (at least at first), and take it away whenever you see fit, and practice this. Make dog sit and wait for feeding. Always make a dog sit or do something special for treats. Practice taking away treats, bones or toys at anytime. All things pertain to you, not the dog. If he/she growls at you taking away things , turn the dog on their back, belly up and scold. Take away said treat or food until later.

Get a choke chain for walks and practice , sit, stay, heal as a game, not mad at them or as punishment, up beat language, this is harder for men. It should be a game not punishment.

Use a long line for 'come' . A dog must always come when called. On a long line if he doesnt come you reel him in. You can train unruly dogs by this, let them run and before the end of the line say, come, and then the line gets jerked back to you, its very effective for dogs that think they can just run off.

Dogs will change almost immediately when dominance is established, from one day to next. They may resist to challenge you, but dominance can be established in a very short time, and they dont resent it, they like a strong but lovng hand.

Possessions: Balls and sticks are owner responsibiity.

DOG PARKS! Dont assume that dog parks are free reign. This is widely misunderstood.
Dog parks are very uncontrolled and stressfull situations for dogs, too many personalities.
Your dog must assume YOU will protect them from assaults from free ranging dogs! You are Always in Charge.
This is something dog owners rarely understand. They think all dogs must automatically get along in dog parks, this is not true and impossible! Dog owners have the responsability to control their dogs.
Too many times a dog owner with for example 2 males, does not control their dogs on a female, and gets upset when the female attacks, or small dogs bother larger dogs and retaliation is expected, by all but the humans. This is normal dog behavior, all dog behavior is dominance behavior, even in play. All dogs should be gently and humanely under control, by their humans.

YOU are Always in charge. If your dog has problems, the problem is nearly always something you can do to change it, unless you have a rescue, they come with baggage, but time can change that too.

Dog lovers, I know,
theres nothing like the love of a dog,
P.

You misunderstand. This isn't about changing your dog (who is gorgeous by the way) at all. It's about changing YOU.

Caesar's philosophy is that there are no bad dogs, only "bad" masters (and no, I'm not saying you are a bad master). It's all about the relationship we have with our dogs, and that we need to understand our dogs better. They are pack animals and they are what they are and we love them for it. The only question for them is who is the pack leader. It is up to the human to answer that question with an "I am". Once that's established, the dog is a happy camper and you move on with your relationship.

You don't beat your dog or anything like that to answer his question. Instead, you take him for a walk and act like the pack leader. Caesar starts out with a short leash and walks out the door first with the dog behind him. On your walk YOU lead, not the dog. If he throws a tantrum over that, you let him "burn off his negative energy" in Ceasar's words until he finally figures out who the pack leader is. It can take awhile, but it does work. It doesn't change the dog's personality or break his spirit or anything like that at all. All it does is amswer his question about who's the boss and he's ok with that. What you are doing is communicating with him on his level and what can possibily be wrong with that?

My pug is my best friend. She's constantly with me (sleeping on my lap right now as I type this). She is high-spirited, extremely intelligent and very protective. When people would come over to the house, she used to raise holy hell and go after them to protect me from them. After using Caesar's techniques she now raises hell and comes to me and asks, "What are you going to do about this?" When I tell her it's ok, she's fine with that and lays back down on my lap. I am the pack leader. I think she's much happier with things that way and I know my visitors are as well.


Aquilla

Gytrash is a very large dog - he’s big as a bear! - and eats about 3 pounds of raw meat a day. His diet consists mainly of ground chicken, turkey and lamb (the highest fat content available - usually15 to 20 % - as dogs are carnivores and burn animal fat for energy the same way we burn carbohydrates); which I supplement with a small amount of raw vegetables to simulate what would be in the stomach contents of a rabbit or other small animal eaten in the wild. In addition, I mix in are some powdered kelp and alfalfa, a half of an avocado, a banana; some flax seed oil, cod liver oil, a tablespoon of apple vinegar; and some vitamin supplements. Once or twice a week, I mix in a raw egg (including the shell) into his bowl of food. For snacks, he eats raw turkey or chicken necks, bones and all. (Bones should never be cooked for it makes them brittle, which can be dangerous when ingested.) It costs about $10.00 dollars per day to feed him; but he is very healthy and has not suffered from the diet-related maladies associated with the grain-based dog foods produced for the commercial market. There are several books out on the raw or natural diet, which provide the recipe for proper nutrition for your dog.

Nemo, what a beautiful Newfie!! I bet taking him for a walk is an adventure, if he's that headstrong at 9 (pretty much a "senior citizen" for a giant breed). I agree with most folks here; control and discipline are a must with a big dog. I just had an unpleasant experience with my mother's dog when I had to make an unplanned emergency trip to Colorado. The dog is a Chow, but bigger than any Chow I've ever seen (coincidentally, she has a coat like a Newfie, not a Chow), and has never been properly socialized. She growled at me constantly, and snapped at my hand once. My mom spoils her rotten, and rewards her bad behavior. After the dog tried to take my hand off, she was comforting the dog while I made sure I still had all my fingers.

PS: Welcome back, Aquilla!

Chow's are one of the most vicious breeds on the planet- they make the fighting instinct of a pit bull positively friendly by comparison.

I have never had a dog so willing to get into a fight as a chow!

But- even with that- if you are very clear about who the leader is- typically they won't bite anyone.

Nemo- as the dog whisperer says "have some common sense here, and train yourself"

No, I shall not do that. We have lived together this long; and I shall indulge him unto the last. When I took my dog into my home, it was with the implicit promise that I would care for him, not just as a pet but a member of my family; for in domesticating him, I have made him completely dependent upon me. In this respect, the rule is simple: I will do without everything, before my dog wants for anything.

That's all well and good, nemo, but one might consider this question. What if what your dog really wants is for you to communicate with him on his level? And, if you don't, how would you know? That's really what The Dog Whisperer is all about.

Is there a Cat Whisperer?

Yeah, but he lives on Mars......

Ceasar Milan is da' MAN! I love the way he asserts himself without resorting to force, brutality or even harsh language. It's all about control and if you don't assert yours over the dog, the dog will assert control over you. That's not how it's supposed to go.

I'd never tell anyone how to train their dog anymore than I'd tell them how to raise their kid, but I firmly believe that both little children and young dogs benefit from learning early there are limits and discipline. It's kind of the theory that applies to a sled team of Huskies: If you're not the lead dog the view never changes.