stacke

We have an 8 month old pit bull/black lab mix. We've tried everything to get her to walk nice next to us. We tried a harness (which we found out actually doesn't work anyway) and we recently tried a collar that tightens when it's pulled on. It doesn't work. We watched The Dog Whisperer and he said that you have to have a positive attitude and know that it's going to go well. Maintain a pack leader attitude! I'm telling you...nothing works!! We've been told to leave slack on the leash, but that's IMPOSSIBLE! She stops really well and sits automatically, but as soon as either of us starts walking she takes off, pulling as hard as ever! PLEASE someone give us some insight on what we can do! We are obviously doing something wrong...

So my dad has always been a person that is difficult to reason with. He has anger issues and he abused my mom while my brother and sisters and I were growing up. He's done a whole lot that I've forgiven him for until now. My mom has said for years that he is literally mentally ill and just does not understand a whole lot of things.

My brother and he have similar skills. For a while my brother helped my dad with the metal fabrication business that he ran. Then my brother realized how difficult it was to work with my dad (constant outbursts, refusing to pay him the amount he had originally promised, etc.) and my bro decided to end that. Once in a while my bro accepts jobs and helps out. My brother just received a job that my dad had nothing to do with. My bro asked to use my dad's shop and my dad, in exchange, wanted my bro to meet up with one of his clients for something (my dad was out of town and couldn't do so himself). The client never showed after an hour of waiting and so my bro left.

So my dad flipped out! He called my bro appalling obscenities that no one should ever say to anyone, let alone his own son. Then he demanded that my brother pay him 25% ($1,000!) for the use of his shop. My bro has a wife and a little baby to care for and he needs the money more. I wrote my dad an email saying how upset I was with him.

Of course now I have pissed my dad off big time. He told my brother that because of what he told me, my bro now had to return the shop keys or my dad would call the Sheriff. My bro had to suck up to him big time so he could still use the shop. My bro is now upset with me and I've decided to stay out of it. But I've also sworn to myself that I will no longer speak to my father. All the things he's done have stacked up and I won't put up with it anymore. Am I wrong in deciding not to speak to my father again? Do you think it's too extreme? Should I give it time and forgive him? My mom said he's mentally ill...should I let that influence my decision or tell him to shove it and have a nice life?

I mostly just want some opinions. Thanks everyone!

Is it size? I've seen very small lakes and very large ponds. So what makes it either or?

I have a puppy and she's 5 months old. She is constantly digging up the back yard. She also will steal things (i.e. underwear, socks, shirts etc.) and she knows she's not supposed to because when we catch her she drops it and cowers into her kennel.

She also likes to escape from us (sneaks out the door when we are going out, pulls on the leash until we lose our grip) and then she doesn't come when we call her. She also jumps up on people and tries to lick their faces.

We live in a pretty rural area and puppy obedience class really isn't an option for us. I know that she's a puppy and I've been told over and over that she'll grow out of it, but isn't there some way we can have her be somewhat obedient? We def discipline her when she does something she's not supposed to (spanking on the tush) but it doesn't seem like she cares and she'll just do it anyway!

Please help!!!