But then I suppose it depends what you find difficult and easy. As I say, I find Spencer an easy dog, my hubby on the other hand finds him very difficult. His intelligence, energy level and desire to be doing something with you are what I find make him easy and highly enjoyable and they're the exact same things my hubby finds difficult.

OMG Are you a dog breaker ?? this is a technique that any self respecting dog trainer or behaviourist would never ever even consider.

Where on earth did you dig this dreadful technique up from ??

To the OP please ignore this stupid suggestion

"mummy"dog ?? I've never ever seen a bitch do such a thing to any of her puppies & I've seen 100's of bitches with their puppies of all ages

Millan is not a behaviourist he is an untrained unqualified TV presenter who believes in incorrect theories based on artifical wolf packs kept in zoos & wildlife parks.

Even one of the wolf experts who thought this theory was correct has by observing real wild wolf packs has corrected his beliefs.

Wolf packs have no "dominant"or alpha leaders, they are conprised of a fairly unrelated breeding pair & their offspring from several litters. They have no need to punish their offspring & as only the breeding female has litters & is mated there is never a situation in which one of the younger wolves pushes for"domination"of the pack. As the cubs reach sexual maturity they lead the pack to form their own.

Try googling David Mech a real expert in wolf behaviour.

It's also worth training at home(if you have a big enough garden/yard)off lead & using treats with or without a clicker

This description & advice on loose lead walking is not too bad

But surely you are old enough to see that violence breeds violence? I think you need to move away from bullying as a training method - and I`m really pleased that the OP is intelligent enough to see that using physical force and incurring fear in an animal is cruel.

Sit on the dog's chest and get your hands round it's neck?
I've never heard anything like it. The only situation I can even remotely imagine myself doing anything like that with a dog would be if it was trying to kill me or eat my dog!

I did once hold onto a dog by the skin on the top of its head at arm's length until its owner got it away from me. Hurt my bliddy hand - it was bruised and swollen for AGES afterwards where I'd held on with all my strength!

Certainly wouldn't consider anything like what has been suggested for 'training' my own dog.

Surely your dog would end up just being 'frightened of you'?

I am not an expert on this, I just shared what the dog behaviorist did on mine. I have given some links to watch on youtube too, I would never do something without asking a professional before stating something like that!

As I said, one of the best dog trainers Cesar Millan uses this method too. How you can say it will frighten your dog, if you have no practice to back it up...

If you would know more about dog trainers and behaviorists and read more books about it and watch professional videos, you would have different opinion!

I have never had a gun to my head but I'm pretty sure it'd frighten me if it happened!
"Best" is subjective, I would certainly not rate Cesar Milan as a top trainer.