Please can people explain these behaviours.

[Llewellyn]

Sucking things: seems mainly to be her blanket, chewing stopped quickly now its just sucking stuff. Is it for comfort like chewing?

Pulling on the lead: Ok I know let me explain, this is on both a long line and a slip lead. Now she will come, leave, sit and wait (new instruction means freeze because I am stuck in the mud) even at nine metres. But she will only heel for tree strides then pulls like a train. If you remind her with "with me" because I dont like heel she comes back for three more steps. Before we let her go on a long line we sit her and change leads then she gets told "on your own" and can tootle off. And she doesn't pull if she is lead from the pram just trots along side. How do I approach that?

Humping things: I have read it is her trying to be dominant. But that is not her personality. She is not allowed on furniture (dog shelf only) gets fed last, always second through doors. If it is not dominance what is it, if it is dominance how can I convince her I'm boss?

I have been looking on the net and in books for the answers but AAD always put it in a way easy to understand and apply.

As always hints welcome

 

[CorvusCorax]

Off to bed now, so won't bore you with a rambly ramble, but yes, sucking is comfort behaviour. Comes from puppyhood and adult dogs can keep hold of it if it has come habitual. Wouldn't be a huge concern of mine as long as they are not sucking on my wallet

Pulling on the lead - early doors yet, you've got plenty of time to reinforce the correct behaviour, it can take weeks and even months, but it sounds like you're on the right track .
As long as close to you = good times, positivity, reward/pulling = go nowhere or backwards, you're on the right track, just keep doing it, doing it, doing it, no matter how long it takes or how silly you look.
If she pulls, and you think 'oh sod it' and let her have more lead/line/extendy lead, or let her off, or let her pull, just once because you can't be arsed to fight her that particular day, that will set you back a few days, IYSWIM.

Humping has been connected with dominance but dominance is a much maligned theory. Sometimes what we can dominance is a dog that is just insecure and unsure of itself and looking for leadership and she is maybe not sure of her role in your household yet, if that makes any sense.

Just talking off the top of my head, don't take all of that as gospel, just some ideas!

The Culture Clash by Jane Donaldson is a brilliant book for understanding a bit better how dogs think and behave, although she hates people like me that use 'strangle collars'
There are some nifty heelwork/anti pull training exercises at the back of it too.

 

[Llewellyn]

Thank you just what I wanted ...reassurance. Just don't want to make mistakes with her think she has been messed about enough. Will go on Amazon for book tomorrow to add to my canine library. Pippin snoring on the floor
Sleep tight!

 

[CAYLA]

Suckling is relaxing, some believe puppies weaned to young will go on to suckle, some thats its a security, when puppies suckle from mother a serotonin is released which is a natural calmer, so their is a positive assocation there.

Pulling...most dogs are enthusiastic to get to where they need to at top speed, the long line for me is a no brainer, thats is the encourage hooning to practice recall, as you suggest, "the serious lead" should come out when long lining is finished slip leads are for dogs that dont pull, so u may be getting ahead of yourself there why not try a halti with a (short lead) to begin with, or check chain and good training lead, you can use a positive treat based reward "heel" when she is close slip a treat, when she pulls swift check from the side, (not as she is 1 mile ahead and heel, or possibly for some the easier option of a halti (to give more control of her head)
Dont give to much lead if using a training lead, keep her on your left and your lead in your left hand and relax, fold once or half it a training lead and then another fold to better check her without her being way ahead. (far to many people seems to fly along behing the dog, when the dog should always be at your side, if not then its got to much lead.

Humping! is she neutered? either way bitches still do get fruity from time to time, esp around punginty smells, other bitches in season, when other bitches have urine infections, or when they themselves do, or if they simply themselves pass a little harmless discharge and the hormonaly wiff is in the air, its not always down to dominance, so dont stress "she is not going to take over the world jsut yet" just stop her and remove the humping objects.

 

[CAYLA]

Here is me thinking "there will be no saddos on this time of night, I shall reply"
There is always one

 

[Llewellyn]

I have a young child and OH is out with the lads being a blokey bloke bloke I don't sleep (but have done my weekly shop online). lol. yes she is neutered and she humps everything but only for a couple of minutes a day. My old dog didn't pull hence the automatic slip looking for a more suitable lead atm but need something meaty as previously broken fingers don't close very well any more (tut horses) otherwise the lead slides through my fingers. She still won't eat treats.
She only sucks her bed/s which she has put one on top of the other and her blanket ontop and is sleeping on her tower of comfort. They were scattered around the house now in the middle of the living room.

Hope you get some sleep soon.
Thank you