Training a very smart spoiled little doggy?

BlunderWoman

BlunderWoman

Senior Member
I have a very smart, very active chihuahua. She loves to run. This is her on her treadwheel..
https://youtu.be/e0_3gl7b1dE

So far she is doing a great job of training me. There are 3 behaviors in her I would like to change.

1- She doesn't come every time I call. Only when she wants to.

2. Her favorite game is 'you can't catch me'. She gets something she is not supposed to have and runs. She will even wait for me to catch up so she can run again. Sometimes she will drop the thing if I give her a treat..but not if she is full. I realize that by giving her the treat I have probably reinforced the bad behavior, but some of the things she runs with could kill her. She climbs like a cat, so preventing this has been difficult.

3. She claws my knee or hands trying to force me to play fetch endlessly and sometimes it really hurts.OR- she will sit and bark at me demanding me to play fetch.

Any advice?
 

I have a 6 month old pup (AussieDoodle) that we're just training and teaching him some manners. Cute video of the treadwheel, something new for exercise. :)

I used a retractable leash for recall training, in the public dog park, which is a nice big wooded area. I had some good tiny treats in my pocket, and when the dog was all the way out at the end of the lead, I'd call him, name first and then firm and calm "Come". When he came to me, he'd get the treat immediately and calm quiet praise. Currently, he's running loose off-lead with the other dogs in the park, and will come when I call him.

The can't catch me thing we're still working on, lol. In our yard I've tried to get something from him, or even see what he had, only for him to run away repeatedly. A few times I was able to outsmart him, but side-tracking him. I'd suddenly make believe I wasn't interested in what he had or getting it from him, but involved with something better. I'd squat down on the ground looking very intrigued by something simple like a rock or twig. When he came over to investigate, I could either get what he had, or distract him long enough to get it myself.

When he jumps up on our knees, with or without toy demanding anything, we both give him the same command, "Off!". Simultaneously, we sweep his front legs sideways off of us. If you just push them back, they think it's a game and you're only playing. Sideways is key. Sitting with a demanding bark sounds like a job for a small spray water bottle. Get a small water bottle and put it on medium spray, nothing harsh. Simultaneously, while saying "No!", you spray the dog...just once should do.

They look to us for guidance, and really want to please. But...they will try and dominate if they can. That's why there are so many spoiled dogs out of control, because the owners didn't act as guiding leaders. Once the training is over with, you have a wonderful loving and loyal companion...well worth the time and effort involved. If there's more than one person in the household, everyone has to be on the same page, giving the same commands.

I've been pretty successful in training my past dogs who had dominant tendencies (Standard Schnauzers) with positive praise, treats and no negative scolding or punishment.
 
Thank you so much! I love her to death, but I'm a lousy dog trainer. Your advice is appreciated
 

Yes, I don't know how old she is...but stop being your dog's bitch. Clear and simple...I don't mean to be mean. But the above describes cat behavior. But with a cat you usually can't expect much. Maybe they'll come if you call, maybe they'll run away. Cats are independent like that. But dogs of any size need training. No matter the age there are a bunch of books, videos, online resources and real live trainers who can help you. When I was new with dogs my Sophie used to pull me right off my feet. She came close to breaking my arm once. A good trainer taught me how to control her so she knew I was in charge.

By the time I got Callie it was much easier. Make me happy and love and yummies rain from the sky. If I am NOT happy...oh you don't want to even THINK about THAT. My dogs are big and powerful and I have to be in control at all times. But even with a little dog for her own safety she has got to learn to come when she is called. Heaven forbid she shoots out the door or gets off leash...she'll be gone, lost and/or hit by a car. You don't want that to happen. Find training ASAP
 
fureverywhere said:
Yes, I don't know how old she is...but stop being your dog's bitch. Clear and simple...I don't mean to be mean. But
Click to expand...
lol, that's why I asked for help. I have read books, listened to audio books etc. I watch the dog whisperer a lot & still having trouble. Maybe I'm dense about it. I keep trying though
& yes at this point I seem to be the biotch
 
fureverywhere said:
But the above describes cat behavior. But with a cat you usually can't expect much. Maybe they'll come if you call, maybe they'll run away. Cats are independent like that.
Click to expand...

Don't diss all cats, mine comes when calls as reliably as a dog. When we go camping in the wilderness, he's off leash just like the dog. When we call him he comes, although not always immediately, he's as reliable as a pup. If he's out in the yard or in the basement at home and I call him, he usually comes right away, and I praise him for it. I've had other cats that fetch, etc. They're not all independent and aloof, sometimes it's just the owners who haven't taken the time to interact with them, especially if they've had them as kittens, no excuse.
 
My doggy is with me 24/7 except when I go to the grocery. She even follows me in the bathroom. She's my best friend. I just need to understand training better.
 
BlunderWoman said:
lol, that's why I asked for help. I have read books, listened to audio books etc. I watch the dog whisperer a lot & still having trouble. Maybe I'm dense about it. I keep trying though
& yes at this point I seem to be the biotch
Click to expand...

Don't give up, it's never too late to teach and train them, they just have to know what you expect of them.
 
SeaBreeze said:
Post any questions if you need help getting over some hurdles. :love_heart:
Click to expand...
Thank you. I'm going to buy a spray bottle and try that. I hate when she scratches my feet and hands trying to make me play fetch. I had one of those noise things that you push the button. That worked some, but she has found it and buried it somewhere. She buries everything LOL
 
The smart ones do like to get their own way by outsmarting us, lol. I love my furbabies and they're part of our home and family...but I try to control my spoiling, not have it control me. My boy just came over to me this second and tried to pull a tissue I had sticking out of my pant pocket. :)
 
I think dogs & cats love to get hold of tissues. ;) I never had these problems with my other dogs before. This doggy has a real stubborn streak. She's extremely friendly and outgoing though..loves people.
 
That's a good thing that she likes people, the shy ones are a real problem when it comes to training and socializing.
 
SeaBreeze said:
That's a good thing that she likes people, the shy ones are a real problem when it comes to training and socializing.
Click to expand...
OMG she LOVES people. She gets so excited if we have a visitor. The most happy and relaxed I've ever seen her is when my house was full of kids and grandkids at Christmas. She just went from person to person soaking up the attention.
 
I have cats that come when called as well. But at the dog park there are these poor meek owners "Mitsy, come here we're going to leave. MITSY I said I want to leave. Mitsy come here now. Mitsy...somebody grab her. Mitsy come here now! Mitsy I...". Now if there is a dog fight at the park you want to exit with your pup as fast as possible. Where do you think Mitsy will be? Probably still there when the park rangers come.

The best example of teaching obedience for the real world. One night I went out to my car in the driveway. Just for five seconds, grab a book. I didn't latch the porch door all the way. Just then a young man walked by with his pup on leash. Sophie has killed strange creatures. Callie isn't fond of certain human males. Both dogs shot out to the street...yes I probably wet myself a bit...I can't believe this is happening.

Okay Sophie is truly nutso. She has enough loose skin around her neck to make another dog so I grabbed her. She is also a bit more than half my weight. I started dragging her across the street. Then Callie it had to be voice command. Let's GO, SWEAR to G-D, NOW LET'S GO NOW!"...he looked at me, dropped his head, looked at the young man quickly and followed me in the house.

A dog that could disembowel someone in one bite following me like a puppy. I am a soft spoken tree hugger in reality, don't tell him that though. If I can learn you can too...go get 'em tiger!
If they believe you will go totally deranged they will listen to you.
 
There is a HUGE mean dog that keeps coming to my house now that they took my front gate down to have the driveway poured. He's really mean. There are no leash laws out here in the country and no one to call about it. His owners don't care. I can't even take my tiny dog in my own yard to pee because he might be out there. I'm about half an inch away from setting a trap for him and hauling him off to a shelter. He has killed other animals that were passing through. killed the feral cat that sought out shelter in my tool shed. I have baby gates on ALL my doors so that my chihuahua can't go running out. I'm really going to try and get that gate back up this next week, but the worker guys ( they work for my ex) were busy working at his house the last 2 months.
 
But really if you meet a dog like that eye to eye? Bark all you want, I am not afraid of you, GO HOME NOW! If you can pull off the face...watch "Goodfella's"...really you can make the nastiest dog fear you.
 
fureverywhere said:
But really if you meet a dog like that eye to eye? Bark all you want, I am not afraid of you, GO HOME NOW! If you can pull off the face...watch "Goodfella's"...really you can make the nastiest dog fear you.
Click to expand...
Ive yelled " get outta here!!" in a really mean voice at him he just stands there. Sometimes he acts like he's gonna come at me. There have been a couple of old ladies killed out here from mean dogs while just trying to get their mail. He lunged behind my daughter getting out of her car on Christmas. She fell and hurt her hand because it scared her.
 
One actor-Joe Pesci, High pitched voice but totally sociopath...that's it. If The Dog Whisper had that...really, it's your face more than your voice. Look to the above video.
 
Oh I did scare off a whole pack once. It was about 3 in the morning and raining hard & I heard the 'blood lust' howling outside. my house didn't have front steps back then and I looked out and saw about 13 dogs surrounding my heavy duty rabbit hutch. They had combined forces and knocked it over. One was about to eat one of my bunnies. I ran out there screaming at them with a skillet. They ran..BUT one of them figured out he could take that crazy lady and came back. Luckily my ex had woken up and hauled my and my bunnies back up and into the house. I got a big ARE YOU CRAZY lecture from him for doing that. I'm telling you though.. this dog doesn't scare & he's mean to the bone. I really just need my gate back up. It will solve my whole problem.
 
And the key to training is consistency, of course. You need to have the little spray bottle with you and use it every time she does the thing you don't want her to do. She should get the idea pretty quickly that water in the face is a consequence of what she's doing.

I dearly love my dog, too. I dont know what I'd do without her!
 
The water bottle works for you don't chase the cats. But a dog in public, it's a different story. Sophie stopped chasing cats if I just picked up the bottle after while. Callie is fearless...actually what worked with him. We had a plumber who had to come in. He knew what he was doing, he came in our house with Callie two steps behind. He sat on a kitchen chair at Callie's level ( I give this man kudos completely!). He just sat there and let Callie sniff..."Hey man I am not here to challenge you, see I am here, and you can check me out as long as you want". It worked, that plumber was the first strange male human allowed in the house.

Now hubby's friend is terrified of Callie. Came in the house twitchy and ready to run. They worked it out. He stays outside to pick up his mail and Callie is behind the door growling like Cujo. Too bad he couldn't learn from the plumber ya know?
 
fureverywhere said:
The water bottle works for you don't chase the cats. But a dog in public, it's a different story. Sophie stopped chasing cats if I just picked up the bottle after while. Callie is fearless...actually what worked with him. We had a plumber who had to come in. He knew what he was doing, he came in our house with Callie two steps behind. He sat on a kitchen chair at Callie's level ( I give this man kudos completely!). He just sat there and let Callie sniff..."Hey man I am not here to challenge you, see I am here, and you can check me out as long as you want". It worked, that plumber was the first strange male human allowed in the house.

Now hubby's friend is terrified of Callie. Came in the house twitchy and ready to run. They worked it out. He stays outside to pick up his mail and Callie is behind the door growling like Cujo. Too bad he couldn't learn from the plumber ya know?
Click to expand...

I meant the water bottle quote for the part about the scratching legs and hands.

I'd also cut the little doggie's toenails.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top