James asks…

Dog Behavior Problems?

We took in a stray miniature pinscher about 2 weeks ago. He is an adult dog. We got him fixed and have tried to teach him to sit, lay down, stay…all the basics. He learned those but is very stubborn. We have to keep him in a room with a baby gate while we are gone so he will not chew up our stuff. He bites us. He barks at us and growls when we don’t do what he wants. We don’t know what to do with him…I almost regret taking him because I don’t feel like I have the experience to train him and I don’t know how. Any suggestions?

admin answers:

Try to take him to dog parks and get him well socialized with other dogs. He needs the socialization to be a well rounded dog. Take him with you everywhere you go when possibly. Spend as much time with him as you can that will make the biggest difference. Also if you can get in a dog obedience class, sometimes they offer them at community colleges. Try your best to ignore him when he is bad or doing something you don’t like even if you have to walk away from him. Praise him and reward him when he does a good thing, no matter how small. Adult dogs with little training have to learn a work ethic and have to have a “reason” to work for you, they just don’t understand the way a puppy who has been raised into a learning environment has. I will tell you that my adult dogs I have gotten are now better trained than the ones I had since they were puppies and although it was more work, it was well worth it. Don’t give up on him, you are probably the only one that has ever given him a real chance! Good Luck!

Joseph asks…

Why do people complain about dog behavior problems when they didn’t take the time to teach their puppy “NO!”?

It’s not complicated. When one gets a puppy we potty train it and teach it “NO!”. There are multiple avenues to explore until we find one that works. Why do people give up and allow the puppy to develop into the pack leader? If they don’t have the time to devote toward raising a puppy, why do they pay for an investment they lose focus on to maintain?
Once a puppy is trained they tend to stay that way for life. It may take a week or a month. One just needs to be there for the bad behavior.
BC- I agree … it’s one thing to teach the dog what NOT to do and another to reinforced it positively.
BC- Teach a dog no and it learns what not to do … this minimizes the bad behavior. It’s downhill after that.

admin answers:

Because they are quick to call the do stupid and blame ts problems on the dog. There r no bad dogs only bad owners.

Steven asks…

I want to adopt a dog from a shelter but i am afraid of health problems and behavior.?

What can do to prevent these problems. Is it a good idea to train the dog. Should i get it nutered?

admin answers:

Actually, if you’re going to adopt a dog from the animal shelter, there’s a small payment, About $37 bucks here in West Covina. And with that payment, the animal shelter neutre/spay all the dog before they can give them to you. They provide all the shots such as rabies and the 6 in 1 that is against the most fatal viruses like a parvo, the kennel cough and etc. The first day the dogs were taken into the pound and you also have one free vet examination at any participating vets within the first five days of having the dog. And if the dog doesn’t work out for you, got sick, or for any other reason, there is a 14 day exchange where you can come in drop off the dog and get a new one if you like.

I got my new 3mon old pup at the animal shelter and he is just fine and healthy. Knowing that i saved a life, I couldn’t be more happier =)

Good luck to you!

David asks…

Do you think it is ever justified to put a dog to sleep over behavior problems?

My eleven year old lab has always had behavior problems that I have been able to work through with training and medication. But now, the problems have become so severe that nothing seems to help. He is destroying my house! He somehow learned to open the refrigerator and was eating everything he could find, so I put baby latches on it and heavy tape, now he pulls at the fridge so hard that he moves it away from the wall and I’m afraid that he will pull it over on himself. He tears curtains off the windows. Crating him has never worked; he tears up the crate or manages to break out of it. Confining him to a room does not work; he has destroyed the doors and woodwork in two rooms. He will even tear sheetrock trying to get out. Leaving him outside is not an option in my neighborhood, plus I think he would tear down the fencing and get out. This is a dog who lives inside with two other dogs for company, gets regular exercise, go to the vet as needed, eats premium dog food, plus I go home at lunch everyday to check on him and let him outside. He receives a lot of attention and love, but the behavior problems are getting to be too much and I am so desperate that I am considering having him put to sleep. His behavior problems make him un-adoptable. Please help!
This dog has been trained through obedience classes, is excercised at least twice a day, plays outside for several hours each day, and gets lots of time and attention. I’ve taken him to many different vets and trainers. This is a very, very LOVED dog! I have never had serious behavior problems with any other dog.

admin answers:

Yes & I have.

If a dog is human aggressive an experienced handler, of which there are few, could control the dog & manage its environment to ensure it didn’t present a real threat to others. In the majority of cases the dog should be humanely euthanized.

I had a dog develop erratic behavior, which resulted in two bite incidents. After the first the dog was referred to a behaviorist & the second taken to a vet for a thorough examination. He was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor & euthanized.

If your Labrador is healthy, then exercise him until he is ready to drop & sleep peacefully. Exercise can be mental as well as physical, find something your Lab enjoys like working trials & get his brain focused on something other than wrecking your home.

If you have canine swimming pool close by, that is an excellent form or exercise for a dog. Find a strong metal crate & put a padlock on it if you have to. I doubt your Lab is ingenious enough to be able to pick a lock….

A tired Labrador is less likely to make a bid for freedom though….

Chris asks…

My dog has severe behavior problems that nothing seems to fix…?

We’ve had our GSD obedience trained and talked to professional dog behaviorists and NOTHING they’ve suggested is working. He gets into stuff he knows he’s not supposed to, and when we tell him no, he’ll wait until he thinks we aren’t paying attention, and then he’ll go do it anyway. He’s housebroken but he’ll poop and pee in the house when we aren’t home. It doesn’t matter if we walk him and play with him for hours before we go anywhere. We cannot leave him at home for any length of time by himself or he destroys as many things as he possibly can. We’ve even tried Caesar Milan’s dvds…
We’ve tried crate training with lots of rewards and praise, but he still throws himself around inside the crate and yelps and barks and cries. And if there is anything within reach, including the carpet, he will attempt to pull it into his crate and rip it to shreds. He’s 8 months old. My aunt’s GSDs by this time were trained and well-behaved. I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to get rid of him because he is really smart and is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever had, but he is also the most destructive, disobedient dog I’ve ever had. Please give me suggestions. I’m at the end of my rope.

admin answers:

Call your vet tomorrow and get a referral to a veterinary behavioral specialist. These are DVM’s that specialize in behavioral disorders, they often have advanced training and are board certified in neurology. Get an appointment with her and do everything she says. This will take lots of work and time and patience and some money and probably some drugs too, to correct this. You need professional help.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers