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cervri
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Ok, I know I have posted this before when Pancho was a lot smaller and younger. He did get a lot better. Unfortunately, today when we took him to Mazatlan with us he snapped at some people while he was in my arms. He has also did a very macho stance and barking at some workers in our park. Now, before SOME people go ballistic, in Panchos defense I must say that he was teased by a guy here, so he seems to be putting his aggressive attitude more towards boys and small statue men. Either way, this is not an acceptable behavior.
My husband and I were discussing what to do about it, and he says I need to stop being so gentle with him. Chuck feels that clamping my fingers over his nose and saying NO is not working. He feels a good slap on the nose would do a better job along with a NO. Well, since this is a seven pound dog here, his nose would not get a slap without some other part of him getting slapped also, like an eye. And I fear that slapping him would make him fearful of me. I was thinking a "flick" on his lower chin would be better. In the meantime, I am looking for a mussel (hard to find in Mexico) and will warn people who come up to him while he is in my arms.
Any REAL suggestions. I do not want to hear stupid people say junk like "hang him from a tree by the neck" and******like that. If you do not have a constructive thing to say, then don't. I am looking for a real solution here as this is serious, not a forum for free flaming.
Dee
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kalynzoo
Los Angeles , California
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As much as you love your dog, if he bites someone in the States you WILL get sued. If he bites in Mexico ????. Dog wispers offers training, as do some other professional groups...on line I think is available, or on CD.
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Veronica
Virginia
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You have had a lot of trouble with Pancho, haven't you? When you get back to the states, I would advise finding a good animal behaviorist to work with you on some of these issues. If one is available where you are in Mexico, I'd give it a shot there too.
In the meantime, I also recommend Cesar Milan's dvd and book.
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Happy_Trails
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kalynzoo wrote:As much as you love your dog, if he bites someone in the States you WILL get sued. If he bites in Mexico ????. Dog wispers offers training, as do some other professional groups...on line I think is available, or on CD.
Yes, get a book on Dog Training, immediately if possible.
By NOT training a pet, you are "killing them with kindness" if you don't learn how to train them properly, it is not their fault if they bite. Though they will be the one to suffer.
Any dog can be taught, most over 600 commands, they need discipline, as much as they need love. Without a balance, its impossible for them to enjoy life to the fullest, they wind up very confused....
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Terryallan
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Instead of your fingers, or hand. Could you use paper rolled small? Pop him on the nose. Doesn't have to be hard. It is the noise that bothers them. While you don't want him scared to death of you. Don't confuse respect for fear. You want his respect. I am the dog discipliner in our family. He is a Bassett. DW loves him, and does tell him no, but doesn't back it up. I do. Guess who he follows around the yard? Yep, It's me. Guess who he listens to? Me again. Dogs aren't stupid. But do need to know who is the master, and who is the pet.
So pop him, and tell him no, and do it every time. He will soon learn, and will love you all the more.
Rudy, has even learned, when he can jump up on me, and when he can't, depending on what kind of clothes I have on. He knows the difference. And just between you and me. He is the most stupid dog we have ever had. If he can learn any dog can. He is sweet though.
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CA POPPY
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Dee, I can sympathize, since Rosie is a "high-strung" chi and would like to be big and bad, if we'd only let her. Some little dogs think they are miniature pit bulls. First of all, I can tell you for sure that Chuck's suggestion will make things a lot worse. Do not smack Pancho, period. That would be like adding fuel to the flame and get the dog more wound up. The second is to not "discuss" discipline measures with Chuck at the time of the correction. It will just add tension and Pancho will pick up on it and think he has to protect you even more.
Cesar Milan teaches us that unwanted behavior starts out at level one and escalates to level ten. What that means is, we have to interrupt the dog's fixation on whatever is exciting him at the very first sign of it. You might feel him getting tense or see him holding his head a certain way, before he ever gets to the growling or snapping stage. At that point, break his concentration! Poke him in the rump with your foot if he's on the ground, anything to get him to turn around and say, "What?" If you're holding him, turn a different direction. He can't escalate to level ten if you don't allow it. You'll have to figure ways to do these interruptions, but you're a creative gal and I know you can do it.
Also, control the environment. Do not let strangers approach him and expect to pet him. Lots of people want to pet a little dog and with some, it is fine, but with others, it never is. Tell them you are training him and they should just talk to him. When he's good, and he sees that the strangers are no threat and you're just friendly-talking, he will probably relax. I've noticed that some dog-savvy strangers will sit on the ground and let our chis come to them for attention. Our dogs just love when that happens.
Anyway, those are just some suggestions and I'm sure you'll get more. How old is Pancho now? It sounds, from your blog, like you are having fun in Mexico. Good for you!
Judy
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Briteskys
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Your little Pancho is confused and mis-behaving because he is rudderless & without a leader. He badly needs direction about his ill behavior. As others have mentioned, a good start would be to follow the advice of a trainer like Cesar Millan, who advocate discipline, direction & love - in that order.
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Code2High
One hour past Nowhere, CA
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OUTstanding post, Judy. Recognizing the behavior at its lowest level is a huge help. This is Dog Whisperer week on tv and I was watching him do the exact thing you were describing while reading your post ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
But I digress! Now for the question at hand..... Hummmmmmmm..... Animals, as they mature, go through stages. This includes adolescence, and he may be there or heading there, fast. I worked on a horse ranch once... every foal got ground manners almost from birth. Then had to be re-taught them at about age two, especially the colts that weren't gelded. Pretty much lost their minds and forgot everything they learned. More recently, my sweet baby rabbit suddenly turned into the teenager from Hell.... snotty, bratty, challenging and dominant. If she wasn't so cute, she'd never have survived it!
So you may be seeing just a normal phase where you need to re-establish some boundaries, and in the course of that, you're going to need to really be sure your skills are solid here.
Hitting is not a way to correct a dog, and certainly not a 7 pound dog. If you hit him hard enough to make it "hurt" you'd be risking causing real damage. Plus it just isn't an effective way to correct bad behavior. There are much more effective ways to correct. I have much bigger, strong willed dogs, both with very high tolerance to pain... but I can about knock them down with a touch now. No force required. A hiss, a tap, a "bite" with the hand... things like that really work, but you need to learn how to apply them. Flicking on the nose with a finger is not necessarily the perfect correction, but a lot better and safer than hitting him.
Did you ever get to watch some Dog Whisperer? Maybe season one? I really REALLY recommend you get that if at all possible. REALLY. You will see several different corrections, how to apply them, and what response you're looking for.
Also from that you'd get to see the stages of excitment/escalation in behavior that you're looking for, so you can learn to see when he's "level one" and heading up the ladder and stop him there, where it is much easier. Again, there is just nothing like seeing things happen and having someone explaining what you're seeing.
Seeing is really the best way to get the picture of how something works. Its not that Cesar Millan is the only person in the world who knows dogs, but I don't know of anywhere else you can just watch and watch and really learn what the body language is, while getting the mantras (exercise, discipline, affection, and rules, boundaries, and limitations) pounded into your head.
Other than that, make sure you're doing the basics as covered before... walk him daily, preferably before taking him into crowd situations. Keep him behind or beside you, with behind being preferred to really emphasize that he's following you. Head up, shoulders back, be the leader! Correct immediately for any negative behavior. This includes any barking, growling, or other challenging behavior toward anyone. Make him work before you give him anything, including affection. He should sit or lay down (more submissive posture, which is better) to get attention. Really go hard-line on him for a bit and work on getting his mind right.
I don't know what the odds are of you finding a good behaviorist there in Mexico, but there is one you could work with by phone, if you're interested we can hit up Dale (dapace) and get that info. He's not all that expensive and he's got experience working by phone, and is a veterinary behaviorist. Something to consider.
susan
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The snow man
de pere, wisconsin
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In the meantime, call your insurance man and tell him to raise your premium so it will cover a disaster...sounds to me like the dog is the boss in the family...just my opinion...I wouldn't take him ANYWHERE until you have him trained...If you can't control him have your husband or someone else train him...
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cervri
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Once again I get great information from Judy and Susan. Geezzz, I am NOT going to get sued, the dog is NOT without training (probley does more tricks than most) and I am the one who works with him, not my husband. I work with his training daily and I always get lots of complements on his behavior, especially for a Chi.
Being in Mexico, there are not any training tapes available. Most people don't have resources for dogs here and could care less. I will take the good advice, ignore the others and go for it.
Our neighbors think he is protecting me (in his own mind) and think that redirection is in order. I did not know it, but he train's German Shepard. He is pretty impressed with Pancho, says he is smartest dog he has ever ran into, in the toy breed, especially for being only five months old. He does suggest having him spayed soon as we can find a vet that does that as he is very developed for a puppy. He actually said he is impressed with his behavior as he does not "act" like most chi's. Pancho is not a spaz, but has lots of engery. He can be focused when he HAS to be (often) but I do let him run on the beach and be a puppy.
Judy, I will certainly take your advice. Thank you so much for helping me to think outside my little box.
Susan, your advice is as always welcomed. I think because of you two helping me along the way Panch has turned out to be a great little dog. I am the one who needs the help more than him!!! ha ha
Oh, I will try to catch the dog whisper as chuck is getting the satellite up now. When is it on??? Fridays??
Dee
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