Training a 2-year-old silkie-poo? Please help!

[SilkyPooMama]

Hello again everyone! This is super long but I would really, really appreciate if you'd read it all because I could use some help!

I'm not really sure where to start here. I have a 2 and a half year old Silkie/Yorkie-poo named Benji. I got an account on here a couple years ago when I first got him, and I am cracking up at the questions I asked last time I was on here! lol

I've come back because unfortunately I'm having some behavioral issues with Benji lately. For the most part, he is a really sweet, loving dog who gets along with all other dogs and likes most people, especially kids!

He is bell trained and never has accidents inside. He also never chews on things unless he knows they are his toys. Pretty much everyone that meets him really likes him and he is just the sweetest dog 99% of the time.

When Benji was about 5 months old, I got a new job. The job ended up being a lot more hours than I had anticipated, and although I still spent plenty of time with him and he was rarely alone for more than 5 hours at a time (thanks to my mom's help), I didn't take him to any training classes and I didn't really have many dedicated training sessions with him.

I also haven't had him fixed yet, mostly because I've been really nervous that it's dangerous because he's so small, and also because I've read articles saying that getting your dog neutered can actually have a negative impact on their health. He also never gets out of my yard without me so I don't worry about any unwanted babies with neighborhood dogs. lol

The main issue I have with him lately is he cries very loudly if he sees another dog, up until he finally gets to meet/play with that dog. Now this is VERY loud crying/whining and honestly I get so embarrassed when he does it. I let him play with other dogs as much as I can, but obviously sometimes other owners don't want to let their dog meet yours, or we are inside and he is seeing a dog being walked outside, etc. etc. Obviously he can't meet every single dog he sees. Tonight there has been a large black lab wandering around outside. This dog gets loose a lot and Benji has played with him/her 3 times including tonight. Now he wants to go out and play again and he is ringing his bell and whining at me to let him out. He just can't NOT play with other dogs without freaking out.

My friend's parents have a dog who is very shy. When I brought Benji over there for a cookout this dog wouldn't play with him just because this particular dog just isn't socialized at all and is scared of Benji. lol Benji is VERY playful and would have played all night if this dog had let him. Benji WOULD NOT leave him alone and just kept wanting to play, play, play. This would have been fine but the other dog was terrified and Benji never let up even after an hour +.

As far as his other behavioral issues:
-He barks excessively when strangers come to the door. When I order a pizza I have to put him in the bathroom so I can here the person talk when I open the door.

-Humps (sometimes)

-Bites my toes when I go downstairs if he follows me down to do laundry (??? don't know why lol)

-Pulls on his leash (My mom in the past has walked him more than me due to my long hours and she just doesn't get that your dog is supposed to walk next to you and not in front of you. I appreciate all her help so I tell her he should walk next to her but don't make a huge deal out of it because she helps me so much with him.)


Now it may seem like I'm just listing off tons of bad things about my dog and making him sound like he's terribly behaved, but most days I really don't have issues. Most days I don't have strangers coming to my door, he doesn't always hump, etc. In our normal day-to-day life he's just the sweetest, greatest dog. But nights like tonight (when I was at the pet store and he would frequently cry/whine) really made me realize I need to start taking this more seriously and really put more time into training him.


Now I love this dog to death and I 100% blame myself for all his issues. I didn't know enough about dog training when I got him and although I did try to put time into training and he does know how to "sit" at least, it clearly wasn't enough.

I do have more time to train him now, and I'm hoping it's not too late.

I came here to ask for advice because I feel you guys would understand how much I love, love, love my dog and not be judgmental just because I have made mistakes with him! He is spoiled and cared for and goes for tons of walks, but I am admitting I have made mistakes in his training and would like some help/advice.

Again, all his issues are my own fault. He is a super smart/loving dog and I believe he can learn better habits- I just need some advice!


So I have a clicker that in the past I only used for a handful of 10-minute training sessions without much luck (obviously didn't give it enough time). So starting tonight I am working on basic clicker training.

I would also like to sign him up for a group obedience class, but I'm a little nervous that his crying/whining around other dogs will really disrupt the whole class, so I'm not sure if there's anything else I can do to teach him to stay calm in situations like that? Would they kick me out of the class if he cried like that, or would the trainers be able to calm him down in the class?

I'm also considering getting him fixed soon if that could help calm him down? I've heard mixed reviews on that. I wonder if sometimes he's crying/whining lately because there are female dogs in heat and he's just really sexually frustrated? lol What do you guys think of getting a dog neutered at the age of 2 and a half? Will it help calm him down or is that just a myth? Are most vets willing to do blood work before the procedure, and keep the dog on a heart rate monitor the whole time? What other questions should I ask the vet to make sure he's safe? I just get so nervous about the whole thing.



What other steps should I take to start solving some of these problems with him? I honestly don't know where to begin. I'm thinking that maybe since he took to bell training so well (100% potty trained in 3 weeks at 11 weeks old) he will take to clicker training quickly too. He really is smart and even knows his toys by name, and will get them when asked!




Any advice from people who have trained adult dogs would be greatly appreciated! I really do love this dog to death and I just want what's best for him.



Thanks!!!

[Mayzoo]

I find myself recommending this site a lot now for those who want to start training, or picking it back up again. It is a free site and they start with the very basics, and go up to competition or show training if you wish.

Introduction | Mind to Mind

We got Mario as a 1 yr old, and he was not trained to do anything before we got him. He now knows about 25-28 commands in less than 6 mo. I have trained dogs all my life, so I used that above site mostly for task or pre-task training skills, but I did review the basics before I began recommending it.

The humping I am not sure you can do a lot about. Maybe provide an appropriate object for your dog ie stuffed animal or blanket. FYI, I have read more medical benefits to neutering than risks, but finish your research and then make your final choice.

I would start on basic obedience and shore up his leash training so you can take him for walks. I hear that cures a ton of behavioural issues for a dog, including barking.

Biting your toes, I would just do a firm no every single time and praise/reward when he stops.

There are many methods for leash training. Consistency is the key, and likely he will fall in-line fairly easily once you choose a method and implement it faithfully.

A pretty good book I am reading is "A dog who's always welcome."

Good luck, and keep at it. Older dogs can be trained almost as easily as younger ones. I am currently doing some retraining on our Airdale who is 5.5 yrs now. He thinks I am nuts, but he is humoring me none the less .

[capt_noonie]

I skimmed over most of your post. But I gotta ask, what articles were these that you read that said neutering is BAD for their health? It's completely the opposite in fact! Also you will have a dog less likely to mark, and more importantly, less likely to run away when there is a female in heat within a 3 mile radius! He is not too small to be neutered. Three pound females and even smaller can be spayed with no issue and neutering is a much less invasive procedure. Get it done.

My girl Uni humps, and she's spayed. She also pulls on the leash. She tries to bite my feet when I go down the stairs as well, and in fact she really screams loudly when there's another dog nearby that she wants to meet. She has a lot of the same characteristics as your dog. I think the pulling was the most irritating. Uni still pulls, but we give her more walks in the same areas more often so she gets less excited and pulls less, but she hasn't stopped. We also have her on a retractable leash, but these are not for everyone. If you do get one, make sure you practice with it and know how to reel him in quickly if you need to. You always have to be constantly surveying your surroundings.

If you can afford to, I would also do the obedience classes. It helps to have a professional tell you the better way to communicate with your dog, but some people can do it by watching you tube videos.

[SilkyPooMama]

Originally Posted by Mayzoo

I find myself recommending this site a lot now for those who want to start training, or picking it back up again. It is a free site and they start with the very basics, and go up to competition or show training if you wish.

Introduction | Mind to Mind

We got Mario as a 1 yr old, and he was not trained to do anything before we got him. He now knows about 25-28 commands in less than 6 mo. I have trained dogs all my life, so I used that above site mostly for task or pre-task training skills, but I did review the basics before I began recommending it.

The humping I am not sure you can do a lot about. Maybe provide an appropriate object for your dog ie stuffed animal or blanket. FYI, I have read more medical benefits to neutering than risks, but finish your research and then make your final choice.

I would start on basic obedience and shore up his leash training so you can take him for walks. I hear that cures a ton of behavioural issues for a dog, including barking.

Biting your toes, I would just do a firm no every single time and praise/reward when he stops.

There are many methods for leash training. Consistency is the key, and likely he will fall in-line fairly easily once you choose a method and implement it faithfully.

A pretty good book I am reading is "A dog who's always welcome."

Good luck, and keep at it. Older dogs can be trained almost as easily as younger ones. I am currently doing some retraining on our Airdale who is 5.5 yrs now. He thinks I am nuts, but he is humoring me none the less .

Thanks for the advice! We have been working on clicker training and he's doing a really good job. Sorry it took me so long to respond to this.

[SilkyPooMama]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I skimmed over most of your post. But I gotta ask, what articles were these that you read that said neutering is BAD for their health? It's completely the opposite in fact! Also you will have a dog less likely to mark, and more importantly, less likely to run away when there is a female in heat within a 3 mile radius! He is not too small to be neutered. Three pound females and even smaller can be spayed with no issue and neutering is a much less invasive procedure. Get it done.

My girl Uni humps, and she's spayed. She also pulls on the leash. She tries to bite my feet when I go down the stairs as well, and in fact she really screams loudly when there's another dog nearby that she wants to meet. She has a lot of the same characteristics as your dog. I think the pulling was the most irritating. Uni still pulls, but we give her more walks in the same areas more often so she gets less excited and pulls less, but she hasn't stopped. We also have her on a retractable leash, but these are not for everyone. If you do get one, make sure you practice with it and know how to reel him in quickly if you need to. You always have to be constantly surveying your surroundings.

If you can afford to, I would also do the obedience classes. It helps to have a professional tell you the better way to communicate with your dog, but some people can do it by watching you tube videos.

Thanks for the tips!

[MzLynnC]

I went to the website. http://http://sue-eh.ca/page24/page26/page10/ Instruction Mind to Mind. Site looks very nice - ordered PDF book for. $25 which included both books - payment went thru PayPal. Downloaded on computer and iPad and both files wouldn't open says file is corrupt. I sent an email to her email address and it bounced back. . May have lost my $. .

[SilkyPooMama]

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

I went to the website. http://http://sue-eh.ca/page24/page26/page10/ Instruction Mind to Mind. Site looks very nice - ordered PDF book for. $25 which included both books - payment went thru PayPal. Downloaded on computer and iPad and both files wouldn't open says file is corrupt. I sent an email to her email address and it bounced back. . May have lost my $. .

You should definitely file a complaint with PayPal!

[MzLynnC]

I just did.

[MzLynnC]

Filed a PayPal Complaint. She must have gotten an email or some notice thru there and ended up putting a copy of the book on Dropbox and got it that way. She has some problems with her website and not sure if she knew it or not, but anyway now have book.

[Mayzoo]

Originally Posted by MzLynnC

I went to the website. http://http://sue-eh.ca/page24/page26/page10/ Instruction Mind to Mind. Site looks very nice - ordered PDF book for. $25 which included both books - payment went thru PayPal. Downloaded on computer and iPad and both files wouldn't open says file is corrupt. I sent an email to her email address and it bounced back. . May have lost my $. .

'

She acted quickly sounds like, and I tried the link you provided a few minutes ago and it appears the link has been taken down now as well.

Glad it worked out well, even though it was a bit of a pain.