When I first got Abby (chi) she wouldn't let me hold her for that long. She would start to growl and bite me. She wanted DOWN!!! I first tried the 'NO'; that made her mad. Then I tried the tap on the nose when she was biting; that made her even more mad. I tried a tap on the bum; mad. So, I figured that since she was so young, she was needing a 'mother' figure, so I became Alpha dog.
So, the next time she growled at me, I put her neck in my mouth and I growled back. She stopped growling. The next time she did it, I put her back in my mouth again. After a few times, the incidences became few & far between. Now, she is the sweetest, loving, CUDDLY dog. I can hold her and she doesn't even try to fight it.
The dog is trying to tell you what to do; you have to remind her that she is the dog. You rule and you have the final say.
I know it sounds bizarre, but it's the way they communicate. If you want to talk more about it, PM me. I can help you out. |