Quote:
Originally Posted by BOMBSHELL BELLA  I've been watching "The Dog Whisperer" lately and I am (finally) admitting Gia has a behavior problem after seeing that my boyfriend can control his TWO seemingly rambunctious (and large) pit bull puppies better than I can control my 4 lb yorkie.
I'd made tons of excuses for her behavior before, like "oh she was abused" (she was) or "oh it's just separation anxiety" or "Maybe she's neurotic".
Anyway it has to stop.
1) When I'm not home, I babygate her in my bathroom with food, water, a blanket, toys, & a puppy pad. (I never crated her bc she came from puppy mill and when I first got her, largely preferred to stay in the crate than engage in human contact, meaning no bonding. I literally had to pry her from the crate or she wouldn't come out.) The very minute she knows I'm in the door she starts crying and crying and squealing for me to get her out. She even seems like she starts hyperventilating.
She also does this sometimes when I leave her, even though I don't make a fanfare about leaving, EVER, I just leave.
2) I also have problems getting her to let me know when she has to go outside. If I walk her, she goes outside. But I want her to alert me.
3) Then, she is VERY timid and almost aggressive to strangers, particularly men. She is very untrusting and cannot be won over, even with treats. (She won't even take a treat directly from my hand unless she is sitting with me...never with me standing over her I notice) I would like her to be more relaxed and happy.
4) When we walk outside on a leash and she sees people, or when people come to the door she also barks and growls and I like for her to be an alert "watchdog" but I also like her to stop when I tell her enough is enough.
Please help!  |
1. Not sure what age she s or what age she was when you got her that makes a differnce in some of my responces.
First it is sepration anxiety and you need to work on things so you do not have a set pattern to your leaving. Second you need to do ypur usually patern of leaving right up to walking out the door and not go.
this will teach her that you are not the creature of habit that she thinks you are and reduce stress we hope.
Also not taking food when stressed is a sign of just how stressed she is. Dog that are fearful do not like being stood over as it is a sign of disrected from one dog to another and also huma nto dog.
there is a great book called on talking terms with dogs that would be very helpful for this girl.
but in short turn sideway so you look smaller to her and get low even if it is on the ground low. lip lick and yawn and look down and awy it is dog speck that you can use to tell her that you are not a threat to her.
Usually one does not go to a dog that is acting out on arrival home in this case I go straight to her and sit on the other side of the kennel and deep breath and lip lick until she calms down.
2. the not letting you know is fear. man oh man if I go make contact and tell that person I need something she will see me and pay attention to me and that is to much for me to handle. so ever interatcion needs to be very low key and relaxed.
3. as to strangers an why do we feel our dogs most make contact with everyone in the world and like it.... do you. if she can not handle strangers yet keep them away from her.
4. teach her shh and speak and put it on a cue... which as this girl is stressing may not be easy.
I see if you can lay your hands on protocal for relaxation by dr karen overall and also maybe a constul with a behaviour person not a dog trainer but a behaviouist that is a vet or a PHD packing behaviour person is in oreder.
most dog trainers unless they are skilled in fer and aggresion would nt be able to manage this as they want to dominate and control this girl needs slw and steady.
Also you said ypou give her the excuse she is nuerotic.... that is just fine as she just maybe chemically challanged and need a little help and that is where a vet behaviourist can help. this does run through more then a few lines of dogs having diffiuclt times living in the world and it is treatable.
JL