Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvdogs2  Oh, another question - how often do you bathe the Yorkies? Do they have a naturally oilier coat or a pretty dry one? I think she needs more frequent baths though she gets on every time she messes in the crate. It seems like she gets oilier faster than most other dogs I know. |
Their coats are like human hair. The oiliness could be a result of her allergy. I'd change her food to a Limited Ingredient Diet (Dick Van Patten makes one) and see if there's an improvement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvdogs2 I didn't get a chance to pick up the cheerios yet, I just didn't get a chance to do it between my duties. Bdog does, however, have some treats that are made at one of those dog bakeries and she can't get enough of them. If you open the pop top container (has a button that locks/seals the lid and releases) she starts spinning in circles and if you walk towards the bedroom, she will dart into the crate or kennel...she will even get confused on which one to go into - she just wants the treat.
You can turn this into a trick!
I use those same treats when working at the door for the speak. I break them in half and she gets the first one on the way out to reinforce the speak at the door. When she speaks, I open the door first and give her the treat on the way outside, hoping the speak, then through the door, then getting the treat rather than speak, get the treat and then open the door. Once she starts getting the speak down, I'm going to walk her to the next door and have her sit to go through...then the treat. I'm hoping to get her used to the idea that getting outside in the pattern will reinforce the idea of barking at the door when she wants to go outside.
Another warning: She may take it one step further and start barking for treats. A few here have taught there dogs to ring a bell to go potty, they learn it's to go outside, and began to ring the bell non stop! With that said, the main thing is to take her out, treat her when she potties outside. She should pick up that she has to be outside to make this happen. K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple)
I talked to her tonight when she texted me about having issues with getting her to work with the headway I was having. I told her the same thing, don't give up, keep working on it and don't get discouraged. We'll work on it together so that she will understand that one of us isn't soft.
It's not about one being soft. It's that you're newer to their relationship, so when you're gone, Bdog is acting the way that was once acceptable to DF before you came on board. DF may have the more difficult job with retraining Bdog to any new behaviors, but if DF is persistant and consistant, Bdog will change, but at the same time Bdog will be more resistant to changing her behavior for DF.
She seems to behave when she's in the crate. I know that she will start barking a lot when we leave .I've forgotten books and my lunch box and had to come back in and you can hear her in the hallway carrying on. When she's kenneled and such, she behaves other than when I walk in to go to bed after my fiance has went to sleep. I know now why she's growling and showing teeth - 2 and 2 makes 4 and if she's protective of my fiance in bed, she's trying to protect her through the kennel. It's the only reason I can think of. |
What does she do if you approach her cage with a treat? Maybe stop on your way to bed, and see if you can change her attitude. As treat motivated as she is, this may be easy to correct. Don't treat her when she's showing her teeth though! Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom --Feeding is guided first by the instructions on the product, then, feed to condition. The instructions are really an 'average'; so, to condition means - feed more or less, depending on body condition (feel her ribs/torso to assess). Here's a link to learn how to access a dog's weight and body condition: Purina.Com | Dog | Caring | Understanding your Dog's Body Condition
It's really not pack leader, as I mentioned above. The submissive wolf/dog will roll over onto back electively, not thru force.  |
I rolled my Sapphire over on the bed... we were playing, and I wanted to rub her belly. I thought if I got her over quickly and gave her the belly rub, she would enjoy it. Wrong! (I wasn't even thinking of the 'Alpha Roll till after I did it) She literally almost went into shock. Her eyes rolled back in her head, she began to stiffen up, and she appeared to be getting very disoriented. I quickly righted her and held her close and talked gently to her... after a minute or two she came back to herself. Close call there and very scary!
So I changed my method to giving her belly rubs as she laid on her side, and now after a month or two, the little monkey jumps onto the bed and flips herself over onto her back for the belly rub. Total different scenario, and she loves it!
Here a pic of an enclosed unit... yes, it doubles as a cat hammock:
Attachment 331856
In summary: She should be checked by her vet. I would change her food to the LID, and get her on a probiotic/digestive enzymes:
Nature's Farmacy - Store - Product Details=
(This is what I use). Sometimes dogs can develope an overgrowth of bad bacteria in their gut, which can cause inappropriate/frequent elimination.
Also, her allergy may be affecting her intestines and her skin, and her current food could be triggering her allergy. She may need a course of antibiotics to get her gut under control, then the probiotics help to keep it controlled. You have to fix what goes in before you can fix what comes out. If this is the problem, in a month you will see improvement in her coat also.
In defense of premium brand dog foods: One can buy cheaper food and treat for the allergy and pay the vet, or one can buy a premium food which improves general health, and require less frequent vet visits.
***If you buy a premium dog food at Petco or PetsMart, and your dog cannot tolerate it or refuses to eat it, they will give you a refund on the remaining amount in the bag.
My four weight between 7 and 14 pounds. They eat Life's Abundance and are fed twice daily. They get from 1/4 to 1/2 cup (dry moistened with water and mixed with canned) two times daily, with probiotics and a dash of coconut oil.