Originally Posted by LadyGemma  I love Moxie to death and she is a sweet, loving, energetic girl, but she is stubborn and we still need to work on training, even after a year. She would never hurt anyone, she doesn't yelp and bark the second she sees another dogs as I have seem some yorkies do, she doesn't bite people or dogs, she is patient with kids, she is very friendly with people, and often shy, but not aggressive with other dogs. if i drop food on the floor, she will wait a minute to see if it's something she's allowed to have, she knows commands like sit and lay down, she is generally quiet and well behaved in stores, etc.
HOWEVER,
-if she is chasing a squirrel or bird, she will not stop when I call her.
-she occasionally has a little potty accident
-if i take her someplace, sometimes she won't just let me tie her up, sit down and watch quietly while i do my thing, but instead will try to get free and bark so i will untie her or hold her or let her wonder around (this has happened in dance class and when i was trying to get a quick chair massage; some dogs are great with this- a few other girls have brought their small dogs to the dance class and they just stayed in their carriers the whole time). she knows if she barks enough i will come to her (not because I want to give in, but i don't want her to disturb people).
-she WILL bark sometimes at some thing I have told her not to bark at before- someone on a skateboard, a large man
-sometimes if a big dog she doesn't like comes up to her and starts jumping around and trying to play with her, she will do a little growl and snap. Even if the dog is much, much larger. She has never actually bitten or tried to but I don't want her to do this at all because I'm concerned they will snap back.
-if there is food on the street, she will try to eat it. she won't bite me if i pry it out of her mouth, but she won't "drop it" on command either
-she sometimes makes messes. Even when she has no reason to (she is getting exercise and stimulation and not spending a lot of time alone and has chews and toys), she might tear up a paper bag when i'm gone if she smells food inside or eat someone's sandwich they have left out.
So I love my dog, but she is mischevious and stubborn and not the best listener or very well behaved even if she is loving, bright, friendly, generally good and has no major behavior issues. How do I make the leap to having a VERY WELL BEHAVED yorkie who doesn't get in to trouble every time I turn my back and listens to my command *every* time? |