April,
I think the fact that he is "good" with step-dad is a BIG indication that he is capable of being good with everyone else!
The reason Toto does all these things with you and the others ...(and not with step-dad)...is BECAUSE HE CAN.....he has learned who he can boss and who he can't!!! That shows you how smart he really is!
My first suggestion would be to find the TV show "Dog Whisperer"....with Cesear Millan.....or some good articles about dog behavior on the internet...one that was suggested to me was Warren Eckstein...("the pet show"). My learning began with My chihuahua, Apple, when she was just 4-5 months old....she was wild and completely "out-of-control" to the point she actually BIT ME...a real dog bite with blood and everything!!!I wanted to KILL HER!!! Fortunately for me (and her) I found The Dog Whisperer on Tv soon after and the 1st show was about a HORRIBLE chihuahua.....Cesear had control of that devil-dog within minutes.
It is all about control and "dominance". Toto MUST see you and the others as the "pack leader" or he will rule the house....and world!
Many suggestions:
1) You really must try to get him in a crate of pen.....I bought a 3 foothigh "play-yard" at pet-smart.....Apple stayed in it when no one was home...she had a nice bed (fortunately she did not tear it up)...food bowl, water bowl, a few chewies and pee pads..I also fixed her bed with a heating pad because she tends to be soooo cold...and a "sound machine" to drown out some of the outside noises...less likely to bark!
2) We stopped her from jumping up and playing with someone whenever she felt like it...if she jumped up in ANYONE'S lap we just lifted her up and sat her in the floor or on the sofa next to us...she could not get up in a lap unless she was invited. Trust me...if you do this over and over and over and over and over and over.....he will learn!
3)barking....DO NOT YELL BACK AT HIM!!! He just thinks you are barking also and you agree with him.....ignore him...I mean don't even look at him.....I did also use a squirt bottle and gave her a short blast at the face if she would not quit. I let her bark when someone is at the door...but if I said "enough" and she continues...she gets a squirt......now if I even walk towards the bottle she curls up on the couch and stops.
4) Teach him some commands....even basic ones....."sit" or "down"....I will tell Apple "down" at any given moment and wait for her to lie down....she must respond before I give her food...pick her up.....get a treat....before I will throw a toy...
5) STOP the aggressive playing.....I know kids can be rambunctious...let your brother take him outside and RUN and RUN and RUN if they have some extra energy!...If you do not have a safe place to run (fenced area)...take him to a tennis court.....a fenced ballfield.....a fenced school yard on weekends...and let him run....ALOT!
6) Does he get to spend good time outside....not just pee and poo time but some good time sniffing around and just being a "dog"??? Any dog loves to be outside on the grass sniffing and exploring...it is what dogs do!!!
7) Take him for a walk....(with a harness....just safer)...and make him walk beside you...do not let him pull...(you will learn alot about walking from The Dog Whisperer)....this really does establish a great bond. At first, when he walks well for 15 minutes, then let him sniff around for 5 minutes or so...then back to walking right. But DO NOT let him pull you (or anyone). Toto just wants to be with you and bond with you....his trouble making is his way of getting your attention.....bad attention is ok with him....
8) WEAR HIS BUTT OUT......my favorite saying is ...."a tired puppy/dog is a good puppy"!!!!!!! It may seem like his energy is endless...but believe me they do wear out....he is still young and he just has energy he needs to get rid of...somehow! And trust me, HE WILL!!!!!!
I learned all this with Apple, so....when I got Lil Bit we just fell into the same routine and she has learned alot from Apple...She really does sleep alot during the day..under the heating pad with Apple. They play and wear each other out (thank goodness for that)... Lil Bit rarely barks, but does occasionally get carried away when she want in the bathroom door or something...I blast her with the squirt bottle...she is getting better.
Oh yeah,....sleeping with you is something that makes the dog think they are "equal" to you....I do let Apple sleep in the bed on occasion.....it is just sooooo sweet. But when she starts following me to bed like she "automatically had the right" to be there....then I leave her on the couch.
Good luck..I know Toto is going to make you soooo proud!!! But be firm and BE CONSISTANT..do the same thing EVERY TIME!!!! or he will continue manipulating you and the others!! |