First of all, what repulses me is the fact that you're trying to jump down my throat for not sharing your views. You have no idea what places I have been to for research or what methods I have tried and on top of it all, you have never met my dog. Perhaps you should try to keep more of an open mind, instead of being so judgmental and telling me that my dog's behaviour is my fault.
Also for your information, PETA is against the keeping of animals as pets. Maybe you're the one who needs to do some research!

I understand that not everyone agrees on every training technique. I appreciate people trying to help, as long as it's in a non judgmental and polite way.

How much did these training sessions cost you and were they helpful? I'm leaving the country for three months and taking Milo with me. I won't be able to hire a trainer where I'm going, but maybe when I come back. But I do need him to behave while we're away. He's just so incredibly stubborn and not the brightest dog.

This would be a VERY bad idea. These collars were not and are not designed to be used for these behaviors. You run the risk of creating a fearful or aggressive dog.

1. Enroll him in basic obedience classes.
2. Work on what you are taught in class DAILY.
3. Play with your dog.
4. Walk your dog.
5. Crate your dog if you can not watch him.
6. "Wear" your dog. This means attaching a leash to your belt loop and clip it to the dog's collar. You will know where your dog is at all times, control where he goes, and know when he needs to potty.

A remote collar is not the way to go.

I'm a professional trainer and behaviorist, and work with a lot of dogs. There is not a single one that I would ever tell to use a remote collar like this with.

However, my dad does a lot of off leash work with his dog. In this case, a remote collar is used ONLY as a back up!!! It is NOT a replacement for good obedience training.

Hi Punkie - there is a member on here - I think her screen name is K9trainer (I hope that's it). Anyway, she travels all over the world training dogs - so I assume she really knows her stuff. Maybe PM her and see if she has any ideas for you too. Hang in there - I know there's a solution out there. :)

Here is what to do about your issues:

1. Chewing: Get a spray bottle and fill with distilled white vinegar. When your dog goes to chew something, say "no chew" and spray the object of his interest.

2. Wear your dog. Attach his leash to your belt loop and you will know what he is doing and when.

3. If you can't watch your dog, crate him.

4. If your dog barks when you are not home, read this: Separation Anxiety and Destructive Dogs

5. If your dog barks excessively at everyone and everything, he does not see you as the pack leader and is confused about his place.

-Revoke furniture priveleges.
-Eat before he does and let him see you eat.
-Mix his food in his bowl with your hands to put your scent on it.
-Make him sit and stay before you let him eat.
-If he goes to bark or starts to bark, say "Ah Ah" in a sharp tone of voice. (Think Victoria Stillwell on "It's Me or the Dog."
-Praise him when he does well. This will enforce the good behavior.
-If your dog barks, whines, jumps or vies for your attention, ignore him. Do not give him attention until he is calm.

Invest in a good behaviorist to come out to your home and work with you on what you want to get fixed. Petsmart teaches basic obedience...it does not teach you how to deal with "problem behaviors." Also, not all trainers are behaviorists and therefore are NOT qualified to work with you and your dog on problem behaviors.

I know you did not intend to put this post up to get slammed, but I was in total shock when I read that you are even considering this type of collar for your yorkshire terrier! If any trainer or behaviorist even suggests this to you, get your money back and find someone qualified!

Walk your dog! Several times a day, if you must! Get a friend/neighbor/family member/professoinal dog walker if you must. Exercise is key to a well behaved dog as well. Some people mistakenly think that a small dog does not need good exercise or mental stimulation from a controlled walk, but they do.

Shock collars should ONLY be used by someone who knows what they are doing with them. The average dog owner does NOT know how to properly use them, therefore abuses it without even knowing it.

PM me if I can be of any more help to you. I wish I lived closer to you (I'm in NC!) because I'd love to help you one on one. However, I have had extensive experience with these issues, and these techniques have worked for my clients.

You do need to take into account that change will not happen overnight. It takes patience and consistency. Your dog needs to see you as the pack leader. Fear is NOT the way to get yourself that status.

Good luck and I hope you put these techniques into play!

Monique (The Dog Nanny in Fayetteville NC)
Owner of Liberty Dog Training

GREAT post, thank you! :) :) :)

I didn't even see you were a trainer in your previous post. We're lucky to have you here. :)

I've never been to PetSmart for training. I took my dog to an actual obedience school when he was a puppy. All he did was disrupt the class and he didn't pick up things like the other dogs did. They always had to spend extra time with him and most of the time we couldn't accomplish what we were trying to get him to do. He'd lose interest and keep barking at the other puppies.

I bought a shock collar today and I just tried it on my arm. It's a bit harsher than I thought, though, so I don't know if I want to use it anymore. But I also can't afford to pay a lot of money fr private training sessions.

I'm really frustrated. I can't take him anywhere without him barking at everyone and everything. I can't have people over without him jumping all over them and biting their fingers and hands. He never bites in an aggressive way... he's just trying to play when he does it, but this doesn't make it any less annoying or painful. He also jumps at people's faces and makes a biting motion. He never actually bites them in the face, but it makes people flinch and no one likes a dog jumping at their face. He's also really timid and constantly shakes when I take him outside like he's super nervous. He's really awkward when interacting with other dogs and either lies down in a very submissive manner or hops around and jumps on them. They don't like that very much. He bites my toes when I walk around to get attention and when it doesn't work, he starts barking. When I say "no bark" or "quiet" he runs away and hides under something where he knows I can't reach him and taunts me. He's just all around annoying and not an enjoyable dog at all. Thank god he's small, otherwise he'd be completely unbearable.

So, I have a million and one problems with him. I know that he could be super sweet if he could contain himself, but I don't know how to get him to calm down.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Very good advice for anyone having behavior problems with their dog.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I will look for her.

:confused: this might not be much help but 4 years ago my mom and i rescued a siberian husky named misty from a shelter and fell madly in love with her... she was a TERRIBLE behaved dog!!! we couldn't even take her out to go potty alone BOTH of us had to hold her leash because she would LITERALLY drag us through the yard... this is NO exaggeration either!! one day she snipped at a neighbor and we freaked out.. from that point on NO ONE could walk into our house without her going crazy and getting vicious... we assume she was beat at her previous home.. we wanted to take her to training but she was a 4 year old 75 lb dog we had to muzzle... at home she was sweet as can be and we got so attatched we couldn't imagine getting rid of her... my mom ended up taking her to training where they used a shock collar and ALWAYS on minimum.. and now she goes potty without a leash comes when called, does every command immediately and people walk in and out of the house with NO problems and she doesn't even wear the collar anymore... i understand misty was probably more sever of a case but i wouldn't say it was a cruel thing either because if we wouldn't have done that misty may have bit someone or something and could have been taken away from us. i don't know that i would say your dog was at the point yet it sounds like there are other options... but i def. don't think its as cruel as everyones saying either NO i don't think every dog should do shock training but in our case it saved our family and kept misty with us

I personally have one for my GSD, he weighs in at 120 pounds and has gotten to the point after a few times when he first got it, that when its on him I never have to use it, ( he has worn it for over a year when he is out on runs) and he has been thur obedience training also, you have to do whats best for you and I am not judging you, but as someone that uses one, there is no way I would EVER put one on yorkie. Just thought I would tell you how I feel about them since I have 1st hand experience with it. Good Luck!

Yeah when I tried it on my hand, it was a bit harsher than I thought. So I don't know what to do now. I don't think it's mild enough to use on him if it can hurt me. But I need him to behave and fast. He's a little terror!

I posted some of the problems (not even all of them) here: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...collars-4.html

If anyone has any suggestions that won't cost hundreds of dollars, I'd be more than happy to try them.

I think you've gotten a lot of great advice :) I don't really have anything to add except that consistency is the most important thing when trying to train a dog. Consistency will keep the dog from getting mixed signals. Good luck!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Great advice.