Help Needed with Training (professional trainers only please)

[Giulli]

Hello from France. I am new in these forums, and I generally do NOT like forums, because people tend to give suggestions and ask questions that has no relevance towards the subject proposed, leaving our original questions without answer or derailing subjects altogether. And if we complain, we're accused of not being 'friendly'.

So well, forum-wise, sorry, but I am NOT friendly as I am in need to ask for a very specific answer for every specific questions I propose here. I'd ask a local professional, but they cost an eye and I cannot spare the "extra"; I pay bills and they are all but cheap. And even though my family has been dog trainers and breeders for over 30 years, sometimes even experienced people need a little help too, and I have learned that pride leads people nowhere, and fast. The family lives overseas. I live in France.

In these forums, as I have seen, some pros are willing to do volunteer help, which I am in dire need at the moment. I also do volunteer work in other venues, in an in-person manner (it's not the case now). So I believe I can find the help I need in here.

I wrote a long post with my specific questions instead of making it in several little posts. It is simply more convenient for me as I work all the time. I am a writer, I work at home with my dog, but I can't slack or I get evicted, so you sure can understand that yes I do have PLENTY of time for my dog, but it needs to be shared with the work, and of course, my six hours of sleep daily.

Questions ahead.

I have a baby Yorkie, Lili, of 2 months and a half at the moment of this post. She is my sunshine and I love her to life and afterlife. I live with a room mate, and she has a Fauve de bretagne, Momo. (It is a hunt dog, big as a tall basset and bulky too.) Our apartment is a small studio.

Question 1 - Momo is super gentle and sweet, but she is also, well, heavy! She doesn't bite my baby Yorkie, but she pushes, paws, growls when my baby bites her paws (of course, it hurts!) I absolutely loathe when they play together and every time I take Lili out to 'burn energy', but it is not always possible... what I do to avoid them to play together?

Question 2 - Momo is used to beg for food at our feet during meals. Being a rescue shelter dog, my friend has no heart to train her in strict ways, so Momo has to be the most impolite dog I ever saw. And begging at the table is the sort of behavior I LOATHE, and now, even though I asked her NOT to give snacks to Lili while we eat, she can't seem to help herself. Momo asks, she gives, and obviously she gives to Lili, too. How do I stop that behaviour from Lili, if the other dog is showing her it is ok? (Don't say moving out, that is not an option either... LOL...)

Question 3 - I have raised Yuki, a male Yorkie, now with 10 years (he lives on my dad's house overseas with his family), and Kami (another male Yorkie that was stolen when I lived in USA in 1999). Neither gave me half of the trouble Lili gives to train. She is a hurricane around the house, runs everywhere like if she had an atomic battery on her. She doesn't accept the brushing on her fur, she bites on the brush as if I was playing with her (imagine Yorkie that doesn't like to be brushed), she doesn't respect it when I say 'no' for something.

How can I get Lili used to brushing, to NO, to stop nibbling on me? I have tried all the conventional methods!

In her defense, I have to say my Lili is very happy and cheerful. She sleeps over my long hair, or on my shoes/feet while I work; she is trained on leash already in the streets, and in the gardens she walks behind me without it and comes from playing in the gardens when called. (Yuki never does that outside...) Lili is silent, while Yuki is super vocal, so I have to carefully read silent signs when Lili wishes to be fed or something else. She has toys, a bed of her own that she doesn't use (my hair seem more comfy...), she goes everywhere with me (from Bakery to Paris downtown and even amusement parks or research fields), she is indeed my summer sun, and I love her so much when I have to discipline her my heart aches... but I do it anyway.

But I am so failing. For the first time, I am failing.

Any *professional* trainer's help would be so welcome. I appreciate people of good-will, but so far, good will, family experience and internet articles have not been of ANY- help, so please, if you're not a pro or have over 20 years of experience, I ask you to please refrain from answering the thread at this time.

Thank you,

Giulli

PS: I do not 'subscribe' to threads so those professionals who wish to help me, please leave a private message. Thanks!

[Teresamag]

I will send this as a private message as well but I wanted to let you know that you are coming across as extremely rude and condescending to the members on this forum who all love their Yorkies and have great backgounds which might be helpful to you. You may not mean to come across this way but please don't come on a new forum and insult the active members in your very first post.
Remember also that you "get what you pay for" or "get a return on what you invest". If you are nasty to us how many people do you think will go out of their way to help you?
There are many, many very knowledgeable people on this forum who can help you. You may want to ask for help in a "kinder" way. Also, do a search and read what others have experienced. You may find it very helpful and educational.
Good luck
Teresa

[megansmomma]

Huh?

[cally930]

There are many, many experienced and great people on this forum. Unfortunately, I do not think you are going to get any answers to your questions here. You may want to search "European sites", because I don't think anyone on here appreciates this type of mannerism.

Good luck to you.

[bjh]

Hello Giulli, welcome to YT. I have raised yorkies for over 14 years but I have also had many years of experience with other breeds.

Answer 1.....Lili is just a baby. Puppies play and puppies bite, that is just part of their growing up. It is possible she was taken away from her mother to soon and she was not taught proper manners from her mother. It sounds like Momo is just trying to teach her proper manners.

Answer 2.....Momo is spoiled and just doing what she has been taught. The problem is your friend feeding her at the table. Lili may not pick up that habit if she is not fed. One solution would be to remove both dogs from the room when you are eating. Possibly put them in a crate or in another area. You have to take control of the situation. I have some dogs that stare at us when we eat but since we don't make a habit of feeding them from our plate they don't beg. Once you start feeding them from your plate they will become beggers. Not their fault.

Answer 3......Again, Lili is just a puppy and some puppies don't like being brushed. Young puppies are full of energy, some are more active than others. You just have to be firm and consistent with your training. Lili is only 2 1/2 months old so you have to give her time. Be gently when you brush her. Don't try to groom her when it is her busy play time. Perhaps wait until she is a little tired.

How old was Lili when you got her? It seems to me that you are asking to much of a 2 1/2 month old puppy.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Teresamag

I will send this as a private message as well but I wanted to let you know that you are coming across as extremely rude and condescending to the members on this forum who all love their Yorkies and have great backgounds which might be helpful to you. You may not mean to come across this way but please don't come on a new forum and insult the active members in your very first post.
Remember also that you "get what you pay for" or "get a return on what you invest". If you are nasty to us how many people do you think will go out of their way to help you?
There are many, many very knowledgeable people on this forum who can help you. You may want to ask for help in a "kinder" way. Also, do a search and read what others have experienced. You may find it very helpful and educational.
Good luck
Teresa

I found with Buster the fastest way to get results is to hire a professional trainer and have them come to your home/apartment to deal with your specific issues. It may cost more initially but you will have learned what you need to treat the behavioral patterns you want to change and then you will do the long term work of reinforcing the training. If you do not want pay why should professionals want to work for free? Also to set restrictions on who can/should reply and how and only by PM because you do not want to go online is a little presumptuous. Most people lead busy lives and have to work for a living so their time is valuable as well.

[jencar98]

[chachi]

You want free training advice and you want to specify who gives it to you. You arent a little intolerant are you. Im not aware of any professional trainers on here just breeders and pet owners

[Baroness]

Welcome to the site. I lived overseas for 8 years, 3 Germany and 5 in Italy so I am not offended by your European frankness. I understand the English language doesn't always come across right when translated...I know my Italian and German probably shocked some people.

Bite inhibition is what Lili seems to be missing. Teaching her that biting hard is wrong is rather simple in and of itself if you can be consistent. My yorkie (17 months) had to learn, I taught him by saying "ouch!" when he bit too hard. If he continued to bite hard and wouldn't listen to my ouch, I would calmly pick him up and put him in his pen. He has learned to bite softer, and we are continuing the work of no biting by me saying "nice" to him. He stops, looks at me, and seems to think and stops the bite. Teddie also loved to bite the brush while I was trying to groom him. I started giving him a chew toy to bite while I was brushing him, he would leave the brush alone and stop trying to attack it. I have also given him chew treats, he is so absorbed in the treat that he ignores the brushing. We are still working on keeping him from chewing the brush on his muzzle/face area.

For the dinner, and your roomate giving your pup a taste...could you try keeping your dog in a pen while food is being eaten? That would prevent the roomate from sharing human food and also from your baby learning bad habits from the other dog in the home. If this is not an option, maybe you could move yourself to a different location to eat, away from roomate and her dog, and try to train lili to not beg for food away from other stimulus.

As far as preventing the dogs from playing together, that will be difficult. You could always work with both of them to play better together, but if you want to try and give Lili exercise without Momo around, try taking her for walks, or to a park to burn energy. Also if you have your own room you can burn her energy in the quiet of your own room.

I hope something I said helps in some way. Good luck!!

[jojomima]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Huh?

Yeah, right.

[chattiesmom]

I am not European, like the vast majority of YT members, I'm from the "Good Ole US of A" and from the DEEP SOUTH where etiquette and good manners mean a lot. I wasn't particularly offended by your post simply because I stopped reading after reading the second paragraph. I opted to post anyway

Anywho, if you DON'T want advice from non professionals, I would strongly suggest that you let go of a few EUROs and hire a professional. Most of us here at YT are very intelligent, very devoted Yorkie lovers who have learned from the school of hard knocks and from our YT family. I have learned more here from my YT family than I have learned from the professional trainers -- who have lightened my wallet by many $$.

BTW -

[MaddiesMommie]

W*E*L*C*O*M*E

[Ringo1]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I am not European, like the vast majority of YT members, I'm from the "Good Ole US of A" and from the DEEP SOUTH where etiquette and good manners mean a lot. I wasn't particularly offended by your post simply because I stopped reading after reading the second paragraph. I opted to post anyway

Anywho, if you DON'T want advice from non professionals, I would strongly suggest that you let go of a few EUROs and hire a professional. Most of us here at YT are very intelligent, very devoted Yorkie lovers who have learned from the school of hard knocks and from our YT family. I have learned more here from my YT family than I have learned from the professional trainers -- who have lightened my wallet by many $$.


BTW -

What she said. Frankly, this is pretty basic stuff and I don't really think your situation calls for a professional trainer with no less than 20 years experience.

But whatever.

[AlicetheYorkie]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I am not European, like the vast majority of YT members, I'm from the "Good Ole US of A" and from the DEEP SOUTH where etiquette and good manners mean a lot. I wasn't particularly offended by your post simply because I stopped reading after reading the second paragraph. I opted to post anyway

Anywho, if you DON'T want advice from non professionals, I would strongly suggest that you let go of a few EUROs and hire a professional. Most of us here at YT are very intelligent, very devoted Yorkie lovers who have learned from the school of hard knocks and from our YT family. I have learned more here from my YT family than I have learned from the professional trainers -- who have lightened my wallet by many $$.


BTW -

[chattiesmom]

Actually, I could consider myself a professional trainer because I HAVE trained for $$ -- do miniature horses count? You didn't actually specify Professional DOG trainers, at least I don't think you did 'cause I didn't read all of your post. If you need my assistance, please pm me and I'll start the clock running and send you a bill for my advice