How to handle a very misbehaving almost 3 year old yorkie
 

First off, I can't believe that she is going to b 3 years old!

Second, I don't blame her for being bored and acting like an a-hole. We have almost 2 feet of snow here, I smacked my toe AGAIN (at least I didn't break it this time) and neither one of us can get out.

That being said, I am playing with her as much as I can. Today, she threw and epic fit because I was TRYING to read my e-mails and, God forbid, I didn't throw her many balls around. She did her usual verbal histonics which lead to head butting me. But she then escalated it to slapping me in the face (I was sitting on the couch while all this was going on) with her paw and scatching me and THEN, barking at me and snapping.

I will NOT accept that behavior no matter how bored she is, so I blocked her off in the kitchen and ignored her for an hour while she sat at the gate and mewed. I can't explain the noise she makes. It sounds like a bird or a cat.

Anyway, she KNEW she did a bad thing because when I let her back into the living room, she was a model dog.

My question is, how do you guys deal with that kind of behavior and did I do the punishment the right way?

We put our dogs in "time out" for bad behavior and we try to reward good behaviors with happy talk, treats, playtime etc. We have taught our dogs "go to bed" which means they have to lay on their bed until we say otherwise.....this is good for bad behavior, company, meal times etc...it gives us time to do whatever we need without the dogs underfoot.

If I am busy and Max does something he isn't supposed to try to get my attention, I say his name in a serious voice and tell him I am busy. "Max, I'm eating" or "Max, I am working."

Never show aggravation because it will only crank up your pup. Energy begets energy.

Having a daily routine is calming for a pup and helps them fall into a rhythm of when to expect things.

I also take 5 -10 minutes here and there throughout the day to play or do tricks. Then I tell the pups that I have to go back to work.

I used to give Max the occasional time out in my bedroom, but I don't think it was really productive.

My Adult Female Becca is like that, save that she pushes her nose against me, wherever she can. I pick her up quickly, and growl viscously as I thrust my face up against her. She always wags her tail and goes and lays down in her bunk when I set her back down.

I'm a growler also, with my human children too. Guess we forget we are also animals sometimes :) it is very effective. I also am a very dominant female and we a say a lot with our body language in every gesture and move that we make. It is important to remember who is the pack leader and I think everyone is more comfortable when they know their role. Ways to remind your little girl of your alpha status in general everyday behavior are to feed her after you had eaten as opposed to before or during your meals as well as ensuring that you are first through every door, generally first at everything as the alpha dog should be. Make sure to win at some competitive games -you get the toy and then put it away and switch activities- you get to choose that because you are the pack leader. By re establishing clarity within roles and pack status your firm 'no' command at her disrespectful behavior will be more effective and the lines of what is ok and what is not will be more solidly drawn. Or at least that has been my experience in behavior management....:yorkiej:

You know, I try not to show I am aggravated at her. Well, I TRY. Sometimes I just can't help it. Like today as I was sitting on the freakin toilet (I SWEAR she knows that I can't do anything at that time), I heard all this noise. When I was able to go and look, she had chewed her pee pad, I mean she had pee pad fluff on her nose, her face and half off a pee pad on her head! I was between laughing my head off at her and wanting to kill her!!

Anyway, I took her to my relative's house and my cousin walked her for about an hour. She is the only one that walks fast enough and won't have a heart attack while walking her. They came back with Beanie totally filthy from the wet roads and snow. I stuck her in the sink when I got home and cleaned her up and she ate her supper and conked out. YEAHHHH.

I know she is misbehaving because she isn't getting enough exercise, that is just the way she is. No matter how much I try and tain her and distract her, she just needs a lot of fresh air and exercise. I am hoping my toe will be good enough next week to get her out even for 15 minutes.

On another note, I totally agree with you about showing aggravation. It DOES crank her up (I love that term), the more aggravated I get, the more cranked SHE gets and it serves no purpose at all! Again, I try to hold in the aggravation, but there ARE times, I just can't!

hello i see we are neighbors! i live in somerville, ma.. I know what you mean. this weather is awful and when my little guy doesnt get his daily walk he is naughty in the house.. im the worst at reprimanding because one look at him and i melt cuz he is just so damn cute! ive created a little monster.

This is basically what I do. I try to be serious when I need to get work done, and just sternly say "Jackson, go lay down". He has learned. I also make sure to give him a 5 minute play time, or trick session to satisfy him.

The trying to be serious is where I struggle. I am a sucker for the pitiful looks they give when they want their way. I have come up with a dialogue for Anna when she gives me the pitiful stare, which I say to my husband because I am odd.

What Anna looks like she's thinking, "I am so sad and lonely and really want your love."
What Anna is really thinking, "I am the boss of all you people and if I don't get my way, I'll bite your ankles."

You have to let your dog know you are the alpha and the leader of the pack or he will think he owns you.

The Alpha dog thing is hogwash

Teddy is really good at doing the pitiful faces. My solution is to pick him up, hug him, give him a quick belly rub, say some adoring things and then tell him I have work to do. It satisfies him.

Telling him that we are going to have our walk or chew treat later also helps.

This way of thinking is so funny to me. If you really believe that eating before a dog does makes them think you're 'dominant'... I think you should remember they are DOGS. Their brains don't work that way and that's not a diss on dogs. They're simple minded creatures. They don't see you eating dinner, and think in their head, "Oh, they're eating first, so I guess I better listen to that person" or while they're eating their dinner, their mind is not thinking about the fact that you ate first. Honestly their mind is probably working more along the lines of "Food. There's food. I love food". :p

Not to mention, comparing anything that WE do with our dogs to how dogs react to other dogs is like comparing apples and oranges. We are humans. Dogs know this. We as humans can act like we're dogs, but we're not. We don't fool them. And just as humans are not dogs, dogs are NOT wolves. Dogs are highly domesticated, very intelligent, and purposely bred to work side-by-side with humans.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there should be no boundaries or training. Not at all. Quite the contrary. But it's not at all necessary to implement these silly little games to prove 'dominance'.

The actual pack leader/dominance theory phenomenon was disproved by the VERY people who created it. They now deeply regret their 'research'.

I suggest these reads:
De-Bunking the "Alpha Dog" Theory - Whole Dog Journal Article

http://avsabonline.org/uploads/posit..._statement.pdf The AVSAB statement.

TIME Magazine article on debunking Dominance/Alpha myth | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting | Ruff Customers Dog Training & Behavior Consulting

This is a good video as well.


And this funny satire.

:thumbup::thumbup:

My dogs eat first (they have dinner at 4 pm) and when it is time for me to eat, they go to their beds under the table.

I have been naughty and started giving them a little safe stuff off of my plate. Still, they know it is my food. They beg by performing sits, but when I say "that's all", they go back to their beds.

I have found positive reinforcement training so much more successful. I do use corrections (not angry), and the "ignore and leave the room" on occasion. Still, the positive stuff has so much more impact. I even use silly corrections that involve teasing or the side eye.