[ Michele's Answer: | Michele Gauthier's Dog Q & A Board ]
Posted by Michele on January 18, 2006, 3:18 pm, in reply to "Grumpy Dachshund" Right now she is just testing you, but in the future she might bite you. So you need to get control. I think the first thing I would do is put a choke collar on her. And when she goes out to potty or whatever I would leave the lead on her too. And when you go outside to get her from pottying grab the lead and call her name if she doesn't come or growls pop the choke chain. And by that I don't mean hold her up in the air. I just mean you want to make the choke chain make noise. In many dogs all it takes is noise. If she needs more than noise then give her a jerk. If your backyard is large and you don't want to run around at night chasing a lead then buy a portable exercise pen. And just potty her in the exercise pen. So when you are ready for her the lead will be confined with her in the exercise pen. You can find exercise pens at pet stores or in dog catalogs. Since she is a mini she won't need a very tall one at all. Unless she is a climber. And you can move the exercise pen all over the yard or patio or house. They are really great to have. And with her confined you take her control away and you are in control. And that is what you want to be in control. So get an exercise pen for her, because it will help you and her and put further restrictions on her. Take all these freedoms away from her too. Running around in the back yard and beds etc. And the reference you made of protecting her space when you put her in bed. She isn't protecting her space. Throw that mindset out the window. She is just being a nasty little mean dog. That's right a mean little dog that is what she is. Dog's that bite are not cute and they are not nice. My dogs have beds and not a one of them growls at me when I put them to bed or take them out of bed. You don't protect territory when you don't own the house or the bed and you don't pay the bills. Remember this is a little dog and the only rights she should have it what you deem to give her. And also try and not take this so personal, and I feel you are. She is hurting your feelings and I understand that. It would hurt my feelings too if I trained a little dog and fed a little dog and cared for the little dog and it tried to bite me. But you see it is not you. She just wants control and she found a hole to crawl through with you. You see her disposition is a dominant one and she is just asserting her disposition. Now, you could have bought another puppy and never had this problem. But you see she is dominant and this is a problem that you will have to stay on top of all of her life. When you obedience trained her you weren't forceful (dominant)enough, because if you were you wouldn't be having this problem. Dachshunds can have some nasty dispositions at times. Most people wouldn't think that, but they can. They also can become set in their ways. And they are very stubborn. So she might continue to give you trouble. I once knew a couple in the past that didn't get control of their 2 dachshunds and it went from snapping to biting. To finally they decided the owners couldn't come in the house, because they would bite the owners. So you need to get a handle on this now. Sounds funny, but it wasn't for the nice owners. There are things that people do, and people aren't even aware they are doing it, that let dogs know that the dog can take over. Here is one example. If you want to walk out the door and dog is laying in front of the door you step over the dog and don't make the dog move. That lets a dog know he is in control. I know it sounds silly but it is the truth. One thing I wouldn't let her do anymore is get on any furniture or the bed. Keep her off of it as that also gives her a raised level the same as you. If you want to know how to keep her off all the time crate her when you are gone. Some dog catalogs have mats that you can put on chairs and couches and when the dog jumps on the furniture they get a mild shock. It doesn't hurt them at all it scares them. And you don't talk baby talk to her at all. Talk in your regular voice. When she does something wrong say "NO". But you don't just say "NO" in your regular voice. You change your voice to as deep and base sounding as it will go. And you yell. That is right you yell! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember she is a bad dog because she wants to bite you. And you have to re-take your territory. Basically that is what it amounts too. Now, go too www.dogwise.com and purchase one or two of their books on aggression. They have several and learn about aggression and how to stop aggression. And learn what you are doing to allow her to take control of you and your house. When she growls at you remember to pop the choke chain or give her a jerk. Then crate her. Crate her for several hours. And if you don't have a crate shame on you. Go out and get one. And begin crating her. Crating is a great way to exhibit your power. And remember this is no longer a nice little dog. And if she bites you it could really hurt your hand. So take your control back. Now, if reading the books and using a crate and using a choke and an exercise pen etc. on her fails. Run don't walk to your nearest AKC Licensed Obedience Club and get some professional help before things get a lot worse. Remember you are the big person and she has you buffaloed. And get mad. There is nothing wrong with getting mad at a dog. If people didn't get mad at their dogs the dogs would be ruling the world. Dogs are smart and they will take over. Because remember you are working with a pack animal. And right now your little Doxie is challenging you and if she wins you will loose big time. And don't be afraid to be physical and by that I don't mean throw her up against the wall, but pop her with that choke chain. And if she growls again pop that choke chain again. You have to show her you are the boss. And if she does something you want her too be sure and praise her. And I don't mean just say "Good Doggie" I mean really make over her and pet her. And be sure and use your secret weapon "A Doggie Treat". Now, I don't just mean some bone out of the box but something she really loves. So praise her and give her a treat. If you don't learn how to be dominant with her you will cause her to loose her life. Because when dogs take over and start biting owners the owner usually puts the dog down. Or the owner passes the problem off to another family and the dog of course will bite again and that family will probably say that is enough!!!!! And it is not your fault that you don't know how to be dominant with a dog. After all people don't live in packs dogs do. And dogs are the ones that start this pack stuff so we have to modify our behavior to outsmart them. Now, tell me dog's aren't smart. Thanks for your question. I hope I have helped you. If you have further questions please just re-post and have a nice evening. Michele --Previous Message--
66.112.104.57
Hi, well you just can't say I don't have a dominant personality. YOu have to develop a dominant personality with her.
: Hi Michele. I have written before with other
: issues and your advice always helped us out.
: I now have another problem.
: My husband and I have a 1 year old mini
: dachshund. She is our baby and is a real
: sweetie, but I recently have been having
: issues with her. She listens to my husband
: and has no problems with him. She obviously
: views him as Pack Leader. Since she was a
: pup, when he got her in trouble he would be
: physical with her - not hard but would smack
: her nose and yell at her. I am the one who
: feeds her, takes her out and looks after her
: in general. I took her to obedience training
: when she was a pup and everything was okay
: until recently she has been ignoring me.
: When I call her to come in she doesn't even
: respond. My husband calls once and she runs
: inside. Also, when try to discipline her or
: pick her up to bring her is she shows her
: teeth to me. She has never bit - but I worry
: she will. She also shows teeth now when I
: put her in her bed (protecting her space??)
: and when I take away something she is not
: allowed to play with. Is there anything I
: can do to curb this behaviour without being
: physical with her? I just don't want it to
: escalate. Recently I have been more firm
: with her but it's just not working.
: PS - I do not have a dominant personality -
: go figure eh?
:
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