Help...Biting Shih Tzu

[Guest Anonymous]

:cry: [color=red][/color][size=6][/size][size=3][/size]

Hi,

I have a terrible problem and I am so upset and don't know what to do. We have a 5 1/2 year old shih tzu name Madison. She had a pretty normal first couple of years of her life, except for separation anxiety. She was even excellently housebroken. Well, as time went by, she became more and more aggressive to the people who would come over to visit (just when they came in the door, then she would warm up...and ESPECIALLY when they went to leave. She goes biserk then!). With time she started going crazier with anyone who came to the door (I have to lock her up to answer the door to a stranger) or if someone walks by while she's on her leash she scares them to death. She apparantly thinks she is a pit bull or something. I take her home and have her look in the mirror and show her that she is just a little shih tzu...she ain't nothing to bark at! When someone leaves the house, she litteraly tries to crash through the window to go after them! She's crazy! We have tried medication, but it hasn't worked. Honestly, I gave up too soon because it needed to be increased and the side effects she was already experiencing seemed to be bad enough already. We have put up with this crazy behavior because she hasn't actually hurt anyone...so we just dealt with it.

Well, my greatest fears have come true this weekend. Mady bit my 9 year old stepdaughter in the face...a huge gash about 1/2 inch right under her eye. Carolyn was playing around with Madison. Who knows what the kids were doing (I was even in the room, so it couldn't have been that bad-I didn't see it), it still really wasn't an excuse to be bitten. Then Carolyn told me that Madison has bitten her once before, but didn't want to tell me b/c she didn't want to get in trouble and she didn't want Mady to get into trouble.

I justified this by saying that Carolyn doesn't live here and is only here every other weekend and that Lindsey, who was born AFTER we got Madison, is like Madison's baby. Madison LOVES Lindsey and lets Lindsey do ANYTHING in the whole world to her. And Madison is very protective of Lindsey. She loves her very much. I figured we just needed to keep all other kids away from Madison and everything will be fine.

Well, the worst of the worst happened this morning. Lindsey, who is almost 5, came screaming to me at the top of her lungs with her finger dripping blood (gushing) forming a pool in her other hand. She was terrified. She wouldn't tell me how it happened. She finally told me that Madison had bitten her. I took care of her wound. At least she's already on an antibiotic anyway for an ear infection so I don't have to worry about an infection. The whole time I'm taking care of her, tears are streaming down my face.

Am I going to have to get rid of my baby? She has slept with us EVERY SINGLE NIGHT since the night she came home with us and she is spoiled rotten. I love her so much and I can't understand why she is so angry and what I can do to change this situation.

Someone, please help us with some advice to help change this situation. Or let me know what I am going to have to do. Because I really just don't know what my options are.

Thanks in advance guys for your support!

A very sad Shih Tzu Mommy in NC-Karen[color=red][/color]

[JudyHoffman]

WOW, you have a serious problem!

Where is your dog from? A breeder? If so, you should call the breeder and let them know what is happening?

Is she from a pet store? If so, sorry to say you have a product of bad breeding most likely.

Most important, get this dog to a vet now and have a complete health check done. Blood work, CBC and thyroid panel. Perhaps she is in pain?

I want to go on and on about how you let her behavior get away from you. She is an aggressive dog with teeth ....... irregardless of how tiny she is. She has little or no training and you don't sound like you do anything to correct the problem. You didn't finish her medication to get her well. Have you ever dealt with her separation anxiety as a pup or young adult?

Have you called a trainer? A canine behaviorist?

You also put human emotions on a dog! Dogs do not think like humans, they cannot look in a mirror and see themselves as little dogs, that is silly.

I hope you realize that someday that dog is going to do some serious damage to one of your children, perhaps losing an eye, a piece of a lip or seriously scarred in the face for life.

You say you don't know why she is doing this ..... what have you done to try figure it out or are you too busy "crying" over it.

If you don't do something NOW, this dog will and should be put down, and even if you do something, it may be too late without professional help.

Sorry to be so harsh, but as a breeder and a trainer these sort of posts just irritate the $&6@ out of me.

[url]www.ambercreek.net/sourire-belgians[/url][/i]

[Sanvean]

I agree with the others...she needs training ASAP! Right now, it sounds like Madison thinks she is the boss. I have a little dog as well, and I know how easy it is to spoil them, but is easy to go overboard and create a monster!

[kendalyn]

Everyone is right. You have created a monster by spoiling her and giving her privileges that she hasn't earned. Start training immediately and keep her away from children.

Also, get a book and learn about dog behavior so that you have an idea of what is really going on with her. I'm sure someone on here could recommend a good one.

[quote]She apparantly thinks she is a pit bull or something[/quote]

This isn't acceptable behavior for ANY dog, no matter the breed!!! This is a bad misconception about pit bulls.

[JudyHoffman]

I agree Kendalyn, this behavior coming from this dog is unacceptable from any breed or mix of dog.

This is truly a case of bad handling/ownership, unless of course the dog is extremely ill and in pain.

There have been so many discussions/arguments here about dogs biting kids and most people think the kid and the kids parents should be fined/reprimanded.

In this case, if this little dog mauls those children (and it can happen, he is already building up to that point) who is to blame?

[kendalyn]

MishugiShihTzuMom,

We are being harsh here with our advice, but I do want to say that it is good that you are looking for help. It's going to be a lot of work getting Madison to learn manners and her place in your family and I hope you are willing to do it. You've already taken at least one important step. So listen to the advice here and learn about dog behavior.

There are quite a few posts here about dog aggression and one of them does a good job of explaining it I think. It is in the training section under the post "training frustrations" It was written by Doglistener. I would read it. It would be a good place to start.

[Lucky Chaos]

[quote]She apparantly thinks she is a pit bull or something.[/quote]

And this means........?

[img]http://www.realpitbull.com/images/p5.jpg[/img]

[imported_Cassie]

Aggression in dogs is an important behavioral problem; in fact, it is the most common problem seen at animal behavior clinics. Like any other behavioral problem, there is no 'quick cure' for aggression. However, if an owner is willing to get qualified help and put in the time and effort required, aggression can usually be controlled.
Dominance aggression -
Most dogs are content to let people be in charge. As puppies, they quickly learn to look to us to let them know what we want them to do. Some dogs seem to have a harder time with this. A dominantly aggressive dog will consistently growl, snap, or bite when a person does something, or asks the dog to do something, which the dog does not like. This is different than a dog that is assertive or pushy, but will obey a firm command. This is also not the same situation as a dog which has been pushed beyond her limit by cruelty or pain. A dominantly aggressive dog has an inappropriate response to normal situations. The dog is trying to control the situation with her reaction, rather than allowing a person to have control.

These dogs may be protective over food or toys, or favorite sleeping areas. They may react if they are groomed, or if you stare at them, or if they are punished. In the beginning, the problem usually only occurs at certain times, for example, if you disturb your dog while she is eating. Then it begins to occur more often, when you move to place the leash over her head, or tell her to get off of the sofa, etc. The problem is not the situation, but the issue of control. Yelling, or physical correction such as scruffing, rolling the dog over, or "hanging" the dog by her collar or choke chain are not appropriate or effective form of discipline, and will only make matters worse. These attempts to "show the dog who is boss" may challenge the dog to be more aggressive, may injure the dog, and do nothing to teach the dog a more appropriate behavior in place of aggression.

Dominance aggression usually begins at around 18-24 months of age, when dogs become socially mature. Less commonly, it can occur in puppies as young as 4-5 months. While intact dogs may have a higher tendency towards dominance aggression, spaying or neutering alone will not solve the problem once it has started. Effective treatment involves behavior modification, combined with anti-anxiety medication, if needed.

As with any behavioral problem, some basic guidelines apply:

Seek professional help if your dog is showing aggression.
Set up an appointment with your veterinarian, to talk about the situation and have a thorough physical examination performed. Some rather common health problems can make an otherwise even-tempered dog aggressive. These include but are not limited to epilepsy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, hip dysplasia, and dental disease. Your veterinarian may recommend some testing such as a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, or a thyroid test.

If your dog is aggressive towards people, be realistic with yourself about the situation. If the way your puppy nips at you when she plays concerns you, do not just hope that she will outgrow it, get some help to stop the behavior. If your adult dog growls when people walk past while she is eating, do not just assume that she will never take things a step further and bite someone. Problems like these are much easier to control early on, before you have a dog that you are afraid of, or that has bitten someone. Unless you have worked with dogs with behavior problems, the best way to help your dog is to get assistance from a professional. Choose a trainer, veterinarian, or animal behaviorist with lots of experience in this area. Especially if your dog has already bitten someone, doing the wrong thing can make the situation worse, with serious results. It can be very helpful to have someone to talk to and ask questions of, especially if your dog does not seem to be responding in the way you expected. If you choose to work on the problem alone, you are taking a tremendous responsibility for the safety of the people and animals that dog comes into contact with.

Increase the exercise. Dogs that get enough exercise are far less likely to have behavioral problems - of any kind - than dogs that are couch potatoes. How much exercise is enough? Most of us under-estimate the amount of exercise our dogs need: many trainers and behaviorists recommend 45-60 minutes of brisk exercise (until the dog is panting) twice a day! Running after the occasional squirrel in the back yard will not do it; the dog needs fairly continuous exercise to burn off all that energy he has built up while he has been waiting for you to come home. Play Frisbee with your dog; take her swimming, out in the woods to run, to a dog park, to doggie day-care. Take your dog jogging with you. Small breed dogs need plenty of exercise, too. They can go on long, brisk walks. They can play fetch. This is a game you can play outdoors or inside in a long hallway. Use several balls, so you can keep things moving. Ask the dog to sit before you throw the ball each time. Also keep in mind that many types of dogs were bred to do a job. Give them the mental stimulation they need with obedience or agility classes, field trials, learning new commands, etc.

If your dog is not used to this much exercise, you will need to increase it gradually. If your dog has any health problems, consult with your veterinarian about a safe exercise program. Obviously, if your dog is aggressive to other dogs, doggie day-care or a dog park may not be a good idea. And exercise alone will certainly not be the total answer for a dog's behavior problems. However, increased exercise can really help to 'take the edge off' (think of how relaxed you feel after a good work-out).

Breaking the cycle of aggressive behavior

Dogs are individuals, and what works best to correct aggressive behavior is different in each case. Read and learn as much as you can. The following tips are often helpful for dogs with dominance aggression. Again, if things are at the point where there may be a danger to yourself or others, get professional help.

Avoid potentially dangerous situations. Do not do the things that cause an aggressive response in the dog, whether it is staring at the dog, hugging it, or disturbing it while it is sleeping. If the dog growls when her food dish is handled, give the dog something else to do while the dish is removed; fetching a ball, going for a walk. Do not use any treats or toys which may cause the dog to become possessive. If the dog starts to show any aggression, re-direct her attention. Take out the leash, or a favorite toy, and ask the dog to come to you and sit. You can also just walk away. Later, when the dog is calm and comes to you for attention, ask her to sit or lie down before you pet her. Keeping a long leash on the dog whenever she is inside can help you to move the dog when needed.

If the dog has already bitten someone, it may be best to have the dog wear a basket muzzle in the house, so that it can have social interaction with the family and not be isolated. Never leave a dog alone with a muzzle or leash on, indoors or out. Use a Gentle Leader or Halti head collar and make sure it is properly fitted. This is not a muzzle; it does keep the dog's mouth closed when gentle tension is applied, which has a calming, subduing effect. It also gives you much better control of the dog, since it works much like a horse's halter. Never leave a head collar on a dog in a crate, or if there is no adult present to supervise. Use a head collar outside for walks and inside during behavior modification exercises; it greatly reduces the ability of the dog to pull you where he wants to go.

Teach your dog that she must earn everything, from you and anyone else, with appropriate, calm behavior. From now on, anything your dog wants means that she must first do something for you, such as sit. You are in control, not the dog. Do not give the dog your attention on-demand. Ignore the dog if she whines, or pushes at you with her nose or paw. Wait until she stops making demands and is calm. Then ask her to sit, and pet her. Make the dog sit or lie down and remain calm each time you give her treats, before you put the leash on, before going outside, before you throw the ball, etc. Several times a day, work with your dog on 'sit' and 'stay' commands, using small treats, and lots of praise.

Teach your dog that people have higher status than she does. Do not allow the dog to be on the couch or bed or in other places where humans sit or sleep. Do not let your dog stand up and put her front paws on your shoulders. Do not let your dog jump up on people at all. If the dog is going to jump up, ask her to sit or to lie down. When you come to a doorway, ask the dog to sit; then you go first and the dog follows. You should be the one to initiate playtime and decide when it will end. Avoid any games like 'tug-of-war' that may encourage your dog to be possessive about a toy. Practice having your dog come to you and 'drop' or 'give' whatever she is carrying. Any game of fetch should end with the dog giving the toy back to you, so that you 'win.' At mealtimes, prepare the dog's food, but do not give it right away. When the family has finished eating, make the dog sit and wait until you place the dish down and say "ok."

For any of these exercises to help, they must be used consistently, and the whole family needs to be involved. Owners need to be prepared to work at it for the rest of the dog's life. Once a dog has learned to defer to people, there are additional exercises which can be used. These are designed to 'desensitize' the dog to the situation in which it has shown aggression (for example, at feeding time or during grooming). These exercises can be very effective if done correctly. Depending on the dog and the level of aggression, these situations can also be dangerous. This is where I would recommend owners work with an experienced professional, if they are not doing so already.

Sometimes, medication is needed in addition to behavior modification exercises. Commonly used medications include clomipramine (Clomicalm), amitriptyline (Elavil), and fluoxetine (Prozac). Patience is important; it can take weeks to months for certain drugs to become effective. These medications are powerful, and may interact with other drugs, so it is essential for your veterinarian to prescribe them and monitor their use.

Resources for Owners

As noted above, your local veterinarian is the best starting point. He or she can assess the situation, prescribe medication if needed, and refer you to other professionals who are experienced with behavior problems in dogs. Many veterinarians are able to help with behavior modification. There are also many excellent trainers and other behaviorists available. The following web sites may be helpful:

Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists - [url]www.animalbehavior.org[/url]
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior - [url]www.avma.org/avsab/[/url]

[Guest Anonymous]

I just want to thank all of you for your replies to my post. Yes, they SEEM harsh to me, although I know that they are not. You have to understand that I'm a "layperson's" dog owner...I'm not a professional like one of y'all. I've/we've spoiled her b/c that is how I grew up having dogs...as well as my husband. Maybe it's hard for you to understand since people like us drive you so crazy. But I am a VERY responsible dog owner. I have already made an appt. with our vet for tomorrow to have her checked out. I myself was very worried about her health before I read about your posts. I cannot contact her breader because they have moved out of town, but they were a reputible breader. We have dealt with her separation anxiety issues for the most part. She used to have terrible issues because when I was pregnant (and she was 5 months old) I was put on bedrest for 5 months. This meant she was put on bedrest in bed with me for 5 months because I was the only one home with her all day long. She got quite spoiled at this time and thought that this was what life was...sleeping in bed with mom...ALWAYS. So when I had Lindsey, and I actually had the nerve to leave the house, she had MAJOR separation problems. She tore things up and cried all the time when we were gone. But we worked with a behaviorist, had her on meds. very briefly and she is much, much better. The only time she has a terrible time is when we go out of town. She really doesn't like it then. Luckily my sister has a pet sitting service here and Madison definitely is happiest here and being cared for 3 times a day in our home. She is VERY VERY aggresive at the vet! When my sister is out of town with us, we do have a doggie daycare place that does sleepovers too. Mady is not aggressive at all with the other dogs, which was rather surprising.

Until these bitings, she has been what I describe as the typical ancient shih tzu: "the palace guard dog." That was when she was when she was an aggressive dog. People coming in...people leaving. People walking by outside. The only two other times were at the vet and at the groomers. In the house, Madison is a model dog. She NEVER growls...ever. She is VERY obedient. She is so sweet, loving, always by you, always licking (EVERYTHING!!) and she honestly just shows no sign of behavior problems. Although you might disagree. Y'all are the pros. To us, she's perfect. We love her on the furniture, we love her in bed. My husband is definitely the Alpha dog...and she loves me best. What we thought was so simple, I guess isn't. I'm sorry if I sound so naive. I'm not stupid...I mean I have a Master's Degree!

I'm so sorry if I offended any pitbull lovers out there...I certainly didn't mean to open a can of worms there. When I picked up my dog and held her in the mirror and said that she is not a pitbull, I wasn't scolding her, I was trying to be humorous. I guess you have to know me that I am always trying to have a sense of humor about things...and yes, I was trying to put human thoughts into her little, doggie, shih tzu head because it made me feel better to wonder about what was going on in there.
Anyway, I'm sorry to those of you who I offended...PLEASE accept my applogy. I have nothing against pitbulls at all.

Thanks again for all of your advice. Especially the last post. There were so many tips in there and I appreciate you taking the time and care to respond. I have a lot of work ahead of me. But I'm willing to do anything and pay anything to be able to keep our baby in our home. Our home just wouldn't ever be the same without Madison.

Happy Holidays!

Karen

[Guest Anonymous]

MishugiShihTzuMom - I'm glad you've come back and took in our info and wasn't too offended :wink: I think you should join the pack here in my opinion... :wink:

So... What I'm wondering, juding by your post... does this mean you will keep Madison off the couch and bed ect.? My Border Collie + Labrador Retriever is dominant, and we have worked through a lot with him by keeping him off their. Now I can get him to stay off the bed, and he'll "ask" to come up, and he knows if I say no, then he's not allowed. You'd be suprised at how much the simple things Cassie listed above really do work. I know have a much more well mannered 10 month old puppy :wink: Although we still have a lot to work on, and I'm glad his behavior hadn't gotten too far out of control. Good luck with Madison!

[courtnek]

this may be too late to help, but like was offered, you have a dominace problem.

Your dog thinks he can do whatever he wants. Until you can get him in proper training, here are the basics.

1. NO sleeping on the beds or couches.
2. NO entering thru doorways before you. NO EXCEPTIONS.
3. NO eating before you do. If necessary, sit down where he can see you and eat a few crackers..YOU EAT FIRST, ALWAYS.
4. NO allowing him to lay at the top of the stairs and look down on you, that's the Alpha position.

If you CONSISTENTLY follow those four steps, you will see a definite change in his behavior, over time. He will balk at first, HOLD FIRM!!

[Horsefeathers!]

If it makes you feel any better, MOST of us here are just regular ol' dog owners as well. We are not all professionals and this is not a professional dog trainers' board. We have all sorts of people here ranging from behaviorists to just plain ol' ordinary dog owners (like me) who may have something to offer and still much to learn. Many of us have learned some of these lessons the hard way. I'm dealing successfully right now with aggression issues in a little Lhasa Apso foster I had adopted out and repossessed because someone thought it was cute to spoil him and he became a monster. With a bit of boot camp (pretty similar to the methods Courtnek described above), he has improved dramatically. He, too, had bitten a child in the face in his adoptive home because they encouraged snappy behavior and dismissed it as being cute until it wasn't anymore (that's when I "repossessed" him).

Now I'm dealing with fear/aggression directed toward men with another one of my rescues. I've received some valuable information here and from other sources that I hope will help this dog through this (he appears to be afraid of men and it is manifesting itself through some aggression). Actually, this has been a rotten year for me in dealing with dogs' aggression. I've been owning and training (my own) dogs for most of my life and grooming professionally for nearly 5 years. I've never had a time with aggression as I've had this year with some of my dogs (a permanent rescue resident who is afraid of men, a foster that was spoiled rotten as a cute little dog, and one of my original own who could not be trained/behaviorist handled/examined/medicated/natural dieted enough to help her overcome her violent outbursts of aggression...sometimes it's neurological or some flaw that can't be helped and since there are no mental institutions for dogs... anyway, I digress). I've learned a lot here.

All this is to say that we are not a board of professionals, though some do hang out and offer what they can. We're just a board of regular dog owners learning and sharing what works for us and what we've learned. There is no "people like you" vs. "people like us."

I second Judy's suggestion of having the dog checked thoroughly, not just an exam, but bloodwork and a full thyroid panel, as well as checking for any pain. Also, ask the vet to check the dog's eyesight and hearing. Along with pain, diminished eyesight and/or hearing can lead to aggression problems.

Good luck and I hope you do continue to be one of "us." :)

[imported_Cassie]

MishugiShihTzuMom,
If it makes you feel any better I deal with small dog aggression daily at my places of employment. It's some times human nature to let our "little" dogs get aways with much much more than we would allow a larger dog. Small dogs are thought to be "cute" when they are behaving in unruly ways. About 10% of our clientel at the grooming clinic own Lhasa's and Shih Tzu's...about 5% of the owners have out of control dogs and 3% have been bitten by their own dog, or their dog has bitten some one else...one of the biggest mistakes I see is many owners coddle their dogs when they are displaying bad behavior such as growling, barking etc. any bad behavior you are not happy with should not be rewarded with a pet, or a soft tone voice asking..."what's the problem dear..its only the mailman???" dogs don't understand our language, they understand our tone of voice and body language. I ignored my dogs when they started undesirable acts....or I sent them to bed. My Rottie when I first adopted her was attacking me!!! she ripped the arm of my leather jacket by attacking me and trying to tear at my arm! I used the simple "nothing is free in life" with her...and it worked wonders...when she got aggressive towards strangers or friends coming into my home I sent her to bed....when I allowed her to come back down (after the excitement of them actually coming in the door was over) I gave each of my guests treats to give her and encouraged them to ignore her until she settled down..then give her a treat. I encouraged my company to only pat her after she had settled down....my Rottie soon learned that by calming down etc. she would be rewarded with belly rubs...now when she meets some one new...she some times will fall to the ground and expose her belly for the desired belly rub...she associates my guests as wonderful petting machines. I never encourage her or reward her to bark at any one coming to my home...I don't exactly punish her either....I will send her to her bed which isnt really punishment, but, it is a "time out".

One last suggestion, small dogs and children some times do not mix...I wouldn't let my Shih Tzu play with children..children can be rough without realizing it..and lots of body language may be going on that you are not aware of...say per chance the child is trying to hug Madison...this can be a very threatening gesture to a dog...especially a dominant dog, I know many dominant dogs which will not tolerate a hand directly over their head....there are so many small actions that can bring out the worst in alot of dogs.

Good luck to you, if you would like to know more about body language etc. let me know....I can go over some different things...my favorite thing to do with dogs which I don't know (new clients etc.) is to either lick my lips....this is a calming signal to a potentially fearful or aggressive dog....no, they don't think you are sizing them up for your next meal... :lol: I suggest to people when they first meet my Rottie to turn their head slightly to one side and not to look directly at her...turning your head slightly is a calming signal....I also get down to the dogs level when meeting them for the first time...by standing up and reaching down to pat...this can be a very threatening posture for a dog which is timid, fearful, dominant..etc.

[Guest Anonymous]

:fadein: Hey Guys,

Thank you so much again for all of the advice that you so generously have taken the time to post for me. It is SO much information to take in...more like SO many changes to make. But, these changes obviously have got to be made. I spoke to my husband last night about this board and the suggestions that you made, and he said that Madison is not spoiled beyond he norm and that spoiling is not the problem! Is he delusional??? Even I recognize that this must be the issue after speaking with you guys. (Unless it's health, of course). Anyway, I was telling him about all of the suggestions that you gave, and I could tell that he was opening up to them because he wasn't arguiing with me about them (my barometer). It's all going to be so hard though because she is almost 6 and it will be like an entirely different pet in the household. It will be hard to tell Lindsey that she can't play with Madison anymore (which I know I have to do...but it will still be hard) because she has been "best friends" with her for 5 years. And I can't imagine how isolated Madison is going to feel through all of this. She is a very emotional doggie. OK...Here's me, the worried mommy talking again.

And I am FAR from the coddling parent when she is aggressive. I get very angry and firm with her. I also lock her up when she is aggressive when people come (non-guests) to the door. Not really b/c of punishment...b/c I HAVE to. But when she bit my step daughter, I didn't give her a second of attention for a day and a half. Now I know she had NO idea why I was giving her the silent treatment b/c her little brain doesn't carry over that long, but I was so mad at her that I just had to make sure she knew I was mad at her...and she did.

Anyway, we are going to the dr. today at 4 EST. I will let you know what goes on when I get the results.

And whoever asked me if I will still let her sleep with me and sit on the couch with me....

.....I have to say, that I am willing to do all of the training, but I still have to have my doggie in bed with me. :evil: I wouldn't have the heart to kick her out now. And I don't know who I'd sleep with when my Husband is out of town...he travels a lot on business. And she keeps me VERY warm when I am freezing! I LOVE her...maybe it's ME who's spoiled. Is it spoiled people who have spoiled dogs? I admit it!! I admit it!!

It's a funny thing. All of this is making me look at my parenting styles as a whole and I'm looking at my 5 year old (on the 5th night of Hanukkah) and I'm realizing that she is a little spoiled as well. Maybe I need to put them through boot camp together. At least Lindsey isn't biting...now THAT would be terrible!!

Thanks again guys...have a great day!

Karen

[Sanvean]

Good luck with your baby! There are some books out there that might be helpful, BTW. I like "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons.

[Guest Anonymous]

[quote name='MishugiShihTzuMom']And whoever asked me if I will still let her sleep with me and sit on the couch with me....

.....I have to say, that I am willing to do all of the training, but I still have to have my doggie in bed with me. :evil: I wouldn't have the heart to kick her out now. And I don't know who I'd sleep with when my Husband is out of town...he travels a lot on business. And she keeps me VERY warm when I am freezing! I LOVE her...maybe it's ME who's spoiled. Is it spoiled people who have spoiled dogs? I admit it!! I admit it!!
[/quote]

hmm... I HIGHLY suggest you keep her off as well... it doesn't have to be a perminent thing, like Mei-Mei said! For example, my pooch again. When he was a baby, and I was trying to crate train him, I had to get up in the morning for school, and he cried and screamed all night, and I was sleeping all day in class, and I was getting really unhealthy from it, so eventaully I caved, let him out of the crate, which led to him sleeping right up in the bed with me. Now let me tell you, when he grew bigger, it wasn't so fun having him take over my bed :lol: Then when the dominance issues happend, I kicked him off my bed, and even outa my room. NOW he's allowed to sleep on my bed, if he's been a good boy and asks to come up first. So eventually you will be allowed to let Madison back up, but right now it would be a lot easier to train her if you keep her off the bed :wink:

[Guest Anonymous]

But how do I keep her from barking all night??? I can't put her in another room EVER without her barking the whole time. She doesn't ever stop.

1) I'm a wimp and it will break my heart to listen to her :cry:
2) More importantly (or shall I say SHOULD be more importantly, but notice it's number 2), I have a health condition that is severely exacerbated by a lack of sleep. I was blessed with a child who always slept and when she didn't, a husband who always got up with her on the very rare occassion she didn't.

I am STRONGLY heeding y'alls advice. Of course I'm having to mull over how I'm going to do all of this anyway (logistically). I give in: I will consider it. I promise. I just don't know if I can go through with it. I AM very relieved to hear that it is temporary though. I was thinking you meant it was permanant!

Maybe drugs will fix her... :P ...Now I'm waiting for you to tell me I can't just expect a miracle drug to fix all of my problems. I know that. But I can always dream, can't I??? It sure WOULD BE NICE! :-?

[courtnek]

Karen, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK is she sleeps on your bed...not ever.

The bed is the Alpha spot. like the top of the stairs. They feel they are in control when they get to sleep there. To break dominance, you need to demote them. NO beds, NO couches, NO top of the stairs..

I know this is hard, but its best for both you and the dog. You can let her back up once she has been demoted. In the future, if she acts up, you may have to demote her again. Get an extra blanket if you need
warmth, but DONT allow your dog to supply it. This is the Alpha position.
YOU DONT WANT THE DOG TO HAVE IT.

Trust me. I have broken MANY a dominant dog this way...

[Malamum]

Karen,

Firstly welcome to the board and secondly you have been given some great advice so there is not much more for me to add.

I agree that doggy boot camp needs to be started :wink: Once you have her back in her place at the bottom of the ladder (yes ALL humans come first and dogs are last) you can still spoil her but in doggy ways not human ways.

I also agree about the sleeping on the bed, by allowing her to do that she will see you as her equal. I agree with a crate by your bed. That way you can sleep with your hand on the top of the crate to comfort her to start with.

Once she understands that sleeping on the bed is a privilege not a right and will only do so at your invitation and will immediately get down on command then you can probably have her sleep with you again but I wouldn't rush into it though.

Good luck.