I actually have a few questions about dogs. I just recently got a terrier mixed dog that was 5 yrs old from a lady that could not afford to get his shots up to date. She said that he was house broken and could do some tricks. The dog is also very clingy, and it is bad. He can not be in a room alone and even in a room with people he is lays right up next to you to where you have to scoot over to make room, well this was when he was allowed on the furniture, now he isn't. Now he is practically laying on your feet cause I won't let him on the furniture due to him licking the furniture to where there is a wet spot. He will whine when he needs to go out and if the water is all gone in his bowl in which is not so bad to tell us when he needs to tell us these things, but one time we were in our room and the guy that was staying with us was sitting out in the living room watching TV. Well I had forgot something and came back out into the living room and when I did he had just started to pee on my coffee table leg, and when I went to stick his nose in it he got really aggressive and was showing his teeth, so I had to grab his training collar to get him out the door. It was really bad at first with correcting his bad behavior, but now when you just approach him to tell "off" when does try to get on the furniture he dribbles, but before this I noticed he does this when he is gets over excited when we back home and let him out of the bathroom. We have to leave him in the bathroom, because he won't go in the house when we are here, but after the first few times of leaving him home alone he had pee spots all over the house. The bathroom is all tile an gives him a bigger space then a crate, but he does not go in there so I do not have to worry about cleaning anymore. He goes in there at night as well. I have never dealt with a dog like this and I figured that his aggressiveness was from the previous owner not correcting him and letting him do what ever he wanted, but now when does get correct with a pull on the collar and saying "off" he leaks a little. Is this a medical condition or is he just hates not being allowed on things and being alone? I also wonder if his previous own beat him and that is why he is the way he is.
Tanya, Carolyn, Ginny, and faye. Your training link, urine smell control, dog book, and story are very useful, Thanks. He has been taken to the vet and got all his shots and the vet says he is in good health. I asked the vet about all of this and he gave me some insight on the situation. The vet feels the same way I do about his aggressive behavior, that he was treated harsh when he misbehaved. The vet said that him being in a new home and new surroundings that the showing of teeth and snapping when being corrected was him being confused and not yet knowing his place in the new home, and that he stopped this when he knew his place. The only time he dribbled was when one approached him to correct him, when one approached him he would shake and then dribble, so this lead me and the vet to believe that he got harsh punishments when corrected by the previous owner. The vet said he needs to gain trust from us that we are not going to do the same to him. The only time we would have to approach him is if the verbal correcting was not working, in which the vet said the light tugging of his collar or leash and saying down was a good technique to use to train them to stay off furniture, and I got it out of a training book that said to use this on dogs that try to take over your furniture. The vet said that the marking while being left in the home, the clinging too much, and the over excitement and dribbling when even returning home from just going up to the mailbox was a sign of having separation issues. The vet said the use of our small bathroom was not doing anything wrong. We starting doing this when we left because he would not mark in the bathroom, and we put his bed and toys in there and when we go to bed he just goes right in there and lays down cause it is in our room. I will be getting a crate soon to use instead, so he can lay next to our bed. My dog has come along way since we got him, especially with going on walks, car rides and excessive barking and growling when someone is at the door or comes in. The techniques I have gotten from books on training in these areas has worked wonders. I would have to agree with the fact that terriers are very smart dogs, cause my is wonderful smart dog. If one of us puts on a coat or grabs to he keys he knows we are going some where and he will go by his leash and whine to let you know he wants to go along, and if we say the word walk he does the same. If I say here comes Jacob when my son is getting home school he goes to the door to greet him. He has a spot in the living room with for his toys and sometimes he will go get one and look at you to tell you he wants to play and other times if you say wanna play and he wags his tail and then you say go get your toy he goes and gets it. I posted these questions to get an insight on what the underlying issues might be so I can find the right technique to use to correct it or medical solution to correct it. Still if anyone has good techniques that they have used to correct separation issues please feel free to tell me about them and your stories, and to get a dog to completely gain your trust. I am currently using the advice of the vet and the information from that website Tanya gave me. So far I see a slight change in him, but he is an older dog so it is going to take some time in which I am willing to give cause I would not give him up. I was not saying that he is being a bad dog by any means its just the behavior was getting bad(worse)in these areas.
For some my dog gets the attention, love and affection he needs between the five children I have, my two boys and three step daughters, and ourselves. He gets rewarded either with treats or praises everyday when he listens, so to sit there and tell me I do not have the time for him and is not right for my family and need to find a home that would be able to give him what he needs is dumb, cause what he needs is a stable life not pushing him off to someone else because he has some issues that is not how I work, I don't give up on pets like that. I am not over correcting either, I do not hit or smack or yell, so keep the negative comments to yourself and give more productive advice.
I totally agree with Susan M.! This dog is fearful of you and desperately wants companionship! I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think you should find a good home for him where he can receive a lot of attention! Good luck!
Terriers are usually smart dogs, so something is up with him. When you get a dog that has a history, and you don't have a clue what it is, it takes a lot of reading the dog to figure it out. Did you get him from a shelter or directly from the previous owner? Someone wasn't being on the up and up. Most people dont give a loving family member away becasue they couldnt' afford the shots. They just don't give them the shots. If it ws from a shelter, call them and ask them what was up becasue you're having lots of problems now. Unfortunately, I found that some shelters will do anything to get rid of their animals,even if they don't match the family they're going to. Some shleters are great though. First step, get a dog training book, and pay special attention to those about adult dogs, not puppies. His history is blocking him from doing well. 2) talk to your vet and make sure there is no bladder problem. and see what her suggestions are. 3) Use the crate, not the bathroom. Dogs have an instinct not to pee/poop where they eat/sleep. So knowing if he is capable of being crate trained is real important. Step by step, slowly, he will adapt to your family. Frankly, if the reason the other owner gave him up was the same problem you are having, then your choices are to find out , maybe through a trainer if necessary, why and how to stop it, or give him back. It just depends on how many resources, time and money, you have to invest in him. Dogs are family members that need to match the family. Is it possible that he doesn't like children? Start a plan, and see hwo things pan out. It could take awhile. A dog I have that is wondrful, but wasn't housebroken when I got him (adult, from a fantatic shelter) I ended up having to put on a leash with me throughout the house so if I could catch him doing his business I could corect it right then and there. That worked, and it took just a couple of days. That was after 2 months of failure. Sorry for this being so long. Good luck.
Copy this address into your browser and check out some of the great information they have there. I was surprised at how much I learned.
http://www.petfinder.com/training.html
I thought I had a basic idea on how to train dogs, but the information I got along with my adopted dog (some of which is not mentioned on the site below, but could likely be gotten from your local animal shelter) taught me lots of new things.
I don't think your dog is "bad". It just sounds like he's going through a high-stress time right now with a new home, new rules, new (as-yet) "unpredictable" people - and let's face it most terriers I have met are a little high-strung anyway. : )
I'm sure with a little time and a little training your new furry family member will adjust to his new life just fine.
Good Luck!
I am so glad you and your dog are doing better. Keep up the good work! If he hasn't yet, he will thank you himself for taking the time to give him the love and care he deserves. Thank you for having a big heart.
An animal lover
I would do 2 things: have him checked by a vet or the Humane Society, and get the book THE DOG WHISPERER. Some breeds lick furniture (my Jack Russell does this) and pee in the house more easily. The bathroom sounds like a good idea. We use a crate when we're having trouble. I do think you need to continue to show that you're the boss in a firm, loving way. Sounds like you're on the right track. I imagine there's a history but it's up to you now. It sounds like this can be gotten through with consistency.
dog obviously has some emotional issues and for that I would contact an animal behavior expert. Look for names at the pet stores.
Secondly, two products you should get hold of. UrineGone. obviously plenty of it. The other is Repel. It's a nasty smelling stuff, but you spray it where you don't want doggie lifting his leg or anything else.
We had your situation exactly with our dog Bosco. He was a Whipit and was very anxious and clingy. He always wanted to be right on top of you and was scared of all other animals. Even our hamster! He would often tinkle when he was excited or had done something naughty. He had such bad seperation anxiety that he would tear up the house when we left him alone. We ended up giving him to my mom, who was recently widowed and needed the companionship. He is much happier there with her. I agree with the others that this dog might not be the best for your family.
Hello M., I have trained dogs all of my life, so hopefully this will help. There are no bad kids or dogs, just kids and dogs who do bad things. Your dog is NOT being bad here. The dribbeling is due to over disaplining from you. In a dogs language, he is telling you that he is fearful of you, and acknowledging you as his pack leader. The clinginess is also NOT bad behavior. His personallity is that he is a companion dog who loves to be close to those he loves. In my humble oppinion, this dog is not a good match for your familly. He needs a senior who is looking for companionship. All of the disapline will not change his personallity, it will only turn him into an angry, fearful,confused dog, who dribbles in fear when ever you are around. This type of dog needs love, attention, gentleness, and effection. Hope this helps.
