QuestionHi. I have a 2 part question.
First off is the feisty behavior of my 3 1/2 mos old pom. When visiting the breeder, I gave my soon to be puppy the 'submissive tests, i.e., putting her on her back with out squirming, etc., and she passed. However, 2 days after we got her home(to a house with 2 other adult dogs, 1 pom, 1 rottie) she became the feistiest and freshest dog I've ever had! Growling during reprimands or even if I just try to pick her up. Chasing my feet and nipping at my legs, constantly biting my hands and fingers,and my face and sometimes not letting go even with a loud 'leave it'! Most of the time when someone tries to pet her she starts snapping like a turtle! I've tried averting to a toy, and say good girl no bite when I do. When she's awake...she is wild! Grabbing at whatever she can to play with,and running from me with it, even if it weighs 3 times her weight!And yes, she has plenty of her own toys! When I try to put her on her back now, she squirms and growls. I do make her stay til she calms down and say good girl calms down, I take her to my job every day, and tried a squirt gun to keep her away from eating plants and her basket, saying 'leave it' while I squirt. It doesn't work very well.
O.K. part 2.
Housetraining. I originally started her on wee wee pads, the breeder gave me some in her puppy pack. I always hated the idea of these thinking that it just tells the dog that going in the house is ok. But I thought I would try it since, especially at work, I own a nail salon, and can't get up in the middle of a client's service to take her out. Well she pees on the pad all 98% of the time at work, 90% at home. Never poops on the pad, although I'm catching her much more frequently since I'm learning her schedule, and take her outside to finish, although once I pick her up, her poop doesn't stop coming. If she's just had an accident, I say bad girl does poop inside, and put her in her crate for a spell.
I'd like to eliminate the wee pads altogether, but I've noticed sometimes she pees 2-3 times wihin an hour. tried taking away the pad on a few occasions and she'd pee where it had been. She can go the entire evening however without any accidents.
So, my problems are biting, growling, and not knowing how to break away from the wee pads. Help!?!
AnswerHi Kathy,
Yikes! It sounds like you have your hands full! Did you purchase the puppy from a backyard breeder? Hopefully, she is just not recognizing you as the alpha dog instead of the alternative--behavioral problems from poor breeding. It doesn't sound like normal pom behavior. Poms are not near this aggressive. By the way, you are rewarding her when you give her a toy after she bites you.
Here's what I recommend: You must show the puppy that you are the boss! The puppy receives nothing without obeying a command first. This includes: food, attention, treats, toys, etc. In other words, make her sit, lay down, speak, etc. Do not allow her to sleep in your bed. (Put her in a crate near your bed.) Do not allow her on the furniture or the bed. Higher physically means higher socially to a dog. Do not hold her over your head. Do not lay on the floor and allow her to lay on you. No dominant positions until she is completely retrained. No tug of war games. She owns no toys--the toys are yours and you allow her to play with them. Let her play with the toy for awhile and then take it away. If she acts aggressive with a toy, take it away immediately. Do not be mean to her, be sweet but firm.
If she growls or bites grab her by the scruff of the neck, shake and scold her in a low-toned, threatening voice, then look her in the eyes until she looks away. Looking a dog in the eyes is dominant behavior. Look her in the eyes often until she looks away. The first one to look away is the least dominant. Don't allow her to get close to your face until trained not to bite. I think you have a good chance of retraining her if you'll be consistant and firm.
Regarding housetraining: It sounds like she is doing really good so far. Never use the crate for punishment for any wrongdoing. Putting her in there after a potty accident confuses her. Instead, put her where you want her to go potty. It also confuses her if you have the pads down, then pick them up, then put them down. Make up your mind what your going to do and stick with that. If you want her to poop on the pads, put some of her poop on it.
Here is a response I wrote on housetraining you may find helpful:
It will take lots of patience and persistence. Some pups can take several months or so to train. Do not allow the puppy to have free reign in the house until he is completely trained. When you are home keep him with
you at all times. When you leave the house either put him in a crate (never for more than four hours at a time) or block him off in a small area (bathroom, utility room or kitchen) with a gate. Put newspaper or puppy pads in an area for him to use. Neutering him by five or six months
of age will help, and can prevent him from developing the habit of leg lifting. If he has an accident but you don't catch him don't scold him for it. He won't understand what he's done wrong. Clean up the mess completely. Using a product like Simple Solution will remove the stain
and the odor. If you catch him it the act, firmly say, "No" and take him outside. Never rub his nose in it. He can be trained to go in a particular area in your yard and to go on command. Take him to the same spot every time and use the same command like, "Go potty". Praise him when he goes! Of course you'll want to take him out frequently, especially after sleeping, eating, and playing.
I was never able to use a crate for training. My pom would go potty in it. I blocked him off in the kitchen and set up a dog liter box. I didn't use dog liter but lined the box with newspaper. Puppy pads would work
as well. I would put him in the box and say, "Go potty". If he did, I would praise him profusely. Sometimes I would give him a treat. I always took him to the same spot outside too. It took approximately two and a
half months and after I had him neutered at five and a half months he was pretty much trained. I kept him blocked off in the kitchen when I had to leave the house for about the first year. Now, he has free reign when I am gone. He is liter box trained and trained to go in a
specific spot in the yard. Having him liter box trained is great for when I am gone and when the weather is bad. (Rain, snow, etc.)
You've got your work cut out for you, but you can do! Hang in there! Please keep me posted. I would really like to know how things go for you.
Feel free to write if you have any other questions.
Please take a moment to rate my answer.
Thank you!
Carrie
