Aggression

Question
hi,
i have a 11 month old carrin terrier. Right now, he is not housebroken, and we have tried everything in the book. Whenever he goes to the bathroom in the house, we yell at him. But when we do, he shows his teeth, growls and if we go to grab him, he attacks us. Recently, he has been growling at other dogs, including our other dog. He really is a sweet dog, but if this continues we will have to get rid of him. please help.

Answer
Marissa -

You certainly have your hands full, and at 11 months, it will not get better unless you get right on top of the situation (which I'm sure you already know).

It's important to understand the developmental stage he is at - He is just coming into adulthood and is, among other things, trying to assert his dominance in the family and house.  Basically a rotten teenager.

Let's start with your equipment - Make sure he has a harness on at all times, and given his behavior, I would also have him dragging a leash. Both of these items permit you to control his actions without getting close enough to get bit.

We also need to clarify whether he's marking or peeing. Marking will be a quick spritz, while peeing lasts several seconds. It makes a big difference in considering whether he's actually housetrained. Many many male dogs are actually well housetrained, but they still mark inside.

I would encourage you to not yell at him... The best approach I have found is making pottying outside something good, and making pottying inside something he doesn't like.  Making it a good thing is easy - watch him and right after he potties, tell him what a good boy (don't forget the happy voice) and give several tiny treats (1/2 the size of a pencil eraser - and make it something of "high value" like cheese or hotdog).  There are ways to encourage him to go outside as well, such as walking him where other dogs pee.

Now, to make going in the house an unpleasant thing, you do not need to yell at him... I usually don't even say anything, just mete out the price for doing it.  I usually just pick the dog up and unceremoniously put them in their crate for 15-20 minutes, then try it again.  It usually does not take long for them to catch the hint.

If he is still persisting, you can try belly bands.  They wrap around the body and keep the dog from being able to pee in the house, makes them get themselves wet, and I swear they are embarassed.  You can also put 1/2 a sanitary pad inside them too.  Here's a link for what I'm talking about (though I am not endorsing this company per se)


http://www.dog-breeds.net/dog_diaper_belly_band.htm

I would also encourage you to crate him every time he even thinks about being nasty to you....

For an overall look at the training technique I recommend, here's a good description. It's called Nothing in Life is Free, and is often the very best way to handle the terrier personality.  He will be strong willed for his whole life because that's just his breed !

http://www.cairnrescue.com/docs/NILIF.pdf

Finally, I strongly recommend obedience classes.  

Now, if in the terrible event that you decide you just cannot handle his personality, please please please surrender him to a cairn terrier rescue. No shelter or generalized rescue has the resources to provide the experienced personnel to rehabilitate this specific breed, and shelters just can't hold the high level of requirements for applicants to adopt from a breed rescue.

Best wishes

-Beth