Terrier

Question
We have a 1/2 Cairn Terrior and 1/2 Wheaten/Poodle female, 15mnths old.  She has nipped, when something is taken from her mouth.  Wondering if she can be trained not to do?  Also, is house broken on our main level...when escapes to second level, she urinates and defecates in certain areas?

Answer
KL

Sounds like she is marking on the second level.  You may wanna start taking her up there on purpose for short periods of time - leashed to you - so you know she's not going to do it.  Perhaps having a series of non-peeing visits there she will stop.

The nipping can be fixed.  You need to do a lot of what is called "trading up."  First, take away all her toys for a couple of days - completely.  Then give her just one that is the one she normally is least interested.  When she has it, offer her a tiny high value treat (I use cheese - no more than the size of a pencil eraser so you can do it a lot of times without feeding too much).  When she takes the treat, you take the toy.  You are trading up with her - toy for treat.  Do that 10 times a day for a couple of days.

Then take the low value toy away and give her a medium value toy, and repeat for 10 times a day for 2-3 days.  Gradually move up the toy value.

Then start with one piece of kibble, and trade up for something better.  This gets a little tricky because you need to get her attention on the better treat just as she reaches for the kibble.  Make sure you pick up the kibble at the same time you are feeding her the treat.

Another helpful thing to do is feed her her meals one kibble at a time.  You sit near the bowl and drop it into the bowl one piece at a time.  Do not let her try to take it out of your hand.  Once she can do that calmly for a couple of meals, gradually increase the amount you are putting in at once until you can put her food in the dish, keep your hand in there and she will calmly eat around your hand.

If she does not respond to these suggestions, I recommend backing all the way up and start her on a program called Nothing in Life is Free.  The concept being that all good things come from you and she must be compliant to get everything she wants.  Here's a very good explanation and instructions:

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

Let me know how you make out.

-Beth