2 1/2 Year Old Shih Tzu

Question
I've had my Shih Tzu since he was 8 weeks old.  Brought him to puppy training class, and he did extremely well, was even housebroken.  Lately, we've been encountering problems with him.  He has been very agressive....he could be just sitting around, and when anyone in the family comes to him to give him attention, he snaps and bites them....to the point of breaking skin and bleeding.  The other problem is that he has accidents in the house....mainly in our dining room and living room, which is all in one area of the house.  He pees on our china cabinet, at the legs of our coffee table, and around our sofas/chair.  I don't know why, since we take him out on a regular basis.  My husband is on the verge of giving him away.  We love him very much, and our children has grown attached to him.  He is not fixed and he has had several ear infections. Do you think this has anything to do with his behavior?  Please tell me what I can do to make him stop.  I am desperate, and giving him up is the last thing we want to do.

Thank you for your help,
Jennifer

Answer
I doubt the ear infections have anything to do with it, although ear pain could make him irritable.  Neutering him likely will be a big help.  Doing so sooner would have been even better.  Walk him, at heel position and staying on task.  Drill him on his commands.

A refresher course in obedience may help.  If the children are old enough, they should do it.  With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea. In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about biting. You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting another one or themselves. I am not even sure they realize that when they are alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten. At 3 to 4 months they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking moment biting or chewing. One thing you can do at that stage is to knot and wet a piece of cloth. Then freeze it. The cooling will soothe the gums. Only let the puppy have it when you are there to watch it. I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another Lab. Otherwise they settle for any person they can. They keep hoping to find one that won't yelp, jerk their hand away, and leave.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens. Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones. Avoid things they can chew pieces off and choke on them. Keep them away from electrical cords. Crates are essential for most young Labs and other dogs.