My dogs are driving me crazy HELP!!

Question
QUESTION: Hi my name is Angela I have 2 dogs. I have an 8 month old cane corso (Italian mastiff) and a 6 month old puggle (pug beagle mix) they are ripping my carpet up every time I turn my back for a few minutes. they butter me up and steal my clothes out of the laundry basket thinking I won't scold them. they bolt out the front door and into the street every chance they get! the Puggle Buddy has already been hit by a truck and survived. I have a good mind to give a spanking but I don't want to hurt or terrorize them. what should I do?

ANSWER: Hi Angela,

If anyone gets a spanking, it should be you, not your dogs. Your dogs are out of control because you've failed to train them. So the fact they act wild, ignore you, and freely run into traffic is not their fault.

It sounds like taking control of this situation is way beyond your skill level. You need to contact a dog behaviorist, who can evaluate your situation and teach you how to gain control of your dogs. Contact your veterinarian, local boarding or friends to get a recommendation for a dog trainer/behaviorist, or look in your yellow pages.

Until you see progress in training your dogs, you need to keep your dogs away from open doors!

Best of luck,

Patti

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice. The cane corso is a newly aquired dog. She belonged to a friend of mine who didn't train her. That is why I had no clue what to do with her. My puggle was never that bad until he saw the cane corso misbehaving. I will call a dog trainer and check with the bbb.org before I hire them. by the way is it a bad practice to allow the dogs to jump up and hug me at will? I've noticed Giovanna does it the most when she's afraid. thanks again.

ANSWER:
Hi Angela,

If you can't find any dog trainers behaviorists listed with the BBB, you can trust a referral from your vet or boarding kennel.

Your basic problem is, your dogs don't see you as the "pack leader", or ultimate authority of your home, and they're pretty much are ignoring you. Your Puggle is seeing your Cane Corso as the leader and following his lead, and not obeying your authority.

Allowing your dogs to jump on you, at this time is enforcing the "lawlessness" in your home. Until you get your dogs under control, it would be best to not allow your dogs to jump on you, or anyone.
When your dog jumps on you, he's getting what HE wants, when HE wants it. Your dog is in control of the situation when he gets the attention he demands, and that isn't a good thing. You need to teach your dogs that YOU decide everything. Your dogs have developed undesired behaviors, not because they're bad, but because you are reinforcing their bad behavior. Since the dogs jumping on you for attention, you are going to deny them that attention. Don't let either dog jump on you, walk away and push them down. Totally ignore the dogs. You can give them as much attention as you want as long as it is by your terms and not theirs. Encourage your dogs to come to you and sit. If all four feet remain on the floor, they can get praise and attention. If they start ANY undesired barking, jumping or mouthing, walk away! Be consistent and be fair.  Maintain your composure and level of being in charge. Dogs that are confused about who is in control are more likely to act out.

You should practice your leadership role by teaching your dogs simple obedience commands, such as sit, stay, down etc. If your dogs don't currently know any obedience commands, you can read directions of how to teach them to your dogs here:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-sit/page1.aspx

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-stay/page1.aspx

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-teach-the-down-command/page1.aspx

Once your dog obeys even one command, you can start a regimen known as "Nothing In Life Is Free". You can read about how "Nothing In Life Is Free" works here: http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Again, working with a trainer behaviorist will help ensure that you get the help you need in getting control over your dogs, and working with your dogs daily to reinforce your role as "leader of the pack" will make them happy well behaved pets.

Best of luck,

Patti

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi patty. this one is just to say thank you. I appreciate your advice. my dogs are already starting to listen better since I stopped screaming at them. I haven't spanked since you said not to and they are now even more willing to come when I call them. I also stopped bribing them with treats to make them come when called and started petting them on the head and telling them good dogs when they do as I say. there is still LOTS of room for improvement as this will probably take weeks for them to learn everything. mostly I have to change my behavior toward them too. so now I will teach them down, stay, lay, paw, shake, they already know sit and stop. so when they jump on me I will say stop. then I will walk away from them. Thanks again for all your help. you should get paid for this in my opinion.

Answer
Hi Angela,

I'm glad I was able to be a help.

It probably will take more than a few weeks, remember your dogs bad behavior has been going on for some time now, but with patience and consistency on your part, their behavior WILL improve!

I've got another web site for you to look at. The techniques talked about in this article will help reinforce your position as "pack" leader:

http://www.showdog-magazine.com/Training/dominance.htm

Best of luck,
Patti