Poodle

Question
I have recently gotten a minnie poodle from a pound. I brought her home and she was fine and stuff. Then I went to give her a bath, and she bit me when I picked her up. it seems like she is attached to my mother. She follows her around everywhere! Every time I go to pick her up when she is by her she will snap unless I grab her by the scruff of the neck. It's really ridiculous. I'm even thinking about getting rid of her if I can not solve this issue. My mother is a bigger woman, and maybe that has something to do with it? Like maybe her previous owner was like that and that's why she likes her. She doesn't really give her attention at all.

Answer
The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. 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 with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm