My 4 year old Pomeranian

Question
QUESTION: I'm sorry to bother you but I could really use your help with my 4 year old Pomeranian.  I just got him last week from a neighbor who didn't seem to take care of "Chub Chub" very well.  He still is not potty trained and barks at almost everything/one around him.  When he does go to the bathroom outside of his designated area (potty pad) he seems to recognize that he is doing wrong by hiding inside of his house and growling/showing teeth when I approached him soon after his "accident".  I'm considering taking him to some type of obedience classes but am not sure if this would be completely necessary.  Overall "Chub Chub" is a very well behaved dog and any advice that you might be able to offer me is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
ANSWER: Obedience classes are a wonderful way to bond with a dog, Chong. I think it would be a good idea to enroll with Chub Chub. It sounds like either his previous owners or you are scolding him for missing the potty pad or pottying elsewhere in the house AFTER he's already done it. That is what is causing his defensive behavior, because he does not understand what he's being scolded for. In order for scolding or corrections to be effective, you must do it while the dog is in the act. You cannot go to him half an hour, or even 2 minutes later, and fuss at him because he will not associate the correction with the act of pottying in the wrong place.

One way to help dogs who 'miss' the potty pad is to put the pad in a shallow cat litter pan. This provides clear boundaries, and makes cleanup easier as well. Many people have had great success this way.

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

QUESTION: Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my questions/problem.  Your advice was very helpful and I will be putting it into action right away.
One last question if you don't mind.  In regards to the dog training/obedience classes what are some important characteristics to look for in searching out a quality trainer?   
Are similar services which are offered by some pet stores such as Petco, PetSmart, etc. a safe way to go in regards to such classes?

Answer
I do not recommend classes offered in pet stores. Often, the trainers have little experience, and in addition, the pet store is an extremely distractive environment, and not one that is conducive to learning. My number one choice is a trainer that can come to your house once or twice a week and work with you and your dog one-on-one to learn the commands before enrolling in a group class to proof what he's learned and teach him that sit still means sit, no matter what may be going on around him. He needs to understand the command, and be able to follow it in a distraction-free environment before you can expect him to understand the command in a place that's full of distractions. Does that make sense?

My second choice, if a trainer that will come to your home is not available, is taking a class at a trainer's facility, again, with only you and your dog. Then, when he understands the commands and can obey them both at home and at the trainer's facility, you can enroll in a group class taught by the same trainer.

My third choice would be a group class at a trainer's facility. I do not like group classes for beginners, or for dogs who have had no prior training, again, because it's very distracting for the dog, and that makes learning more difficult. If you have no other choice, though, you have no other choice.



When choosing a trainer, you want to be aware of several things:

1. Is the trainer open to many different training methods, or do they think there is only one way to train a dog? Ideally, you want to go with a trainer that starts the learning phase by using lots of praise and treats, and no corrections or force. Once the dog understands the commands, then corrections, both verbal and in the form of a leash pop, are introduced when the dog chooses not to follow the command. Gradually the treats are phased out, and only given every once in a while, though the verbal praise should continue throughout the dog's life. Personally, I would not recommend a trainer that uses only head halters, or harnesses, because you cannot effectively train a dog with either, and you have to rely on those devices every time you take the dog out. I also do not like choke collars, especially for small dogs, because the potential for injury is so great. I prefer martingale, or limited slip, collars, and pinch or prong collars if a flat martingale is not effective. These collars are much safer and easier to use than a choke chain or slip collar.

2. How many dogs has the trainer (themselves) actually trained? Are their own dogs well behaved? Anyone can buy an already trained dog, open a dog training business, and parade that perfectly trained dog around as if they had actually trained the dog themselves (you'd be surprised at how many trainers like this there are!!). Ask for references. Ask if they've ever encountered a dog they were unable to train, and ask them why they were unsuccessful in training it. Now, this doesn't mean they are necessarily a bad trainer, unless they give you some cockamamy reason like, "The dog was just too hard headed," or something like that.

3. How long have they been in business? What is their expertise?