Help I'm starting to hate my puppy!!!

[Peace Love Hens]

Hi there.
Sounds like you have a puppy that doesn't know what to do with itself. As for the chewing and destructiveness- try using a tie-down. You can create this with a leash. Loop the clip-on part through the end of the leash. Shrink the loop that you have created and loop it under something sturdy - heavy table leg, bed leg, couch leg etc. Place this in one area where she cannot get to anything that you care about. Give her chew toys, squeaky toys etc.

Second thought - go to obedience classes. This will help her learn what is okay to do, what cannot be tolerated and give her some manners. I hope this information helps. Use positive reinforcement methods with her too!

Reward good behavior - she is quiet and not barking or destroying anything = "yay, good girl - here's a yummy treat (this could be cheese, a slice of a hot dog, anything). Ignore bad behavior - it is one thing if you catch her in the act - this you can punish (please don't use force though). If you arrive to the scene too late, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING. Imagine someone yelling at you in Chinese for not taking your shoes off in their house an hour after it happened. You're definitely going to be confused, right?

BTW, none of this was meant to be mean or accusing in any way. I have been clicker training animals with positive reinforcement for five years and I have been doing it long enough to know it works well. I hope this helps your situation.

 

[Folly's place]

There are so many ways to tackle training, because no one way will work for everyone. It's back to being consistent, and very clear instantly what's acceptable, and what's not. No lag time, instant response!
Chihuahuas tend to be not so nice, and also to be untrained, because they are small, so bad behavior is ignored. You don't have to raise her that way!
I've also noticed that issues like ease of housetraining has a genetic component, and again, many people with tiny dogs don't seem to mind. I'd mind, and be persistent!!!
Let us all know how you are doing in a few weeks, at least.
Good luck!
Mary

 

[jak2002003]

Thought I would let you know that things have been getting a lot better with the puppy.

She has learnt that throwing screaming tantrums has no effect and she will be ignored, so now she has not had one for several days!!!

I am making her sit calmly before I allow her in or out of a door. Also before I take her out of her play pen, when I feed her, and if she wants to get picked up and petted. Any demanding barking means she gets nothing. She will now automatically check herself and realise she needs to be quiet and sit nicely. If funny to see he little mind working.

She is enjoying her longer and more frequent walks... and she is playing much nicer with my older dog.. far less wild and now I very rarely see her get into the aggressive angry mood with her when playing. It was like when children get too excieted and tired and then throw a tantrum. In fact, that has not happened for a few days too.

I think my older dog is smart in the way she handles the puppy. If the puppy constantly barks at her and jumps at her will ignore the puppy and stop playing. This seems to have sent the message to the puppy that if she wants the game to continue she has to calm down.... which she does now.

Since her behaviour has improved we are starting to bond more with her, and see her less as a mini devil dog and more like a cute puppy.

House training is also getting a lot better. The biggest improvement has been that she no longer tries to bite us or struggle if picked up when she was in a bad mood.

Only thing still needs some work is the feeding. My older dog will not eat if the puppy goes to her food bowl. The puppy is not even aggressive over the food.. just barks at the older dog once and the dog will leave the food. So still feeding them in different rooms. Also the older dog wants the puppy food, and the puppy wants the adult dog food!!!!!

I can see things will keep getting better now. I thought there was no hope before and was stressing out. Now I feel encouraged and happy to keep working on improving the puppy behaviour and teaching her how to be a nice pet.

Thanks again for all the advise.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Yay! Sounds like things are getting to the way the should be! Sounds like you have a very smart older dog helping you train I have 2 dogs that are both adults and still have to fed separately. I’m glad things are looking bright and now you can enjoy your new puppy too!

 

[Folly's place]

My dogs and cats all eat in their crates, and there's never food out! Feed her in her crate or playpen, and have no food available except at mealtimes.
And good work! She may turn out to be civilized after all!
Mary

 

[tripletfeb]

I'm very glad things are getting better! Keep up the good work, hoping you both have a long, happy life together!

 

[PirateGirl]

I am so happy to read your update. The sitting and being calm to get what she wants is an incredible skill to learn. Many dogs never get taught this and it can be huge with high energy dogs. My dog knows a variation of this that involves laying down with her head on her paws. Visitors will think she is just resting, but I know she is actually begging for attention and outside time when she is like this staring at me. Since your pup has learned the sit and be calm and wait, you can work this into your feeding routine. Make her sit and wait for her dinner. Do not put the bowl on the floor until she is sitting calmly. Next is to continue to sit and wait until the bowl is on the ground and you give the release command or the ok to eat command. She does not eat without permission. We have gotten lax about this at my house, but with 2 dogs it looks like this. Both sit and wait. They cannot move while I make two trips to the food closet and fill 2 bowls and set them both on the floor and walk away and fill the water bowl and bring that back too. Sometimes it's a full minute or more which is a lifetime to dog that wants dinner. I then tell them "go get it" and they are free to go eat. I control the food. I am the boss. They no longer try to eat each other's food. When they ate different foods if I put the wrong bowl in the wrong place (they eat across the room from each other) they just stand there looking at me. They don't know what to do. They know they are not allowed to the other side of the room to eat out of the other dog's bowl. Start with the sitting and waiting for the puppy's food. She will hopefully so focused on getting hers that she leaves the other dog alone. Keep it up! You and your pup will have a great relationship!

 

[jak2002003]

Thanks for that good advise about feeding, 'Pirate Girl'.

Had a bit of a set back and stressful day yesterday for some reason. Think she decided she was going to test the limits!! Back to being good today.

Yesterday we had several poops in the house despite 4 hours in playing in the garden and a long walk..., screaming in the play pen, refusing to eat all day as she only wanted the other dogs adult dog food, dragging the drying clothes from the line all around the garden in the dirt, chewing the sofa corner and generally being really annoying. No idea what it was all about.

Anyway, today back to being good lol.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Pups take a longtime to fully mature and grow up. Most will go through a teenager stage at 6-8 months when they suddenly forget all commands, and start making troubles again. For the most part I don't consider most of my dogs raised until they are 1-3 years depending on the dog and breed. After that I generally can trust my dogs to behave.

Keep at it. There will be days and bad days. Your hard work will eventually pay off.

 

[snow5164]

Yes please feed her in her kennel/crate . I own a boarding kennel and the best gift you can give that puppy is to teach her to come to you and to eat in her kennel . She will have happy thoughts about it then . Like our kitchens for us

I’m so happy you are seeing progress , good work