Dog problems-

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Betty

Ok doggie experts - this thread has inspired me to ask my own question.

Why does our chihuahua try to make a break for it every time the front door is opened? He'll slip out and run at breakneck speed stopping only to pee on the way... and he'll stop only long enough for one of the kids to close in on him and he's off again. I'm afraid he's going to get run over on one of these escapades.

Is he not getting out enough? not enough excersize? He's just a little guy and I know he doesn't need as much excersize as a big dog does. I swear - he's a little lap sitter / couch sleeper for the vast majority of the day.

He does it because playing chase is a FUN game! He loves it when you chase him and he has no idea that a car tire is going to smash him one day.

He needs to learn the "come" command. This is a touch one for dogs that are easily distracted. Thurston STILL doesn't always listen and Kimchi - well, we're working on her.

You may need to keep him on a leash in the house for a while and, when you open the door, step on his leash when he tries to make a run for it giving a command at the same time.

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

You may need to keep him on a leash in the house for a while and, when you open the door, step on his leash when he tries to make a run for it giving a command at the same time.

This is a great tip! We'll try it.

[Morrigoon]

Lisa's right, they enjoy playing chase. The leash training sounds like a great idea.

If you have trouble catching him some time when he does get out... try getting his attention and then running away from him. Often, they'll turn around and chase YOU. I've done this on occasion when I couldn't catch up to my dogs. But try it at a dog park or somewhere safe first, because it's not 100%. You need to see if he'll react to that.

[Betty]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Lisa's right, they enjoy playing chase. The leash training sounds like a great idea.

If you have trouble catching him some time when he does get out... try getting his attention and then running away from him. Often, they'll turn around and chase YOU. I've done this on occasion when I couldn't catch up to my dogs. But try it at a dog park or somewhere safe first, because it's not 100%. You need to see if he'll react to that.

My daughter has tried this trick actually - and it works about 1/2 the time.

Do you have any recommendations on teaching him to come when called?

I'm a cat person. Always have been. He's cat sized - and clearly not a cat. He sits on command most of time time - that's about it. We got him from a kennel as an adult dog and he's pretty well behaved - but not very trained.

I've got a book on dog training (for dummies even) - I suppose I should just read that instead, huh?

[Morrigoon]

Just what others have suggested already.

Randomly calling them over for no reason and rewarding them for obedience, just to maintain your position as top dog. Also, it's easier to reward them in a timely manner when you call them over for no reason other than to reward them than it is when you actually NEED them to come to you. Always call them to you when you have treats, etc.

[Not Afraid]

Get a 6' leash and some really yummy, smelly soft treats (liver or chicken or Natural Balance sausage rolls are great). Break the treats into TINY pieces, put the dog on a leash and take him out to the hard. Say "(name) Come", pull slightly on the leash until he comes, then give his a treat. Repeat over and over for many days until connects the command with coming and getting a treat. Move to doing this off leash in the backyard until he gets it. Always give him a treat until he does it on command without a treat then taper off of the treats.

[Betty]

Thanks for the advice everyone. VERY much appreciated. And we'll go check out the natural blance sausage rolls because he's fairly picky eater. Most of the treats we've bought he doesn't want anything to do with.

[Morrigoon]

Apparently I must spread some before giving it to NA again... VNAM!

[Nephythys]

Ria-

My 9 pound dog was attacked yesterday, very likely by your dog. You turned yourself into knots trying to find a reason to excuse your dog- but the fact remains that my dog is injured, frightened and sick.

MY dog had to go to the vet-and got a shot. A 24 hour pain killer. We got papers telling us how to treat her-and you did not bother to look at them when you gave her the meds this morning-you see, she was not supposed to have more pain meds til 3:30 this afternoon. But you gave them to her at 7am-

Thank you for overdosing my dog with pain meds-no wonder she is so sound asleep. You better hope she wakes up. The vet is very concerned and now we have to do everything we can to get her to drink and hope she does not react violently resulting in a trip to the ER.

And when this is pointed out-you try to pass the blame and say WE told you to give them both to her at 7am-which I didn't. Plus, one would think that an adult would check the instructions before giving a tiny dog pain meds- but no......you don't bother and now my dog is under yet another threat to her health.

Damn you and your willfull stupidity.

-Me

[alphabassettgrrl]

Poor little baby. I hope she recovers quickly and well, Nephy.