Need encouragement. long, sorry

[elaineszoo]

Today has been a "WHAT WAS I THINKING???" day... As some of you have read already, my new baby Sophie was SUPER spoiled at the breeder because she was only 2 oz at birth and was dropper fed then bottle fed, then SPOON fed for cryin out loud. I got her last wednesday at 12 weeks. I have never seen a dog so set in her ways that was not a full grown adult. DID I GET A PUPPY OR A MULE?? That is exactly what she is like when the leash is on. She plants her butt and digs and in like a mule. Stubborn as I don't know what. All the forums I am finding deal with leash pulling, but not leash "butt planting and I am not going over there" situations.... When I praise her for anything, she sniffs my hands. If it is a praise only reward, she sniffs my pockets then gets sassy if they are empty. She barks in the crate because she wants to sleep on the couch. I try not to reward the barking by getting her out, but she also will bark if she has pooped or needs to so I am between a rock and a hard place. I put her right back in if she does not go potty, but then the barking starts all over. I have three skin babies trying to sleep... YIKES! And she will not go into the crate; I have to put her there, which is not ideal, I know. I do hide treats in there, and they DO disappear so she will apparently visit the crate when no one is looking. She ignores me in most things. Training sessions are just short of a joke. She knows I have cheese so she just BARKS! :( I figure some of you have adopted adult rescues who were rotten and have happy endings to share. I need that. There are more good moments that not, but I am having a hard time believing this baby will change. (I KNOW she CAN; she IS just a baby... I am just not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...Can any one light the way??? please?)

 

[northernboxr]

Wow, sounds like you definitely need some support. I don't have a solution for all of your problems, but your story sounds identical to my puppy's!

Riker's litter was an orphan-raised litter too, so the pups had never been disciplined by their mother. He had clearly learned that barking got him whatever he wanted at the breeders. As a result I brought home a little monster at 9 weeks...

He pulled all the same stunts as Sophie... while I haven't solved all of them, I can tell you what we've done so far.

The barking hissy fits out of the crate: If we weren't doing training I tied Riker's leash to a door nob and pretended he wasn't there until he stopped barking at me. He went nuts on the first day, but within 3 days he stopped barking at me. During training, if she barks for your cheese, trying holding it right to her nose. She can't sniff and bark at the same time and she'll be quiet. You can then lure her into the position you want.

Hissy fits in the crate: please search my post entitled "hooray for one special trainer"... I gave a lengthy explanation on how a personal dog trainer made Riker accept his crate. He still doesn't adore it, but he will go in somewhat willingly now with minimal protesting. I never let him out when he is barking, but I have found that he has a very particular bark he uses when he has to poop. Maybe it'll take some time for you to figure out if Sophie is trying to get out of her crate or if she is trying to tell you she needs to go to the bathroom.

The walking... oh the terrible walking!.... I used whatever I could to get him to move his firmly-planted butt!!! I dragged a stick along the ground in front of him and he would chase it. I also put the treats right in front of his nose to lure him a long. I said "good!!" or "yes!!!" whenever he moved with me. After 6 weeks, he FINALLY has stopped stalling on the the leash, but it takes a lot of work. Stubborn walking is very common, but you will eventually break it as she gets more comfortable.

At 15 weeks, I can't say I have the perfect pup. I still have moments where I wonder how I ended up with such a defiant brat... but luckily, once I was able to work on obedience with him, everything got much easier. When he is acting up, I can use his commands to regain control. I'm sure you'll find the same thing with baby Sophie- just keep on trying! Good luck!!

 

[K8IE]

Oh boy, and I thought my patience was wearing thin... Cooper is almost ten weeks old and is actually a very good boy for this age, but still wears me out with the typical puppy stuff. I am sure that others may have more experience with your type of situation, but I guess my advice would just be to ignore the less than desirable behaviors as much as you can and she will learn that she will not get attention. Eventually...... I know it is hard when the puppy is crying when your kids are trying to sleep, maybe you can come up with some white noise in their rooms to help mask the puppy crying (fans, sound machines with running water noise, etc).. As far as the leash goes, have you tried a harness? Cooper walks either way, but we started with the harness, and that helped a lot, we were able to have a little more control and not feel like we were tugging on his little neck. I know having a food driven dog can be a blessing and a curse, but I guess if you can get cooperation by giving a food treat that is not all bad. Cooper also likes to "tell me off" if he does not get a treat, or get his dinner quickly enough, but he is doing better and will sit quietly now before getting what he wants. You will just have to be more stubborn that her, and let her know that even though she is "special", that you are the boss! Hang in there!!

 

[ELubas]

I really do not think your pup's behavior is usual or a direct result of the circumstances of her birth. My boy as well was a sickly pup and the breeder went to great lengths to insure he survived, and I am grateful for that. Anyway, this is a baby who is not sure what you want and only knows what she wants. You can not expect her to be "trained" in anything anytime soon. When she plunks her butt and will not move you need to have cookies, a happy voice, and run backward. If you make it fun there is not a puppy in the world that will not follow you and that is the beginning of leash walking and "come" I do not try to extinguish food until a lot older than your baby and I still bring it out-not a bad thing-you have plenty of time to get her to respond without food. I have also used squeaky toys, pull toys, etc. to entice. They al fuss in the crate (I prefer the couch as well ) and she needs to going outside all the time in order to learn the potty rules. I am impressed that she is barking to go potty-good girl! In short she is a typical boxer pup Patience, time, and lots of consistency will get you both there . I must say I pity you doing this and raising three skin kids(you are braver than me). Best of luck to you and I hope you can still enjoy her boxer antics-it really is a great age

 

[meliss&kash]

Hey! Don't despair! You've just got a normal boxer pup on your hands!

I totally agree with ELubas's response, you puppy's still a baby and doesn't understand what you want from her. She just knows that so far, barking has gotten her what she wants. You'll have to teach her the opposite (except for barking to go pee/poo, it's a good thing that she tells you she has to go!). The best way to deal with that is to ignore her when she's misbehaving. If she barks when she's in her crate, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt (even in the middle of the night, they do have to potty during the night too), take her out and if she pees or poos, praise her, and if she doesn't, put her back in her crate and ignore and further barking. Same thing for during the day. And if barks because she wants something, a treat, a toy, playtime, etc, turn your back and ignore her (or do like northernboxr suggested). It will take some time for her to understand that barking won't get her anything. My girl barked for her food for 2 weeks straight (morning, noon and night). Every meal was an ordeal, I'd go into the kitchen, start preparing her food, and she'd start. So I'd leave, go sit on the couch, and wait until she settled down (this could take some time!). Then I'd go back, and we'd start all over again. She never got her food unless she was quiet. Sometimes this would take 40 mins! Let's just say I was late for work quite a few times! But if you're persistent, she'll get the message. Don't get discouraged even if it's taking more time than you expect. She's a baby and she'll learn!

As for walking on leash, you can also try bringing treats in a cup, and shake it so she'll follow you and then reward her if she does. You really shouldn't be walking such a young pup for too long anyways, so just do short, positive and enthusiastic walks, and end the walk if you're getting frustrated.

Maybe you could also try letting her sleep out of her cage? In a basket or dog bed beside your bed? Where does she sleep now? She might be a lot calmer and quieter if she's near you.

Good luck!

 

[ELubas]

As for walking on leash, you can also try bringing treats in a cup, and shake it so she'll follow you and then reward her if she does. You really shouldn't be walking such a young pup for too long anyways, so just do short, positive and enthusiastic walks, and end the walk if you're getting frustrated.

Maybe you could also try letting her sleep out of her cage? In a basket or dog bed beside your bed? Where does she sleep now? She might be a lot calmer and quieter if she's near you.

Good luck!

Great advice-the treats in a cup is perfect!

 

[elaineszoo]

I am only using the leash for potty time in the front yard; not actual walks of any distance... If we do not use the leash she will poop on the porch! When I got her she had never been outdoors, much less on the grass! eek!

Hey! Don't despair! You've just got a normal boxer pup on your hands!

I totally agree with ELubas's response, you puppy's still a baby and doesn't understand what you want from her. She just knows that so far, barking has gotten her what she wants. You'll have to teach her the opposite (except for barking to go pee/poo, it's a good thing that she tells you she has to go!). The best way to deal with that is to ignore her when she's misbehaving. If she barks when she's in her crate, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt (even in the middle of the night, they do have to potty during the night too), take her out and if she pees or poos, praise her, and if she doesn't, put her back in her crate and ignore and further barking. Same thing for during the day. And if barks because she wants something, a treat, a toy, playtime, etc, turn your back and ignore her (or do like northernboxr suggested). It will take some time for her to understand that barking won't get her anything. My girl barked for her food for 2 weeks straight (morning, noon and night). Every meal was an ordeal, I'd go into the kitchen, start preparing her food, and she'd start. So I'd leave, go sit on the couch, and wait until she settled down (this could take some time!). Then I'd go back, and we'd start all over again. She never got her food unless she was quiet. Sometimes this would take 40 mins! Let's just say I was late for work quite a few times! But if you're persistent, she'll get the message. Don't get discouraged even if it's taking more time than you expect. She's a baby and she'll learn!

As for walking on leash, you can also try bringing treats in a cup, and shake it so she'll follow you and then reward her if she does. You really shouldn't be walking such a young pup for too long anyways, so just do short, positive and enthusiastic walks, and end the walk if you're getting frustrated.

Maybe you could also try letting her sleep out of her cage? In a basket or dog bed beside your bed? Where does she sleep now? She might be a lot calmer and quieter if she's near you.

Good luck!