we have a 3 year old staff terrier "alli" and a 4 year old chihuahua "chevy". Alli is a very energetic dog which i understand is part of her breed. The issue is that we are having is that she is stubborn, (again another characteristic of her breed) Even to get her to lay on her bed is a huge issue when the family is trying to relax and watch TV. We have to constantly return her to her bed and repeat the stay command. In one ear and out the other. It gets to the point that she gets bannished from the room and has to sit upstairs alone. Chevy listens and stays when we give him the command. If alli is laying on her bed, you move, breathe, look at her, or pay attention to chevy its game over and she is in your face. I dont believe in yelling at pets. But its getting frusterating to the point that i find my self raising my voice and getting angry at her. Does anyone have a bully breed thats as stubborn as ours? What did you do to overcome or focus their energy in another way? (alli cant have treats or bones due to severe allergies)
Dog needs to learn to chill
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Exercise...long walks, get a flirt pole, swimming, etc. All these things will tire any dog out and a tired dog is a happy dog with happy owners.
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A flirt pole is.....a pole with rope that has a toy attached at the end of it. You sit there and wave it back and forth or in circles and the dog chases it...10-15 minutes of that and it tires the dog out pretty good. Google...flirt poles on youtube and it will show you videos of it. I have three dogs, but the german shepherd goes crazy for it. Its something you can make on your own, but I just bought one because the quality is much better then what I could come up with.
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How long are her walks and how many times a day? What other exercise does she get? Do you spend time training her daily?
Other things to try would be a food dispensing toy that you can put her dinner in, a game of hide and seek where you hide her food around the house or in various containers to get her mind working, non edible chew toys such as antlers or nylabones. Get her involved in a dog sport like agility or flyball.
Other things to try would be a food dispensing toy that you can put her dinner in, a game of hide and seek where you hide her food around the house or in various containers to get her mind working, non edible chew toys such as antlers or nylabones. Get her involved in a dog sport like agility or flyball.
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Mental exercise is also a must...some dogs need this more then physical exercise. Every dog's balance is different, but you can find what works for your dog.
wow the flirt pole is a definate go! Alli is going to love it! Alli gets walked daily after supper for about an hour. She also gets taken to family outtings. And the husband works from home so she gets training daily as well as romps in our back yard. She never gets locked up, she has free range of the house and has never wrecked or destroyed anything. She sits and stays for her food, and she is awesome with other commands, but for some reason the stay command just doesnt get absorbed. She definately gets the attention and training she needs, we just need to figure out how we can get her to stay!
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I hope she enjoys it
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You might find this helpful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk4PPcE1CqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVGaslyGaGE&feature=plcp
Stay can be hard for dogs to master because of the self rewarding nature of returning to their owner. Being near their owner is often more rewarding for dogs than any potential treat or praise reward from staying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk4PPcE1CqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVGaslyGaGE&feature=plcp
Stay can be hard for dogs to master because of the self rewarding nature of returning to their owner. Being near their owner is often more rewarding for dogs than any potential treat or praise reward from staying.
I have a small high energy breed as well, and she gets 1 hour walk in the morning before I go to work, and then at least 30 minutes walk before dinner time. If she is sufficiently exercised, then she also needs to get mental stimulation as well, to prevent boredom. This means teaching her tricks, obedience commands, and also puzzle games. Even teaching her to put away toys, or to know each toy by name can be fun and challenging for her.
When she's being rowdy in the house, and 'gets in your face', make sure you turn your head away and refuse to give her attention, sort of like a 'diva queen' might. She needs to learn that the only way she will get attention from you is when she is lying down or sitting calmly. When she is doing those two things, reward her by dropping treats to her when she's in that position.
When she's being rowdy in the house, and 'gets in your face', make sure you turn your head away and refuse to give her attention, sort of like a 'diva queen' might. She needs to learn that the only way she will get attention from you is when she is lying down or sitting calmly. When she is doing those two things, reward her by dropping treats to her when she's in that position.
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Stay can be challenging. As you incrementally get her to stay for 1 sec., then 2 sec., etc. the reward can be some cuddle time with you.
Also, she needs something to chew on. So you might get her a Kong and a hard rubber bone. You can fill the Kong with her kibble and peanut butter, or if allergies are an issue, you can use kibble with a little water, and then freeze it.
She might "stay" if she has something to chew on...
Also, she needs something to chew on. So you might get her a Kong and a hard rubber bone. You can fill the Kong with her kibble and peanut butter, or if allergies are an issue, you can use kibble with a little water, and then freeze it.
She might "stay" if she has something to chew on...
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what is she doing when she is not staying? is she boucing all over like a ball? or is she just walking around or otherwise just making her rounds being a busy body? I have a dog like this, believe ti or not the way i taught her was to tether her to the spot (her bed is by my bed so i looped a leash around the bed tied her to it when she didnt need to be crated anymore) now the only time i tether her is when i have to leave the house, i dont if i am there & soon i think i wont even have to do that. WARNING tho, my dog is accostomed to being tethered (we conditioned it very gradually from the time she was a small pup... always supervised of course) so she does NOT freak out when she is tethered.
But if Josefina is in a new place or outside she is very figitity, she can NOT sit still for anything, sher always has to be walking around or whatever... nervous energy i guess, no matter how much i tell her to down/stay she always ends up breaking it LOL.
its IMO unfair to ask any dog to stay in one plaace for any length of time, esp when the other dog is with the family getting attention, no dog will stay away from their family, you could try this; what about moving her bed right next to the couch so you can reach down & pat her if she is being good, when she gets up, ignore her & when she goes back to her bed (put something like her fave toy or a nice bully stick chewie so she is more apt to return to that spot, then pat her when she is in her bed.
But if Josefina is in a new place or outside she is very figitity, she can NOT sit still for anything, sher always has to be walking around or whatever... nervous energy i guess, no matter how much i tell her to down/stay she always ends up breaking it LOL.
its IMO unfair to ask any dog to stay in one plaace for any length of time, esp when the other dog is with the family getting attention, no dog will stay away from their family, you could try this; what about moving her bed right next to the couch so you can reach down & pat her if she is being good, when she gets up, ignore her & when she goes back to her bed (put something like her fave toy or a nice bully stick chewie so she is more apt to return to that spot, then pat her when she is in her bed.
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