I've posted here once for some advice on what to do with a leash aggressive dog, and the responses I got were helpful (he's doing better now, although still objects to dogs that look like his attacker!). So I figure I might as well ask again.
Fortunately, the dog isn't the (whole) problem. We've had our Corgi-Heeler mix Chester for about a year now and he's doing well. Except that he does not listen to my mother, not one bit. This wasn't a huge problem at first (he's my dog, not hers after all), he'd still come back if she called and sit down when told. But since her only real experience with dogs is her huge pushover of a mutt, she's never been firm with the corgi or given him real boundaries. I tried to insist she do this, but basically she gets bored with dog training and gives up (it was a nightmare to retrain her dog because of this. He learned quickly that he can out-stubborn her).
Now it has become a problem.
Chester also learned that he can easily out-stubborn her and began simply not moving if she told him to get down. It's progressed to growling and once a nip to let her know not to move him from "his chair" (ragged old thing we'd let the two of them sleep on to keep them off the good furniture). I removed the chair and he needs permission to get on any furniture now. ...except my mother's bed, which she lets him treat like a jungle-gym. And she still refuses to tell him to move (or spray him with a water bottle) so he's learning that this is totally acceptable behavior.
We've put up a baby gate between her half of the house and ours, so now he at least needs to be let in to act like a fool, but he's started to sit at the gate and block her access in or out of her own living room.
Chester is non-negotiable, honestly. I love my mother a lot, but she has too many severe health issues that are rapidly outstripping my and my husband's ability to care for her. She won't be our home more than two years if the pace of her failing health remains the same. Chester still has a good ten or twelve left in him.
I'd just like to ... well, basically "trick" my mother into a few simple training regimens to keep the dog from herding her around.
Fortunately, the dog isn't the (whole) problem. We've had our Corgi-Heeler mix Chester for about a year now and he's doing well. Except that he does not listen to my mother, not one bit. This wasn't a huge problem at first (he's my dog, not hers after all), he'd still come back if she called and sit down when told. But since her only real experience with dogs is her huge pushover of a mutt, she's never been firm with the corgi or given him real boundaries. I tried to insist she do this, but basically she gets bored with dog training and gives up (it was a nightmare to retrain her dog because of this. He learned quickly that he can out-stubborn her).
Now it has become a problem.
Chester also learned that he can easily out-stubborn her and began simply not moving if she told him to get down. It's progressed to growling and once a nip to let her know not to move him from "his chair" (ragged old thing we'd let the two of them sleep on to keep them off the good furniture). I removed the chair and he needs permission to get on any furniture now. ...except my mother's bed, which she lets him treat like a jungle-gym. And she still refuses to tell him to move (or spray him with a water bottle) so he's learning that this is totally acceptable behavior.
We've put up a baby gate between her half of the house and ours, so now he at least needs to be let in to act like a fool, but he's started to sit at the gate and block her access in or out of her own living room.
Chester is non-negotiable, honestly. I love my mother a lot, but she has too many severe health issues that are rapidly outstripping my and my husband's ability to care for her. She won't be our home more than two years if the pace of her failing health remains the same. Chester still has a good ten or twelve left in him.
I'd just like to ... well, basically "trick" my mother into a few simple training regimens to keep the dog from herding her around.