I'm really frustrated at this point. My parents bought a shih-tzu pekignese puppy mix while I was away from home, on vacation in GA. They didn't consult me, they simply told me I would be the trainer for this puppy they'd bought on impulse "because he chose mom by latching onto her fingers, and the pet store said that was 'how the puppy chooses you' ". Bullshizz >_>
Totally irresponsible. But they're smitten and likely won't take him back (or to a shelter) for a few months. Not that I'm advocating that they should give him up, but I know they will soon get frustrated with his puppy behaviour. They're relying on my, a young woman who has trained her hand-raised cat, but I've never trained anything else.
I've read a couple of Ian Dunbar's books, and I've been poking around these forums a bit. I wrote out some guidelines for my parents to follow (mostly my mother, since my father and I work full time during the day), but my mother is elderly nd physically disabled...and thinks she knows everything. She lets him do whatever he wants when she has him out of the exercise pen with her. When I tell her not to let him do something, or to do "this" instead of what she is doing, she makes excuses for why what she is doing is okay and ignores me. So training...is going very slow. She basically undos whatever I'm trying to accomplish.
So, my questions are these -
How can I make crate-time appealing to a puppy who is used to having run of the house and doesn't seem interested in chewing on the food-stuffed Kongs in said crate?
How can I potty train a puppy who has no qualms with pottying in his crate? I took him out every 30mins, but he always pottied in the crate. Also, when my mother has him out of his pen, she does NOT watch for him pottying, so he goes when and where he wants, and she doesn't even notice, much less correct him.
How can I get him to calm down in his pen? If he's not out f his pen with someone, he cries and barks. I myself can ignore it pretty well since I'm used to noisy birds, but mom talks and coos at him (even though I've told her not to!), which just encourages it.
Is there anything I can do? Obviously, we all need to be united in the training, but mom thinks she knows best, and I just can't see it happening. I; getting frustrated that they pushed the training of their puppy onto me while I wasn't even in state, and yet they're not even letting me do "my" job.
Thanks, and sorry for ranting.
Totally irresponsible. But they're smitten and likely won't take him back (or to a shelter) for a few months. Not that I'm advocating that they should give him up, but I know they will soon get frustrated with his puppy behaviour. They're relying on my, a young woman who has trained her hand-raised cat, but I've never trained anything else.
I've read a couple of Ian Dunbar's books, and I've been poking around these forums a bit. I wrote out some guidelines for my parents to follow (mostly my mother, since my father and I work full time during the day), but my mother is elderly nd physically disabled...and thinks she knows everything. She lets him do whatever he wants when she has him out of the exercise pen with her. When I tell her not to let him do something, or to do "this" instead of what she is doing, she makes excuses for why what she is doing is okay and ignores me. So training...is going very slow. She basically undos whatever I'm trying to accomplish.
So, my questions are these -
How can I make crate-time appealing to a puppy who is used to having run of the house and doesn't seem interested in chewing on the food-stuffed Kongs in said crate?
How can I potty train a puppy who has no qualms with pottying in his crate? I took him out every 30mins, but he always pottied in the crate. Also, when my mother has him out of his pen, she does NOT watch for him pottying, so he goes when and where he wants, and she doesn't even notice, much less correct him.
How can I get him to calm down in his pen? If he's not out f his pen with someone, he cries and barks. I myself can ignore it pretty well since I'm used to noisy birds, but mom talks and coos at him (even though I've told her not to!), which just encourages it.
Is there anything I can do? Obviously, we all need to be united in the training, but mom thinks she knows best, and I just can't see it happening. I; getting frustrated that they pushed the training of their puppy onto me while I wasn't even in state, and yet they're not even letting me do "my" job.
Thanks, and sorry for ranting.
