Aa
dog fakes sick??
has anyone eles ever heard of a dog faking sick?
my dog had started to do this, my fault iam sure because i baby her so much .
i have noticed that if iam getting ready to leave she will pretend to cough, seriously the vet even laughed at her, and fake like she is sick...i think its because when she is sick i panic stay home with her and give her all he attention. but i dont want her faking sick because i wont be able to tell if she really is!!!! anyone have any ideas on how to break her of this? shes a 9 month old female chi, weighing 2.3 lbs
my dog had started to do this, my fault iam sure because i baby her so much .
i have noticed that if iam getting ready to leave she will pretend to cough, seriously the vet even laughed at her, and fake like she is sick...i think its because when she is sick i panic stay home with her and give her all he attention. but i dont want her faking sick because i wont be able to tell if she really is!!!! anyone have any ideas on how to break her of this? shes a 9 month old female chi, weighing 2.3 lbs
You've given some excellent advice, Jaybay. :) The "monster toy dog" syndrome is all too common these days, because people think that they can treat dogs like human children, not realizing that no matter how tiny they are, they are still dogs with dog brains and dog instincts.
This is not a comment on anyone who has posted here, I just like the program I'm going to ask about and am wondering how many people watch it. Have you ever watched "It's Me Or The Dog" with Victoria Stillwell on Animal Planet? I am just aghast at how many people are totally clueless when it comes to their pets and training them! Dogs peeing on the COUNTERTOPS (:::faints:::), in the middle of the beds, defecating anywhere they feel like it, menacing family members to the point where they can't sleep in their own beds, literally dragging people around outside on the end of a leash, attacking family members and then unwittingly being rewarded for their behavior by other family members, the list goes on and on. I would love to talk with her for even one evening, to pick her brain. She's amazing with dogs, she trains completely with kindness, she gets into the dog's head and figures out how to change what they're doing, and it works! I really admire her training techniques and her attitude toward implementing them.
Ghilly
This is not a comment on anyone who has posted here, I just like the program I'm going to ask about and am wondering how many people watch it. Have you ever watched "It's Me Or The Dog" with Victoria Stillwell on Animal Planet? I am just aghast at how many people are totally clueless when it comes to their pets and training them! Dogs peeing on the COUNTERTOPS (:::faints:::), in the middle of the beds, defecating anywhere they feel like it, menacing family members to the point where they can't sleep in their own beds, literally dragging people around outside on the end of a leash, attacking family members and then unwittingly being rewarded for their behavior by other family members, the list goes on and on. I would love to talk with her for even one evening, to pick her brain. She's amazing with dogs, she trains completely with kindness, she gets into the dog's head and figures out how to change what they're doing, and it works! I really admire her training techniques and her attitude toward implementing them.
Ghilly
I hope so as you sound like a nice person who has mistaken a dog for a person. We have many dogs and they are a pack and we are their alphas and if we would not or would not be the leaders we would have been dominated by now. We have a little mini pin chui mix and she is much happier now that she is treated as a dog. She was a little spoiled kid and my wife started watching dog whisperer and realized her mistake now everything my wife says is this is what Ceasar would do hahahaha. I hope you do work on turning your dog back into a dog and watch the happiness and the contentment your dog wil show and feel towards you. You as Jaybee said were under her in the pack which is the mistake most petownders make as they are their childred instead of dogs. I hope you success and a bright future and your dog too
i actually just watched that episode of dog wisperer. lol i am going to try to use some of his tricks, she isnt bad though not aggressive at all towards people or other dogs she doesnt like a leash though but shes getting better a harness seems to be easier for ther than a collar, oh shes a smart little **** thats for sure!!! i cant believe she fakes sick my vet is still laughing over that one!!
That lady in that episode with the Chihuahua was a real piece of work. And she supposedly was a dog trainer too!!!! I felt so bad for the poor kid, he wanted a dog, and his mom created a monster... That episode is from season 2 and is titled 'Brady, Bandit and Hootie". Bandit is the monster Chi....
The thing is, my parents did the same thing with a little Yorkie that they got latter in life. My Mom thought it was "cute" that he wanted to "protect" her all the time. One time when we were visiting the little brat bit my daughter on the cheek when she walked in front of her grandmother. My wife almost kicked the dog across the room....
The thing is, my parents did the same thing with a little Yorkie that they got latter in life. My Mom thought it was "cute" that he wanted to "protect" her all the time. One time when we were visiting the little brat bit my daughter on the cheek when she walked in front of her grandmother. My wife almost kicked the dog across the room....
Good job Sickboy! I saw that Dog Whisperer episode you mentioned with that monstrous chihuahua. The dog was bad enough, but the mom was even worse! She really thought it was OK that the dog bit her son. "He's so small he can't really hurt anyone." Wrong. I really didn't think Cesar was going to get through to her, but somehow he did. I wonder if she actually kept up with the rehab though.
I've been around agressive large dogs and never been bitten. The most neurotic, unpredictable ones always seem to be the little dogs. The smaller the dog, the worse the behavior. When I was a kid I was severely bitten by a small terrier. I was riding my bike on the other side of the street where this obese man wearing a wife beater was sitting on his porch with the dog. Next thing I knew, that little shite tore across the street and latched on to my left calf. Tore a chunk out right through my jeans and sock. His owner said and did nothing. That is, until my father showed up on his doorstep with the police a short time later.
The idea that small dogs are harmless because of their size is a very dangerous misunderstanding. ANY dog can cause harm to humans given the right circumstances.
I've been around agressive large dogs and never been bitten. The most neurotic, unpredictable ones always seem to be the little dogs. The smaller the dog, the worse the behavior. When I was a kid I was severely bitten by a small terrier. I was riding my bike on the other side of the street where this obese man wearing a wife beater was sitting on his porch with the dog. Next thing I knew, that little shite tore across the street and latched on to my left calf. Tore a chunk out right through my jeans and sock. His owner said and did nothing. That is, until my father showed up on his doorstep with the police a short time later.
The idea that small dogs are harmless because of their size is a very dangerous misunderstanding. ANY dog can cause harm to humans given the right circumstances.
I will second what JayBay said. Chihuahua's can be the worst too because the are so "cute" and baby llike. We have one that is about 13 months old, we got him at about 4 months from a friend of my wife who had the pup from birth because she also had the mother. I swear, he must have never been off somebody's lap for more than a few seconds when we got him, not house trained, didn't want to go outside, bucked like a bronco when we tried to put a lead on him. But what was the worst, was he "claimed" my wife and her lap right from the start, growled and nipped at anybody that came near him when he was on her lap the first several days. We stopped that real quick using the techniques that Cesar Milan uses. (there is an episode on his show with a lady and a very spoiled chihuahua that she supposedly got for her son, a good episode to find if you can).
He soon started to go outside and I finally got him to go on walks with our other dog, a 60 pound Catahoula (everbody I walked passed would laugh at him walking with the big dog, be he looks so proud now when he walks, he loves them). We socialized him as much as we could, my wife took him all over the place to meet new people and see new things, now he just loves people. We get comments like "I've never seen such a friendly chihuahua before". He is not perfect, still guards his toys and food a bit too much from the other dogs, but he is now a pretty well adjusted dog, not just a lap ornement (but he does love sleeping in my lap..... ;^) )
He soon started to go outside and I finally got him to go on walks with our other dog, a 60 pound Catahoula (everbody I walked passed would laugh at him walking with the big dog, be he looks so proud now when he walks, he loves them). We socialized him as much as we could, my wife took him all over the place to meet new people and see new things, now he just loves people. We get comments like "I've never seen such a friendly chihuahua before". He is not perfect, still guards his toys and food a bit too much from the other dogs, but he is now a pretty well adjusted dog, not just a lap ornement (but he does love sleeping in my lap..... ;^) )
OMG! LOL! Sounds like your dog is actually pretty clever. Dog's are sorta like kids in that way - you give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
My husband is the alfa dog in our house when it comes to Bear. Bear knows what he can get away with and who he can get away with it with. And that would be me and he knows it. My husband says you have to show all dogs who the boss is and be consistant and they will respect you and love you in return.
My husband gets frustrated with me because I don't make Bear listen. Let me give you a few examples how things are at my house. I know I shouldn't be like this but I can't help it - I don't like being the bad guy. When I am trying to make Bear go outside (maybe cuz I want to mop or something) I open the door and say,"go on Bear", and he sits down and looks at me with these adorable eyes and wont go out. I keep trying and he wont go out so I holler "Donny" (my husband) and lickety split Bear gets up and goes out. My husband doesn't even have to say anything to him. I know, sounds like my husband beats him or something but honestly he has never been beaten. I think it's just the authority in my husbands voice, well and the fact he follows through.
You know whats really funny. When my husband wasn't home, I tried that yelling for my husband trick, and it didn't work because he knew my husband wasn't home. So I got him on speaker phone - lol. That works!
I understand where your coming from cause I'm the same way. I know we both shouldn't be. Sometimes I try to make my voice sound deeper and like I really mean it and that works sometimes, but I'm not consistant especially since my dog hasn't been well. I'm pretty sure he's not faking it though - the vet thinks he has cancer. My husband teases Bear, and me, by telling him he is just faking cause he knows I'll spoil him. Of course he knows he's not, he is just teasing us while he is petting Bear.
I guess I didn't really give you any advice, except for my husbands, but I can certainly relate to your situation. Jaybay had really good advice though.
Good Luck.
My husband is the alfa dog in our house when it comes to Bear. Bear knows what he can get away with and who he can get away with it with. And that would be me and he knows it. My husband says you have to show all dogs who the boss is and be consistant and they will respect you and love you in return.
My husband gets frustrated with me because I don't make Bear listen. Let me give you a few examples how things are at my house. I know I shouldn't be like this but I can't help it - I don't like being the bad guy. When I am trying to make Bear go outside (maybe cuz I want to mop or something) I open the door and say,"go on Bear", and he sits down and looks at me with these adorable eyes and wont go out. I keep trying and he wont go out so I holler "Donny" (my husband) and lickety split Bear gets up and goes out. My husband doesn't even have to say anything to him. I know, sounds like my husband beats him or something but honestly he has never been beaten. I think it's just the authority in my husbands voice, well and the fact he follows through.
You know whats really funny. When my husband wasn't home, I tried that yelling for my husband trick, and it didn't work because he knew my husband wasn't home. So I got him on speaker phone - lol. That works!
I understand where your coming from cause I'm the same way. I know we both shouldn't be. Sometimes I try to make my voice sound deeper and like I really mean it and that works sometimes, but I'm not consistant especially since my dog hasn't been well. I'm pretty sure he's not faking it though - the vet thinks he has cancer. My husband teases Bear, and me, by telling him he is just faking cause he knows I'll spoil him. Of course he knows he's not, he is just teasing us while he is petting Bear.
I guess I didn't really give you any advice, except for my husbands, but I can certainly relate to your situation. Jaybay had really good advice though.
Good Luck.
thanks. iam going to look into a puppy training class, i think it would be the best she is spoiled and so loveable that i really dont want her turning mean, she does seem to pick up on things pretty quickly like house training ect. so hopefull she will learn fast.
It sounds like your dog has trained you very well. She's obviously learned that coughing results in lots of attention from you. Until you begin to ignore that behavior, it's not going to change.
I suspect this issue is only one of many in which she is the leader of the pack. You probably don't even realize it. Any time your dog gets you to change your own behavior, the idea that she is top dog gets even more reinforced.
Dogs are dogs. They are not people, and not human babies. They have entirely different needs than humans. I know you realize that, but I say it only to illustrate that you can't apply human baby techniques to dogs and have the result be anything more than failure or outright disaster. Your pup is still young enough that it shouldn't be too difficult to get her to understand that you are her pack leader - not the other way around. You just need some tools to get you started. Is it possible for you to go to puppy school or hire a behaviorist to work with you? If not, head to the library and check out some books about dog behavior and training. Cesar Millan's (The Dog Whisperer) books are outstanding and written in an easy-to-read and understand style. You can also rent his DVDs at most video stores.
I've seen too many small dogs turned into neurotic, ill-behaved and unsociable monsters only because their owners treat them like babies and only give them affection without also adding discipline. Carrying a dog around in a purse looks cute, but it's bad for the dog. You want a physically healthy and mentally balanced dog. That won't happen by treating her as you would a human child.
My neighbors have a chihuahua of about the same age as your pup. Within a month, she went from a sweet, sociable pup to an aggressive biter. Why? Because she has no discipline and no exercise. She was never taught any rules, so she made up her own. Dogs don't care what rung of the ladder they're on in their pack. If they sense a power vaccuum at the top, they'll happily fill it and you end up with an aggressive dog that everyone hates. The longer the dog is allowed to be the pack leader, the longer it will take to rehabilitate her. It's not impossible given the right tools.
Sorry I was so long-winded. I know I tend to get passionate on this subject. :-)
I suspect this issue is only one of many in which she is the leader of the pack. You probably don't even realize it. Any time your dog gets you to change your own behavior, the idea that she is top dog gets even more reinforced.
Dogs are dogs. They are not people, and not human babies. They have entirely different needs than humans. I know you realize that, but I say it only to illustrate that you can't apply human baby techniques to dogs and have the result be anything more than failure or outright disaster. Your pup is still young enough that it shouldn't be too difficult to get her to understand that you are her pack leader - not the other way around. You just need some tools to get you started. Is it possible for you to go to puppy school or hire a behaviorist to work with you? If not, head to the library and check out some books about dog behavior and training. Cesar Millan's (The Dog Whisperer) books are outstanding and written in an easy-to-read and understand style. You can also rent his DVDs at most video stores.
I've seen too many small dogs turned into neurotic, ill-behaved and unsociable monsters only because their owners treat them like babies and only give them affection without also adding discipline. Carrying a dog around in a purse looks cute, but it's bad for the dog. You want a physically healthy and mentally balanced dog. That won't happen by treating her as you would a human child.
My neighbors have a chihuahua of about the same age as your pup. Within a month, she went from a sweet, sociable pup to an aggressive biter. Why? Because she has no discipline and no exercise. She was never taught any rules, so she made up her own. Dogs don't care what rung of the ladder they're on in their pack. If they sense a power vaccuum at the top, they'll happily fill it and you end up with an aggressive dog that everyone hates. The longer the dog is allowed to be the pack leader, the longer it will take to rehabilitate her. It's not impossible given the right tools.
Sorry I was so long-winded. I know I tend to get passionate on this subject. :-)
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