Training methods and bitey pup

I posted a while ago about Pippa (now 5 1/2 month old chihuahua x yorkie) having nipped me when i tried to extract her from her crate...alot of that my fault just assuming it would be fine. Anywho, I checked UTIs etc and ended up treating it as a training thing, and treat training her that it was ok me having my hands in and out of her crate. I don't try and manually take her out anymore, but she will come out easily by herself.

However the issue has reared it's head again, I think as she is now hormonal/adolescent, and she now objects to being picked up (sometimes, not always), having her collar fiddled with or held, being picked up out of her car carrier.

I have now decided to dispense with the car carrier, as she is big enough now to sit on the back seat with a seat belt attachment to her harness. I imagined it wasn't very nice being picked up out of the carrier as I couldn't always do it very neatly. So now she is big enough she can jump down out of the car by herself and there is no manhandling. But being a small dog, she does sometimes need to be picked up (I didn't get her to be a handheld dog that I carry about, but sometimes she does need to be picked up and carried, and that's just the way it is). So I am now including two new commands for her to get used to, the first being 'collar' where I fiddle with her collar and pull it a little, and she gets a treat after (I should explain, as she wears a harness for walks etc, she isn't used to her collar being fiddled with much). The second it 'carry' where I pick her up and she gets a treat, and I keep doing this a number of times throughout the day. The purpose being that she learns to tolerate it rather than snap/growl/nip to stop me doing it.

The problem I have is that I get such conflicting advice from everyone I speak to about this. An awful lot of people tell me various things between "she is testing boundaries" to "trying to assert dominance and be the boss of the house". And the advice is generally to make her see that my way is the only way, and I'm in charge. I spent this afternoon being told by a veterinary nurse that I should forceably drag her out of the car/her bed/ by her lead/collar when she objects to being picked up or moved. But surely if she doesn't like her collar being tugged at this will just add to the problem?

I have come home and re-read my cope of Culture Clash and think I'm doing the right thing, but teaching her that being carried/having her collar touched is an ok thing, and hoping behind hope that she will eventually stop with the 'aggressive' behaviour in this situations. She is not aggressive in any other situation, and generally loves strangers/other dogs etc. Also, I do use a firm 'Uh!' (without shouting) to let her know when I think she's doing a bad thing, but don't punish any further than that.

I just find it really hard being bombarded by so many different opinions and advice, and people telling me I need to show her I'm in charge etc, I start to doubt myself. I am hoping for reassurance that I'm doing that right thing...but also if I am not doing the right thing, hopefully will get some good advice on here.

I am considering contacting an animal behaviourist but really can't afford that type of thing (she has puppy training every week, which I will be carrying on) unless it is absolutely necessary.

If you are going to training, have you considered having a word with your trainer?

S/he should be able to show you techniques for getting your youngster used to handling

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/thevetolympics.pdf
http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/prepareforvet.pdf
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...b/grooming.htm

Unfortunatly too many people use confrontational methods - but you are correct, its not avery nice way to teach anyone (dog, human, fish) to get to like something

It is so sad that people think that a dog having likes and dislikes is testing your boundries and being dom
There is nothing wrong with having likes and disslikes
and there is nothing wrong with them telling you they dont like them
and its great of you to work with her to try and get her to like them
Kikopup has great tutorials on picking up little dogs on her you tube channel

found one

I have spoken to them when this happened previously, and they were good...but it is often vague advice and as she never displays these things whilst there because she loves it so much, it is difficult to explain. However I will be bringing it up again with them, but I'm pretty sure they'll generally agree with my method, maybe with some tips. I've already been working on vet exam type stuff (ears, teeth, eyes, paws etc) as its part of their sessions, and she's fine with them. Her issues seem very specific!

Thanks for the quick replies, had a quick look at one of those links Smokeybear and they look helpful. Bedtime now but will look closer and at the video helpfully attached by Ben too, tomorrow.

In my opinion you are going the right way, in that you are making being picked up rewarding. This will build good associations and is what is important at the end of the day

You also want to have a history of trust between you, and a good relationship - no point in dragging her out etc as the vet nurse suggests, therefore. It is far more rewarding and much more cool to have a dog that comes to you because it wants to and likes you, and so on, at the end of the day

It is very likely that the vet nurse doesn't know much about behaviour, or uses "emergency" tactics when she is at work, but she really should not give advice on behavioural matters IMHO...

Wys
x

I asked the vet about it and she sent in this particular vet nurse who is apparently the behaviour specialist! Eek!

Pippa has now taken a dislike to having her harness put on as well...and she has always got treats when I do that, as I knew it might not be massively enjoyable for her. Maybe I need to up my treat game to cheese or something extra tasty. Argh! Where will it end?!

Training treats always have to be very high value, something the dog doesn't get other than for training purposes

She has one (well a few actually) for dogs loving their harnesses