Problems with dog:

[PomLove1]

I don't know what Im doing wrong here. Our 7 month old pom is a bad boy. Let me list the things he does and doesn't do, we can go from there:

Does Well:
Sits stays when we have something he wants
Goes to door when he has to go out
Sometimes comes when we call
Doesn't take toys/snacks/dinner until we say "ok"

Doesn't do Well:
Eats shoes
Bites when we brush/dry/fix collar/etc
Doesn't always come when called
Chases/attacks cats
Jumps up on the couch to the kitchen counter
Eats his own poop if he gets a chance


I for one, am not a very patient person. Sometimes he is perfect, but when he isnt, i get frustrated very easily. Please help. I am trying to establish myself as ALPHA but when I get extremely upset, I think we go back to square 1 again.:(

[That_girl]

Eats his own poop if he gets a chance


This is called coprophagia and is quite common among dogs. It can be because of anxiety, boredom, or an underlying medical problem.

I work at a kennel and most of the puppies do it. I think it's from boredom because they are otherwise healthy.

To cite from Wikipedia:

Some veterinarians recommend putting meat tenderizer in dogfood, since this makes the feces taste excessively bad to dogs. Several companies produce food additives that can also be added to the animal's food to make feces taste bad.

Due to the attraction of dogs to their feces, a popular Chinese idiom goes "A dog cannot change its habit of eating feces", which usually refers to a bad habit that is hard to correct.[

[ReesAkita]

I would highly suggest you enroll you and your dog into obedience classes....It will teach you how to establish yourself as the alpha and help you to break those bad behaviors.

[PomLove1]

I would highly suggest you enroll you and your dog into obedience classes....It will teach you how to establish yourself as the alpha and help you to break those bad behaviors.
He already passed Puppy Kindegarten and we were told by a few other owners that he was one of the most improved after the class.

[PomLove1]

This is called coprophagia and is quite common among dogs. It can be because of anxiety, boredom, or an underlying medical problem.

I work at a kennel and most of the puppies do it. I think it's from boredom because they are otherwise healthy.

To cite from Wikipedia:

Some veterinarians recommend putting meat tenderizer in dogfood, since this makes the feces taste excessively bad to dogs. Several companies produce food additives that can also be added to the animal's food to make feces taste bad.

Due to the attraction of dogs to their feces, a popular Chinese idiom goes "A dog cannot change its habit of eating feces", which usually refers to a bad habit that is hard to correct.[
I have researched it too. The vet said to not buy any of the products they sell in pet stores that make their poo smell bad enough that they wont eat it. He said it could give them die-die. He only really eats it if you let him, or if he squats in the house when we miss the signs he has to go out, and he goes before we can get to him.:(

[dagny82]

These are all very normal puppy issues, which can be resolved mostly through training.

Although your pom did well in puppy classes, it does sound like he would benefit from some older-puppy training and advice from a behavior expert. Although I am not one by a longshot, I do know that half of training is about training the owners to adopt certain behaviors around the dog and develop consistency in the rules.

Certain behavior, like attacking the cat, jumping on the counter, and eating shoes, can be modified with your consistent negative approval of the behaviors, such as a solid NO and a squirt in the face with a spray-water bottle at the exact moment he acts out. The trick is to be extremely consistent and foreceful (you are the alpha) when correcting him. (Never hit a dog. It sends the wrong message.)

To get him to come when called, use treats he really really likes, such as tiny pieces of chicken. During training time, perhaps in a yard, carry the chicken around with you so he is used to the smell, and let him play, then when he comes when called, offer a piece as a reward. Like I said though, behavior encouragement like this will have to be repeated many, many times, to become ingrained into him.

As for poop-eating, that can either be instictual (an ancestral behavior to cover a scent) or a nutritional deficiency. First try switching him to a high quality food like Royal Canin (or the dozen others out there) and wait a few weeks. Be sure to clean the poop out of the yard immediately after he goes so that he doesn't become more accustomed to it.

[ferJenna]

I second taking him to obedience. There has to be more than just puppy kindergarten. It's good for socialization, alpha training and most important.. It gives him something to do and something to learn. Everyone including humans are more happy when they're stimulated.

I would go for the meat tenderizer before any OTC products in the pet store. You only use a little bit at a time, so diarrhea isn't an issue. It does work really well.

[PomLove1]

These are all very normal puppy issues, which can be resolved mostly through training.

Although your pom did well in puppy classes, it does sound like he would benefit from some older-puppy training and advice from a behavior expert. Although I am not one by a longshot, I do know that half of training is about training the owners to adopt certain behaviors around the dog and develop consistency in the rules.

Certain behavior, like attacking the cat, jumping on the counter, and eating shoes, can be modified with your consistent negative approval of the behaviors, such as a solid NO and a squirt in the face with a spray-water bottle at the exact moment he acts out. The trick is to be extremely consistent and foreceful (you are the alpha) when correcting him. (Never hit a dog. It sends the wrong message.)

To get him to come when called, use treats he really really likes, such as tiny pieces of chicken. During training time, perhaps in a yard, carry the chicken around with you so he is used to the smell, and let him play, then when he comes when called, offer a piece as a reward. Like I said though, behavior encouragement like this will have to be repeated many, many times, to become ingrained into him.

As for poop-eating, that can either be instictual (an ancestral behavior to cover a scent) or a nutritional deficiency. First try switching him to a high quality food like Royal Canin (or the dozen others out there) and wait a few weeks. Be sure to clean the poop out of the yard immediately after he goes so that he doesn't become more accustomed to it.
Thanks. yeah, I need human training. We need to be more consistent with him.

[suebgone]

absolute consistency with all family members is necessary when training a dog. I believe your dog is picking up on your anxiety & you need to really work on that. that is why he is not considering you the leader of his pack.

he is only 7 months old & if he is housebroken - consider yourself an expert. lol

I agree about the obedience classes - take him to the next level & this is not instead of but in addition to ( as they are 2 completely different things ) google NILIF for lots of help on being the alpha.

depending on your climate he should be getting at least 2 - 20 minute walks a day. do you have a tunnel for him to play in? stuffed Kongs? interactive cat toys? have puppy play dates with friends small dogs?

BTW he should be in a harness, not a collar for walking

[whitestar505]

dagny82,

Poop-eating: I have a 8/9 month old who eats poop like it is candy. I do feel her very good dog food like Natural Balance .. Problem is I have four dogs and it is almost impossibly to have everything cleaned up all the time. If it is she will wait until one of the other dogs to do there duty then have lunch....:(

Help! I have used the stuff on dog food and nothing seems to work..



As for poop-eating, that can either be instictual (an ancestral behavior to cover a scent) or a nutritional deficiency. First try switching him to a high quality food like Royal Canin (or the dozen others out there) and wait a few weeks. Be sure to clean the poop out of the yard immediately after he goes so that he doesn't become more accustomed to it.

[Macawpower58]

I'm curious about your day to day relationship with him.

Pomeranians are cute, small and fluffy. Exactly the type of dog we all love to hold, love, and spoil.

I'm thinking mixed signals could be part of the problem. If he's curled on your lap on the couch one minute, the scolded for something else the next, he may not know his place in the family.

Inadvertently you may be giving him the idea he is a leader in your home. Spoiling is only for those dogs that have earned it. Your puppy has not.

Could you please tell us a little about his day to day life? What happens when your eating, does he beg, then get a bite? When he wants to play, does he pester you until you give in? Will he move out of your way, or do you have to walk around him? Do you carry him in your arms much? Do you dress him up? Is he allowed on any furniture?

Some idea of how he lives his life would help us with suggestions for you.

[PomLove1]

I'm curious about your day to day relationship with him.

Pomeranians are cute, small and fluffy. Exactly the type of dog we all love to hold, love, and spoil.

I'm thinking mixed signals could be part of the problem. If he's curled on your lap on the couch one minute, the scolded for something else the next, he may not know his place in the family.

Inadvertently you may be giving him the idea he is a leader in your home. Spoiling is only for those dogs that have earned it. Your puppy has not.

Could you please tell us a little about his day to day life? What happens when your eating, does he beg, then get a bite? When he wants to play, does he pester you until you give in? Will he move out of your way, or do you have to walk around him? Do you carry him in your arms much? Do you dress him up? Is he allowed on any furniture?

Some idea of how he lives his life would help us with suggestions for you.
Yeah, mixed signals. Wife does one thing and I do the other.

When we are eating, he comes over to us then realizes he gets nothing and leaves. He moves out of our way. We carry him around every once in awhile. He has a sweater for the cold (PSU). He can't get up on most of the furniture,and we rarely have him up on it.

[wishbone]

Some veterinarians recommend putting meat tenderizer in dogfood, since this makes the feces taste excessively bad to dogs. Several companies produce food additives that can also be added to the animal's food to make feces taste bad.


I will not also recommend this, our neighbor's puppy, who also got the same problem eating his feces, got sick hard after feeding dog food that make their feces taste or smell bad.

[ShockCollars]

those are common problems we encounter in our dogs. just a proper training and it will be ok.

[marg]

I agree that these are all common problems w/ puppies. Keep things picked up as much as possible that you don't want destroyed. Give him his own things to chew on. They are just like babies, everything goes in the mouth. Praise him for the things he does good and try to keep him out of trouble by avoiding things that he can get into. He will eventually grow out of this chewing stage, but in the meantime you need to help him avoid temptation.:)

[MiniSchnauz1]

In my experience, many behavior problems come from excess energy. I would give daily walks a try. Also, when you walk your dog, make sure he walks behind you. This will establish you as the leader. Best of luck!

Nicki
http://www.dog-health-info.net/dog-health-and-exercise.html