I have alot of concerns. We recently have adopted a 1 1/2 year old female golden retriever, Sammie, 2 weeks ago. We already have a 6 yr old shi tzu, gizmo. With getting the dog, the biggest problem we knew we were going to have is that she is territorial of her food and to feed the dogs separately. The funny thing is, this isnt any of the problems. I feed both dogs together, periodically taking the food away from each of them at differ times, which I stay right there during the whole feeding, and have no problems.
Problem one. Bones and toys. She bit my husband when he was petting her telling her she was a good girl for not growling or going after gizmo. Shortly after that sammie bit him. He was shocked and didnt know what to do. I quickly went into the living room, looked her in the eye and said no. She then began cowarding down to me to the floor and not really listening to my husband. I did some reading in your book to reintroduce toys and bones to the dogs but she still fights over everything. If gizmo is near a toy she growl and attacks or takes it from him, even if he is just near the toy she doesnt want him to have it. Even if she really doesnt want it she still takes it and growls. She does drop the toy and stop when we tell her no but will not stop the behavoir. We now give her the toys or bone in thier kennels when we are gone but I am still trying to leave toys out for them to play with until she begins acting aggressive and then I put them away until the next day. Is this correct to keep doing this?
:mad:
Problem two. Sammie acts like she doesnt know any commands. We were coming in with the understanding that she was a fully trained dog. She is house broke but she acts like she doesnt know what sit means. In the home is better than outside. she sits when she wants, come when she wants, never followed down command. I started the commands in 203 section, which i think is getting better. But I think she is ignoring me because she does it at some times but not others. Any suggestions?
Outside is the worst. She never comes and runs off when we tell her to come and makes us catch her if not on a leash. When we first brought her home she didnt run off but now it is worse. We have a partially fenced in yard and she definately finds every hole or crack in the yard. We are thinking of getting an invisible fence, but reading about it online people like it but i dont think it is correcting the behavior. people say the dog hears the beeping and knows to not go any further. I want to fix the behavior and not have her wear the bulky collar to shock her. I have even thought about the shock collar as well. What would be your input on this?
There is one thing I havent mentioned yet. I think we may have started the heirachy problem. As I been reading I noticed you should not let your dog on the furnature. We did allow her on the furnature this whole time. Gizmo is allowed so we didnt think anything of it. But gizmo isnt a problem with aggression. Today, I started telling her off, she chooses when she wants to listen, but does get down immidiately when I get ready to stand up. I do praise her at this time and she seems to be doing better. I'm hoping with correcting this problem we may correct the rest. I also have a 13 year old daughter that is trying to gain her respect as well. Sammie listens better to me rather than her and my husband.
Gizmo is doing well with the adjustment. At times I dont think he really cares. When she does try to play with him he begins being the one to attack and growl. Sammie does back off at that time and there isnt a fight or anything. I do yell no at him and he does stop. I'm still not sure between the two of them is higher up in the chain between them too. I have been neglecting Gizmo to be training her. Sammie does very well with going for walks on a leash and going thru door ways.
I would like your input before we go spending alot of unecessary money.
Thank you!!
Deb
