An Alpha Chihuahua and a clueless Pet Parent. Im floored!!? even had to Alpha roll him and I hate doing that!!

Any possibility that you would consider that you don't like doing alpha rolls because it's the wrong thing to do?

I've taught obedience for 30+ years. I could go into a lot more of my background, but for this discussion it is immaterial. There is one part that I'd like to bring up. I had the opportunity to do graduate work under L. David Mech and his brother. They are two of the people who came up with some of the original work with wolves in the 60s that started this wolf dominance thing. It was never intended to apply to dogs.

I won't lecture, but ask you to simply look into the matter further, you might find that you'll start to question this technique.

As far as your student. You're going to find that some times you'll get students who I compare to drug addicts. Bottom line, until this student admits that she has a problem there's not a lot you can do. She just doesn't see that there's a problem. Unfortunately, she may NEVER realize she has a problem.

If this is a private lesson situation, just keep preaching the right way to do it. If this is a class situation, realize that some times you have to just ignore these folks so that you don't spend all of your time with these folks to the detriment of the rest of the class.

It's not a great situation, you can only do what you think is right.

Don't agonize. As others have said, this woman is hopeless.

All you can do is say something to the effect:

"You have come to me for help. I can teach you, but I can't make you learn. I have explained what you must do and why you must do it. A dog is a dog, even if you love it, it is still a dog, not a child. You are condoning this dogs very bad behavior. You are making it more neurotic. You are creating a time bomb. Biting is NEVER to be tolerated. One of these days this dog is going to bite someone else. You will be liable. If the bite is reported Animal Control may take your dog. They may, and can decide to put it down. If they do, it will actually have been you that killed it by continuing to nurture this aggression.

"Why are you coming to me?

"Do you want a nice, fun, happy dog? If so, start listening to me, or I must ask you to find another trainer."

Tell her she is instilling bad behavior in the dog and that you cannot be expected to change the dog's behavior if the human won't change. She should get rid of the dog to a person who will train the dog appriopriately. Possibly tell her about the liability of having a dog who will bite, maybe it bites someone else next time and she gets sued....you mention dollar signs people think differently sometimes.

Im afraid there's not much more that you can do. She has developed a dog who gets attention for negative behavior. The only way to get through to her may be someone she respects and looks up to talking to her.

I had to tell a friend who was babying her dog when it had separation anxiety. I kept the dog for 6 weeks and she did fine. She is gonna have to work on it.

Whoa!

Tell her that if she is not prepared to follow your advice and modify her behaviour then you are the wrong trainer for her (I'm sure you're great, but that will really spell it out to her!) You sound frustrated, and life's too short to be dealing with a client who won't take responsibility for her actions.

Sometimes, some people are beyond helping. This sounds like one of those people. She wants help with her problem and is refusing to do anything about it. I think it's time to let her go and put your energy and expertise into someone that really wants it.

Dogs that are aggressive (esp to their owners) should be put down, even ankle biters like those little rat-looka-like chihuahuas, what will she do when it gives stitches to a friend or relatives child?

can YOU be the trainer that comes to her house to help her? Or maybe you know someone where you work.

most likely a dog from a pet store or backyard breeder... yikes,,,,

doesn't seem like she wants her dog to change