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how to correct bad behavior in my dog?
she's a 9 yr old GSD. she is currently having authority issues. she used to respond to "no" and/or any other kind of "punishment"
she is an outdoor dog, and usually sleeps right by the back door. the problem is that she has suddenly gotten to where she jumps and scratches at the door. she has shredded the screen door, and i'm afraid that she will tear the wooden trim around the door completely off. if i open the door at all she tries very hard to get inside. saying 'no' doesn't have any affect whatsoever. throwing her back doesn't do anything. i block the door with the patio furniture and she'll drag it away so she can scratch at the door some more. she'll practically push me over trying to get in. i've learned that twisting the ear shows that i am dominant and even though she'll whine when i do it, as soon as i let go she's back at the door again clawing at it. on top of that, she has taken to pooping in that spot right by the door where she usually sleeps.
dogs never poop in their sleeping spot. there's only two things i can figure. either she's old enough she can't get up quick enough (doubtful since when i go outside she runs and jumps like a puppy) or i saw this thing on the discovery channel where ancient dogs would poop on things so that nobody else could have it. is that what's she's doing? telling me that if she can't come inside that i can't use that door? she's driving me nuts! i've tried everything. i've even tied her up to a tree in a kind of 'time out' when she does it. she'll usually stop immediately after being let loose again but eventually, here she comes scratching at the door again. i've done everything i can think of short of throwing her on her back to make her lie in the submissive position with me on top in the alpha position. i don't do that because she has some back problems and i don't want to injure her, though i've come close to slamming the door shut on her head cause she won't let up. PLZ HELP!!!!
she's not cold. she's a german shepherd, and she has a thick coat even for that. if it's outright snowing we let her in, but otherwise she's fine. believe me, if i could keep her in at all times, i would, but the parentals don't want a big dog in the house. storms scare her, but we usually let her inside during storms anyway. she only does this when she thinks we're home. the neighbors are definitely not an issue. my house is surrounded by old folks that don't get out much and the kids in the neighborhood are too young to have that kind of a mean streak. I have taken her to the vet. they say she has a back injury which we are treating her for, and i am not about to put her in the submissive position because i don't want to hurt her. and so you know, i try not to slam her head in the door, i'm not mean, but shen i'm already shutting the door and she sticks her head in, well, i haven't hit her yet but i've come close and only because i'm watching her carefully.
7 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Get her a crate!!! Cover make it seem as much like a cave as possible. Dogs are naturally denning creatures so they are more comfortable with an enclosed crate. if you have to lock her in it for the first few nights until she gets used to it. It wont take her long till that becomes "her" spot.
- Anonymous5 years ago
The key is to stay calm and be consistent. Use treats or praise to reward behaviors so she knows she's done something good, use corrections when the dog misbehaves. Any correction done should match the offense. For example, for me and my dog a bark would warrant a small leash correction (just a twitch) and a "quiet" command followed by a treat when she quiets down. Lunging is corrected by her collar (prong collar) so i don't even have to do anything, i just give her a treat when she sits by my side and ignores what she lunged at. Do NOT correct a dog for not going through with a command - IE when you say sit, don't correct when the dog doesn't sit. Instead take a deep breath and try again - there are many different methods of getting your dog to do a command, so try all of them! You should never hit, kick, step on, alpha roll, or otherwise hurt your dog. Leash corrections should never move the dog - jerk it up off it's feet, swing it around, yank it into it's side. In the home a squirt of water, a rattle of coins in a can, other loud noises can also be considered corrections. A nip can be corrected by ending play, a jump by turning around and ignoring the dog, and rough play with a fellow dog could mean putting her in another room to cool off. As far as how much slack the dog should get... well, when you issue a command the dog HAS to follow through. No matter what. A sit means sit, stay means stay. Be consistent and use praise when the dog gets it right. But that doesn't mean you need to be a drill sergeant! My training sessions are short - about the length of a string of commercials on TV - and not frequent (4-5 times a day.) I also surprise her with commands at random point during the day (like staying when i open the door, sit when i give a treat, etc.)
- CalamittyLv 51 decade ago
WOW stop causing her pain, she's old and maybe her eye sight and hearing is going and things are scaring her outside. It's like twisting an 80 yr.s old ear cause they don't listen. Dogs also can suffer from dementia, take her to a vet and find out what's going on, or why not let her in. Really sounds like something is scaring her, and as animals age they know they don't have the strenght like when they were younger and she might just be looking for protection from you. Give her a break and treat her kind, she's an old girl. Did the out side light burn out, if there isn't one try putting one out. Really sounds like somethings goin on medical.
Just read your other half you NEED to look at the big picture and take a break calm down. There is something going on, our neighbors tormenting her when your not looking? You need to really think about this odd behavior and really before you twister her ear again, SLAM her head in the door, put her in the settle position (bad back bad idea), or loose your cool take her to the vet and find out what's wrong. She deserves that... Count to ten, and really think about odd things.
- 1 decade ago
Sounds like you need to figure out why she wants inside so badly. Right now people are assuming that it's because she's cold or that she needs to be social, but until you let her in, you don't really have an idea of why she wants to come inside the house. Once you figure this out, it should help you move onto a course of action with her.
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- ☼HNC☼Lv 71 decade ago
Maybe she's cold???
Solution: Let her inside, to be warm and cozy with your family.
There could be a reason why she's wanting to be inside so bad (apart from being incredibly lonely outside), I would take her to the vet and have them check her out just to be sure she's not sick.
- 1 decade ago
maybe she's just tired of being outside and wants to be inside where all the fun is. if your dog is 9, she probably doesn't have too many years left, so take advantage and spend more time with her.
- 1 decade ago
Dogs are pack animals and she wants to be inside with her pack, which is you and your family. Twisting the ear isn't doing anything, but hurting her.
