I'm getting a puppy soon and I've researched everything I can possibly think of about training, what they'd need, and if something goes wrong. In the process of gathering this information I've concluded that my mom's dogs are not well behaved and need some training. Also, me training my mother's dogs will help me in training my puppy that is to be due in Feburary. Now I've ran into a problem: I don't know where to start. They've had no training what so ever, and they seem to think that they 'own' this house. They're fed table scraps, get attention when they want it, they have food out at all times, basically spoiled to no end it seems.

I want to teach them basic things such as collar/leash training, 'come', 'sit', 'stay', 'down', and crate training. The only problem with crate training my mom is completely against it. She says that it's cruel, but I disagree.

They also seem to have behavioral problems that I'd like to correct. Ripley barks all the time. The wind blows, we have guests over, a cat jumps off the counter, or any sudden noise and he has to bark. I'd like to correct him on that, as well as his fear for riding in the car. He starts to shake violently and foams at the mouth. I try not to comfort him, for then he'll think that I'm in a weaker mind than he is [at least from what I've read from the Alpha-Male dog psychology], but I can't help but to ponder about how to make him feel more relaxed when he's riding in the car. Last but not least, Kit-Kat is greedy. She steals everyone else's bone, but when you try to take them from her and give them back to the other dogs she will growl at you and snap at/bite.

Basically I'm asking

1. Where should I start in training her puppies, and how I should go about with it
2. I'm looking for information in convincing her to crate train the little mosters. [I have red Labman's post about crate training and plan on using this in convincing her it's okay]
3. How to work on Oliver's weight
4. Kit-Kat's bone stealing

p.s. There are four puppies.
Molly, the miniature rat terrier
Oliver, the chunky Chihuahua
Ripley, the barking pomeranian
Kit-Kat, the hairless Chihuahua

labman

Get a book, maybe one of the more basic ones from the list at http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/in...tml#post251804 Even anything you find at your library will do. Skip the Dog Whisperer. How old are you? Chances are you won''t be able to start an obedience class before the first of the year. With somebody the right age in the family (10-18), 4-H dog training is a great idea.
In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban
areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings
for extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog
or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a
pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much
easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn
to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience
class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete.

uhhleesha

I do plan on reading books and online information about dog training, and thank you for that link.

I'm sixteen. I have a job, but right now my money is going towards christmas presents and puppy fees. I can't really pay for obedience classes. I'd rather not do the whole 4-H thing. Most of my time is being spent on school work and my job.

labman

I haven't priced 4-H recently, but years ago it was only $12. That is a fantastic deal compared to most obedience classes. I have seen some kids show up at 4-H with some older, rather ill behaved dogs, and shape them up. Straightening up your pack will take some time. Choosing the worst of them to take to 4-H would be a good use of your time and money.

uhhleesha

My county doesn't have a large 4-h community, nor do we have any dog obedience classes. Do you have anything else to suggest?

labman

Nothing beats the hands on of having an instructor. You will just have to work out of a book.

RubyPitbull

uhhleesha, if you have limited resources, please do as labman suggests. Take his recommended reading list that is on his link and go to your library. See what you can find there. Whatever you can't find, start researching those online and see which ones interest you. You might also ask your parents to buy those other books for you for Christmas.

By the way, food aggression is very normal with dogs that haven't been trained. What you have with your little Kit Kat is called "guarding" behavior. To train a dog not to guard his food, is much more effective when they are still puppies. Older dogs are very hard to break of that habit. You have a lot of dogs and without training, they have all found their own rank within the pack. It appears that your Mother is probably considered the lowest ranking member of the pack to her dogs. Not good. You are doing the right thing by learning as much as you can. I commend you for attempting to train them. But, please don't get too discouraged if you're hitting some bumps with this. Trying to train 4 adult dogs at once is a major undertaking that even the most experienced trainer will have trouble with. When you start out, you need to work with each one separately, not together as a group. Start with the most difficult one first. That one is more than likely recognized as the leader of their little pack. If you can take over the leadership role from that one, the rest will recognize that you are now the alpha, and training them will be much easier.

uhhleesha

I have actually read tons and tons of online articles and have read tons of ebooks on how to dog train, so I think I have the general idea. I have been observing them more today, and I noticed that molly stiffens her legs and puts her head on their shoulders. One book stated that this was an alpha behavior, so I'm starting with her. She's done very well today. I've been using broken up pieces of treats to get her to sit. The only problem is I have to tap her tail to get her to sit. This is normal right? Eventually she'll associate "sit" with sitting down without me tapping?

EDIT: Another thing I'd like to add is that I'll have we, the humans, eat our meal first then feed the dogs. I plan on having them sit before they are to be fed. Who should I have do this duty, my mother or me?

I'm going to have my mother help with training them. I've printed out the rules of getting the alpha position in the house and the explanation the website gave for the rules to give to my mother. The link is: Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss I found it while reading through the questions on askmehelpdesk, and was linked by labman.

With Oliver being over weight, I'm not going to start training him with treats until his weight is under control. As of now, I'm giving him a daily walk for 30 mins- hour and I'm working on collar/leash training him first. He's only worn the collar for ten minutes today, but he acted so terrified of the collar.

I think her bone stealing and her guarding behavior will calm down after the humans are giving the alpha position. I'm wanting it to go away completely. My plan is to take the bone away, and give a treat as a reward for giving it up. Even though she has a small mouth, and I plan on using a glove to ease the pain. Or maybe putting bitter apple on my hand. Any suggestions?

Now I'm stuck with Ripley's barking. I've read that I should have him quiet down, make him sit, and give a treat/show affection. Only problem with he's too finicky with food to take the treat unless I put it in front of him, so I'm not really wanting to try that. Another place said that I should put him in a room away from the commotion and let him out after he quiets down. I haven't researched enough, but I'm willing to take in anything anyone has about this. It'd be greatly welcome.

Another thing, if anyone has any more tips and would like to give me more resources to read from, I'd be happy to read the book and learn from anything you have to tell.

:]

RubyPitbull

uhhleesha! You are such a refreshing change! Thank you for being so dedicated and determined!

I actually need to sign off for a little while. I am sure labman will give you some input when he comes back online, and I will give you as much help as I can when I get back.

uhhleesha

I love learning, and this is an interesting subject. I noticed that the dogs weren't very well behaved and I didn't want my future puppy to act like them. I know they have to change for the better and my mother's life will be a lot easier without Ripley constant barking and the dogs constantly whining for my mothers attention. That probably fuels the determination, as well as my hatred for failing. Thank you for the information that you have given me and the offer to help when you're able to get back online-- I really do appreciate it.