I have been so proud of Desi lately. He was the puppy that I thought had nothing between his ears. I used to tell him what not to do and he just sat there moving his little head back and forth as he listened to me. I think over time he got a little better, but now I really see how much he really understands of what I say. I give treats to Dolly & Desi, and I can say ‘Dolly’s’ and he will let the treat drop and Dolly eat it, until I say ‘Desi’s’ and then I drop his treat and he eats his. I have told him not to bark in the yard when the neighbor’s dogs are barking, and he will usually come in. I then noticed that the neighbor dogs were barking and Desi would go to the other end of the wall and just stay there being quiet. I told Desi not to scare the birds on the wall and the trellis, and he just sits and watches the birds from the planter. I took him to the vet on Thursday because he has a rash on his behind, and he is supposed to wear the cone so that he doesn’t lick it. I kept it on at first, and then I would take it off when I was holding him. Then today I even let him running around without the collar. When I saw him in the chair licking, I would pick up his collar and tell him to stop licking. Then I was in the kitchen and looked towards the recliner and he was ready to lick…I only said one word, ‘Desi!’ and he turned his head back to the front faster than anything I have seen before. He has learned in about a day that if he licks, he gets the cone collar. More and more things he knows when I say it. I never trained my dogs from a book or a trainer, but I spoke to them, and still do. I talk to them like they are little people. They know what I say; they know what it means; but they have never been choke collar trained, I only used love and a speaking voice. My neighbors paid a trainer $1,200 to train their two dogs. They were trained with choke collars about a year and a half ago. When I go over and ring their bell, they are held with the owner holding their choke collars. They didn’t learn anything necessary…the owners also take them out at certain times to go potty. They have to stand and talk to them telling them to go for almost 15 minutes every day. They also bark A LOT when they are trying to go potty on command (I don’t think that many humans can do that.) When I hear mine barking, I open the door, and usually Desi will run in the door and Dolly will run back to her mat, but I don’t even have to say a word. I am not a professional. I have never had a dog that was mine. But, I just talk to them nicely and they actually pick it up. I just have to say ‘I have to go out’ and both go running to their areas…they get a little cookie that I usually hide in their puzzle toys. They don’t bark or make a mess when I go out. When I come home they are patient and wait for me to put everything away before they want to play – either with me or by going outside.
I have never had a big dog, and what does a big dog do all day…they are probably outside all of the time, they break the boredom by burying bones and scratching up the grass. Dolly & Desi have each other to play with, sleep with, and sometimes even have a little spat with. I love that, I love that I come home and there is someone that is waiting for me; someone that loves me no matter what happens. When I am sick, they are right by me, they want to protect me even though they are small. If I have to go somewhere that I don’t have to get out of the car, they are all too happy to get their leashes on and get in the booster seat. If I go somewhere such as the park for a picnic or an outdoor event, they are ever so happy to go and get all the attention of other people, to get a ride in their stroller, to walk in the grass. I would never trade my two for anything. They are my sunshine when I am feeling down; they are the strength that I need when my spine lets me know that it is not going to be an easy day; they are the unconditional love that I have when I am not so sure if I am loved. I am their Mom, and if I didn’t do things the traditional way, I don’t really think that it matters. I have been told by friends and neighbors how calm and sweet Dolly & Desi are…and then they say that they can see that they have been raised in a home full of love. I love them…I really love them. And, although I do love them every day, I think that the love which is returned is surely much more. From: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of catdance...@aol.com Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 8:46 PM To: Chihuahuas@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Advice please - spoiled doggy tantrums Very well said Joan. I applaud you. This is what we do when we love our pets. We are not training them to go out in the world on their own, for the army, or the marines. We are training them gently for love and companionship with us for the duration of their lives. I feel dogs were put on earth for us to love and, yes, to definitely spoil (which in our home is an endearing term) and in turn, they love us back, in a way everyone should experience the joy of. I have never heard a dog described as a 'brat' or even in 'brat mode' before. Their hearts are pure and sweet. They have no hidden agendas. And they are so smart and intuitive, they are able to read what is in our hearts and respond accordingly. Yes, they do need to follow and abide by a few basic rules to have a pleasant and smoothly run household, but that does not in any way translate to or should resemble boot camp. It's amazing how far love, compassion, some great behavior training methods that have been kindly offered here can go to help raise and train a dog into a well-behaved, beloved furry member of the family. In a message dated 5/14/2011 3:25:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, joan_cr...@hotmail.com writes: I think that the peeing incident is not ‘brat mode.’ It is caused by you not paying attention to you, so then she does something that will get your attention. I guess I may be accused of spoiling my dogs if it means that they want to spend some time with me…they want to feel some love, me petting them and talking to them calmly. I am not really sure that is what you mean, because if Pia was a wild dog, then it would not be normal for her to want your attention; but Pia is a pet and that means that the owner and the dog have a relationship where they do interact with each other. I do hold my dogs; I do cover them with their blankets at night; when I come home, they turn over so that I can tickle their bellies, then give them a kiss and send them out to go potty. If I only had one dog, there would be nothing else to interact with if they were not to interact with you. Maybe I just didn’t understand what you were writing about being spoiled and being a brat.
