My dog has been marking all over inside Petsmart.HELP.

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I know there has been discussions similar to this but I need some fresh answers or new suggestions.My pug is neutered and 8 years old.Now he has decided to mark all over in the pet stores.Dakota doesn't.Thank God.He even marked right in front of me on the edge of a chair in our own house the other day.I gave him heck immediately and he then growled at me.Is he getting sick of Dakota and her puppy behavior?I mean bugging him and always trying to be the dominant one.I stop that too when it happens.They are both always trying to be alpha and I always put a stop to that also if it gets out of hand.Ozzy my pug was good and never growled at me when I had to give him heck for something in the past but since Dakota has come into the picture Ozzy has turned into a little brat at times.Am i onto something or am I way off? I thought i had control over everything but now I need help because I'm not going to stop taking them to the pet stores.What can I do?

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

I think you need to hire a trainer, they will be able to look at the issues objectively and also to help you understand how dogs learn.  Spanking is not an acceptable form of correction.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

That is why I suggested hiring a trainer.  There is obviously a dynamic going on here that isn't obvious to you.  You're not offending me, I just can't stand the thought of a dog being hit, once, twice or whatever. Not expecting anyone to be perfect, but you need a solid approach to dealing with these issues which I think one or two visits from a professional trainer would be able to help you with rather than just more trial and error.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

All dogs are different, and introducing a high energy puppy to an 8 year old dog is not easy.  It's great you had so much success with Ozzy but I think I would have felt defeated at the point where spanking was the reaction.  It sounds like you don't want to stop and ask for directions, LOL.  And your statement that you feel it's Dakota's doings....Dogs are really reactive so I hope you reconsider.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm sure you have heard the old saying about "You don't get the dog you want, you get the dog you need". Dakota has come to you for a reason. She is giving you the opportunity to look at yourself in this challenging situation and to learn to make wise choices beyond what your pride has allowed you in the past.  We all have areas where we can grow as human beings and our doodles are wonderful instuctors if we choose to see them in that light.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Jared it sounds like a difficult situation! I would encourage you (it sounds like you may have already decided to do this)to stop the spanking. Spanking is not communicating to the dog in a way that he can understand. You never see a dog spank another dog! LOL!  I think the "poke" mentioned earlier ( that Cesar uses) is closer to the way that a dog corrects another dog and might be more useful. It is not painful at all but gets your dogs attention and teaches him to respect you rather than fear you.

If you are unable to get a trainer in person perhaps you can get some info on DVD that will help you understand more how to  communicate with your dogs in a way that they understand.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Frustrating!!! Well maybe with the bed and furniture you could change it up a little by only allowing them on AFTER you give them permission. They will have to wait for your "okay". Which of course you will always give eventually but at least that way they will know that you are in control of if and when they get onto things. Also you could try telling them to get off the furniture at a time when you normally wouldn't. Have them get onto the floor and do a down stay for a few minutes and then let them back up again. Just little things like that would help to show them that you are taking control of things.

It sounds like Ozzy really is confused and might be trying to control a situation that he thinks isn't being controlled properly. If you can step into that role perhaps he will relax and not have to try to be in charge anymore!

[BG and Gavin]

I think Ricki makes a good suggestion here.  I remember in puppy class the trainer said to make sure you are "bossy."  Make rules and have them do things just because.  LIke the down stays Ricki talks about.  Or make a certain room or a certain piece of furniture off limits to assert your authority.  Focusing on all these other things may make the marking behaviour go away. 

You sound very frustrated, but please try not to act out of frustration or blame Dakota for the situation.  I have heard of people having success extinguishing negative behaviour by shaking a pop can filled with pennies.  Maybe you could try that for the marking.  Hang in there.  We will continue to support you and give suggestions, that is why we are all here.  Keep us posted.

[Melissa & Porter]

I wonder if you have hit upon a key point here: In trying to promote Ozzy as Alpha over Dakota, perhaps you have somehow given Ozzy indication that he is Supreme Ruler over you too.

I don't have two dogs, so get out your grain of salt to take with this advice, but maybe you should treat the dogs equally for a while.  By that I mean, expect the same behavior of them both and reward accordingly, feed at the same time, invite both to do stuff at the same time. 

Cesar (who I honestly haven't watched in a year) does warn against elevating small dogs to higher status because we tend to baby them and also cutting them too much slack because they are inherently less dangerous. 

On a side note, when I visited my SIL's beach house, Porter would try to get on the couch, and their pug (5 yrs?) would do this snarly squealing thing that had everyone thinking he was an alien :-)) Then Porter would do his scary growls back and at first everyone did feel sorry for the wee little pug.  Then they saw how he ate all Porter's food while Porter watched...lol.

I feel for you.  In childrearing I have had moments of hubris and humility too.  My THIRD kid was a potty training mystery.

 

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I have sort of been sitting here in the background reading what has been going on for a while now.  I am a bit confused as to why you decided to get a Doodle puppy when you have an 8 year old very small Pug?  From everything I have read you have allowed Ozzy to be the ruler of you and the house all these years.  Now you have brought in an entirely different kind of dog who is a puppy and totally rocked Ozzy's world!  I have observed all the dogs in our neighborhood and how they interact with each other.  We all meet every afternoon out in front of one of our houses for all the dogs to play.  They don't just all play together like one big happy family.  There is a Sheba Inu who is a barker and nipper and steals the other dog's toys.  They all just totally ignore her and don't like to interact with her.  She is like a little flea that gets under your skin.  Obviously, she needs a different type of playmate than Springer Spaniels and Doodles.  I'm sorry...I don't picture a Pug and a Doodle having much in common in the way they play and interact.  Obviously Ozzy doesn't like the way Dakota wants to play and so he is frustrated and trying to figure out why any of this is happening to him.  On the other hand, Dakota is a happy go lucky puppy who wants to play like a big goofy puppy. All dogs have a different way of playing and I just think the match up is wrong for Ozzy and Dakota and that is why the acting out.  A message is being sent to you.  Do I have an answer...NO!  But from what I read, everything you say leans to Ozzy being the favored dog and Dakota being sort of a pain.  You even did say Ozzy was special and you had a very special bonding that you would never have with Dakota.  I understand the bonding but that statement has totally closed the door on you ever giving Dakota a chance to win your heart and love.  I am probably really p****** you off right now and maybe a lot of other people but I have had a hard day today listening to another "vent" going on in DK and it broke my heart to hear the two involved go back and forth.  I think very highly of both of them and was saddened.  So now here I am giving my two cents worth of criticism.  I have always heard that you never ever raise a hand at a dog.  You will lose their trust and they will feel the threat.  They should only know a hand for gentleness, love and security and never for pain!  A negative action against a dog is a very hard thing to erase and they DO NOT forget IMO!   Neither dog should be allowed to be the Alpha...you are the Alpha!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

When my daughter stays with us with her French Bulldog, because he is smaller than Fudge or Vern, I sometimes feel like he gets away with a little more. However, we all think our dogs are perfect, so I could be wrong (just don't tell my daughter).  My only point is maybe you are granting Ozzy extra privileges, etc. that you are not doing with Dakota. I think the dogs should work out their own hierarchy and it might not be the way you want it to be. Fudge concedes to Vern on many things and she always waits for him to eat before she will eat. I might not think it is fair because he is younger and came last to our family, but they worked it out. They are closer in age than Ozzy and Dakota, but they really seem to get along.  Sometimes when they play, however, they sound like they are really going at it. If I think it is getting out of hand, I do make them take a break or distract them with a toy, etc. Plus, Vern is so big that when he gets really wound up, he practically picks Fudge off her feet and I will, again, try and make sure the play is safe.

Does Dakota get walked or something to get rid of some of that energy? Vern needs far more activity than Fudge does and if he does not get some physical activity each day we all pay :) Possibly if you exercised Dakota by herself and wore her out, she would in turn bother Ozzy less and everyone would be happier. Just a thought!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I thought we had it bad with our muddy back yard. Jared, when I give advice, I try and relate it to my dogs. I just know Fudge would be happy with a game of toss the ball in the house, but Vern gets into trouble and bugs Fudge if I don't do something more for him. He just does. He is still young and I hope someday he sleeps more :) We all have bad days and cabin fever can make us all go nuts. I have found that when I train at home, the mental stimulation makes Vern almost as tired as if I was outside with him. It will get better, when you can get outside.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Jared - in doing a search on google for dog training in your area this came up, you may want to check into it

 

http://www.pawzitiveattitudes.com/