My puppy thinks he is a human. How do I put the brakes on that habit?`?

Question

He won't eat unless his food is next to mine at the table and I bring it down by the handful for him to eat. I live a lone and don't really close the bathroom door--he's been known to come in and pee right next to me on the floor. He won't sleep ujnless he's in my bed at night . . . . How do I tell him-you're a dog!

Answer 1

Accept the fact that your puppy is a dog - a different species. Don't expect him to understand human speech or acceptable human behaviors. Some of the most misbehaved dogs I ever encountered were dogs that owners treated like human babies. Don't let your pup get away with unacceptable behaviors just because he's cute or little.
Treat your dog like a dog. Correct him when he misbehaves. Praise him when his behavior pleases you. He's young now. When he gets older his uncorrected misbehaviors will grow with him and get worse.

Answer 2

This will be difficult if you have let this behavior go on for a long time, but it can be changed...
First off - stop feeding him at the table!
Put a dish down for him in another room when you eat. Whatever he doesn't eat by the time you are done with your dinner, pick it up. He will learn very quickly that he has to eat from his own dish within a given time. This will only work if you are firm and do not give in to his begging.
Second - get into the habit of closing the bathroom door. Once you are done (or before you go - if you can wait), take him out side. If you forget to close the door, scold him immediately when he tries to come into the bathroom.
Third - if you no longer want him sharing your bed, you might consider crate training him. Otherwise he'll just jump up once you're asleep. Get a crate that is large enough for him to lay down in and keep him in it at night. He will cry for the first few nights, but he'll get over it.

Answer 3

He's a puppy, and you are his only interaction - so he acts like you to know how he should act!

Put his food on the floor, no matter what, he will eat it down there when he gets hungry enough.

Close the door on the bathroom, and walk him regularly. Has he been house broken yet? It does not sound like it - that's your first step.

Take him to puppy training - they will help you teach him basic commands that let him know that you are the master - and that he has to listen.

As for the bed...if it really bothers you than get him a crate and lock him in it for the night - or just shut him out of your room, he will cry a lot at first but he will get used to either set up. Otherwise a lot of dog sleep with thier masters, it's the best way to keep track and protect you.

Answer 4

Dogs., like children, need to know the boundaries. Unfortunately, you've already taught him some bad habits. Now you have to unlearn them.

Put his bowl down by you, and begin sliding the dish away. A few inches ech day. Be sure to praise him and give him attention when he's using his bowl right.

The same can be done with the bathroom. Close the door and be alone. wHen y ou come out praise him for being good. DON'T get angry if he pees by the door. This may happen.

What you need to do is to encourage good behaviour and ingore the bad. It may take a while, but you can do it.

Answer 5

Easy, make it unavoidab;e that he HAS to break his habits. When he eats right next to you, deny him of it. Keep his dog dish on the floor and when he gets hungry enough, he'll eat. Again, when he pee's on the floor, rub his nose in it and throw him out. It does sound mean, but you gotta do what it takes, any less is failure. When he goes to get into the bed, push him out. The bed one will have to be repeated several times. Either that, or close your bedroom door and make the pup sleep on the couch or something. Your welcome.

Answer 6

first of all, the habits you establish as a puppy will be very difficult to break later as an adult.

you need to put the dog's food down on the floor and don't feed him table scraps. he will whine and cry a lot at first, but you need to put up with it, and eventually he will stop. believe me, if you keep feeding his needs like this, he will rule your house and most likely become aggressive towards you as he gets older. he will become the dominant dog - and dogs keep their dominant position by showing aggression to the subordinate dog - you!

we let our dog sleep on our bed because he whined and cried at night, and then he started taking over in other ways too - peeing in the house, getting into the trash, and becoming very aggressive with his possessions. it caused us a lot of grief, and would have just been easier if we hadn't given in to him when he was a puppy.

dogs are like kids - they need structure in their lives. take your dog to obedience classes, where they can teach you how to take control of your dog, while letting your dog be a dog! that way, everyone will be happy!

Answer 7

Have you tried socializing him more? Get him used to other people and especially other dogs, so he's not completely relying on you for all the love and attention he gets. Also, have you always spoiled him like this. I have done this with my dog and she is completely spoiled - it's impossible to unspoil her now. But your dog is still a puppy so I would try obedience training as well.

Answer 8

Dogs are pack animals, since you are the head of the pack he is emulating you.
Everything except the peeing is cute.
He should grow out of this behaviour (well except the bed part) as he gets older.

Answer 9

Stop doing what your doing, dogs only do what they know. Watch the dog whisperer

Answer 10

Beat the $hit out of him and he'll get the hint