dog behavior problems?

Question

my wheaten terrier is almost one and has been acting very naughty

she keeps on chewing everything-fallen papers, remotes, rabbit bedding, and she just chewed my mom phone. we try to supply the house with chew toys-but she breaks most of them-all she has is a kong toy and a nylabone-which sometimes she gets bored with. what can i do to stop this chewing problem (dont say hit her please)

another problem is that when we try to brush her she wont remain calm and snaps at us-anyway to get her to behave well when we brush her?


thank you and please help!

btw-she is probally not teething anymore since she is almost one and
she is crate trained and does know the command leave it but if a paper drops on the floor we r usually too late because she grabs it and pretends its a game (or she destroys whatever she has i.e-my glasses-my moms cell phone)

oh and any recomendations for toys-strong durable ones? ive bought her so many-none of them last. she LOVES squeaky toys-but she chews on them so strong and long and she tries to rip out the squeaker

she has also chewed up latex toys-very destructable puppy =]

Answer 1

this is natural for all puppies. it happened to mine, and it means your dog is probably teething. this is when your doggy's teeth are still coming up through her gums. it's like when you were young; it really hurt, too! so give her some sympathy, and let her chew! however, if she chews on anything other than her chew toys, grab her gently by the scruff and go,"pssst! or sssss!" a little loudly. dogs hate this noise, so she'll know to stop. you only have two toys, too, so keep in mind YOU NEED MORE! also, the toys you have aren't really going to capture a young dog's attention. go to your local pet store and buy some vibrant toys that squeak or make interesting noises. make sure they are also bumpy to massage your dogs teeth, or plushy, so they'll want to shake it around! they love these toys. get three or so more, and make sure they're very durable so they'll last you a while. thin rubber toys won't last you long! go buy some toys, and make to gently scold your puppy when she's being naughty. when you brush her, it's natural for her to do this! before you brush her, get a damp towel and stick it in the fridge overnight (keep some handy) and let her chew on that as well as a nice chew toy! it'll soothe her mouth and hurting gums. good luck!

Answer 2

WOW! Have you had her since a puppy?

To stop chewing:

Only allow her access to the house when you can supervise her (if you cannot give her 100% of your attention keep her tied to your belt with a leash or in a cage or gated in a room with nothing to destroy).

Teach her the command "Leave it" or something similar. Place some items she likes on the ground. Put her on a leash. Hold treats in your hand. When she goes to smell the items tell her "(her name) Leave it". Pull her slightly back by putting tension on the leash (do not yank her hard). Give her a treat. Eventually, she will learn to pull her self off the items (give her a treat when she does this). Then, in the future when she has something you don't want her to have you simply have to give her the command.

To stop snapping:

Make it a positive experience...only brush for a short time and feed her treats while brushing her. This will make her less likely to snap. Some dogs never stop...most do...if she doesn't you can always muzzle her to keep yourselves safe especially if this is the only time she does it. You need to modify the behavior if possible.

Answer 3

I have two Labs, so I can't help you with the chewing. Everyone told me labs grow out of it and they did. They were about two when they completely stopped tearing up things they shouldn't. They will shred toys to pieces sometimes. However, I can help you with the lack of good squeaky toys. The only squeaky toys my two 100 pound Labs can't chew up are the Latex squeaky toys, not the thick plastic ones. Make sure it says Latex on the package. They are also cheap (about two to three dollars for a good Lab sized one) and they are extremely loud and entertaining for my dogs.

Answer 4

That's because she's still a puppy. Many dogs can't be trusted out of a crate in the house until they are 18 to 36 months of age. It's not naughtiness, it's boredom. More exercise will also help. When grooming, as she needs to learn to accept it, reward good behavior and correct inappropriate behavior. So give her treats as you brush her and give a sharp no and continue on brushing if she snaps.

Answer 5

Reward her when she does good things. She really shouldn't be left in the house by herself yet. Crate train her if you haven't already. Or just try to leave her in your kitchen (use gates and such to keep her confined).

Give her exercise! Make her too tired to do bad things. Terriers need mental activity, keep her mind occupied. Take her for walks, take her to a park, throw the tennis ball with her...

When you have pets you just need to come to terms with the fact that stuff will be destroyed by them and because of them. You can't get too mad, because I am sure things were left lying around in her reach. Just like parents baby-proof a house for their children, you have to do the same with a pet.

Petsmart offers cheap obedience classes, or look in the Yellow-pages for a obedience class for her. You just really need to praise her and reward her when she is a good girl.

Musts:
Crate train her
reward her for good behavior
puppy-proof your house
take her to an obedience class
EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE!

Answer 6

To find the real cause for dog behavior problems takes some detective work since dogs express themselves in many different ways and the connection between our thoughts and the problematic canine behavior is seldom seen at first glance as this case illustrates.

For more information check this out at http://barkingmadtraining.com/

Answer 7

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Wheaten appearance
The Wheaten is a balanced, well-muscled, square dog with a distinctive coat and color and a docked tail. Males are 18-19 inches tall and weigh 35-40 pounds, and females are a bit smaller. The breed has the typical rectangular terrier head, small-to-medium ears that drop over at the skull, a large black nose, and brown, almond-shaped eyes.

The coat color is unique among the terriers, leading to the opinion that the inclusion of “soft-coated” in the breed name is unnecessary. All Wheatens are shades of … wheaten color. Puppies may be darker, and adolescents may have some darker shading on muzzles and ears, but adult dogs must be uniformly wheaten.

Coat texture is unique as well. Most breeds developed to work in harsh climates have double coats, also a feature shared by many terriers. However, the Wheaten has a long, soft, wavy single coat that covers its entire body and head and flows when the dog moves. The American Wheaten coat is somewhat heavier than that on the Irish dogs today, and potential puppy buyers may have a choice when selecting a breeder. However, whatever type you choose, remember that it can take up to three years for the coat to mature to its typical Wheaten color and texture.


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Temperament and behavior
The Wheaten combines the best terrier attributes without the sharpness typical of most of the dogs in this group. Steady, fun-loving, friendly, and willing to bark at unfamiliar people who enter his space, he’s not as high-strung as some other terriers, but he may nonetheless be scrappy with other dogs or have a high prey drive that stresses neighborhood cats and small wildlife. He’s not as suspicious of strangers as the Kerry or as bold as the Irish, but he does have a stubborn streak and needs early socialization to accustom him to a variety of people and situations.

Wheatens jump and bounce. They can leap straight up off the floor and are fond of jumping on people to get attention or display their high spirits. Training often takes more than a dollop of patience and a deep commitment to firm but gentle instruction and follow-up.

The Wheaten will settle into suburban and city living quite comfortably if obedience-trained for good manners and given daily exercise. He is a bright dog, though, and if left to his own devices, could become snippy or destructive. He likes tricks and games that exercise his brain and body; active toys such as balls, food cubes, and flying discs can satisfy his need for physical and mental stimulation. The Wheaten is good with children, but he must be trained to understand that even the children in the family can tell him what to do.

Like many terriers, the Wheaten also likes to dig, so fences to contain him should be sunk into the ground or placed on concrete.


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Coat care
The Wheaten coat keeps many potential owners from enjoying the great character of this breed. The soft, wavy coat needs constant attention to keep it free of mats and debris – daily combing is necessary for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors and every-other-day grooming is required for indoor pets. Even a leaf picked up on a walk in the park can start a tangle, and sticky seed pods hitching a ride can be major disasters.

Special attention must be paid to the coat behind the ears and in other sensitive spots as mats and tangles in these places are not only difficult to remove, they cause pain to the dog. Thoroughness is necessary; snarls can quickly become felted pads of hair, which can in turn can cause hot spots and skin infections.


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Health
Basically a healthy dog, the Wheaten has a life expectancy of 12-15 years. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America guards breed health and tracks genetic problems through its code of ethics and a health committee. The code of ethics requires, among other things, that all breeding stock be certified free of hip dysplasia, genetic eye diseases, and brucellosis and other infectious diseases.

The breed is susceptible to three diseases thought to have genetic origin – protein-losing nephropathy, protein-losing enteropathy, and renal dysplasia. PLN involves loss of protein through the kidneys; PLE involves loss of protein through the intestines; and RD involves abnormal formation of the kidneys. All are rare in the US.

Although great strides have been made in identifying genetic markers and developing screening tests for many gene-based diseases, there are no test yet for PLN, PLE, or RD. Therefore, the breed club’s health committee recommends that close relatives of dogs with these diseases not be bred and that periodic tests be done on the relatives of affected dogs to determine if the disease is present and help establish a baseline for research.

The breed club is not sitting on its hands, waiting for someone else to do the work that will protect the Wheaten. Instead, the club sponsors research at three veterinary schools, including test breedings, clinical and genetic studies, and epidemiology. For more information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Ampleford, breed health coordinator, PO Box 2987, Batesville, VA 22924 or visit the Wheaten club website (www.scwtca.org).


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Choosing a puppy
The Wheaten is a medium-sized dog suitable for an active family that also has time and inclination for training and grooming. The usual caveats apply, however: when choosing a Wheaten puppy, look for one with parents that have been certified free of known genetic disorders, a puppy that is neither timid nor overly bold. If possible, visit the whole litter to compare the personalities of the puppies, meet the mother, and see the conditions in which the pups were born and raised. Early socialization is important as well; puppies that have been accustomed to different people, sounds, surfaces, conditions, and toys will adapt more quickly to new surroundings and training.

Plan on a puppy kindergarten class that will continue socialization, teach the fundamentals of walking on a leash, and begin work on the basic commands of sit, down, stay, and come.

Answer 8

hitting with ur hand is bad. get a newspaper and lightly spank her if ever needed that way she wont be scared of your hand or you. grab hold of her up and look her dead in the eyes until she cant stand it anymore. thats my secret. letting know whos boss. it will take a little while

Answer 9

sounds like your dog needs to do a few obidience classes
good luck

Answer 10

She shouldn't need to be brushed it she's that young.