can you spoil a dog?

Question

i never thought i would love my puppy as i do my first in house pet but she has taken over stuff everywhere just like a kid her toys what ever she does is ok to a point my kids are very jealous of her and says she is bad spoiled is this possible to spoil a dog and the dog knows she rules the hous how did this happen

Answer 1

It is more than possible to spoil a dog.
Namely by treating them like children.

You need obedience classes. They teach you how to train, so that you can get control, enjoy the dog, and have a good relationship with your kids.

Don't let the kids suffer for this. It's not fair to them, and it's not fair to the dog.

Answer 2

Anybody that thinks you can spoil a dog is insane. The whole point of having a pet is to have fun with the pet, and have the pet live a happy fun life. What are you worried about? You think your pet won't be able to get a job when they grow up? People who worry about "spoiling" an animal when the only purpose of having the animal is to give it a happy life (which is what a pet is) don't deserve to have a pet.

To the idiot that gave this thumbs down, I have been doing dog rescue for 10 years, and I have personally gotten over 20 dogs out of the shelter and into new homes after rehabilitating them. The reason that so many dogs end up in the shelter and usually dead, is because there are so many idiots like you getting animals and then dumping them when they aren't convenient for you anymore. You don't know what you're doing with pets, and you shouldn't own them.

Answer 3

Oh yeah. Have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer? You'll see some very spoiled, untrained dogs there.

Toys all over the place, you can't help, she's not going to pick them up an put them in their toys box w/o some VERY serious, consistent training.

Dogs are pack animals and think like dogs, not like humans. They need to know their place, and their place in the pack is below the rest of the human family members. You eat first, you go out the doors first, and you are the alpha "dog" in the pack.

Research dog behavior and take your dog to a trainer. Your dog will be a happier dog for it and will be a better canine citizen and family member.

Remember, your dog doesn't think he's people...YOU think he's people...he's just a dog.

Answer 4

You probably have spoiled her if you have let her do whatever she wants and give her too much affection with no expectations of good behavior.

She didn't get this way over night, and she will not change overnight either. You need to let her know that she doesn't run things. 2 great resources for people on your situation;

1) Cesar Millan's book "Cesar's Way" . You can probably get it at the library. Talks about how owners need to be pack leaders and dogs must be submissive followers.
2) The NILIF Program. This is "Nothing In Life Is Free". Just go on Yahoo or Google and do a search for NILIF and you will find everything you need. It starts off with socially isolating your dog for a few days (i.e. NO AFFECTION) and also provides structure so that your dog has to EARN EVERYTHING (meals, play time, exercise, affection).

Answer 5

Yes it is possible to spoil a dog. Dogs are a pack animal that would naturally live in a small group situation just like us they would have rules to live and assist in maintaining the peace of the group. You need to establish some guidelines for you puppy to live happily and understand where he fits into your family structure

Answer 6

Spoil away. My dogs are spoiled rotten and I don't care. As long as they know who is boss. I guess I should mention I am an older guy and my pups are my babies. They have full run of the house, take their naps on the couch and chairs or wherever they want. All three of them sleep with me. But they know when I say enough is a enough they listen.

Answer 7

yeah you can spoil one too much. i didnt think it was possible until i got my pekingese. but he was so spoiled that he turned aggressive to my kids. he didnt want my kids near me. to the point one day i put him down so i could hold my daguther and talk to her about her day and school and then a little bit later he came running at her and leaped and bit her in her throat as soon as i wasnt looking. I had to get rid of him becase of that.
Now my boston terrier knows i love her lots but i dont do her like did my pekingese. i still spoil her but not to the point over my own kids. I let her know that the kids are my top priority so she knows not to cross a line or else.
Just be careful and slowing narrow it down some. I hope you dont have a dog that has a tendency of aggressions like pekingese or chihawawas they are a one on one kind of dog and are very protective. thats were we butted heads he didnt want no one but me around so he hated the girls to a point when it came to me he didnt like me ignoring him for them.

Answer 8

You can spoil a dog and they know it too and play on this. Maybe you need to step back a bit and just spoil her a little less.

Answer 9

Yes,they are just like kids,if you give them an inch they'll take the whole yard,I am in the same situation,except we are empty nesters,it happens because we love them so much we give them the yard little by little and I read someplace that adult dogs are as intelligent as a 3 yr old.

Answer 10

This happened because your dog trusts you and loves you and knows that you love them. I have 4 dogs and each and one of them are spoiled!!!