what can I do to get my dog to be more friendly towards me?

Question

My dog is a dachsund/ cocker spaniel mix that we adopted for my birthday last year. She is really whiny, and gets upset if you don't pay enough attention to her. Whenever I try to pick her up or even get within 3 or 4 feet of her she either growls or runs away. She always follows my mom around the house wherever she goes (I don't know why), but I want her to like me because she's supposed to be my dog. I'm trying to make an effort to be nice to her, but she's an emotional wreck! What can I do to win her trust and have her like me?

Answer 1

First of all when ever your around her try being more quiet and also try not to pick her up or approach her too fast. Give her a little more space and some time to let her be able to approach you rather than you approaching her. Let her find her comfort zone with you, she may just be afraid and if you push at her with it that may be what is scaring her off to some degree. She may have had a bad experience with a younger person, and she may just need some time to work through it, but with love and patience from you she will over come it.

Get some small dog treats, when ever she does some thing good give her one and tell her good girl in a soft voice. No matter what do not raise your voice or get angry with her. The key to winning her over is lots of love and understanding. Try sitting on the floor and calling her to you in a very soft voice. Hold out the treat to her and when she comes to you reward her with the treat and tell her in a soft voice that she is a good girl. But again keep you voice soft and you movements slower.

Animals can pick up on emotions so that if you get worked up/angry or up set she will be able to sense that from you. Take your time with her, let her get to really know you so that she'll trust you.

I know you said that she was adopted, maybe she was abused by the last owner. They may have had a small child/young person in the home that frightened the dog so that she is now some what afraid of younger people.

Just be gental and quiet when dealing with her, take your time with her and you may see her start to warm up to you. She just needs to learn to trust you, once she knows that she can trust you she will be just fine.

God bless, I'm sure that every thing is going to work out just fine. One other thing, kind of watch to see how your mom acts around her and see if you can some what copy her and see if that also helps you with her. Best of luck to you and you dog. : ) I know that the two of you are going to be the best of friends before you know it.

I really hope that this help you, best wishes to you.

Answer 2

Hi. I would start by giving her small (tiny) treats when you first speak to her. Show her what you have in your hand...such as a tiny bit of boneless chicken. The smell will attract her to you.

Other great treats are pieces of cheese (again very small)...then take SOFTLY to her and call her by her name.

So "Here Muffey...look what I have for you today." Keep repeating this phrase and open you hand at her eye level and let her see your open palm with the treat in it.
She will run at first....then she will want to see what you have.
WHENEVER she makes ANY EFFORT to come closer to you....give her the treat and say "What a Good Dog!" Again repeating this 3 x. They love the word "What" an Good Dog together.
When you are watching TV or playing video games or whatever....put her on a small leash and attach the leash to your foot, so she is within 3-4 feet of you. When she lays down, tell her she is a "good dog" and again add in her name. Let her get used to you "caring for her sweetly" and she will be following you around in no time at all.
Many blessings, Patti

Answer 3

It could be the WAY you are picking her up. Dachshunds (wiener dogs) are susceptible to back injuries, so you might be causing her pain if you are not picking her up properly. ALWAYS support her torso.

To get her to enjoy being with you, have a handful of treats with you. Perhaps even feed one of her meals from your hand. She will begin to associate YOU with her meals and will understand that you are a provider. Right now, she probably sees your mom as the only provider.

Answer 4

You're probably trying to hard. She probably follows your mom around the house because your mom ignores her. Remember that she's a pack animal, she will recognize her leader as the one who is emotionally stable. If you ignore her, she will come to you. If you're constantly trying to get her attention, she will not want to be near you. It's kind of a cruel trick of nature. Just think of what kind of person you'd want to be around if you were a dog--would you want someone who was constantly grabbing at you, or would you want to be near someone who gave you your space and let you just be a dog?

Answer 5

Try food..it usually works .
Have mom stop feeding her, you feed her onlyl. Use dry dog food and whenever you call her, and she comes give her a treat. Dog's learn fast so this won't take long.

Answer 6

Petting

Answer 7

for one, stop trying to give the dog affection, and start taking the dog out everyday for at least 45 minutes. a long walk is a great way to bond, the dog'll start loving you

Answer 8

Let her come to you.... you can't force her into liking you. Your mom is probably around her more often, (probably feeds her, lets her out, talks to her, jgives her scarps of food)
Just give her time, try giving her some treats when you confront her... reward her for letting you get near her

Answer 9

One word: Bacon.

But seriously, don't try to pick her up if she doesn't like it. Just talk to her in a happy voice and invite her to come to you. Then pet her as much as she will let you. Don't force it.

Answer 10

How about feeding the Dog what it really likes, for example:
t-bone steak.