my dog barks at everyone and pulls me?

Question

i have a 1 year old pomeranian and he barks at everyone he sees & i dont want to whip him or anything he just wont stop! & when i take him on a walk he thinks he is the leader and pulls me! i dont know what to do

Answer 1

you need to definately take him to obedience school.. You need to let him know that you re the leader of the pack and not him.

Answer 2

don't let him. i assume you're bigger than a pomeranian? keep him on a short leash and don't let him go beyond you. if he does, pull him back to your leg and tell him heel. when he's barking at things pop the leash, gently he's small and you don't want to fling him, and say no or leave it and keep walking. he will get the point. the best thing you can do is find an obedience class in your area, not petsmart, and enroll in the class so they can train you how to work with your dog. follow their examples and be consistent with your training. the correction today needs to be the correction every single time he does something you do not like. be patient it will take time for him to learn another way to behave. but if you're consistent, patient and loving but still firm he will get it and be a wonderful buddy.


petsmart has cheap training classes for a reason. you get what you pay for. i have been in there on their graduation night and only 1/3 of the dogs in the class can sit or stay decently. and the trainer is still praising the one's that don't. they run these classes to bring in extra money not actually train dogs.

Answer 3

I believe that the main thing is patience and control. My 3 year old Jack Russell was the same way. I find that keeping him on a short leash helps (after a while he stops pulling as much because he see's that you don't give in and that it's pointless) and also changing the direction of your path quickly at time to time throughout your walk allows him to keep an eye on you and keeps him/her alert on where you are walking instead of just charging off in any direction ready to bark at people. As for barking at people, my pup still does that at time to time, i find that saying "RELAX" in a monotone voice relaxes him and keeps him grounded instead of saying "that's ok" repeatedly or "no" these words tend to make him more excited at least in my experience. Tough love is hard to do :) but it's worth it :)

Answer 4

Obedience Classes. That is number one.

For short term, don't hit the pup, but bring a spray bottle of water with you. Often works by shocking the dog for a moment which gives you a few seconds to regain control.

Answer 5

Get a spray bottle and fill it with plain water and give him a couple of squirts when he misbehaves. Also, put a handful of pennies in a can or jar and shake them when he barks. Both require a firm "NO" when he does that. And like you said...never, never, hit him. He is a precious pet only doing what dogs do.

Answer 6

Poms have a high dominance order, you need to contact a trainer asap or buy a book about poms and there little "issues" other than that its going to take alot of training and hard work GOOD LUCK!

Answer 7

take him for a walk and keep the lead really short so he has to stay next to you. if he tries to pull pull back (slam the brake.) when he isn't straining to run give him a treat. try taking him to a puppy trainer/school thingy so he canm learn to sociolaise with other dogs and their owners

Answer 8

Yes. Yes he does.

Answer 9

Training classes, duh.

Petsmart has group training classes cheap, only $99. Or you can ask your vet for a trainer's number.

Answer 10

http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Unwanted-Behavior-in-Dogs
When the dog begins to bark, scold him with a firm "No."
If he barks again, use a spray bottle filled with water, and using a displeased tone, repeat "No." Tone of voice is very important. Someone with a weak tone and body language will get a very different reaction than someone who is very assertive and strong in tone.
Your dog may repeat barking. Don't give up. Stay calm and repeat your negative-toned "No."
Do not ever hit your dog unless it's part of a struggle to break up a fight with another animal or a person. Some people believe that using a rolled up paper to make a loud noise may cause your dog to stop barking. This is rarely effective and often has negative consequences. Scaring your dog is not recommended. Stay away from using newspapers and never hit your dog.
Repeat the "no" command, combined with the spray bottle if necessary, and be patient--don't lose your cool or hit the dog; this will break his desire to make you happy, which is an important part of training.
If he stops barking, have him perform a previously learned command (i.e., sit), then give calm praise. Don't praise as soon as barking stops because he may believe you're praising the bad behavior.
If this relatively extreme method fails, some people recommend electronic "shock" or spray collars. These are considered inhumane by many and for the vast majority of dogs, alternative methods will be much more successful, with lower cost, time, and pain involved for the dog. These expensive devices may stop the barking, but will actually make training harder and can make your dog constantly uncomfortable and unhappy (which makes them harder to train and possibly aggressive to people).



Tips [edit]Owners with Chihuahuas should seek professional dog trainers. Other breeds that require professional trainers are Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and Miniature Collies.
Inflicting bodily harm to discipline a pet is not recommended and may make the animal outwardly aggressive.
When training your dog to a specific command, like "SIT," try to use good-tasting, healthy dog treats. Milkbone are usually not as healthy as the treats specialty pet stores carry, which are often slightly more expensive, but healthier and more varied in flavour. Keep in mind that these are still only 'treats' and cannot substitute a dog's regular meals.
When a dog barks profusely, it sometimes indicates the need for human affection and attention, or it may be the result of built-up energy. For instance, it is not wise to keep a dog such as the Border Collie cooped up in an apartment. The dog has no way to release all of its dormant energy.
Consider using a buzzer collar. Every time your dog barks, a small jolt will come from the collar. Talk to your vet before purchasing one but as stated above, this is not recommended. It can be as bad as hitting your dog for bad behaviour.
Teach a dog that barks a lot to "speak." By putting the command on cue you have more control over the behavior.
Before tell your dog to "quiet," check to see what they are barking at. They really are barking for a reason, today it maybe a lady with a baby stroller, tomorrow it could be an intruder or fire.



Warnings [edit]Please refrain from hitting your beloved pets. It only worsens the situation. They will end up barking louder.
Please seek professional help before using a "shock" collar as misusing it can induce great pain.
Do not put vinegar in the water bottle; vinegar contains acetic acid that can cause skin burns, permanent eye damage, and irritation to the mucous membranes!
Don't yell "no". To a dog it sounds like a bark and may increase barking. "No" or "Quiet" in a firm voice is much more effective.
Is your dog doing a behavior that you don't approve of? Does he pull you around when you take him out for a walk? Does he bark at other dogs? Do you feel that you can't control him? Is it hard to take items away from him without being bitten?

To solve all the symptoms, we must get to the root of the matter. Your dog is most likely thinking that he is the pack leader, or at least he is confused about who is the pack leader. When you claim leadership, the dog is free and content to be a happy willing follower.

Good Reasons to Become the Pack Leader

Your dog is less likely to attempt to harm you, your family, or other people
Your dog will not pull on his leash during walks
Your dog will remain well-behaved, even around other dogs who may or may not be
Your dog will learn to respect your possessions
Reduce constant barking or whining
Your dog will be less anxious and nervous
Your dog will be happier and more content
Steps [edit]Learn to think like a dog.
Realize that there are some areas where dogs do think like humans, and some areas where they do not. This is important because often humans will reenforce negative behavior without knowing it.
Realize that dogs live in the present much more than humans do. Just because a dog has done something for a while, doesn't mean that he can't change. In the same way, just because a dog has had a tough upbringing, or might have been abused, doesn't mean that he can't be rehabilitated into a loving, calm pet.
Dogs do not have guilt or pity in their mindsets/thinking. If a human expresses these emotions, a dog will interpret them as weakness.
Dogs can be given affection without being touched. A look can also convey affection.
Dogs have different levels of excitability that they progress through. A problem dog that goes into a frenzy in certain situations cannot be corrected when he has reached his highest level of intensity. You must correct at the lower levels to prevent him from becoming out of control.
Learn the pack mentality
Dogs have a pack mentality. If you own a dog, you are a member of the same pack that he is.
If a human shows weakness when they first bring him into their pack, the dog will often try to become the pack leader himself.
There will always be a pack leader. If you make sure that it is you, then you'll be able to control your dog in any situation because they will look to you to see how they should react.
A dog will try to become the pack leader if no one else is.
Consider dogs in a pack. Dogs are happier when they know their place in the pack. Your dog will be more content and happy when you consistently behave like a pack leader. If you allow the dog to be leader in the home, but want to be the leader when you want to take him for a walk, you will frustrate your dog.
A pack leader ...
Decides where the pack will go
Decides when the pack will eat
Decides who gets what food
Decides who is allowed to bark and when
Decides when the pack is allowed to play
Decides what the pack is allowed to play with
Decides how other members of the pack must behave
Decides who owns what
Always walks in the front
Can take anything away from any dog in his pack and claim it as his own
Never says he's sorry
The rest of the pack is not resentful of how this works. To them it is normal. If you modify your behavior to fit to this model (when relating to your dog), your dog will be content because his pack is working the way his instincts say it should.
When pack leaders correct other dogs in their pack, they are rarely aggressive, but just assertive. Humans must learn this combination of calm assertiveness to master their role as the pack leader
There are exceptions to the human, as the leader, always being in front. When the dog is working, he cannot be the leader. For instance, sled dogs... they are in front, but they are also working.
Be calm and assertive when dealing with your dog.
Assertive is different than aggressive.
If your dog knows voice commands, use them:
Only in firm tones.
Don't use a high-pitched voice
Don't speak in a cutesy voice, like you would to a baby
Do not speak in anger
Don't say it as if you are asking the dog a question.
If you give a command and you know the dog is purposefully ignoring you, stop giving the command, you're just making it worse.
If you have seen Star Wars, the "Jedi mind trick" is a good example of calm assertiveness. Not the waving of hands, but the firmness and calmness of the tone of voice.
Be the pack leader
A small dog can become the leader of many much larger and stronger dogs. It is a matter of attitude, not physical power or strength.
Ways you can convey to your dog that you are the pack leader:
Exit the house first when you go for walks
Walk in front during the walk
Give food only when the dog is submissive and calm.
Claim as your own anything the dog is possessive about.
Set the dog's food bowl on the ground during normal feeding time and stand between the food and the dog. Use your body to block the dog from the food. You don't even need to say anything. This conveys (in a way that the dog understands) that the food is yours. For as long as the dog tries to get at the food, continue blocking. Do not give up or cave in! When the dog relaxes, perhaps even laying down, and goes into a calm submissive state of mind, only then do you allow the dog to have the food. Congratulations.
Let your dog know what behaviors you, as the pack leader, don't like.
Be consistent to correct any behavior that you don't want. The dog will be confused if sometimes you correct him, and sometimes you don't.
Use a choke chain, but only properly
The chain, when it comes from the leash, should go through the end ring and across the top of the dog's neck, before coming down the other side and up to the end ring.
The chain should usually hang loosely around your dog's neck.
When the dog needs correction, jerk on the chain so that it tightens around his neck and then quickly release so that the chain is slack again. Do not keep the chain tight for very long at all.
Make a loop with the chain...
Hold an end ring in each hand.
Take your right hand and raise it directly above your left hand and stretch the chain taught.
Lower your right hand so that the slack loop of the chain falls inside the end ring in your left hand. The loop that emerges below the end ring in your left hand is what goes around your dog's neck.
The end ring in your right hand is the one to fasten to your leash.
Often the choke chain, with leash, is useful in helping the dog to submit to you in the home, not just on walks.
Once the choke chain is on the dog, you must generally walk on the side of them that you have configured it for. If you switch and walk on the other side, the chain is now not configured correctly and can harm the dog's neck. If you do switch to the other side, just stop the dog, take the chain off, and flip the loop around and put it back on so that it is going in the right direction.
Walk your dog
It is vital that a dog is walked regularly.
Dogs in a pack in nature do a lot of walking. If you do not duplicate that, your dog can become frustrated and exhibit behavior problems.
Walking accomplishes crucial goals:
Excercise
Gives you a chance to show that you are the leader
Your walk must be about 35-40 mins long
Use a choke chain to be able to correct the dog, when needed, during the walk.
The dog should walk calmly beside you during the walk.
When the dog is where he should be, there should be slack in the leash.
Walk like a conquering hero: Chest out, head up, shoulders back. The dog will read that body language and that will reenforce your legitimacy as a leader. The dog can sense your state of mind.
You can use a dog backpack to add weight to a high-energy dog so that your walks are more effective at draining energy.
You may shorten your walk if you use a dog backpack or run during your walk.
Letting your dog outside in your backyard, even a large one, is not good enough and cannot replace the walk in which you are the leader and he is following.
You must lead your dog out of your house, that means he must walk behind you as you walk out the door. If he skips ahead of you before you exit, bring him back in and do it again, blocking him from leaving first.
How much a dog needs to be walked varies according to breed. A low-activity dog like a pug may not need very much of a walk at all. However, a high-activity dog, like an English Setter, often needs to be walked 2 or more times a day. Do not adopt a high-energy dog if you cannot exercise him properly!
Choose where you want the dog to walk beside you and be consistent in making sure the dog stays there or farther back from that point.
Many behavior problems stem from a bored dog who does not get proper exercise.
Chewing on furniture
Nervousness
Pacing
Whining
Constant or frequent barking
Crazed obsessive behaviors
Common things dogs do that sometimes prompt humans to take a subordinate role:
The dog may bring a toy they want to play with to the human, so that the human will play with them. Don't play every time this happens. Doing so says that the dog is the leader and gets to decide when we play.
A new puppy brought home for the first time is often fearful. Humans that coddle him and try to reassure him with soothing voices are conveying to the dog that they are weaker, and that he is above them in the pack. And by giving affection, they are saying to the dog that it is good for the dog to be fearful.
A dog happy to see his master come home greets him at the door in a very excited state. Resist the temptation to provide affection at that point. Wait until the dog is calm to give affection. Making the dog sit will often help them calm down enough.



Tips [edit]Be consistent. It will help your dog learn more quickly, and help them to trust you.
Be assertive, but not aggressive.
Do not yell at your dog. If you think you have to, you are doing something wrong.
Share affection as much as you want, but only when the dog is in a calm, submissive state of mind.
Dogs usually want to please us humans. Be consistent, so they understand what you expect of them.



Warnings [edit]We're dealing with dogs here, folks. Be very careful. They bite... sometimes. If your dog thinks he is the pack leader, he may be opposed to you becoming the pack leader, and may resist, sometimes with violence. Use these techniques at your own risk. You may need to call a professional instead of trying it yourself.
Do not try to use a choke chain if you don't know how. You can harm your dog if it is used improperly.



Things You'll Need [edit]choke chain (do not use it if you don't know how)
treats to reward your dog work well
use a spray bottle of water to correct in-house behaviors: they hate being sprayed in the face, but it will train them to stay off your couch