My family are teaching my dog bad habits!?

Question

I'm slightly worried that my dog doesn't know her peaking order. She's 10months old.

She gets before everyone else, she's allowed on my brother and my Mum's bed, she gets feed from the dinner table etc etc.

I don't let my dog on my bed and I feed her in her bowl.

I have argued and argued till the cows come home about this with my family! I have told them that they are teaching her bad habits, but they don't seem to be concerned.

Any suggestions how I can convince my family that they are teaching her bad habits?

My puppy just always has muddy paws and she use to jump on my bed but once she did and I got huge muddy paw stains on my duvet that have never come out. If she does have fleas I don't want to catch them.

Answer 1

I don't consider letting the dog sleep in the bed a bad habit. All 4 of my dogs sleep in the bed with me, but they also know when I say "off" it means they need to get off the bed. You need to decide what is and isn't acceptable for your dog, though. You can't expect her to know that mom's bed is okay to lay on, but not your bed. What you can do is teach her the command "off" so she knows when you say that word, it means she needs to get off your bed immediatly. You can't change the actions of the rest of your family, but you can work to ensure that the dog knows how to behave with you.

Feeding from the table isn't the best thing for the dog for the simple fact that human food isn't necessarily good for dogs, depending on what it is. When it comes to eating habits, dogs shouldn't be fed from the table and they should be fed AFTER the family eats so that they know the family ranks higher on the totem pole.

Answer 2

Are you the only concerned one in your family? Everyone else seems to have a different idea of "bad habits". To them it's not a bad habit-- every dog owner has their own ideas of bad and good habits. Some people let dogs in bed, some don't. I don't simply because my dog is huge-- and that would be hard to deal with to have him and me and my fiance all in one bed. There are very few bad habits that everyone agrees on-- if it doesn't hurt the dog or the people, some don't consider it bad.

If it is *your* dog-- and not just the family dog-- sit your family down and explain to them the standards you have for your dog. Let them know why this is so important to you. Until you can move out, that's about the only option you have.

It drives me nuts when someone tries to undo my animals' training too. It's a real pain-- and confusing when the animal gets one set of rules from one person, then no rules from another.

Answer 3

Hi Wabby, This is your dog but it sounds like the whole family thinks of her as the family dog. It is a bad habit to feed a dog from the dinner table this will make a beggar out of her and if she sees a small kid eating a sandwich or something else she will think it is alright to take the food away from the kid. This can cause a lot of problems with your neighbors.Ask your family to please not feed her from the dinner table and start feeding her in her dog bowl.
Some people don't like their pets on their furniture or their beds. If just depends on the person. One of my dogs sleeps on my bed with his head on the other pillow like a little human child. I don't mind it but there's nothing wrong with you not wanting her on your bed.About fleas you can treat her once a month so she is fleas free. The whole thing just depends on what people prefer.
A Friend.
poppy1

Answer 4

Pets, just like children (and adults as well) need structure and parameters of behaviour.Your pet needs to learn at an early age that in the pecking order he is last when it comes to people.If your dog learns he can get away with anything he can become dominant and out of control. It may seem cute when a puppy jumps up to lick your face.This pet will grow and I can guarantee most people do not want your dog to jump on them.You do not want to have your dog to become food posssessive or toy possessive.Poorly trained dogs become a potential threat to everyone they encounter.The dog owner is RESPONSIBLE for their pet and the ensuing liability from any bites.Dogs are pack animals and in your household he must learn he is not leader of the pack.If you have a vet have them talk to your parents about this issue.This is like holding onto a ticking time .bomb.Just a thought ,who will be watching your dog when you go away to university? You may have an even bigger problem.

Answer 5

I have owned dogs all my life, and yes, I do spoil them, but to a point.
When it comes to letting them crawl in bed, I have never had a issue with that, they love to cuddle, my cats and dogs always are welcome in my bed.(and I had a great dane lol, but she kept me warm in winter) I do however, see a problem with the food at the table.
I don't believe any pet, should be fed from the table. If you want to give them a treat (human food), it should be kept down to once or twice, at the max, a month. The food should be mixed with the dog food, and always in their bowl. When you have dinner, the dog, should never be near the table. He/she should be taught to "go lay down" until you are done. The pup will see, in time, if they are good, they might get something, or not. Human food is not good for dogs on a daily basis. You are just cutting down their life span by feeding them human food. Their digestive system is not like ours. One thing you have to remember......A St.Bernards heart is the same size as a poodles. Tell your family you love your dog and want him/she to be around a long time, their actions will decrease the lifespan of the dog. You do have to let the dog sleep with you in the bed, it's a security issue, they are looking after you, and they also feel secure with you.
just my thoughts...

Answer 6

decide now that she isnt allowed in any bedrooms and dont let her, take her out of a bedroom and say no to her when she is on a bed,as for the feeding from the table put her in a room and dont let her out when you are eating tell your family they are NOT to move her from that room and are not to give her any food other than dog food ( and not to much) if they say why say that you have read that simple habbits like being feed from the table aswell as from the bowl cause eating disorders as when they get used to a habbit like this they find it hard and mean to stop so you are stopping it while she is young,this is all very true. as for explaining the dog not allowed on the bed thing take him out in the car somewhere and tell them you are going to the vets and them get him out and take him for a bit of a walk then go home and tell them that he has a mild case of flea's and he would suggest not letting him sleep on beds as they could become an infestatio,say it isnt serious enough for pills,say that he just has to take lots of baths or if you dont feel like lieing just say i do not want him goin on the beds i love this dog and if he ever does get flea's we wont let him on the beds then and then he will think we are being mean and cruel to him

Answer 7

Let me ask you this...How does it feel to be the only one in your family with common dogs sense? When your dog starts to get aggressive or demanding they will be the first to say " but, we gave him whatever he wanted" makes for a very miserable and unhappy dog. You are correct, your dog needs to know its place in your pack. Go on line and show your mother what this indulgence can make your dog become. She is your best bet here. Then perhaps she will guide your bother in the right direction. Good for you ! People are people and dogs are DOGS!!! A well trained dog is a happy dog too!

Answer 8

pretty much agree with lots of what was said above me.... and like the first person pointed out...

if she is *yours* and not the entire family's then you have to let them know... i mean. if she were a human child of yours would they contradict everything you teach as well? i hope not.... however. if she belongs to the entire family then you ALL have to come to an agreement... my husband and i are the ones who set the rules for our doggie-daughter and we just let anyone else who lives in the house know. this is her home too, she can do this, that and this, but is not allowed to do this, that, and the other thing. we are teaching her THIS please help us maintain it.... ok. not said so mechanical. but so far so good.

Answer 9

Show them before and after photos.
1) Dog eating at table
2) Dogs smoking cigars and playing poker or snooker