"Problem child" dogs vs well behaved dogs in your home....

[ACooper]

This is a "favoritism" thread of sorts, LOL

A couple threads lately (the notes to your dog, and the potty training thread) got me thinking about Phoebe and Orson.

Phoebe is very near the "perfect dog" in our home. She isn't a hassle to take ANYWHERE.........she isn't pushy, doesn't NEED to have your full attention, isn't a barker unless someone knocks or the mailman, LOL, she has no DA, no stranger issues, she doesn't mess in the house AT ALL. She is GREAT with the kids and ANY child. She's been part of our life for nearly 11 years now. I love her, Kevin loves her, the kids love her, and any visitor to our home loves her and wants to take her with them, LOL I just can't find any bad habit or negative thing to say about her since she was less than 2. (she used to be a digger and chewer BIG TIME, and at one time she was a door charger........all those things are long since trained away and gone)

THEN you have Orson. At 3 1/2 he is a trash raider (had to build the wooden trash fortress because I just couldn't get him to stop) he is in your face, pushy, has DA, doesn't care for kids outside the ones in this home, needs attention ALL THE TIME, LOL, he loves to tear up the toilette paper rolls at every chance, drinks out of the toilette no matter how much/how fresh his dish is, I could just go on and on about him and his bad habits.

Of course he has good habits and things too. He's very playful, very loving. Takes his home protection seriously, is highly intelligent, is wonderful to the kids in THIS home, and just a fun dog to have around in general with his prissy ways and entertainment value, LOL

But the point of this thread is, even though Phoebe is the "good child" and Orson is "the evil seed" He has my heart and attention WAY more than Phoebe who's been here longer and makes no trouble for me in any way! Why is that? As I said, I love them BOTH, but it's obvious to me who my favorite is, LOL

Is it that way in anyone else's home? Do you tend to favor the problem "child" Do you think THAT is WHY they are the problem "child" ?? :lol-sign:

 

[RedHotDobe]

Here it would be problem children. And they are definitely not my favorites, but that could just be because they aren't mine. Then again, if they were mine, I'd make the effort to train them so they weren't considered problems. One barks at everything and nothing and just does not know when to stop. One is pushy and needs attention constantly, and is quite a bit aggressive. None of them listen. They make Rumor look like the perfect dog. Although, everyone who has met her wants to take her home, so maybe she really is just that awesome.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Sadly I have to say Armani is the problem child... he is my heart dog, I love him to death but he has leash aggression which causes problems in public because well dogs need to be on leashes. The only place I can take him without issue is the dog park because he is pretty much an angel if he cant see a leash I have been working with him and he is better but still not great. He also is extremely reactive if people try and touch me, even just a quick hug from anyone outside my family and he is set off.

Chloe is the perfect child in public... she doesnt bark, sits quietly, and loves people. I attribute it to her illnesses as a puppy. She was constantly out at a very young age, on the subway, on the bus, at various vets, lots of different people touching her.

 

[sparks19]

Well they both have their specialties when it comes to misbehaving but I would say Beezer is our problem child.

He just plays the "little brother" role perfectly. Belle will just be sitting there minding her own business or trying to lay down and he's jumping all over her and just being a pest in general. I keep telling him one day she's going to have enough and tear a strip off of him but he doesn't listen. has to bark his face off at every dog he sees or hears which makes vet trips fun... NOT. And when he barks Belle takes that as her cue that she needs to do the same LOL.

He counter surfs, he tears up paper towels and pulls things out of the bathroom trashcan when he gets a chance... usually snotty kleenex GROSS. he tries to steal Hannah's stuffed animals sometimes lol. and IF he can get into the kitchen garbage he will take that opportunity too. and the worst part is he takes everything into his "den" to tear it up. so under the end table that is concealed between the couch, the chair, the computer desk and the wall there are millions of little torn up bits of paper that I have to clean up lol

 

[Sweet72947]

Hmm, at our house it would be "problem children" as well. Daisy is fear aggressive (although making improvements in some areas), and Benji is just generally obnoxious (especially when my dad is home because my dad doesn't mind Benji barking his fool head off when he wants something) and still has accidents in the house sometimes.

However, petsitting those eevvilll Brussels Griffons for a week, I now see how well-behaved my dogs actually are, except for a few issues.

 

[Dogs6]

Ok all mine are problems in there own special way LOL.

Fudge is the one who is my fav (sorry everyone else) is perfectly behaved when i take him into peoples house although outside off leash he can sometimes be aggresive towards strangers (and occasionally people he knows but they just call him and tell him to give over LOL) and he isn't friendly towards other dogs until he has got to know them and then he ignores them LOL .

Taz is an angel inside never starts fights (although he finished one with Ozzy the other day) but is to exciteable to take into other peoples homes. He is good on leash, has only barked 3 times in his entire life! He isn't reactive to anything. loves other dogs. Unfortunately his idea of a retrive is running away with the ball and his recall is none existant on a bad day and unreliable on a good day which is why he is on a longline ATM) and he is a escape artist.

Scamp has SA ,pees in my bed, is DA even to our own dogs sometimes and if he gets over excited he bites me . But he is after fudge in my kist of favs.

Ozzy lets not go there LOL

oh wait Gabby was my fav but tonight she got kicked down to after Taz

 

[sillysally]

Here they both have their "issues," and it's hard to say which is more of a "problem child," because it really depends on the situation.

Sally is great in the house. She rarely gets into stuff, rarely eats things she shouldn't, is calm, not pushy, etc. She is also calm in the car. Jack, on the other hand is nosy, into everything, is just starting to be able to settle in the house, and is obnoxious in the car.

BUT he is not timid around strangers and crowds like Sally is, and has no reactivity issues like her. I can take him anywhere and he is great. He also doesn't bark unless he's playing, whereas Sally barks at anyone who comes to the door, or if she sees neighbors through the window. Jack leaves critters alone, and Sally kills them if she can. If we had a 3 foot chain link fence Jack would be fine, with Sally we need a 6 ft privacy......

 

[StillandSilent]

Neither one of mine is a problem child in the house. Outside it thought...Neon is trouble on four feet! He is fear aggressive and hates kids. He doesn't go out of his way to bother anyone, and can safely go just about anywhere as long as people respect his space (and he only needs aboud six inches-not too much to ask.)
The problem comes in because Neon is adorable and looks just like a grey version of Animal from the Muppett Babies so every child we see wants to rush up to him and give him hugs. Requires me to be on my toes at all times, thats for sure! :lol-sign:
Neon really has the intellegence and trainability that I prefer in a dog. Argon is very well behaved, but he is also very soft and virtually untrainable (think about trying to train a sock- it never misbehaves, but it never learns much either )
I don't know, some days I love Neon and want to keep him forever, and some days I think I may strangle him before he gets his new home.

 

[CaliTerp07]

Aaaaand this is why I won't get another dog--I don't want to play favorites!

 

[Laurelin]

I have no problem child. just kidding...

Mia is a mess, as I'msure you know. She's into everything all the time. She's hyper, she's not nearly as bombproof as Summer around strangers. Then again Summer has SA and is dog reactive so.... Rose is the close to perfect one (minus her sometimes potty issues). She's quiet, non demanding, sweet, pretty, gentle, etc. She's just perfect. Both Summer and Mia are demanding, but I'd say Mia is more demanding.

I don't really have a favorite though. Summer is my heart dog. I like to say Summer is my heart and Mia's my spirit. I think they're both pretty great.

 

[sillysally]

I don't really have a favorite though. Summer is my heart dog. I like to say Summer is my heart and Mia's my spirit. I think they're both pretty great.

That's funny--I say that Sally is my heart and Jack is my sunshine.

Honestly, I don't have a favorite either. There are just certain things that one dog gets to do that the other doesn't. Jack can't be unattended loose in the house, Sally can't go to the dog park.

 

[lisabobisa]

Well Domino is most definitely the problem child. But she has come very far and is easily trainable for most things. She is just a bit high strung when it comes to the outside world. She gets very excited in the car (but again, she has gotten much better) and there's no stopping the pulling when we get to a destination. She's got her GL so she's controllable but it'd be nice if she'd just calm down a bit.

She's got some DA but for the most part if the other dog's ignoring her, she'll ignore it. She doesn't understand how to interact with dogs and even when playing with Jasmine she's pushy and only playbows with humans. I can't trust her off leash except in rare occasions. I even have to keep her on a long line in my parents' backyard because she can't keep herself out of their koi pond.

Jasmine's my sweet good dog. She's not perfect but I think she's pretty close. She likes to run and play but she's not spazzy out of control. She gets long with all dogs and has never started a fight. She'll defend herself if another dog attacks her but as soon as you get the other dog off of her she instantly stops, there's no grudge holding with her.

Her recall's not great. Basically she's going to go see what she wants but she'll always stay within a radius of you. This means I can't let her off leash if there's a lot of distractions around but just because not everyone wants a strange dog running up to them/their dog. But it is good to know that she won't cause trouble, just a quick sniff and greet.

They're really both my favorites. Jasmine is the girl me and my husband went and got from the shelter when we first moved in with each other 7 years ago. Domino is the girl that really needed a home and she knew I had a soft spot for pits. They're totally both my heart dogs!

 

[Doberluv]

But the point of this thread is, even though Phoebe is the "good child" and Orson is "the evil seed" He has my heart and attention WAY more than Phoebe who's been here longer and makes no trouble for me in any way! Why is that?

Because he's a Doberman. They'll do that to you every time.

Well, with my present dogs, including Tokie, who's really my son's dog, but she's been my dog for a few years now, I have a hard time picking out a favorite. I love them all the same amount, but for different qualities.

I would say, the dog that gives me the least (I won't say "trouble") run for my money, would be Chulita Consuella Chihuahua. lol. She just doesn't do much of anything that bothers me. Oh...a little bit of a licker, but that's to expected from these little bits. And she takes unmentionables out of the laundry basket to "kill." But that just makes me laugh. She doesn't have all her teeth and the damage is usually nill.

Jose` Migel Chihuahua is a little more of a problem child, in that his obsession with food gets on my nerves sometimes. He is so about picking up Chulita's poopsicles (esp. in winter) and if I'm not watching or I haven't cleaned it up yet, ewwwwww. If I have any large game, like a bear on my property, he gets a little reactive. LOL. Thankfully, that's only happened a couple of times.

Toker is a joy....well behaved all except for one thing. That is helping herself to food if I've left it out within her reach and even outside of her reach. She can reach anything. I have gotten much better, except for only little thing I forgot the other day. Anyhow, this only happens if I'm gone, of course. And it's my fault, not hers. But she can reach, where the Chis can't, so that makes them easier that way...not that I leave food out so much, but sometimes some fruit or something to ripen. She does need things to do, exercise and something to keep her busy quite a bit of the time, though not excessively. She isn't one to be happy just hanging out all day. So, on these days where it's close to zero degrees F, it is hard to keep her from getting bored and depressed.

The Chi chis are very undemanding, are happy with whatever life hands them. They have a rather low level of dog reactivity, although a little bit. They stop yapping when asked, although they tend to be alarmists. All three dogs are totally house broken. They all know their basic obedience and a few tricks. Nothing spectacular. They're tolerant and trusting of many things and have very lovely, stable temperaments.

I just couldn't say that one is favored over the others. I guess I'm more bonded to the Chihuahuas just because I try not to get overly attached to Tokie because she will be moving from my house in spring, I think. But she is an extremely intelligent, quick to learn, willing, and very affectionate and devoted kind of dog. I will miss her big time, but will get to see her pretty often.

Between the Chis, well, I just can't say. They are very different from each other in personality and I love the qualities and traits in each. They're terribly affectionate and seem so devoted to me and to each other. All three dogs get along beautifully. They're just a joy.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Buddy used to be a "problem child" ... but he was a shelter adoption who (from all physical and behavioral indications) had been in a neglectful home where he lived outside before he was dumped with no collar or tags when they got tired of him. He also showed signs (by reactions) of having in the past been hit by some adult male and (by a couple physical scars hidden in his fur) abused by other big dogs.

So I guess it's not really fair to label him having been a "problem child" .. especially since a year later he's well on his way to entering the "perfect dog" category.

Riley on the other hand... :yikes:

He's naughty, endearingly so in many ways ... but he is naughty! Gets into everything, rarely minds his own business, still occasionally chews on what isn't his, and often uses his keen intelligence to find new and different ways of being naughty. Riley will instantly follow any command, including one to instantly stop doing whatever he is told to stop doing ... and after a brief interval will return to what he wasn't supposed to be doing in the first place. (Because after all, you said to stop ... but you didn't specifically say to stay stopped, right?)

So Buddy is a "mostly" good boy; Riley is a "sometimes" good boy. But then Buddy is a Golden Retriever; Riley is a West Highland White Terrier. To a certain degree, all terriers are born to be naughty ... that's why they make them so darn cute, so you can't stay mad at them. :lol-sign:

"Favortism"? Don't have a favorite, but Riley does get more attention because he's well ... so naughty. My favorite remains and always will be my heart dog Cheyenne, the Golden Retriever we lost in 2008 when she died at over 15 years old. She was the perfect dog ... and having these boys has made us realize just how much SHE spoiled US.

 

[Toller_08]

All of mine are problem children in one way or another, LOL. Ripley's definitely the worst though, but just because of his age. He's a rotten teenage Dobe. I don't really have one favourite though regardless... I used to, but not anymore. Dance (best behaved, IMO -- mom would argue Keira's case, haha) and Ripley (worst behaved) are both my favourites for different reasons. Ripley does recieve more attention than the girls, but only because he needs it otherwise he gets himself into trouble.

I definitely know what you mean though. Tango was always the "problem child", causing havoc here there and everywhere, but she was always my favourite. There was just something about her -- I loved her more than almost anything, despite her issues.

 

[4dogs3cats]

Yes yes YESSSSS!

Bailey is the perfect dog. She has issues sometimes, doesn't like to go outside to pee, but she is happy just sleeping on her princess bed all day long.

Chance was a bit of a problem for a while, as he was going through his teenager phase. But he's settled down and is now very dependable.

Kody... Oh boy. What to even say about Kody? He's a great dog, yeah, but he is def the problem child. He goes in my cabinets, my fridge, he barks all the time. He has SA, and his vet diagnosed him with OCD. He is a handful.. but I dont know if he is a handful because hes my favorite, or if hes my favorite BECAUSE he is a handful.

Interesting that most problem children are the favorites though....lol

I have been trying to crack down on Kody and get him to behave more, but yeah he does get away with a bit more.

 

[sparks19]

I don't think it's really playing favorites. I can't say Belle is my favorite over Beezer because he's a little pissant lol. If he weren't a pissant he wouldn't be Beezer it's part of his charm. Belle's just too lazy to really be a problem child... and a little dimwitted. she can figure out that there is food on the counter but doesn't grasp the fact that if she just stood up on two feet she could reach it... which I'm glad she doesn't lol.

So Beezer is the "problem child" because he's smarter lol. But he's still my buddy boy.

 

[elegy]

if you want to talk seriousness of issues, mushroom's are the worst. he's the one dog here that i could see getting into very very big trouble. he bites first and asks questions later (dogs, not people, although i absolutely believe he'd bite a person if he was not given another out), has poor bite inhibition, and is super defensive. he fence fights, he's horrendously leash aggressive, and i really don't take him out in public very much at all because of his issues (with the exception of grandma's house, playdates with his gf jessie, and the drive thru for ice cream).

luce is more generally eeeevil, and while she used to be a freaking crazy lunatic, her issues were not ever as seriously disturbing to me as mushroom's are, in part because she's nowhere near as strong as he is and i never worried about being able to physically restrain her. she's my favorite though. in part because she's a jerk, absolutely. but also because she's complicated, bold, and hilarious. mushroom is much sweeter. he's much more concerned about my opinion. he's much goofier.

i just like bitchy bitches is all, i think.

 

[corgipower]

I have problem children. Morgan is the closest to problem free, but she does have selective hearing and she is quite the talker. Tyr isn't really a problem child except for his SA.

Nyx and Ares are the problem children. Nyx is very reactive and dangerously high drive. Ares is generally obnoxious, he's aggressive, defensive and a resource guarder. Ares is also hands down my favorite. He's my heart dog. Nyx is my second favorite and just might become a second heart dog.

Do you tend to favor the problem "child" Do you think THAT is WHY they are the problem "child" ?? :lol-sign:

For me, I don't favor the Nyx or Ares. If anything, I favor the other two simply because they're the ones who want physical contact and Nyx and Ares really don't. I tend to get bored with the easy dogs. Also I like the strong-willed, independent streak which certainly are contributing factors to them being problem children.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Beezer because he's a little pissant lol. If he weren't a pissant he wouldn't be Beezer it's part of his charm.

:rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:

What a great description ... can totally relate! Riley too is such a charming little pissant!!

Sometimes he stands at full height (or lack thereof ) and even cranes his neck a bit to emphasize the height he doesn't have ... all the while with a determined look on his little face that if he just tries hard enough he can transform into a Rottweiller.