Puppy digging

[Foxxian]

Hello. Im rather new to the boards, and wanted to talk about my puppy Briar for a bit. He is now 16 weeks old, going on 17. He is a bundle of energy most of the day. Right now though he is sleeping behind my feet. He is a pure bred Shih tzu, too bad I dont have his papers or I could easily show him.

Anyhow. He can be quite the little terrior at times. Barking at me, darting around my appartment.. and sometimes it seems as if he is throwing a fit. You know the kind two year olds have. I have no idea why. I play with him almost all the time. Maybe its too much attention since he gets mad when I do something else. He also likes to dig. Which doesnt bother me all that much. I did read somewhere that shih tzu will dig from too much energy. I doubt thats it though, he digs with this other dog that is in my building, and this is after they go zooming around the yard. Then they will get into an "argument" over the hole he dug, or a stick that they both want. There like two little kids arguing over a favorite toy. Its cute.

Im more bothered with him barking at me when I tell him "no" or tell him "down". Does anyone have any advice on how to get him to stop?

 

[cindr]

All areas that you have stated are an allowed behavior. He starts doing something and you don't realise that your allowing it by yelling and or laughing at the behavior. yes all of the above is annoying and needs to be delt with.

!) Barking get a small spray bottle fill it with water. When the dog barks do not just spray him in the face. Catch him off guar. Then state "NO" Nothing else. Done do this a few times and see what happens

2) Digging all dogs dig no matter the breed, again not a good thing to allow. Try the skirt bottle again. In the same fashion. If that does not work find a hose.

3) if none of these areas work try the time out rule. Puppy digs. Pick up puppy and take him into the house. If you have a crate put him in it and walk away. Do the same with the barking. Good luck

 

[Foxxian]

All areas that you have stated are an allowed behavior. He starts doing something and you don't realise that your allowing it by yelling and or laughing at the behavior. yes all of the above is annoying and needs to be delt with.

!) Barking get a small spray bottle fill it with water. When the dog barks do not just spray him in the face. Catch him off guar. Then state "NO" Nothing else. Done do this a few times and see what happens

2) Digging all dogs dig no matter the breed, again not a good thing to allow. Try the skirt bottle again. In the same fashion. If that does not work find a hose.

3) if none of these areas work try the time out rule. Puppy digs. Pick up puppy and take him into the house. If you have a crate put him in it and walk away. Do the same with the barking. Good luck

Thanks for the advice. I dont mind the digging. Its an energetic outlet, and he doesnt do it all the time, mostly when he is out side with his "friends" he will dig just to antagonize Charcoal to play with him. I doubt the squirt bottle would work, he likes water. I will try the crate when he barks at me. If I can catch him. He knows he isnt supposed to bark at me, and so when he does he runs away, the little devil.

 

[otch1]

Hi Foxxian... you said your puppy is 17 weeks old now, so it's time for training! Start a program in which this puppy developes respect for you and better manners, by making him earn everything he gets from now on. Require a "Sit" before you pet, greet him, feed or hand out toys, before entering or exiting doors, ect. This will improve manners overall. Keep him on leash when working with him as it sounds like he's now figured out he's faster than the humans are and he likes the chase games you've created when trying to catch him. Digging can be corrected by slowly taking nails back every 4 to 5 days until the qwik has receeded and there is no "curve" to the nail. It will look like a little stub in time, the same as it does for most dogs being shown. This leaves him without the tools to dig. He will try anyway of course, roughing up the pads of his feet and after the first day of this he'll find he's a little sore and find digging less pleasant. Reccommend you get a groomer to dremel nails back the first time until you've learned to do this. As for water squirted at them when they bark.. works well for some dogs, but as you've said, many dogs like this and if you have a very small Shih pup, you're just going to end up with a dog with a wet head. Obedience classes will get his mind working, training at home will develope better manners and crate training and keeping him on leash, willl give you some control and with those areas covered the barking should stop. Good luck.

 

[Foxxian]

Hi Foxxian... you said your puppy is 17 weeks old now, so it's time for training! Start a program in which this puppy developes respect for you and better manners, by making him earn everything he gets from now on. Require a "Sit" before you pet, greet him, feed or hand out toys, before entering or exiting doors, ect. This will improve manners overall. Keep him on leash when working with him as it sounds like he's now figured out he's faster than the humans are and he likes the chase games you've created when trying to catch him. Digging can be corrected by slowly taking nails back every 4 to 5 days until the qwik has receeded and there is no "curve" to the nail. It will look like a little stub in time, the same as it does for most dogs being shown. This leaves him without the tools to dig. He will try anyway of course, roughing up the pads of his feet and after the first day of this he'll find he's a little sore and find digging less pleasant. Reccommend you get a groomer to dremel nails back the first time until you've learned to do this. As for water squirted at them when they bark.. works well for some dogs, but as you've said, many dogs like this and if you have a very small Shih pup, you're just going to end up with a dog with a wet head. Obedience classes will get his mind working, training at home will develope better manners and crate training and keeping him on leash, willl give you some control and with those areas covered the barking should stop. Good luck.

Thank you for the advice. ^^ I am well ahead of you on starting a program with him. He already has to sit before he gets anything. My little Briar already knows how to sit, shake and lay down. He is a very smart puppy, and learns fast but he still has his onry-ness. As to the leashing, I am ahead there also. I had started leashing Briar when he was 8 weeks and I have never had a problem with him getting to walk on. Although at 8 weeks I carried him mostly, but he was still on a leash. He walks rather well on it. (Unlike my mom's puppy who throws a fit when put on a leash, the little thing is older then Briar and sounds like your beating her when she is on a lead.) As to the obediance classes.. I am on a budget, and do not have the money for them, nor the money to go to a groomer.