topic Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog? in Pet Lovers

How to break a bad habit in a dog?

qualitygal — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:24:49 GMT

If you've had luck with doing this, please respond.

She likes to tear, shred, and if we don't get it all, she wants to eat kleenex, t.p., that sort of thing. She's faster than we are, but we've gotten good at capturing her. She will lock her jaws like a trap, but I work most of it out of her mouth. So far, no bad results for her on this, sick etc., but it's not what she needs or we want her to do. We do all we can to keep that stuff out of her reach. She'll tear apart newspaper too, we want to break her of that habit. We got her at almost 6 mos. old, so some of this behavior was already there.

I guess I need to read up on Cesar M. and see what he says. Have any of you been able to break a dog of a bad habit?

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

NYwoman — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:03:51 GMT

First, what breed (mix) is the dog and how old is she?

Sounds like either a "pika" or boredom problem. Pika is eating foreign objects, even rugs, towels, etc. In that case a vet nutrition workup is needed to determine if there is a problem that medicine or diet could help with.

I really suspect boredom, though. How often do you walk / exercize her? She sounds like she needs to be tired out twice a day, at least. Is she a breed that needs something to do, a task, such as a herding or hunting breed? Maybe there is a dog agility facility in your area. Does she get to run and fetch balls outside in a fenced yard? You can even set up your own agility yard. Does she have her own indestructable toys at home?

I hope you can crate her when you leave her alone in the house. There are calming remedies for dogs, but this would be a last resort. Rewards for good behavior and alternative activity would be best.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

qualitygal — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:41:04 GMT

Yes, thank you will heed all your advice. Yorkie, just over a year old.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

CrazyDaisy — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:46:10 GMT

Thats a great game your dog gets you to play.

If you feel the need to seek Cesar Millan for advise, there is nothing i want to add to the conversation.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

NYwoman — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 12:03:19 GMT

OK, you don't have a "working" breed----good. Wear her out playing and with agility activities. Get a "babble ball" or other balls to hide food treats in to keep her attention.

Yorkies are intelligent dogs and could be trained easily. There are plastic tunnels. And you could build simple obstacles for her to conquer. QVC sells that moving toy that Jill Rappaport sells. Next time she goes to the vet for shots or spaying, mention the issue and she can be tested for parasites or such that would affect her nutrition. Make she you give her a high quality puppy formula food for her quick growth needs. And good chew toys (I hate Greenies for small dogs---they choke on them). She might have teething needs yet.

To open a dogs mouth to release an object cover her nose with you finger. First trick to teach her would be to release/let go of an object, using a treat as a reward.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Pook — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 12:13:08 GMT

@qualitygalI would say forget Cesar Milan as his training methods are quite old school and not positive reinforcement. I would suggest checking out Brandon McMillan's book. One of the methods he uses is to get a jar and put pennies in it and every time you see her doing it, shake the jar to startle her. Repeating this will take her attention from this unwanted behavior. Also find toys to divert her attention to and maybe get some softer ones she can chew up and shred. I have had luck with my dog (who would chew up expensive bras and shoes) by shaking the jar and giving her something else to focus on.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

software — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 12:23:23 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
Yes, thank you will heed all your advice. Yorkie, just over a year old.

She needs playtime, more appropriate toys.

She's still only a puppy and most likely grow out of it.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

NickNack — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 13:22:00 GMT

I agree with the others about Cesar Milan. Please don't follow his advice. The puppy will fear you instead of respect and love you.

I had a dog that would get the toilet paper roll to roll out all over the house. At first I would just keep the roll on the counter, but I finally found a covered toilet paper holder. Just search covered toilet paper holder at Amazon. They have several. Hopefully you can correct this behavior and won't need this product. When my dog died I put the old toilet paper holder back up.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

qualitygal — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 13:23:58 GMT

@software, oh we do play with her, and that's up and downstairs, and walks and soft baby toys, she loves to play with the soft squeeky toys. Like She's killed them and they are screaming in pain! She loves that. Killer Yorkie!! Thanks!!

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

fthunt — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:19:14 GMT

Chewing - barking - some are not bad habits but rather it's just in their DNA. I've heard little dogs are the biggest 'yippers'. Patience and good traiing is the answer I guess.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

conlt — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:24:05 GMT

You don't say how old your dog is but if she is young still, dogs do things like that. I would suggest you take her for training. I use a "leave it" command for things the dogs are not supposed to touch. The way to train the dog is to put it on a leash, place some food or other object that she really likes, walk by it with the dog and give her the "leave it" command then reward her with a soft treat right away when she complies. I do not like Ceaser Milan's training methods as I think he is of the old school of training. I use the positive reinforcement method of training. I would take her to classes.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

wilma — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:34:02 GMT

Another proponent of the "leave it" command taught with positive reinforcement. Be patient; it can take awhile to change a behavior. The suggestion of plenty of appropriate chew toys can also help.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Mistreatedbycs — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 15:50:51 GMT

I have a sporting breed and he's almost 3 years old and if there is a paper towel or kleenex he will shred it. There is nothing I have found to break this habit, it always happens when you are not watching. It's their way of saying, hey, pay attenion to me. I have found pennies in a can only work if you have a camera on them and watch them, all of this stuff happens when I leave the room and leave a piece of napkin, paper toweling or a section out of the newspaper, I do not watch him physically doing it. Brandon watches the dog on camera and catches him, I do not have that luxury.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

lkat — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 17:55:31 GMT

I have a young American Eskimo that does the same thing if anyone leaves a paper towel or tissue within easy reach. It's also impossible to pry his jaws open if we catch him in the act. When it first happened I googled it and it sounds like it's extremely common and nothing to be worried about unless it gets out of control.

The best way to stop it has just been to be extra careful about not leaving it within easy reach. We use the "leave it" command if we catch him in the act. That will stop him but won't work to get him to open his mouth.

Now the he is a little older (almost 1 1/2), he doesn't go out of his way to get to paper so it only happens if one of us is careless.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Kachina624 — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:22:00 GMT

@Pook wrote:
@qualitygalI would say forget Cesar Milan as his training methods are quite old school and not positive reinforcement. I would suggest checking out Brandon McMillan's book. One of the methods he uses is to get a jar and put pennies in it and every time you see her doing it, shake the jar to startle her. Repeating this will take her attention from this unwanted behavior. Also find toys to divert her attention to and maybe get some softer ones she can chew up and shred. I have had luck with my dog (who would chew up expensive bras and shoes) by shaking the jar and giving her something else to focus on.

@Pook Totally agree. Cesar's intimidation method is no way to train any animal.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Goldenmoher — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 21:28:05 GMT

@qualitygal I agree with traing, just a basic beginners course will help. Pet Smart is OK or you can ask your vet for a recommendation

@qualitygal wrote:
If you've had luck with doing this, please respond.

She likes to tear, shred, and if we don't get it all, she wants to eat kleenex, t.p., that sort of thing. She's faster than we are, but we've gotten good at capturing her. She will lock her jaws like a trap, but I work most of it out of her mouth. So far, no bad results for her on this, sick etc., but it's not what she needs or we want her to do. We do all we can to keep that stuff out of her reach. She'll tear apart newspaper too, we want to break her of that habit. We got her at almost 6 mos. old, so some of this behavior was already there.

I guess I need to read up on Cesar M. and see what he says. Have any of you been able to break a dog of a bad habit?

. Mine learned "leave it" quickly.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

qualitygal — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:42:11 GMT

Thanks to all of you. Our new mantra is a tired dog is a good dog. Next visit to Vet, I will ask about Pica, I'll go back and make sure that was the word. We just want the best for her and for her to be good & happy,

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Skyegirl21 — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:53:53 GMT

Assuming you've tried a basic yet gentle 'No' immediately after she does it... if that has not worked, try to pair her bad behavior with a negative consequence a repeatedly. Set up a roll of TP with something that startles her or she doesn't like, for example , a noisy can of coins that falls if she goes for it or place it on scratchy aluminum foil, or wrap up something that tastes/ smells bad. Do this a few time for the target items. The negative consequence is nothing that harms the dog-

After she leaves the situation, praise with a treat. This may take repeated efforts. You can do it.

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

tends2dogs — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 19:37:58 GMT

@qualitygal It sounds like pica to me. Unlike what others have suggested here, this is not a nutritional lack. It is something that some dogs do. It is behavioural. You have to break them of it if you can. Does she eat her stool? (I know, gross) If so, you have to really shame her, "no, no", in a deep voice. Also be with her everytime she is let out to go. As far as the other stuff, it garners a lot of attention when you run after them and I try to dig it out of their mouth. We are having this with Willie. (not stool ) He is getting where he does drop things when we tell him. We would like to ignore him, but can't take a chance of him swallowing anything because of his IBD. This takes a lot of effort, but don't give up. Just let her know that you don't like it "no, no", deep voice, don't act like it is a game, once you get the object out of her mouth, ignore her for awhile.

Good luck. It isn't easy training a dog!

Re: How to break a bad habit in a dog?

Shawnie — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 19:52:13 GMT

I agree this chewing is likely puppy behavior. They chew up things until about two years old. You must keep everything that she is attracted to away from her. And i agree that i would crate her while you are gone for her protection. If she eats something and it gets stuck you are looking at exploratory surgery to remove it. I also would not leave her alone with a squeaky toy. If she removes and ingests the squeaker you are most certainly looking at surgery. I also would teach your dog No. In the event that she gets ahold of something and you catch her in the act say No firmly in a disapproving voice. Do not chase her because she will think it is a game. Sit down close to her saying No. At some point she will drop it. Say No again. Take it and walk away. She will still love you.