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Trusted Contributor
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Registered: ‎03-26-2010

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/7/2014 sparklestar said:
On 6/7/2014 Abrowneyegirl said:

Would you pay to have your pets be able to talk to you for a day?

How much would you be willing to pay?

What would be your first question for your pet?

NO I am not selling anything obviously {#emotions_dlg.w00t} ! Like I said "just for fun and smiles"

Did anyone really answer the questions?

Anyway, I don't know how much I would pay, but I know my first question would be "are you in pain and how can I help." My Lhasa Apso is 13 years old and this last year he had a operation and seems to have aged quickly since. While the operation went well and he recuperated fine, I notice a lot of different things going on with him. While I know it's all part of the aging process, I worry that he's in pain and I can't help him. I just wish I knew.{#emotions_dlg.crying}

Sparklestar, that makes me sad for you as I know how hard it is to watch our beloved little guys age. It hasn't been that long since I went through it with my Maltese little boy and it just can tear at your heart. I'll just say a little prayer that you little guy is not in any pain, just merely slowing down as he gets older. I had a wonderful little male Lhasa years ago and he was a real shining star in my life -

The responses have really been enjoyable to read. It's so interesting to read the variety of questions each thinks their pets might ask. I hope more will join in here and thanks OP for initiating this thread.{#emotions_dlg.thumbup1}

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Posts: 1,544
Registered: ‎03-05-2014

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:
No, not kidding. I did find her a good home a couple of months ago. They had her four days and brought her back to me. I'm afraid that if I find her another home they won't keep her either and she will just get passed around. This is a one of a kind pooch. My daughter and I have been trying to train her, but she's a tough nut to crack. I've taken her to Pets Mart and she just jumps, yelps, flips. Can't get her attention long enough to teach her anything. Keeping my fingers crossed that she will turn out ok. I need the dog whisperer for this one.

Oh dear, I'm really sorry to hear that. PetSmart has waaaay too many distractions to effectively train a dog like her. She might need one-on-one with a professional tho' I can understand that that might be financially out of reach. If you want to train at home, like some others said, consistency is the key - everyone must correct her and train her using the same commands and cues or it will be a waste of time and confuse her. As an absolutely last, last resort, you can try medicine - you have to consult the vet for that.

Or you can apply for that show "My Tiny Terror"{#emotions_dlg.rolleyes}, but I have to tell you, if there is one thread that runs through shows like that or "My Cat From He.ll", it is exercise, exercise, exercise. Does she get walked several times a day? How about play time? (tho' I guess you will have to figure a way to stop the thigh-biting-yikes!) There must be a good way to startle her when she does that jump - not you doing it, but somebody off to the side. Have to google or youtube dog training.

I would seriously look up dog agility - you may never be champs, but that isn't the point of agility. It is exercise, obedience and relationship building

Good luck!! (My apologies to abrowneyegirl, I didn't mean to get your thread off track, just wanted to help Scooby Doo since her situation sounded kind of bad. Again, I'm sorry)

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Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:
On 6/7/2014 Feline Fine said:
On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:

Geez, my dog is "talking" all the time. I'm afraid the neighbors are going to revolt. She's a 10 month Yorkshire terrorist. Right now she's out chasing the feral cats. I play ball with her and she gets so excited that she jumps up and bites my inner thigh. Ouch! Earlier she was going crazy over a big bumble bee in my flowers. She was chasing it, barking, and jumping trying to catch it. I've never been around a dog like this, with the attention span of a gnat. I'm ready to put a muzzle on her, so I'm glad she can't talk.

Anyone want to buy a dog at a huge discount?

Terriers are known for being very tenacious, energetic, and many are noisy, LOL. Maybe you didn't your research thoroughly enough before you got her? ;-)

Umm, yes I did. I know people who have these dogs, neighbors on both sides of me have one. None of them act like this dog. I took her home at 8 weeks and this personality hadn't presented yet. Tenacious, energetic are ok. Aggression, biting and attacking are not. This is a terrier on crack.

Scooby - have you also spoken with your Vet about her? I guess I feel it is worth exploring all avenues to help her calm down. I would also second the suggestion for you to bring in a personal trainer to your home, so they can observe first hand the problems and concerns you have about her behavior. Animal Planet has both dog and cat shows where Pros come in and help deal with the specific issues of each family's pet. It is a completely different type of training than the generic Pet Smart version.

She is young but if you have reached the point where you'd give her away, please consider both consulting with your Vet (if you haven't already) and the personalized help you'll get from a Pet Behavioral Specialist who makes home visits. I have watched these shows and it is amazing how much they help both the families and especially the pet involved.

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Posts: 2,442
Registered: ‎06-28-2013

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

Just came across this, from the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States):

HSUS.org March 7, 2014

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

Six ways to control your dog's barking

Some of these training techniques require you to have an idea as to why your dog barks.

We can help you get some insight into what is behind the bark.

Here's a list of six techniques that can help stop your dog from barking.

While all of them can be very successful, you shouldn't expect miraculous results overnight.

The longer your dog has been practicing the barking behavior, the longer it will take for him to change his ways.

Always remember to keep these tips in mind while training:

  • Don't yell at your dog to be quiet—it just sounds like you're barking along with him.
  • Keep your training sessions positive and upbeat.
  • Be consistent so you don't confuse your dog. Everyone in your family must apply the training methods every time your dog barks inappropriately. You can't let your dog get away with inappropriate barking some times and not others.

1. Remove the motivation

Your dog gets some kind of reward when he barks. Otherwise, he wouldn't do it. Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don't give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior.

Example: barking at passersby

  • If he barks at people or animals passing by the living room window, manage his behavior by closing the curtains or putting your dog in another room.
  • If he barks at passersby when he's in the yard, bring him into the house. Never leave your dog outside unsupervised all day and night.

2. Ignore the barking

Ignore your dog's barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don't give him any attention at all while he's barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don't talk to him, don't touch him, and don't even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat.

To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. If he barks for an hour and you finally get so frustrated that you yell at him to be quiet, the next time he'll probably bark for an hour and a half. He learns that if he just barks long enough you'll give him attention.

Example: barking when confined

  • When you put your dog in his crate or in a gated room, turn your back and ignore him.
  • Once he stops barking, turn around, praise him, and give him a treat.
  • As he catches on that being quiet gets him a treat, lengthen the amount of time he must remain quiet before being rewarded.
  • Remember to start small by rewarding him for being quiet for just a few seconds, then working up to longer periods of quiet.
  • Keep it fun by varying the amount of time. Sometimes reward him after 5 seconds, then 12 seconds, then 3 seconds, then 20 seconds, and so on.

3. Desensitize your dog to the stimulus

Gradually get your dog accustomed to whatever is causing him to bark. Start with the stimulus (the thing that makes him bark) at a distance. It must be far enough away that he doesn't bark when he sees it. Feed him lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer (perhaps as little as a few inches or a few feet to start) and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things (treats!).

Example: barking at dogs

  • Have a friend with a dog stand out of sight or far enough away so your dog won't bark at the other dog.
  • As your friend and her dog come into view, start feeding your dog lots of very yummy treats.
  • Stop feeding treats as soon as your friend and her dog disappear from view.
  • Repeat the process multiple times
  • Remember not to try to progress too quickly as it may take days or weeks before your dog can pay attention to you and the treats without barking at the other dog.

4. Teach your dog the "quiet" command

It may sound nonsensical, but the first step of this technique is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to "speak," wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say "speak."

Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the "quiet" command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to "speak." When he starts barking, say "quiet" and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat.

Example: someone at the door

  • When the doorbell rings, your dog alerts you to the presence of an "intruder" by barking wildly.
  • Once you've taught your dog the "quiet" command in a calm environment, practice in increasingly distracting situations until your dog can immediately stop barking when asked to, even when that "intruder" arrives at the door.

5. Ask your dog for an incompatible behavior

When your dog starts barking, ask him to do something that's incompatible with barking. Teaching your dog to react to barking stimuli with something that inhibits him from barking, such as lying down in his bed.

Example: someone at the door

  • Toss a treat on his mat and tell him to "go to your place."
  • When he's reliably going to his mat to earn a treat, up the ante by opening the door while he's on his mat. If he gets up, close the door immediately.
  • Repeat until he stays on his mat while the door opens.
  • Then increase the difficulty by having someone ring the doorbell while your dog is on his mat. Reward him if he stays in place.

6. Keep your dog tired

Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

Smile

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Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

Oh and I'd want to know if they have their own names that they call themselves!

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"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
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Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:
On 6/7/2014 Feline Fine said:
On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:

Geez, my dog is "talking" all the time. I'm afraid the neighbors are going to revolt. She's a 10 month Yorkshire terrorist. Right now she's out chasing the feral cats. I play ball with her and she gets so excited that she jumps up and bites my inner thigh. Ouch! Earlier she was going crazy over a big bumble bee in my flowers. She was chasing it, barking, and jumping trying to catch it. I've never been around a dog like this, with the attention span of a gnat. I'm ready to put a muzzle on her, so I'm glad she can't talk.

Anyone want to buy a dog at a huge discount?

Terriers are known for being very tenacious, energetic, and many are noisy, LOL. Maybe you didn't your research thoroughly enough before you got her? ;-)

Umm, yes I did. I know people who have these dogs, neighbors on both sides of me have one. None of them act like this dog. I took her home at 8 weeks and this personality hadn't presented yet. Tenacious, energetic are ok. Aggression, biting and attacking are not. This is a terrier on crack.

Scooby, I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I also wonder what your vet has said? Could this behavior be something physical or controlled with medication? I'm also wondering where you got this puppy -any chance it was abused? Lastly, and worst of all, after exploring all possible options, the most humane thing might be to put puppy down before he hurts himself or someone else - again, to be discussed with your vet of course. Bless you for your patience and trying with this guy!
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Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

My dog would say ""Why did you name me Holy? I'm a shih-tzu!"".

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Posts: 2,442
Registered: ‎06-28-2013

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:
On 6/7/2014 Feline Fine said:
On 6/7/2014 Scooby Doo said:

Geez, my dog is "talking" all the time. I'm afraid the neighbors are going to revolt. She's a 10 month Yorkshire terrorist. Right now she's out chasing the feral cats. I play ball with her and she gets so excited that she jumps up and bites my inner thigh. Ouch! Earlier she was going crazy over a big bumble bee in my flowers. She was chasing it, barking, and jumping trying to catch it. I've never been around a dog like this, with the attention span of a gnat. I'm ready to put a muzzle on her, so I'm glad she can't talk.

Anyone want to buy a dog at a huge discount?

Terriers are known for being very tenacious, energetic, and many are noisy, LOL. Maybe you didn't your research thoroughly enough before you got her? ;-)

Umm, yes I did.

I know people who have these dogs, neighbors on both sides of me have one. None of them act like this dog.

I took her home at 8 weeks and this personality hadn't presented yet.

Tenacious, energetic are ok. Aggression, biting and attacking are not. This is a terrier on crack.

Good! That's crucial, as you know.

Hope you also did some Internet reading, from pros like the American Kennel Club (www.akc.org), and other experts on the breed.

I know that many breeders don't let the babies get adopted until 10 to 12 weeks.

Maybe one of the reasons is that the puppies'/kittens' individual traits and unique personalities will be exhibited more with that extra time at their first home.

She sounds like a wee terror with extra energy, but I'm sure you'll be willing to try the suggestions posted here, including my post below from the Humane Society.

Hey, maybe she needs a 'doggie doobie' every now and then... Cool

(j.k.)

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Registered: ‎06-28-2013

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

When I speak Cat, I always hope that I'm not accidentally cursing or dissing them in any way. (being a stoopid hooman, of course! LOL)

But I sure do always know when my accent isn't the best. Wink

Super Contributor
Posts: 2,442
Registered: ‎06-28-2013

Re: OT-just for fun. If your pets could talk

On 6/8/2014 brewhaha said:

My dog would say ""Why did you name me Holy? I'm a shih-tzu!"".

Heh... & props.