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Subject: training my rescue border terrier

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twomlet

Newbie

06/24/2008 5:39 PM
hi i was wondering if any1 could share some advice i have just aquired a 8 month old male border terrier by the name of toby and am experiencing a few problems with him. For starters he keeps nipping and has obviously been allowed to do as he pleases as at night time when we get ready for bed he runs upstairs and jumps on the bed, i try calling him off the bed but he ignores me and looks away so i pulled him gently by his collar to encourage him to get down and he snapped for my hand after picking him up and putting him down on the landing floor he would not move towards the stairs so i gently nudged his behind with my foot and said down!! he then turned and went for my foot apart from this he is pretty good with obedience and simple commands such as sit, stay, here and get down when hes on the sofas. do you think that at 8 months he will be hard to train or do i still have a chance to train him?? thankyou plz help!!!

winnihoohoo

Bratty Ratty

06/24/2008 5:53 PM
Gee, why can't he sleep in the bed too? Most of us , not all, but most, let our ratties sleep in the bed with us. He has probably been used to that, and does not understand why he can't now. Is he going to be crated at night? Where will he be sleeping?

twomlet

Newbie

06/25/2008 8:34 AM
i refuse to let an animal sleep in my bed at the end of the day i love animals but having them sleep in my bed is not going to happen he needs to know his place in the family and i will not be babying him he does not need to be crated at night as he is house trained but just stubborn after finally getting him to go in his own bed he is fine he doesnt whine or bark and has toilet free nights as i let him out in the morning before i go to work for his wee's and pooh's! The only trouble i have is moving him off the bed/sofa as he snaps quite viciousley and am not sure why? Mabye he has been hit about by previous keepers? what do you think??

swatson6

Attention Starved

06/25/2008 8:46 AM
Letting him "have the bed" at this point is only going to create further issues. Have you tried getting a treat and telling him "off"? Reward him with high praise and treats when he gets down. He obviously is not looking at you as Alpha and you will have to start at the beginning. Control his meals, make him sit before you let him eat. Walks will help establish this too. I am sure others will have advice, I just wanted to chime in that you shouldn't just give in cause it is "easier".

Sarah

DaisysMom

Moderator
<b>Moderator</b>

06/25/2008 8:51 AM
First welcome to the site. I'm glad you stopped in and asked for some advice/help. My Daisy sleeps with me; HOWEVER, it's a privilege I extend to her at my whim - it's not "her" bed, she does not own it and has no "right" to it. This is important in my mind as a dog needs to have a CLEAR understanding of who is in control. Your terrier clearly is not aware of these things but you are - which is good! Your terrier absolutely should NOT be sleeping in your bed, IMO, even if you were of a mind to let him. The nipping/biting in any situation needs to be addressed, obviously, and I'm glad you are willing to seek out help. We have a training moderator here, Nora, who will likely be able to give you some tips and suggestions for dealing with this. I don't believe she's logged in yet today, but she will, I'm sure.

Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom

Mitzy's Mom

Alpha Feist

06/25/2008 8:53 AM
I agree with Sarah. Even you wanted him to sleep in the bed with you at this point it would be a bad idea. He needs to know his place in the pack and that he is not alpha over you. If you give in to the sleeping in the bed then next he might be biting you for moving him around in the bed - in other words his actions will escalate since he "won". It really just sounds like you need to establish yourself as alpha....whether or not he's been abused. JMO but it sounds like he was totally spoiled before and was alpha over his human.

Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids Georgia Foster Mom www.ratbonerescues.com; www.newrattitude.org

rattytatty

Training Moderator

06/26/2008 7:22 AM
He can't "run upstairs and get on the bed" if the door is closed... right? I would start there... keep the door closed. Let him in the bedroom ONLY if you are there so you can enforce the behavior which will keep him from getting on the bed. Teaching him that the bed is "off bounds" is certainly more preferrable than him getting on the bed and you trying to get him off, which automatically puts him in a defensive position. Set boundaries for him. You can actually TRAIN him not to get on the bed, by standing and watching him ... when he attempts to jump (have him on lead)... say "NO JUMP" and put enough pressure on the leash that he can't jump. Then reward him with a treat and praise him BIG TIME. Over time, he will learn that the bed is indeed off limits. This helps to establish you as the leader... and this will carry over into other areas as you train him. He will learn to respect you and become more compliant.

~Nora~ Mom to Hoss, Lil'Bit, Buster & Bailey, CGC, OA, OAJ

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