Tippy is a 2yr old terrier lab mix. She came into my foster care as a "pick a dog and bring it to me to open up a cage to avoid killing a dog situation". I took this dog sight unseen and would like to do "right" by the dog but she is a nut case and has a zero attention span. The breed combination is such that the vet remarked at her spaying "she'll be a nice dog in about 3 years". The dog is not aggressive, but is in perpetual motion 24/7. The only way the farm vet could accomplish a heartworm test and trim her nails was to knock her out with Rompum.

Trying to get a leash on her from day one is a wrestling match. As soon as I reach for her collar; her front end comes up and she tries to climb over me. She is killing my body! To finally accomplish the goal of collar on and leash attachment; she is standing on her back two feet with me twisting the collar to "choke her out". She's soooo happy to see me and soooo much wants to be my friend. When I walk into her kennel; she starts climbing all over me! Trying to "teach" her to walk on a leash is the easy part. Once on leash..she's really not all that bad.

My body is black and blue from this dog and I'd like to give her a chance..does anyone have any suggestions?

Every time the dog touches you with her paw or jumps on you grab her paw and pinch it till she yelps. She will stop jumping on you quickly

Robert

Wismz: Been there; done that. Doesn't change anything.

Tried a well-placed knee between her two front paws?

Ditto..been there..done that.

Keep a prong collar with a short lead on her (unless she's in her crate). Start reinforcing the down command--and correct her as hard as you need to in order to make her understand that you are going to control the situation and she is going to behave.

One idea that I have seen on this board and used myself was to hold the dogs front paws for a long time keeping the dog on its back legs till the dog is visually distressed (you might have to back the dog against a wall if it tries to back up to get away). then let the dog down and when the dog sits or stands next to you pet and praise. Using this method worked after only 3 sessions.

Hope this works for you.

I can vouch for Ragewalkers suggestion, this has worked well for myself and 4 other folks I taught this too, only took a few times as well. I would suggest trying this before compulsion.

What the Heck?
I would suggest trying this before compulsion.
What do you think this is?

was to hold the dogs front paws for a long time keeping the dog on its back legs till the dog is visually distressed Sorry guys, both are compulsion based. You are causing stress or discomfort. Different method, same end result.

With a dog with this type of temperment and breeding the cuchie-cuchie-coo-coo-crapola ain't gonna work. Dog needs a lesson in respect ASAP.

I too vote for the down being highly enforced. This is not the case of a future competition dog, it is a dog that has its last shot at a normal life. Potential adopters do not want to be mauled upon entering their home or trying to put a leash on the dog. Of course once the dog has the leash on we get to do fun things, so the down is not going to change the dog.

I believe that I was the one to give such advice in the past. Paw holding. . . It is not a pain correction, but a more powerful "stressful" correction.

Give it a try, but if it doesn't work in a few days, PRONG THE HELL OUTA THAT DOG!

Captain Correction strikes again. . . <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

How is that for you SchnauzerGirl?