I'm having several issues with a dog I recently found at a shelter- and I have no idea where I'm supposed to even start, so I'll just make a list of them-
1. I've trained my dog to sit, but now, whenever she sees that I have a treat in hand, she'll automatically sit down. Without me ever telling her anything! She sits whenever she wants a treat- so am I supposed to encourage this behavior? How can I teach her to sit on command and now whenever she wants to?
2a. Also, now that we fixed our backyard, we let her roam free. The only problem is, that when we want her to come back inside, she won't! She'll run away from us and even taunt us by coming close to us and running away when we're supposed to. We've tried giving her treats, petting her, whatever we could, but it's just not working! How can I get her to come in when we want her to?
2b. Another problem, is that she'll find lot's of random items that seem to turn up out of nowhere- such as tennis balls, bones, bones, and more bones. I'm afraid that she'll choke on the bones so I've tried to take them away from her but now whenever she finds one, she'll run as if she's running for her life. She knows that I'll take away the bones if I catch her, but I'm only doing this for her own benefit. I've given her treats after confiscating the bones, but she seems to prefer the bones over the treats. What can I do?
3. Also- how can I train my dog to fetch? Whenever she finds an item or when I try throwing a frisbee, she'll catch it and run away- After she's a safe distance, she'll chew on it and I'm afraid that she's eating some of it.
4. How can I stop her from taking off with our shoes?? I tried to tell her that she was wrong by slapping the shoe against the ground and telling her that she was a bad dog, but I don't think it's a very effective way of training her.
I realize that it is a lot of different issues, but I would appericiate any advice or help regarding this matter. THanks
BTW- I believe that she is a min-pin- and she is an absolute angel when she is indoors.
1. I've trained my dog to sit, but now, whenever she sees that I have a treat in hand, she'll automatically sit down. Without me ever telling her anything! She sits whenever she wants a treat- so am I supposed to encourage this behavior? How can I teach her to sit on command and now whenever she wants to?
2a. Also, now that we fixed our backyard, we let her roam free. The only problem is, that when we want her to come back inside, she won't! She'll run away from us and even taunt us by coming close to us and running away when we're supposed to. We've tried giving her treats, petting her, whatever we could, but it's just not working! How can I get her to come in when we want her to?
2b. Another problem, is that she'll find lot's of random items that seem to turn up out of nowhere- such as tennis balls, bones, bones, and more bones. I'm afraid that she'll choke on the bones so I've tried to take them away from her but now whenever she finds one, she'll run as if she's running for her life. She knows that I'll take away the bones if I catch her, but I'm only doing this for her own benefit. I've given her treats after confiscating the bones, but she seems to prefer the bones over the treats. What can I do?
3. Also- how can I train my dog to fetch? Whenever she finds an item or when I try throwing a frisbee, she'll catch it and run away- After she's a safe distance, she'll chew on it and I'm afraid that she's eating some of it.
4. How can I stop her from taking off with our shoes?? I tried to tell her that she was wrong by slapping the shoe against the ground and telling her that she was a bad dog, but I don't think it's a very effective way of training her.
I realize that it is a lot of different issues, but I would appericiate any advice or help regarding this matter. THanks
BTW- I believe that she is a min-pin- and she is an absolute angel when she is indoors.