Dealing with a dog that is a bit of a drama queen.... Have you been here?

Abbeyroad86

Uh no its not.  This isn't one of those serious Help my dog needs training threads    this was a cutesy my dog does this what does your dog do thread

Since you posted this in the BEHAVIOR section, it does tend to have people thinking and discussing this in regards to dog behavior.  If you posted in the Training section about how your dog jumped out of the ring in agility to visit with the spectators you would naturally get people talking about how they have or might deal with that behavior.  It's not meant personally, it's an observation.

Abbeyroad86

BEVOLASVEGAS

Nope.  None of mine do things like that, nor would they get away with it.  I'm not much of a fan of poor behavior.

Thats not telling me what to consider bad behavior?  (referring to previous post)

I never said "I think that your dog is exihibiting bad behavior."  If my comment offended you or hit a little too close to home, then you probably need to re-evaluate what you are doing.  I've learned that when I don't want to hear something, it is usually because there is some degree of truth to it...

That being said, I wouldn't tolerate your dog's behavior.  It's just not my style.  If it works for you, & you're happy with the way that your dog behaves, then go with it.  At the end of the day, it is YOUR dog, & as long as you are happy with it's behavior, noone else's opinion should matter.

I was raised around horses, so from a very early age I was taught not to reinforce bad habits.  Well trained horses are wonderful, fun animals to be around.  Horses with "drama issues" will get you severely injured or even killed. 

I also worked as a vet tech for a few years.  During that time, I got to see a lot of spoiled dogs.  I can honestly say that I would prefer work with an aggressive or fearful dog than I would work with a spoiled brat of a dog.  It never ceased to amaze me how much these spoiled dogs got away with.  Their owners would always react in one of two ways.  They would either laugh it off, & say "oh, that's just his/her personality" or they would coddle the dog further.  It didn't matter that they couldn't touch the dog's feet to trim their nails, they always seemed to expect us to be able to handle a nail trim with minimal restraint.  Even though "Fluffy" was trying to eat us, they would always baby talk the dog, & complain about the amount of restraint being used. 

Maybe, it's because of these experiences that I find some behaviors horribly annoying, & refuse to tolerate them from my own dogs...

Abbeyroad86

I wanted to talk about my dogs cute antics and hear about others and get told that my dog is acting out

I think I ever right to respond the way I did and explain bad behavior atleast bad behavior in my opinion

You posted in DOG BEHAVIOR & PSYCHOLOGY.  Traditionally, this section is one of our more serious sections.  Generally, people post in this section because they need help with a behavior issue.  I didn't realize that it was supposed to be a "fun" thread.

"Fun" story, just for you....I have a watermelon thief.  Bevo will swipe & eat an unattended watermelon in 2 seconds flat.  I find it hilariously annoying, & I generally buy two watermelons just so he can "steal" one.

On a more serious note, if you aren't thick skinned, a message board might not be the right place for you.  People argue, & question things on a regular basis on message  boards.  Seriously, I could start a thread stating that the sky is blue, & there would, no doubt, be people who wanted to argue that fact.  That's just kinda how it works.  If you can't handle someone disagreeing with you then you probably aren't going to be very happy here.

Yes, each person is going to view these things in a different light. I personally wouldn't ever tolerate screaming or the need for a muzzle on any of my dogs. The balking on walks thing - not the end of the world, but not something I would allow much to happen either.

However, all of our dogs have their things....Shimmer is a sock fiend. If she can get her mouth on a sock to run through the house with and flail around, I'm not going to stop her immediately. She doesn't destroy them, and it doesn't hurt my feelings to find the odd sock on the couch or under the table. I just pick it up and put it away.

Gaci occasionally will unmake my bed. By occasionally I mean once every month or  so....She loves to bury in pillows and one day I came home and the pillows were all rearranged and she had buried under the blankets and rearranged them all to her liking. If she did it daily it would probably annoy me. But she's a terrier, and she has digging urges, and if that's the extent of it then by all means I'm not going to make large gains to stop it.

So it all depends on what you consider important to you. I wouldn't tolerate what I consider bad behaviour when it comes to everyday behaviour like nail clipping and screeching, but others might not enjoy finding their clothes under a pillow or their bed rearranged after making it.

BEVOLASVEGAS

sky is blue, & there would, no doubt, be people who wanted to argue that fact.

The sky is NOT blue, its black with pretty little sparkly things all about. 

The sky is grey today.

Deb W.

iluvjamison

The sky is grey today.

IT IS NOT! 

Back on topic though (I think)....I have one very large Lab who has always been an easy keeper; and two GSDs who need to be kept in check.  Bad behavior (as seen in the eyes of the beholder) simply cannot be tolerated.   These two houligans need to know who the boss is around here...or somebuddy could get hurt.

So, drama is kept at a minimum.....which I could see how it may not be problematic with smaller dogs.  I have 240 pounds worth of dog under my control.  Don't get me wrong.....I enjoy an independent dog; and will tolerate willfullness to a degree if in a controlled environment.

I say enjoy your drama queen; she is your dog; and you make the rules...stringent or not.

CoBuHe

iluvjamison

The sky is grey today.

IT IS NOT! 

Sorry Barb - I'm right and you're wrong.

http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:USNJ0305&q=Metuchen%2c+NJ

 And just in case anyone is interested, my dog is DRAG queen, which I consider highly unacceptable behavior.

Deb W.

iluvjamison

 And just in case anyone is interested, my dog is DRAG queen, which I consider highly unacceptable behavior.

Hey!  Jamison's cross dressing habits are cute, & totally acceptable.  He looks great in your bra!

And ladies, you are both wrong....the skies are a very pretty blue today!  And, I KNOW that I am right, because I said so darn it!!! 

Abbeyroad86

Aww Lighten up.  This stuff isn't bad behavior.   Bad behavior is continuing to poop or pee on the floor after being trained,

A lot of the stuff you listed just wouldn't be tolerated in my house, but if you're OK with it, I'm not going to tell you it's "bad behaviour".  Then again, some of the stuff you mention as "bad behaviour" just ISN'T, IMO.  Example: eliminating is NEVER bad behaviour, wherever it happens.  If it is unavoidable (for example, dog left indoors for too long and couldn't hold it, or dog ILL) - well, that's not bad behaviour.  Anything else is negligence on the human's part.  Being "trained" (house trained) means that the dog DOESN'T pee or poo indoors.  If it still happens - then the dog isn't properly trained.  End of

BEVOLASVEGAS

Seriously, I could start a thread stating that the sky is blue, & there would, no doubt, be people who wanted to argue that fact.

Uhhh... me for starters.  I am in the UK; the sky is blue for about six days of the year here.... the rest of the time it's grey, white or yellow.  Sometimes it's nice and colourful in the morning or evening, and of course at night it's sort-of (but not really) black.

Sorry.  Do carry on.