The Boss ...NEED ADVICE on my Pom Teddy

Thank you for the advice and I will certainly look into that, but I still have the issue that he barks at me when I try to make him do ANYTHING. I take him for walks down to the lake and to the park and a couple times I noticed if he feels I am getting ahead of him he goes off repramanding me, and other times when walking he will stay at myside and still go off. I play ball with him through out the day outside and he is a great dog..but the issue is...He wants to run me.

I have no issues with teaching him new things its just he feels I should be directed and taught ( I guess you could say) :(

He feels from what I am seeing he is the leader and the Alpha, and he barks orders at me non-stop. This is my issue with him, as I am sure its prolly my fault somewhere in here because I am the owner..but I have never had to deal with a issue like this before and thats why I am a little frustrated on how to change this behavior and change what ever it is I am not seeing or doing right myself.

P.S  I forgot to mention that he he also has pins in one of hs back legs from being stepped on as a pup from the previous owner, and he semi blind in one eye, so really cardio was more important I felt as he will limp if play ball to long..Teddy is sorta limited on jumps and consistant running for a certain amout of time.

I am on it now :) Thank you very much..I appreciate your advice. You are absolutely right..." Patience".  I am looking up something things I can teach both of us while walking him and I am going to try it out here in the next hour or so, Its a start.

I agree with Julie's advice above.  Just wanted to add that it's important that you try very hard to not let him be successful again at barking at you for attention or anything else he's demanding.  He's learned that this works. Also, as you work on getting the behavior under control, there will most likely be an extinction burst (google the term re dog behavior).  My dog Belle barked at me when we first got her.  It took many many months of training to get past it and she will still occasionally demand something of me by barking at me.  Hard as it is to ignore, it's the best way to teach them that this behavior doesn't get what you want and to teach that not barking does get rewarded.

I suggest you get some dog behavior books that stress positive training.  Good luck and the ear plugs are a good idea. :)

Julie is dead on right, as is Jackie.  Why he barks, who knows for sure, but, get yourself some REALLY good earplugs and completely and totally ignore him when he barks at you.  I know, easier said than done, but, it's either a few weeks or months of frustration with the barking, until he "gets it", or a lifetime of frustration for both of you.

Thank you everyone :) I tryed the whole walk away scenario when we was done playing ball for a hour outside, He proceeded to bark non-stop, so I walked away and turned my back and I heard him drop the ball and he stood their silent like " what is she doing".  then returned to him( once silent), I picked up his ball, told him to sit ( teaching him this) and when I got him to do this I then praised him for being quite and sitting nice THEN threw the ball:) The walking away seems to work right now. At one pont when I walked away he followed and kept barking, so I took his ball and set it up on the patio table and walked away to the same spot not faceing him, he stood their by the table silent then,I waited a few minutes got the ball, told him to sit and repeated praise and threw the ball. I think I am doing this right so far as I am doing the " walking away". It was so hard not to let him see me smile( lol) he looked so darn cute studying me hard...but I DID IT :)  I would like to keep smiling so I am trying.

Not sure if someone mentioned this already (I didn't read very carefully) but sometimes it helps to train a dog to do something annoying on command, so then you can train them to turn it off.  I train my dogs to "speak" (give one bark) and to "revier" (guard and bark repeatedly) but they also learn that a "sit" command following barking means sit still and be quiet.  Likewise I train eye contact ("look";) but also train the dog to look forward and watch something/someone ("watch";).  I can command the dog where to look and for how long, then release them to a reward.

Since your boy has some physical limitations that makes getting plenty of mental exercise all the more necessary.  He sounds like a very eager dog, he just needs to be channeled into something productive. Even training him a dozen silly tricks will help you get control and wear him out a bit.

You have gotten some great advice so far.  I think another thing to try would be to get him on a feeding schedule and not just leave food out for him all day.  When I bring new dogs into the home and am beginning training, I use their meals as training.  We work once in the morning and once at night (or you can break it into three training sessions, or use his daily rations throughout the day and reward as you see fit).  I think this will help with the NILIF training as well.  Good luck!

WOW....so much sound advice,  am so happy for it :) I am going to try everything that everyone has mentioned to see what works best and effective, and as for the feeding part..YOU ARE RIGHT! I should not leave food down all day, I need to make him work for it and then feed him each time after workout. I will for sure keep everyone posted on the progress, and more ideas please keep writting me..I certainly am greatful...and so will be my ears :)

I think that you'll find that a combination of EVERYTHING is what you need with your little tyrant.