schnauzermum

it looks like we'll be spending a long time at training- Mitzi's a gorgeous dog and well worth the effort . I'm heading for the phone to call obedience schools now. We live in Canterbury, Haven, and am happy to travel any reasonable distance. I'm very keen to have a one on one lesson as I'd like a professional's opinion as to why she behaves like this- if there's anything we are doing at home to precipitate her behaviour.

thanks everyone,that was my first post so I appreciate your help. In reply, Mitzi is a salt and pepper mini, although her paternal grandfather and his line were black and silver. We are in Melbourne ,Bindo, so unfortunately we can't attend your Tuesday classes, hopefully we can find an enlightened trainer here in the eastern suburbs.- does anyone have any suggestions? We're encouraged to go to pre school, but obviously the quality of trainers varies and not all advice is correct. I'm heartened that everyone's against squirting Mitzi, schnauzers can be very strongwilled,from past experience they respond well to food rewards, and we should get there, but she's started causing problems so much earlier than my previous two schnauzers- both of whom learnt to behave . I guess I'm trying too much too soon for this particular puppy ,in my eagerness to socialize her I may have overdone it. My current tack is to ignore her completely if barking as we go up the street, treating her only when quiet-I'll know in a few days if this is working.

My 16 week mini schnauzer, Mitzi, has settled well at home with our placid 9 year old male mini schnauzer. HOWEVER, I can't take her out the front gate without her barking: initially at nothing , then at anyone she sees, particularly other dogs. She has just finished puppy pre-school where the problem first emerged . Despite being the smallest, she launched herself at every puppy, growling and barking, taking most of the class to settle. Each week she repeated the behaviour, only when the trainer used a squirt bottle did we see some improvement. I'm reluctant to use this negative deterrent as I wanted her to have a positive asssociation with meeting people and other dogs and to enjoy going to the park with my other dog. I now walk her alone, started with short "desensitizing" walks out the front gate and a few houses away only, treats when she's quiet, and a firm NO/SIT when she barks.( Terminating the walk isn't much use as she's keen to get back inside anyway. ) She seems to be slowly improving - people at a distance seem ok (as long as they don't look at her), the biggest problem is other dogs approaching- today we tried the park but she snapped at a whippet that ran towards her. I wanted desperately to have a well-socialized dog, not a yappy one. At home she's not the dominant dog, and we've been applying NILIF and TOT and she's ok. Do I keep going slowly, avoiding any contact with new dogs at this stage- do I ignore her when she barks, do I say NO, or do I break the cycle and use the squirt bottle? There's a along break now before I can take any training classes so any advice is appreciated.