We have always had dogs. Big sweet bouncing dogs… They went to puppy school…and failed. After a 38 years stretch of big dogs (who were rescues) we bought a King Charles. She is the sweetest, most opinionated, loving puppy ever…EXCEPT she argues with us. Yes…at 10 minutes to dinner (hers) she yells at us. No treat? she yells. We have looked at her sternly and say, “No! Bad Puppy!”
We decided to be stern. We made her a time out place…in the den…10 feet around…she can see us…and if she were to cry we would comfort her. Mr. Ellebud outfitted it: wall to wall bedding and a basket of toys.
Anyone else have a puppy or kitten with “spoiled puppy syndrome?”
Dogs don’t understand “time out.” They don’t associate it with being bad, they just associate it with their family abandoning them and they don’t understand why.
If you scold her when she whines, she knows that whining will get attention. The best thing you can do is just ignore her when she does it. She wants attention and if she doesn’t get it, she will continue.
I’m afraid our two little sister kittens that are 6 months old are pretty spoiled. They love to jump in bed with us and insist we pet them and give them love. Fortunately they seem to know what time we get up in the morning for work and only wake us up a few minutes early. It’s hard to be stern with them when they are purring and are so darn cute!
My dog is spoiled to know end and barks back at me like a teenager. I believe in spoiled animals
But I also know how to train them. I’m just super bad at sticking to it with my own pups. Looks at dog laying on my feet soaking up all the heat from my space heater.
@showmom858, it’s gotten to the point where I simply can’t sleep without a dog or cat on my bed (which is the only thing I don’t like about traveling.) Fortunately, I have a dog who is happy to oblige. I once had a cat who always went UNDER the blankets, curled up against my stomach, and didn’t come up for air until morning. I do miss that cat!
We’ve never had a pet who wasn’t spoiled and we have always had multiple pets. We’re down to three dogs now and also have two cats. Our friends always joke that they want to be reincarnated as one of our pets. sigh Guilty as charged, and I came by it honestly as my mom is the same!
Charging the door when opened or when someone knocks
Getting up on furniture unless invited
Not riding quietly in the back of the station wagon while driving
Maggie likes to “talk” to me–not bark-- about her desire to have meals or go out. She has taken to getting up on the bed for a snuggle in the morning, and I let her. She has “her” chair in the living room, which is covered in a throw. (I hate having furniture covered in dog hair.) I consider her pretty spoiled.
All of our dogs have been loved and spoiled. New puppy is currently laying on husband’s stomach watching tennis.The trainer (who is incredible in his love and respect of animals) suggested the area…she loves it. It doesn’t stop the barking, but she does take her evening greenie into the gated area…which is open at all times.
@Consolation, a well trained dog can be spoiled also. I love being around respectful dogs. Dogs that are treated as people…not so much.
We had a cavalier, and she graduated from puppy kindergarten with flying colors. It really made a difference. You have to decide who the Alpha is going to be. All the training I had emphasized that the owner needs to be the Alpha, not the dog. It worked for us. Our cavalier was very happy in her role as a loving lap dog. We miss her. It’s been three years since she’s been gone.
My MIL’s yorkie is very smart. She knows what time it is. It’s time for breakfast, time for dinner, time for her chewie treat. You know what they say about Pavlov’s dog…
