I'm splitting my post into two parts (apparently it's too long 😅)
Hi everyone,
I'm writing this feeling quite distraught about our Miniature Pinscher's behaviour. We adopted him last July from a rescue. At just 8 months old, he had already been through six different homes since birth.
We already have a senior Labrador who is 15 and a half, and three cats—all of them rescues.
The rescue told us he was good with cats and didn't bark (the only real deal-breaker for us, which we made clear when we adopted him).
It turns out that wasn't exactly the case: he chases our cats every chance he gets and barks at the neighbours as soon as he sees or hears them, or when someone comes to the door.
Anyway, we adore him regardless, and to work on these two 'flaws', we called in a dog behaviourist in October who explained how to use positive reinforcement.
We're doing our best but, I'll admit, probably not as consistently as we should. Still, the weeks are passing and we're finding a balance with our five fur babies.
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your replies and your advice.
After a difficult night following that awful experience yesterday, with a lot of soul-searching and guilt (Docline, you certainly don't mince your words 😅, it was a bit of a tough read 😉), we've decided to rethink the core training principles you've suggested.
As for scraps and treats, Paco has never been given anything by us outside of his food bowl, but it's very clear he was allowed them before he came to us: food drives him absolutely crazy, there's no other word for it 😱.
Regarding the sofa and the bed, we've given in and are going to try and fix it: should we do it gradually or just go "cold turkey"? I've been working on the "off" command with him for a little while now, rewarding him with a bit of dry food.
We're also going to stick to a daily routine of him eating after us, and making him wait before entering or leaving a room.
We'll avoid picking him up (having said that, it's not like he's constantly in our arms anyway 😐).
Do you have any advice regarding the cats? The trainer told us to work on positive reinforcement when they're around. But how should we react and prevent those moments when he chases them? He can be really chilled out with them, and even lies down with them sometimes.
Is it just play when he chases them, or is he trying to hunt them?
Thanks for all your help and your kindness during this time of doubt 🙏.
We've clearly confused positive reinforcement with being too soft 🙁.
We're going to do everything we can to get everyone back to where they should be.
And we'll see the trainer again too, of course (but she’s in high demand, so it won't be right away...)
In all my life, I’ve never come across a friendly Pinscher... Anyway, treat him like the dangerous dog he is and don’t let him get away with a thing; also, stop picking him up when he isn’t injured, it’s a terrible habit.
I couldn’t agree more! I don’t trust them either... they’re so unpredictable. As well as the advice already given... ignore him... they absolutely hate it!
Picking him up just reinforces his sense of superiority...
As Docline says, don’t let him get away with anything. He needs to learn his place, and the trainer will help you with that. I’m not a fan of pinning a dog down, but with a Beauceron cross, you really can’t let him get the upper hand.
You need to rethink your whole approach with him: no table scraps – he should be in his bed during mealtimes and no begging. He must go through doors after you, and he shouldn't jump up onto your lap without being invited, getting down the moment you ask – the same goes for the sofa or the bed, if you allow him on them at all. These are privileges, not rights; you're the one who decides when he’s allowed. He must go to his bed on command. But all of this needs to be worked on calmly and every single day.
I’ve never heard that dog bites get infected particularly often; just disinfect it every day and see your GP if you’re in any doubt, but that should be enough (is your dog up to date with his jabs?).
As for my son, his toe was a bit tender for about ten days or so, but he’s definitely learnt his lesson! 😁
I’ve honestly never come across a friendly Pinscher in my life...
Anyway, treat him like the dangerous dog he is and don’t let him get away with anything; and stop picking him up when he isn't even injured, it’s a really bad habit.
Kikkah: Thanks for your reply. I have seen that advice, actually. My brother did exactly that (pinning the dog on her back) with his Rottweiler cross Beauceron, on the advice of a trainer. She’s very happy and well-adjusted now, and brilliantly behaved. But that way of doing things really bothers me.
What's so frustrating when you're not an expert is seeing so much conflicting advice 😐. And I think one of our mistakes, among others, is not knowing how to pick a strategy and stick to it, caught between being firm, positive/negative reinforcement, saying "no" or not... I've taken note of the suggestion about time-outs 👍.
Since I doubt he’d go there of his own accord when he’s in that state, should we carry him there?
And should we also give him a time-out when he "rebels": aggressive barking and rearing up on his hind legs? Or does that have a specific meaning?
When I say "telling him off", I mean saying "no" and raising my voice (I know it’s not THE solution, but when he’s chased the cats for the tenth time, you do lose your patience a bit 🙄😅), basically just thwarting him 😅.
The line between being firm and shouting too loudly isn't always easy 😕. I try to make him sit or send him to his bed when he isn't listening.
Beaujabote:
Ouch, your teen must have been in a lot of pain and really shaken up 😲
We’ve disinfected it thoroughly and we’ll get him seen by a vet if it starts looking red at all.
A vet once told me that in two out of three cases, a dog bite or cat scratch gets infected 😨
As for the "carrying", I don't think that’s it as we pick him up all the time, and my husband was holding him under his tummy then 🤔
The Pinscher is a breed with a lot of personality that needs firm, consistent training. Getting the trainer back in to help correct any mistakes sounds like a great idea. It’ll help you set some boundaries and structure for both you and your little dog. He’s young and bright, so the situation should get sorted out quickly.
I really hope so 🙏
Because we didn't have him from a puppy, it feels like it’s a bit more of a challenge 😅
Just a heads up, some trainers might suggest pinning the dog to the floor or scruffing them until they calm down. These aren't appropriate methods at all—in fact, they'll only make things worse! If your current trainer is good, stick with them.
I couldn’t say for sure why he nipped at that exact moment, but picking a dog up puts them in a vulnerable position, which can lead to aggression... if it were to happen again, I think the best thing is to put him in a room on his own for a few moments until everyone has calmed down, and then totally ignore him afterwards.
“When we stop him from doing something, when we want to take something away, when we ‘tell him off’”
How exactly do you go about it? How are you telling him off?
We always think our dogs would never bite us, but if the conditions are right, any dog is capable of it. It can be due to fear, resource guarding, or pain (which we all too often forget). Sky (who weighs about 44 lbs) bit my big daft teenager; there were some nasty puncture wounds on his big toe with blood everywhere 😔. Once the bite was cleaned up, my husband and I gave a proper telling off... to our son. He’d been pestering the dog in his bed until he bit, ignoring all the warning signs: growling, looking away, lip licking... Anyway, even though the dog is up to date with his jabs, we still showed the wound to our GP to make sure there was no infection.
Speak to a behaviourist to get things back on track and, above all, don't give in 😁 – avoid picking him up, as he might have had some negative experiences in the past.
Pinschers are dogs with strong personalities that need consistent training. Having the trainer come back to help you correct any mistakes sounds like a very good idea. It will allow you to set some clear boundaries for both you and your little dog. He's young and bright, so things should be sorted out pretty quickly.
