Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

I posted once before about my mom's 5 year Shih-tzu. I will try to make this a short explaination, so that I can get the right information.

He is a rescue dog and we were told he is about 5 years old by his now Vet. For the most part he is a good dog. He definitely has separation issues when it comes to my Mom. He will whine and then finally stop at some point, but he doesn't do anything else. He only knows how to sit....that is the only command he knows. The biggest problem is with my SIL. My Mom babysits my SIL's 15 month old. The dog is great with our nephew. No problems at all. My mom teaches him to pet the dog nice and he does. The dog has never ever gone at him in any way. My nephew has even pulled his tail and ears before and the dog has done nothing. But it's different with my SIL. She will pet him when she comes in and even will give him a treat and tell him he is a good boy. But sometimes he will jump up at her because she stopped petting him. So being a little agressive, but not bitting. But he will bark and jump at her. She now is affraid of him, so my mom now puts him in the other room or outside before my SIL comes over. The dog also does not really get along with other dogs when my mom walks him. He really goes at other dogs. Of course my mom doesn't let him get close enough. We assume he just wants to protect my mom. But he will not stop until my mom drags him away or the other dog leaves the area. It's a shame because he plays nice in the backyard with us and we have no problems with him. Also if everyone in my family, like 19 people come over, the dog is fine. No barking, no growling, no begging, no nothing. He just wants to be petted by everyone and that is it. He is also really scared of everything. Jumps at anything. We have no idea if he was abused or not by his previous owners. And he growled at my mom once when he didn't want to get off of her chair.

The only thing we learned from the animal shelter was that he liked to play with the other dogs outside (supposedly), that the previous owner said she couldn't train him and he went to the bathroom in the house. We think that was the second owner, so my mom is the third owner.

If you have gotten this far, thank you.

So what kind of training do you think this dog needs? Behavorial or just command training classes? Should he be in private training first and then try group training? Please any advice would be great. Also, please recommend your trainer. Thank you so much for helping out.

Jen

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

we took Maverick to Best Friend's training. He had a few weeks of private lessons then he goes to group.

They work with the dogs with electric collars. Mav is a well behaved dog and we rarely use the collar on him in the house

give them a call they can tell u the best route for the dog

hth

Best Friend's Training

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

Thanks Chrissy. Can you let me know how much the private and group lessons where? FM me if you want. Thanks.

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

Your mom's dog absolutely does not need a collar for what you describe. All he needs is basic one on one command training.

We used www.barkbusters.com

Worked from day one, just simple commands and voice tone are the way they teach you.

Message edited 7/20/2010 11:42:10 PM.

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

Please feel free to contact us for a free in home evaluation. We also offer training without "the collar" if you prefer that route. Just be sure to tell Kimmie (she's our receptionist) that Kimberly told you to call.

http://muttmanners.com/

You can check out my story by clicking on staff...then my picture.

Good luck,
Kimberly

Re: Dog Trainer Questions - Please Help

we are using best friends/mutt manners, and it has utrned into the best money ever spent!!

and they have free classes for life. the wed class is close to you too.