Q & A With Our Very Own Dog Trainer

We have asked people to write in to our celebrity dog trainer Inger Martens to ask her questions and get some tips about their troublesome pups!

Here is a problem that Christina was having with her miniature pincher…let’s see what she should do!

Question:

I have a miniature pinscher named Dio and he has a really bad habit of talking. Not barking, but actually trying to speak. He makes this weird howling, talking kind of sound when he wants attention. I blame myself, because when he was a puppy and would do this, it would crack me up and I’d laugh at him, thus resulting in him constantly doing it. I can barely watch TV or have friends over with Dio, having to give his opinion. He’ll literally stand right in front of you and do this for HOURS! I don’t mind when he does it, if I ask him to speak, but how do I get him to stop doing it all the time??? Please help.

Answer:

Hi Owner of Dio the Diva ( the Miniature Pincher)
Here’s the deal for Dio. I get it, the conversation was cute and funny at one time and now it’s annoying. Triggers get started by dog owners start asking their puppy’s questions. They start talking at their puppy asking questions. Questions that get a cute head turning or bark. I did it with my own dog. Annoying!!!! The behavior begins with questions like, dooo you want a coookie? Or sharing food with their dog occasionally which creates the nudge or yip for that chip. The problem becomes a big one when your dog has actually taught you to BEG! You are begging him to stop. Don’t! Redirect Dio, instead.

Here are a couple of ideas. If you know through a pattern that oh boy.. he is going to start doing to start, put him on a leash. Yes in the house while your watching t.v., snuggle per usual and when he begins giving his play by play give a quick tug on the leash and say no, then redirect him to sit. You can also give him a bone to chew, which will give him a new ritual for watching t.v.
Then say good boy and ignore him. Pat him but no eye contact. Eye contact is a key trigger for this type of annoying nudging, speaking, yipping and opinions.

We hope this helps!! Good Luck!

Have a question???? Email us at [email protected]!

[Image via Getty Images.]