MovieChat Forums > Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan (2004) Discussion > Need help - dog keeps chewing stuff.

Need help - dog keeps chewing stuff.

posted 13 years ago by miaj28
8 replies | jump to latest

I have all of the seasons now and I am in the process of marathoning the series but is there a specific episode where Cesar deals with a dog that keeps chewing stuff that it shouldn't and running away with it in its mouth when you approach?

My pug keeps chewing up shoes, cotton, plastic (from a grocery bag) and runs away like he's a bank robber when I try to approach him. How do I deal with this? And when I do catch him, what's the proper discipline?

Any help would be appreciated.

[–] zeringuesl 13 years ago

I think I remember the episode you might be talking about, and Cesar just made it an exercise where you put your belongings on the floor and then use the touch to stop the dog from grabbing the toy. If the dog already has the toy just calmly walk around until you have him cornered and he drops the toy, make sure he drops the toy because in the pack world the leader does not need to grab for it the submissive will drop it. That being said, this is just what Cesar did for one case and it could be a different story for your pup.

[–] The-Belle 12 years ago

"The Touch" You mean the kick to the soft underbelly? What stupid advice.

If you had bothered to teach your dog a reliable leave it/drop it/recall you wouldn't have a problem.

Here's the right way:

Do not chase or corner the dog - he will see that as a game and you'll never win. Offer him a small food treat or a better toy that he likes. Tell him to 'drop it' and show him the alternative. Only give the toy or treat when he has dropped the item in question. Teaching a good, reliable 'leave it' will keep your dog safe from picking up poison or other harmful objects that might hurt him or cut his mouth.

If people would spend 5-10 minutes in the backyard every day repeating the basics ad nauseum, none of Milan's stupid, aversive, harmful tactics would be necessary.

Do people even know the basics? Or are they just expecting the poor dog to automatically know what's required of it?

Sometimes your knight in shining armour is just a retard in tinfoil

[–] Link6321 12 years ago

by - The-Belle on Thu Dec 15 2011 18:16:04

"The Touch" You mean the kick to the soft underbelly? What stupid advice.

If you had bothered to teach your dog a reliable leave it/drop it/recall you wouldn't have a problem.

Here's the right way:

Do not chase or corner the dog - he will see that as a game and you'll never win. Offer him a small food treat or a better toy that he likes. Tell him to 'drop it' and show him the alternative. Only give the toy or treat when he has dropped the item in question. Teaching a good, reliable 'leave it' will keep your dog safe from picking up poison or other harmful objects that might hurt him or cut his mouth.

If people would spend 5-10 minutes in the backyard every day repeating the basics ad nauseum, none of Milan's stupid, aversive, harmful tactics would be necessary.

Do people even know the basics? Or are they just expecting the poor dog to automatically know what's required of it?

You know, The-Belle, I think people could really do without the arrogance. I understand that you disapprove of Milan's "stupid, aversive, harmful tactics," but must you really be that arrogant? If you care so much about dogs and want people to know "the right" method in disciplining them, can the arrogance. From your post, I can see that you're more knowledgeable about dogs than I am, and if it weren't for your arrogance, I think a lot of people (including myself) would actually even listen to what you have to say.

Too bad the only thing I got from your post is "The-Belle is arrogant."

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| Dexterized | A juvenile 54-year-old. I'm his #1 fan.
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[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] The-Belle 12 years ago

Whether or not I am arrogant makes no difference to the value of the information given, nor to my approach to dog training.

Shelters worldwide are crammed full of animals, most of which wouldn't be there if the owners had a clue about how to train a dog or what a dog needs.

They are an intelligent species which need to be engaged, busy, challenged all the time. People tend to think that, because the dog is small, it will be happy sitting around on a bean bag all day, wasting its brain.

Training in good manners is essential in order for the dog not to grow to make a nuisance of itself, and to be a pleasure to people and other animals when out in public.

Milan is an uneducated thug who uses methods that were outdated 40 years ago. He should never be allowed near a dog, in my opinion. When there are people like Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor and Karen Overall working in the canine behaviour fields I can't imagine why anyone would adhere to Milan's thuggery.

Arrogant - maybe. Honest - always.

Sometimes your knight in shining armour is just a retard in tinfoil

[–] Link6321 12 years ago

by - The-Belle on Sun Jan 8 2012 13:14:03

Whether or not I am arrogant makes no difference to the value of the information given, nor to my approach to dog training.

Shelters worldwide are crammed full of animals, most of which wouldn't be there if the owners had a clue about how to train a dog or what a dog needs.

They are an intelligent species which need to be engaged, busy, challenged all the time. People tend to think that, because the dog is small, it will be happy sitting around on a bean bag all day, wasting its brain.

Training in good manners is essential in order for the dog not to grow to make a nuisance of itself, and to be a pleasure to people and other animals when out in public.

Milan is an uneducated thug who uses methods that were outdated 40 years ago. He should never be allowed near a dog, in my opinion. When there are people like Ian Dunbar, Karen Pryor and Karen Overall working in the canine behaviour fields I can't imagine why anyone would adhere to Milan's thuggery.

Arrogant - maybe. Honest - always.

That's the thing. While your arrogance makes no difference to the value of the information you give, it's your arrogance that makes people like me not take what you do have to say seriously. If you want to educate people -- educate. But can the arrogance, like I said. Instead of actually "getting" the information you're sharing, all I see in your post is "blabbity blah, I'm arrogant." And you're wondering why the world is full of ignorant pet owners? It's probably because of arrogant educators like you.

Also, you're in no position to label Milan "a thug" when you, yourself, are incapable of leveling with your fellow human beings, due to your arrogance. You don't blame a dog for its ignorance, nor should you blame people for theirs. Why do people adhere to Milan's "thuggery"? Beats me. Milan's the only dog trainer they know, I guess.

You can be honest without being arrogant. It's a shame that, for someone who knows so much about dogs, you're not doing a very good job educating people (like myself) -- all because of the arrogance that you refuse to can.

I mean, just look at your response. In my previous post I was only talking about the unnecessary arrogance in your tone, yet in your response you still proceeded to give me a lecture about how dogs are "intelligent species which need to be engaged, busy, challenged all the time." Congratulations for telling me what I already know. Want a pat on the back? What about a scratch behind the ears?

I'll just put you on my ignore list because, in my opinion, people like you don't deserve attention.

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| Dexterized | A juvenile 54-year-old. I'm his #1 fan.
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[–] arbilab 12 years ago

Really. The "I'm the only one who could possibly be right" thing doesn't fly. Even if you ARE right, at least 2/3rds of people are going to dismiss you as blathering for the sake of your own ego. People have psychology too, ya know?

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It's twue! It's twue!

[–] hodie 10 years ago

MiaJ, my dog used to go for leather
shoes. And upholstery :/
What helped me was to give her things that were "legal" to chew on and would keep her occupied. For me, the best thing was a "Kong" toy whose hollow middle had been stuffed with peanut butter. She LOVED that and would chew it for ages trying to get all the peanut butter.
It was especially helpful when she was young and going through a "mouthy" stage.
I would also train her to not bite me by letting her lick cream cheese from the web between me thumb and forefinger. If she happened to nip I would surprise her with an "ow!" sound. So she learned to have a soft mouth with people.

Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!