Frequently, small dogs can get away with undesirable behavior because their owners usually get blinded by their adorable appearance. If not corrected, these undesirable behaviors can continue and even become graver. Pet owners should try and correct these as soon as possible.
When she visited one of her clients, dog trainer Victoria Stilwell dealt with a situation that was of this nature.
The trainer met with the people in the same household that Diego was in. This little dog’s preoccupation with paper is his primary flaw. If someone attempts to stop him from eating paper, he will try and bite that person.
Diego prevents the family’s three youngsters from doing their homework properly. They are likely the only ones who could claim that a dog actually ate their homework.
Knowing these, Victoria has committed to train Diego so that a similar incident never occurs again.
Victoria’s initial step in training the dog used two chew toys. She taught Diego the “let go” and “take it” commands. She alternated between instructing Diego to release one toy and demanding that he accept the other.
Victoria also tried to find out whether Diego would drop a piece of paper he was carrying if he heard the command. In addition, the trainer instructed the children to imitate her actions. During this session, they were extremely amused by Diego’s rapid learning of the commands.
Additionally, Victoria taught Diego the command “leave it.” She extended a treat with one hand, and if Diego ignored it, he receives a treat from the other hand. Again, he immediately figured out how this instruction works and complied with it. As before, the kids were required to replicate what they observed.
Even after Victoria’s departure, the family had difficulty using the techniques they had learned. She was required to return to clarify how to implement each command. She also provided a garbage can for the family to use. This ensures that there is no paper on the bathroom floor for Diego to consume.
Source: It’s Me or the Dog
