Ok Guilty guilty guilty! HERE is where I am so busted with cute doggie syndrom. Here is where I need the excercise, disapline before affection. Sigh.

It has always been a chronic condition with me. It got much worse when my Red-zone chow dog turned out to be one of the biggest teddy bears on the planet. When guests come over of people who care for him, he got immediate reward with slithering up into their lap, under their arms and then laying his head on their shoulder.

Just this weekend he as started coming up on the bed and leaning with his back to me, then he rears up to fall backward into my lap, completely limp like a sack of potatoes! If you would have asked me before this blog entry I would have told you in all seriousness that OTHER people's dogs are the problem, not mine.

You know, this stuff is so stubtle. Many people, (including my mom) would say "what is the harm?" They truly do unto understand the teaching around "too much familiarity breeds contempt". Boundaries start getting pushed out by inches until suddenly, here is the problem.

The amazing thing to me is how much this also plays out in our human relationships as well. It is so easy to see in theearly stages of relationship behaviors and mannerisms are seen as cute. After a while it wears thin. Then the relationship is challenged.

Havent we all seen the same thing in our animals (and how quick I was to point the finger to my partner who SO models this behavior)~ "Its cute! Its funny! Haha! and big smiles," And then~
this time, its not, so he gets mad! Talk about mixed messages! I personally have alot of work to do with this one! This segment has arrived just in time for me, Cesar! Thanks a bunch!

CJ- I can totally relate! Before Cesar, dogs could jump on me, snap at me, and do whatever they wanted and I'd blame myself for some unknown action as an ignorant human who wasn't reading a dog correctly. Not only did I find out I was wrong, but I was also right! I wasn't reading the dog's language, that part of him that says, "I am -not- a happy camper, nor am I mentally balanced". Never again will I let a pomeranian bounce all over me unless I allow it with the intention of understood mutual respect!

I really must say my thank yous. I feel so good about myself and my life when I have a leash in my hand a companion by my side, even if he or she is not my own. I get an enormous sense of pride and satisfaction with my life when I am able to help someone with their problems. Between the stolen pit-mix puppy who was having aggression problems and a recent hard headed-over excited yellow lab puppy, I feel amazing. I have a purpose in my life, and that is to not so much to blame everyone else for not achieving balance around me, but to achieve it for myself. I have two cats who are simply a pleasure to be around and I love them very much! They also bring my life meaning, but I am unfortunately going to have to leave them behind when I move out of my mom's house and in with my boyfriend. I am very distraught, being that I am going to be going to school full time in a huge university, working on my pet-sitting business in an area I've never been to before, as well as having to leave my immediate family thousands of miles away! I think some of the only things that are keeping me hopeful and ready for this change is my wonderful, supportive, and loving boyfriend, and the chance to be able to seek balance even further by finding some animal companions. I've always lived with animals and felt happiest when they're around, so I know that once I am in a balanced state, I can achieve a further sense of bliss by introducing more 'pack members' into our household.

"Gobo"
I was moved as I read what you wrote, "all is well" with me too when I have my companions by my side and I too feel a purpose when I meet their needs and I also volunteer at animal rescue. I am addicted to going for a walk @ 8a.m. I walk with my friend when she walks her kids to school, but even on days she drives, or if i wake up 15min before, I must walk. I now walk 3, my two plus my daughter's border collie, people often comment what well behaved dogs I have (a rottweiler & boxer mix) on my left & border collie on the right, if they only knew how much effort I put into them every day, but the pleasure they give me is more than I do for them. I also share with others who have problems with their dogs, I am not a natural born leader of any kind, but I work on it and it's changing me on the inside, God uses it to change me, by teaching me, thru Cesar & showing me examples thru my dogs of things i can totaly relate to. I used to be fearfull of walking due to a dog i had who wanted to kill other dogs, I had this fear for 12yrs, but in the last yr, i am no longer afraid, I have a little apprehension of walking new streets where i don't know if there are loose dogs, but for the most part i feel wonderful freedom, that i never had before.

If a leader must never appear weak, how is it that older people with dogs (some of the people barely able to care for their dog anymore, much less exercise it) have very calm dogs that just stick by their side and lay around by them, seem to love people and don't cause any problems.

This may be a little off topic, but I wanted to see if anyone could offer any advice. I have a 2.5 year-old, 100 pound Boxer/American Bulldog mix named Fozzie. He is a very well behaved dog, calm and listens well. While Fozzie has never had any major incidents with damaging things in the house, he has recently been tearing and chewing into comforters and pillows and pulling out all the cotton. He doesn't eat the cotton; He simply rips open the blanket or pillow and pulls the stuffing out and leaves it lying around. Fozzie is at the house by himself during the day when I am at work, and my girlfriend is at school. He stays in my bedroom where he has a chair, but often he migrates to the bed. I have tried and tried to discourage him from his new habit, but he continues to destroy blankets and pillows while I am away at the office. This problem didn't start until about 3 months ago, and it usually occurs once or twice a week. I have tried many different methods of punishment/discipline/affection to remedy the problem, but nothing has worked. When I come home and open the bedroom door, I can tell he understands and knows that he has misbehaved, but nothing seems to stop his destruction of my bed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I need to figure something out. I can't afford for Fozz to chew up any more new comforters! Thanks in advance.

I need help! My husband and I have an almost 4 year old cocker spaniel that we rescued earlier this year. He is not neutered, was bounced around alot before coming to us and was also heartworm positive. Overall he is very sweet and very playful and has been through a basic obedience class with us and did very well. Well tonite we had an episode happen that I saw with my own 2 eyes, but that my husband says has happened before. Grady, the cocker, took a plastic bottle of makeup that had fallen on the floor and began to eat it. I found him with it and took it away and told him firmly "no" and attempted to put him in his crate. He immediately ran to my husband and jumped up on his lap and then stood in his lap and growled, snarled and lunged at me. I have reprimanded him many times before and he has never done that to me. He has had that behavior with my husband when say for example, Grady got out of the house, ran down the street and my husband cornered him in a neighbor's yard and tried to reach down to grab him by the collar to put his leash on. Grady growled and snapped at him on 2 different occasions after getting out and running off. I am just shocked that he did the growling bit with me tonite. Both my husband and myself felt his aggression has something to do with my husband and the authoritative demeanour he has with the dog. But after tonite, I just don't know. We live in an area where we do not get Cesar's program but I am desperate for help. We have a new baby coming and I will not tolerate any aggressive behaviour towards us or the baby. However, I also know that this little guy has had a rough life, never received any discipline, much less feedback on good or bad behaviour, and overall seems to like it here with us. Any ideas to help me, I am just sick over this whole incident???

I have three dogs. Two of them I've had for 6 years, but I recently got a new dog. He is a min pin and is about 1 1/2 old. I know the breed is very energetic. I have watched the show for about 2 weeks now and am trying to impliment the dicipline, respect, and limitations. However, it seems as though its not working. My other two dogs are very obidient, but the min pin is not. latley he has not been sleeping through the night and keeping everyone up. I have to keep in in a kennel while I'm at work because I'm afraid he will tear up the house while I'm gone. I've tried to housebreak him, but It's not working. It only took me 2 months to housebreak my Dachshund. Any suggestions on what I should do, to help my dog wouold really help. I am not afraid of dicipline and I don't show them affection right away when I get home. I just don't know what else to do.

Hi. Ihave 2 dogs that are 1 years old. They are beagles and they like to dig under our fence and we dont know wat to do.We have put bricks all around the fence and now they are digging under the fence. I watched your show ,but so far havn't seen in topics about that.Please help!!!My daddy is getting mad!!!!

i have an australian ridgeback/red heeler mix a german pointer.
i also have a terrier and 2 english mastiffs my male ridgeback has been getting very aggresive and out of sorts for over a year now before i even got all these other dogs he now has to stay on a chain he refuses to to stay in his 2 acre fenced yard
or behave in any manner can anyone help me?

how do i get my 4 week old min pin to sleep though the whole night without waking me up?

Hi,
I have a 5 month old female Border Collie named Dakota. I have tried everything I can think of to house break and teach her to come when called and to sit, and am getting no where with her. The only thing I have been able to get her to do is chase her tennis ball. When I open my front door she does her best to get past me, and if she makes it, I have to chase her (and she thinks thats a game) yelling "I have your ball", with hopes she will come back for her ball.
Also, when I take her out for bathroom time, she usually goes outside, but a few min. after I bring her back in, she is going to go in the house, and I cant take her to friends houses because she will go in their house too.
Is there anybody that can tell me what to do? I need help.
Thanks for and idea's anyone may have.

I have a 4 week old min pin too. Min pins tend to be weaned eariler than most toy breeds. not sure why. My girls mother just ran out of milk and did not want to feed her pups anymore. the breeder had already started weaning but they still needed their daily dose of milk so she had to start using formular. I took my baby home to wean myself as i am perfectly capable of doing and believe me you'll never get a 4 week old min pin to sleep through the night! they have small bladders and need to wee alot during the night. i've been giving my girl 20 mls of formular before bed, this usually keeps her happy untill she needs to wee -she cries when she wants to "go potty", thats when i take her out of her basket and place her on her newspaper, she does her business, we cuddle for a few seconds and then she's back to bed and falls asleep real quick!
another thing is, min pins are rather independent and usually dont really need endless cuddles through the night.

anyway, i spose that doesnt answer your question about making your min pin sleep through the night but it does tell you that no matter what you do, she wont.

enjoy your pup, you have a lot of moulding to do.

Dear Cesar,
I have a 1 year old Boston Terrier that has an issue with defacating in his kennel when I am at work, average once a week. He has had some digestion issues, which I have been sorting out with my vet. I am currently feeding him metamucil to keep him regular, which seems to be helping. But he'll go in his kennel whether his stool is loose or not. I also thought it was because I was leaving him alone for too long (sometimes 8 hours), but then he started doing it even after 2 or 3 hours. I always take him on a walk before I go anywhere to make sure he relieves himself beforehand, and I have a room mate with a rotating schedule that also helps out. I haven't really noticed any symptoms of separation anxiety. He's very calm and pretty much keeps himself entertained. I trained him starting right at 8 weeks old that the kennel was his safe place when I was not home. I leave the kennel door open when I am home and he'll often sit in it chewing on a bone. He is also house trained. When I am home, he sits by the door to let me know he needs to go out. I am trying to determine if this is another part of his digestion issues or if this is a dog behavior issue. If you have any feedback, I would appreciate it.

My name is Charlotte. I have 2 Siberian Huskies. Both are the same age, but one of them thinks he is in control. They stay in the back yard which has electric fence all around it. They continuously dig huge holes in the yard and dig underneath the electric fence and get out. They are also jumping the hot wire fence that is 3-4 feet tall (just in a little area). I have paid alot of money getting them out of the pound every time they get out. Harley is the one that thinks he is in charge and is the one who digs. My other husky, Max, will only get out if Harley does. Harley is an escape artist. I now have Harley chained up with a collor with the prongs on the inside because he has already broke several chains before. Can you please tell me some things i can do to keep them from getting out and digging holes? Thank you!!