bedtime is becoming a nightmare

[Luciann]

Well I will try to restate my problem and see if anyone can help me. I have two chis, an unaltered male and a spayed female. they are father and daughter.

Frodo, the male, has just turned 2 years old and had been terroizing Tika the little girl, 9 months old. I have gotten this stopped during the day mostly. But at night Frodo waits until we are all asleep and then goes and pounes on Tika, she sleeps on the left side of the bed by my head, she has her own little corner and Frodo sleeps between my knees usually. He will do this several times during the night on 3-4 nights during the week. Not sure what to do to get him to stop.

Due to some developments in the last two days, I have decided once we breed my sister's chi a last time i will be getting him neutered, not something i really wanted to do. But we are having a MAJOR hierarchy issue at my house. My sister is going to keep Tika for a couple of months so that i can get him fixed and calm again.

We got Tika back and moved into a new house all in the same weekend and i think it was just too much for him.

I would welcome any suggestions on this. Also any suggestions of how to get his harness back on him without him going crazy and trying to rip my hand off?

[Andre Mendizabal]

Have you tried crate at night??? it may also happen that he's not tired enough before bedtime, maybe give him extra exercise before bedtime, if he's tired enough he won't wake up...
hope this helps... :)

[Alberta Hanko]

Hi - The crate idea is a really good one. Also, have you tried "Nothing in Life is Free", with Frodo--and actually with your little Tika too? I will see if I have this saved on my HD at home, or a copy someplace, but it is simple-- Frodo works for everything he gets. When his dinner is ready, he sits nicely before it is put down. When he gets a doggy treat, he sits, downs, whatever. He always sits before going out the door, and then waits until you release him. This has been a big help for my Linus--who not only is fear aggressive towards strangers and other dogs, but tended to be a little bossy with my DH and me when we first adopted him.

The harness deal will be a tougher one. You sure don't want to just confront Frodo. It was suggested to me by a trainer on Doggy Door, when I wanted to try a muzzle, that I desensitize my Linus, by introducing him to it, and when he sniffed at it I clicked (I used a clicker but you can use your voice and just say "good"), and gave him a treat (a really special one such as a small bit of tuna brownie, garlic chicken, whatever works. Then you slowly move forward. Maybe practice that for a day until he is relaxed, and looking forward to just seeing it. I know there is also an article on this.


I'll look for the articles if you are interested. Good luck.

Alberta & Linus

[Anonymous]

thanks for the suggestions, I have not tried the crate since before now he did not need to be crated. He has worn his harness until the other night and he pulled out of it and not gets defensive when I try to put it back on him. he will sniff tika's when i put her on her (I have taken it off of her when she is in the house so that I can show him that good things happen when it is on, petting priase etc) He still won't let me put it on him. I will keep working on this.

we have already had one confrontation over this. I am hoping that by making a big deal out of tika having her harness put on and then we go for walks (which Frodo loves) then he will let me put it back on him. I can find nothing wrong with his skin, so he does not seem to be in pain. he wants to go out side other than the fenced in yard but i cannot let him without his harness and leash.

I think i might have printed that article before the crash so let me check, thanks though

[Colleen]

I'm not sure dogs associate good behavior of OTHER dogs as something they should be doing. Frodo might just see that Tika is getting to go for walks when he isn't and that might make him more aggresive towards Tika.

I think desensitizing him would work better. Leave his harness on the floor while you are playing and give him treats for sniffing it or going up to it.

[Summer Magic]

I agree with Colleen, desensitize him and get him on NILF as soon as possible. If you can keep the crate in your room so he doesn't have negative feelings or develop SA because he's crated at night.

[Luciann]

Well he still won't let me put the harness on him. I let him smell it and praise him for that. He does not react adversely to Tika's harness but after a few seconds he gets "wall-eyed" about his.

Last night he did let me put the leash on him like they do at my vet's office, the slip noose is what i would call it. It at least lets me take him out to the bathroom since he does not like doing it in the back yard. when he lets me put it on him like that i parise him

Though this morning he was not sure that he wanted it on but did not become agressive with me when i put it on him. I have not taken Tika for a walk without him because I feared that he might get more aggressive to wards her if I did.

I will have to find a special treat for him since he is picky about his treats. Thanks for all the help

[Luciann]

Well just an update. Frodo now has a collar on thanks to de-sensitizing him to it. Thank you for your help on this