Help My Mom is Reading About Dog Training

Ok so my Mom found a website about dog training and I heard her reading it to my sister and its not good. Apparently I have something called "small dog syndrome", is that a disease?? She also said that it is my families fault, did they give me a disease?? The story said that my family are not being something called "pack leaders" with me and that is why I am so sassy sometimes because they let me get away with too much. What is wrong with that?? I am supposed to be in charge right?? They actually said that because they let me think I am the "pack leader" is the reason I am so spoiled. Well duh!! Of course I am the leader of this house, I am the guardian of the family. So now is the really scary part, there is talk of my Mom taking me to some kind of class or something and trying to teach me about rules and who's in charge. This is all because she says she loves me very much but is tired of getting bit by me. I don't want to bite her, but how else do I let her know that I am in charge?? When will she finally learn that as long as I get my way everything is cool. Oh well maybe I will get treats at the class and make some new friends and by the end of it maybe I will have my Mom and family trained for good. Wish me luck my friends. Sasha

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm

p.s. Don't let your families go to the link above

TARGETING

I love to watch the shows on Animal Planet. Sometimes I do try some of the training tips on Sasha. One thing that is working is something they call "targeting". I have her sit and then put out my hand, palm towards her and call her name, when she touches my hand with her nose, she gets a treat. It sounds too simple I know, but I do it over and over(with just a small treat each time). She loves it of course because of the treat. Sasha does not come when called so this is what I am trying to get her to do. The other day Sasha got out without her leash, which is a nightmare usually. I put out my hand and called her name and she came!!!! I couldn't believe it. It actually worked, perhaps there is hope for my sassy girl. I didn't give her a treat but praised her and honestly since then she comes when any one of us puts out our hand and calls her. Now mind you this took me a couple of weeks of steady work with her, but I am so proud of her. One thing accomplished, now to work on going potty in the house, biting people, getting into trouble constantly, oh the list goes on. Another day for that lol.

Sashy wishes you all a good day

MY FAVORITE TOY

I WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL MY FAVORITE TOY MY HOT DOG. MY FAMILY GETS ME LOTS OF TOYS, (DON'T TELL ANYONE BUT I AM KIND OF SPOILED, SHHHHHH). BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT THIS ONE IS THE ONE THAT MAKES ME FEEL THE BEST. I DON'T KNOW WHY, IT DOESN'T TASTE GOOD BUT IT MAKES THIS FUNNY SQUEAKY SOUND AND I LIKE THAT. IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. I LOVE TO PLAY WITH IT, EXCEPT WHEN I TAKE IT TO SHOW MY MOM SHE TAKES IT AND JUST THROWS IT. WHAT THE HECK, I AM TRYING TO SHOW HER MY TOY AND SHE THROWS IT, THEN I HAVE TO GO GET IT AND I SHOW IT TO HER AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT SHE THROWS IT AGAIN. IT IS A NEVER ENDING CYCLE BUT IT SEEMS TO MAKE HER HAPPY SO I GO ALONG WITH IT. ANYWAY I HOPE MY DOG FRIENDS HAVE A FAVORITE TOY AND IF YOU CAN HUMOR YOUR MOMS BY CHASING IT. SASHA

p.s. NOTICE IN THE PICTURE THAT I HAVE THE REMOTE CONTROL BY ME, THAT'S IN CASE THAT DOG WHISPERER GUY COMES ON SO I CAN CHANGE THE CHANNEL BEFORE MY MOM STARTS TO GET ANY IDEAS

SASHA LAST CHRISTMAS

Ok the coat was bad but this is just embarrassing!! What I won't do for a treat.

The night Sasha ran away

We adopted Sasha in December of 2004, there was a lot of snow that year. One night I opened the front door for a split second just to look outside and Sasha saw her chance and took off running. We had only had her about a week and she was not trained in any way yet. I had on pajamas and slippers but went out after her. The snow was so high that It was hard to see her, and suddenly a neighbors car came backing out of the driveway 2 houses down. As the car drove off Sasha went running chasing after it. I was screaming but they could not hear me. There I was outside in my pajamas and slippers screaming at a car. I thought we had lost her but then there she was just walking back towards the house. By this time my husband came out to help and ever time he would approach her she would run away playfully, yes she was having a grand old time. Finally she had enough and started up towards a neighbors house that had a very simular porch to ours, my husband grabbed her and to add insult to injury on the way home I slipped on some ice and fell. I didn't get hurt but other neighbors had come out now to help as I am laying on the icy sidewalk in my pajamas. I thought I saw Sasha smiling as we came in, and then she spent some time-out in her crate.

Sasha dinner cry

Every night and I do mean every night after Sasha eats her supper she finds her favorite green sock, picks it up in her mouth and walks around the house upstairs and then down crying with the sock. Its a shrill whining sort of cry, not like she is in pain, very hard to describe. We call it "the after supper cry", not very original I realize. She does that for a few minutes then puts the sock back where she got it from and settles in for a nap. I don't know what the make of this. It has become somewhat normal for us but it makes it very difficult to take her anywhere overnight. Does anyone have a simular problem?

Sasha the Shih Tzu

We love dogs and especially shih tzu's. Our first shih tzu was Holly, we had her for 8 years and she had a heart condition and passed away in my arms. She was the best little doggie in the world. We got her from a breader so we decided after missing Holly so much to try a rescue dog. We found one on line , our little Sasha. She is the sassiest dog there could ever be. She was about a year old when we got her, she had been left at the humane society. The first few weeks with Sasha were a nightmare. She bit us, went potty all over the house even though we were told she was housebroken. We couldn't have guests over for fear she would bite them, she growled at everyone. The vet said she was very healthy and just needed patience. She wasn't kidding. But after about 2 months we discovered the miracle of the squirt bottle filled with water. Suddenly we had a defense and she started to listen to us after a few squirts. We didn't hurt her honestly just a little squirt of water or just a shake of the bottle was enough. It had been 4 years now, Sasha is still sassy as can be, but our scars have healed and we love her with all of our hearts. It took a lot of patience and still does. A friend of ours asked us once why we didn't give her back and I realized it never even crossed our minds, we don't give up. But I still have trouble getting her groomed that is one area that has not improved. Any suggestions??

MICHIGAN GROOMER NEEDED FOR SASSY SASHA! PLEASE!