what do you think about a time out cage?

hi ladies, I need your sage advice here with my 11 month old pup (the one in my avatar).

recently she's started biting my ankles and hands, she did this when she was teething but stopped a while ago but has started again. It's very frustrating to walk around the house with a little shih tzu nipping at you. she's also started biting at my older dog's legs again as well. I keep telling her off when she does it but it just doesnt work because she looks at me shakes her head and just does it again. She has always been a very wilful dog, I've never had a dog like this before, if you tell her off she barks at you and if you point the finger she just tries to bite it. she's not a people pleaser and seems to live in "rommie land" where there are no rules or authority and she's been like that from the beginning.

I really dont want to start smacking her because I have never smacked my pets, what do think about a time out cage for when she wont listen? do you think it would work? any other suggestions because Im getting close to my wits end lately. telling my dogs off when they are doing something wrong has always worked with my other dogs but not with her.

It's a good idea and often recommended by dog trainers... I use it myself. Start with a few minutes and extend it longer each time. Doesn't have to be a cage, can just shut her in another room away from everyone... don't forget to totally ignore her no matter how much she whinges.

My Miss Bella does that when I get home from work, I think her's is excitement and why did you leave me home all day

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Sounds like she is a determined little dog Ota, all the best with whatever you do to fix this problem up.

Wish I had the answer as it's a real problem that needs to be nipped in the bud. The only thing I can think of is writing to Harry on BH&G, don't know if you would have any luck, but may be worth a try.

Has she completely finished teething, Ot? Sometimes they can be very late getting the last of the molars. I can tell you that with cattle dogs, if you don't have a time out area, you'd go crazy. LOL. Even shelties, if they are over the top, I give them a chance to calm down . Be kind to yourself. The beauty of multiple dogs is that they torment each other, rather than you. No wonder I find each dog easier to rear. The others help discipline the pups, and entertain them.

Not wanting to make light of your situation, Ota...but when I read the title ' what do you think about a time out cage?' I thought you were referring to troublesome members...and I thought...what a good idea.....
All jokes aside, best of luck solving your problem.

Funny Fay I had the same kind of thought..

And I thought what have I done wrong now? ( But maybe I'm paranoid.)

I dont think she's teething anymore and I really think this is a control thing that she's doing. She keeps at it for an hour or more at a time and I tell her off a hundred times with "stop it!" and "no!" but she just will not listen. I've tried clapping my hands with "no!", I even tried growling at her but she just growls and barks back at me and gets all riled up, and she is so wilful that it ends up in a competition about who is really in charge and she will never back down! It just wears me out. Poor old Jazz will be yelping cos rom is biting her legs and I tell her off and as soon as my back is turned she's biting her legs again. i just cant seem to get through to her that she is not the boss of everyone! so all the things i've tried just arent working.

i just wasnt sure if a time out cage was a good idea but if I put her in a room I just know she will mess around and play and then start barking and demanding to be let out without even realising she's being punished, because nothing seems to phase her, she has this "whatever" kind of attitude. i love her to pieces but the last few weeks she has just driven me to the end of my last nerve.

Betty, I think it would be great if i had a dominant dog who would keep her in line, that's probably what she needs but even our cat who can usually put the fear of god into any dog cant get the upper hand with her (and believe me she's still trying)

karingal that's too funny maybe we should put it to tessa and have one at the forum too

I used to have just the dog to deal with cheeky pups, Ot. She would grab them and flip them on their back, then stand over them daring them to move. Gone to God though. What age was she when weaned? It almost looks as if she wasn't taught bite inhibition by her mother. When your other dog yelps she should stop. Is there any way you could take her along to play with other dogs. You don't want her hurt though . It's a real pity you aren't here as I would know which of my dogs could sort her out, without murdering her. There was a Shih Tzu pup at the vet's the other day and must say it looked pretty unstoppable too. LOL.
A cage is fine. All my dogs were used to cages when being shown, and in the States a lot of people crate cattle dogs at night or for time out. You can get her a cage where she has plenty of room to move, put some toys in it and she won't even know it is punishment. You need that break. Most puppy owners do.

we got her at 12 weeks but I do remember the breeder saying that she doesnt let her pups go before 10 weeks because she feels that the shih tzu's just arent ready before that, but I dont know what age they were weaned at. when jazz yelps it doesnt bother rom at all, she even has me yelping sometimes because she can bite quite hard and it means nothing to her

It's a pity I dont live near you and we could get one of your dogs to sort her out LOL i do know some people with dogs but gosh I'd just be so scared of her getting hurt or traumatised if it went wrong.

"'There was a Shih Tzu pup at the vet's the other day and must say it looked pretty unstoppable too. LOL. "

It really does seem to be something in her personality that makes her really stubborn and pushy so i wonder if it is a shih tzu trait. she's always had an 'attitude' and trying to discipline her is like banging your head against a wall, that's the most frustrating part.

i feel much better about using the cage now so im going to sort one out, a nice little rommie jail, at least she wont be able to mouth off at me because i'll be in the other room getting my own time out