A 15 week old female Sharpei/Rottweiler mix had been bought from a local breeder by the retired grandparents of a 4 1/2 year old boy. The kindly elders cared for the lad several days a week while his single mother worked. The idea was to train the puppy in their home, then transplant her (with all bad behavior successfully solved) to the daughter's home. To accomplish this unlikely goal a "book" had been purchased when the pup was 7 weeks of age. When I was called, the folks were on the verge of taking the puppy to the local pound, where she would have suffered the "ultimate inconvenience."

Complaints were biting, barking at guests, stealing anything that moved, chewing on anything within reach, including feet, legs, hands, etc. She had also growled at and nipped the boy. This case typifies an increasing number of HelpLine calls, WWW diagnostic inquiries and programs we deal with lately. Prior to our first meeting, the following history was obtained.

Following the "book's" instructions, they immediately "treat-trained" her to a small crate, which made her extremely mouth-on-hand-happy, put the puppy in a crate in a small den, where she spent her nights and all other times when the folks were away or could not supervise her closely. This resulted in 16 1/2 hours of almost every day for the pup, spent in the confines of a small box, which prevented the pup from responding to any spontaneous exercise. Hence, when she did get out of the her little prison, she was so wound up that she was over-stimulated by her freedom and the pent up inner drives for the exercise vital for healthy physical development.

To cope with the mouthing the "book" instructed them to grab her by the jowls, raising her forepaws off the floor, look her in the eyes and shout "NO!" This puppy has active defense reflexes, aggressive, so she responded by growling and biting at them. The "book" also recommended they put a stub leash on her collar and yank it, lifting the puppy's forepaws off the floor, if necessary, to control unruliness or biting, etc. The pup responded to this life-threatening treatment by fighting for freedom, growling, snapping struggling. She became we so active that it took both grandparents to stuff her into her crate until she calmed down. They also showed the youngster how to jerk the stub leash, which is how he got nipped while dragging the puppy around the house and lifting her when she resisted. Needless to say, the "book" didn't have any advice on this pup's responses, so they phoned their veterinarian and we were contacted... "As our last hope."

Grandmother advised me on the phone to be prepared to be barked at, charged, and possibly bitten, by 18 pounds of out-of-control canine puppyhood when she opened the front door. I merely asked that she and Grandfather greet me happily and stand quietly until "Sharpy" settled down. When the moment came, the door opened, the folks said "Hi," and the puppy appeared from behind them, whereupon I quickly crouched down sideways to her, saying "Hi Sharpy" as she approached. The pup approached slowly. The folks said... "She's never been this way before. She isn't even barking." When Sharpy started to get mouthy with my left hand, I tossed my Bio-Sonic beanbag on the floor in front of her feet. She immediately turned away and went into another room. I advised the folks to say "Good Dog!" and head for the living room. I followed, and we weren't halfway down the hall before Sharpy had passed them, whereupon I instructed them to turn around and head back for the front door. They hadn't gone a few steps before the pup was ahead again. Two more reversals, with a Bio-Sonic distraction and praise, and Sharpy stood quizzically by the front door as we proceeded to the living room. She followed several paces to the rear.

After we had all sat down Sharpy tried most of the bossy puppy ploys. She jumped up at Grandmother, then Grandfather, then me. But each approach was greeted with the quick distraction of the Bio-Sonic device. Her responses were immediate... she stopped for an instant and we quietly praised her. After approximately eight corrections and praise Sharpy sat behind Grandmother's legs, then lay down for a snooze. Both clients were incredulous. However, when the nature of the Bio-Sonic distraction [to the dog] was explained, a program was discussed which included the next meeting with the grandson, when we could help them control both youngsters.

As it turned out, the boy was extremely active and constantly sought everyone's attention, predictable tendencies for an over-indulged only grandchild. The dog, of course, obeying its allelomimetic [act-like, be-like] tendencies, competed with the lad, racing around the house after him, nipping his ankles, etc., etc. As is usually the case, Sharpy brought herself under control after a few Bio-Sonic distractions and quiet praise, but the lad required every ounce of the grandparents' patience and perseverance.

Grandfather was the only one to use his Bio-Sonic. And he was quite effective. Grandmother's attentions were on the lad. However, serenity reigned after a few minutes and we discussed further steps in their program. A future meeting with the lad's mother is in the planning stage.

Before leaving, I asked the name of the "book" which had launched them on their wayward course with Sharpy. The clients said they forgot it, since they had given it to neighbors who had just gotten a new pup the previous week. It appeared that the neighbors were not the clients' favorite people. And, with friends like Sharpy's owners, those neighbors certainly won't ever run short of enemies.