W h a t   i s   i t   l i k e   t o   o w n   m e ?

NEW!!! All photos of me have been moved to my photo album.

Of course, no one can truly OWN a Manchester. I really do think that I own Lora and Andi, sometimes! That is why they started training me on my first day in my new home. In general, we terriers need more training than other dogs because we are so intelligent and headstrong, but the Manchester is one of the easiest to train because we are so eager to please our people. Nothing makes me happier than a hug or a pat from my people, with some kind words.

It is important to understand what is going on inside our little heads while you are trying to train us. Remember that we are pack animals (like wolves), and within the pack, there is always a leader or "alpha" dog. We need to have an alpha dog in our lives, so if you are not able or willing to be the alpha, we will just go ahead and do it ourselves! You can observe pack behavior when your dog meets another dog. I am a very "alpha" dog, which means that when I meet other dogs (even ones bigger than I am!), I don't tend to back down from them. Now that I think of it, I lie on my back for no dog! The way I assert myself as alpha with other dogs is by trying to turn them over. I don't always succeed because I am so small, but I do try! No one has ever turned me over. Other dogs show submission to me by lying down, running away, and licking my face and stomach. I know one American Eskimo dog who has been known to exhibit "submissive wetting" when she sees me. What did I do? I thought I was just saying hi, but she is not dominant at all and since I am, she shows me that I am in charge. Of course, she is a great pet, just like me. It is more difficult to train your dog if he is an alpha, because he will be more apt to try to take control! My people show dominance over me by looking me right in the eye when giving me commands and by turning me over on my back for a few seconds a few times a day. Please, please, PLEASE don't ever hit a puppy while you are training him! There is no hitting in the dog world, so this is not the way to assert dominance! Better to think like a dog, that is the only way to get good results.

"Sit, Rudi!" Here I am, being as obedient as I can be. "Sit" and "Stay" are very difficult for me to obey, because I am so curious about everything around me. If it moves, I will probably want to go smell it and put it in my mouth. Also, it is so hard for me to stay put while Lora or Andi walks away, since I want to be with them all the time. I am working on this and I will let you know how it goes when I finally do learn to stay put. I am going to go to puppy school so I can learn the important commands: sit, stay, heel, come, and down. "Down" may not seem like a very important command for a dog who can only reach about 27 inches high on his hind legs, but you may think differently when you see me coming at you full speed with muddy paws!
 
 
 

"Rudi, come here!" I am getting pretty good at coming when called. I still have a lot of work to do on this one, though. I tend not to listen if I am busy stalking a bug or sniffing out a bit of dropped food, and that could be dangerous for me someday. I need to learn to come right away in case I am running across the street after something fun, and a car comes. I may be fast, but I am definitely no match for a car. "Come" is probably the most important command, potentially lifesaving, so I have a feeling that I will be putting in a lot of time on this one!
 
 

The biggest challenge for me so far has been housetraining. You can imagine! At my home in Georgia, we were allowed to go wherever and whenever we needed, because we all lived outside in the dog runs. Now I live in a house, and Andi and Lora are not in favor of my using the living room for a bathroom. I am getting pretty good! I have been working on this for only 4 weeks, and I know to go to the door. Sometimes, though, I am playing inside and things sneak up on me, and I just go. I am trying hard, though. If you are trying to housetrain a puppy or dog, it is important to remember that we don't understand your language. If you yell at us while we are doing business inside, we will misunderstand you. Instead of thinking that the rug is the wrong place to do that, we will think that the actual act is what has upset you! Eventually we will just go somewhere private in the house and do it there. I have a fairly regular schedule of eating, sleeping, outside time, and crate time, so at least I have an idea of when the right time is for all of these things. I know the crate looks like a little jail, but I actually enjoy it for a few hours at a time. It is like my little den in the big house. I have toys and water and a blanket in there, so it is all right for me to be in there alone. I know that when my people leave me in there, it is so I will be safe while they cannot watch me. Of course, I am always super-excited to see them when they come home! The crate is big enough for me to stand up, and I can chew in one end and sleep in the other. So it is not that bad!