Hello, I sounds like pup is being given too much freedom right now, before they have been trained to handle it and it not cause behavior issues. At this age, pup either needs to be with you on a 6 foot leash, on a long 20'-50' training leash with you, in a fence, or inside. Pup needs boundary training and off leash obedience before they can be given off leash privileges Check out the Recruit Friends method from the article linked below, and begin by teaching pup to stay inside your property boundaries. https://wagwalking.com/training/stay-in-an-unfenced-yard Start working on a reliable Come. Check out the Reel In method from the article linked below. Reel In method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-whippet-to-recall You can also practice walking around places like your yard or a field and changing directions frequently without saying anything with pup on a 20'40'non-retractable training leash. Whenever he takes notice (at first because the leash finally tugs, but later just because you moved), then toss a treat at him for looking your way or coming over to you - without calling him; this encourages him to choose to pay attention to where you are and associate your presence with good things on his own, so he will want to be with you. For the protection, spend a lot of time socializing pup around people - it may sound counter-intuitive but you want pup to learn what is normal human behavior and body language to better help them recognize what is aggressive or suspicious behavior in people too. At 18 weeks very few puppies would have shown any protection instinct. Any natural instinct of that natural typically develops between 1-2 years as mental maturity and certain hormones change (even in neutered dogs). You may find yourself never needing to teach pup anything other than good obedience and socialization, and pup may protect naturally when its needed. If you do find that pup is too accepting, then once they have obedience and socialization in place, you can begin formal protection training once pup is a bit older - which is based on pup having great obedience and great socialization, and learning through positive reinforcement via bite work how to handle aggressors. This type of training should only be done under the supervision and direction of a professional trainer because if it's done wrong it can be a huge liability and lead to fear biting, not just intruders but guests, family, and friends. To be accepted for this type of training, pup generally needs to be well socialized so that they can tell when someone is acting normal and safe vs. not though - so be sure to expose pup to a lot of people in a positive way while young. For the garden digging, pup needs more supervision, to learn the Leave It and Out commands, and if it's one specific area, look into outdoor pet barrier devices, designed to be set up in areas you want to deter pup from. Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

April 27, 2020

Hello Shannon, Find something that she will bark at, like a recording of other dogs, the doorbell, a siren, a cat, or anything else. Use that thing to trigger her barking. While she is barking, excitedly tell her to "Speak!" or a similar word you would like to use when she sees people later, such as "Alert!". As she is barking, praise her and reward her with a treat. Practice triggering the barking while telling her to "Speak!" and rewarding and praising her until she will bark when you say "Speak" without the trigger, like the doorbell, present. When she has learned to "Speak!", then whenever she sees people somewhere that you would like for her to bark at, like out your window or at your door, command "Speak!" and reward with a treat. Recruit people to be in that area frequently so that you can practice this often, if you don't have enough people present to practice this very often. Practice this so often that she begins to bark before you give the "Speak!" command. When she does so, reward her with five treats, one treat a time. At that point, wait until she barks on her own before you reward her. If she doesn't bark within seven seconds of seeing a person, give her a hint though and tell her to "Speak!", then reward with one treat. Eventually if you practice this and reward her barking at people automatically she should offer the behavior and bark at people on her own in hopes of getting a treat. Once she is doing that you can give less and less treats overtime and use praise and other rewards like a toy, instead. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

May 9, 2019