Our coton is a brat

Our 16 month old coton is well, what shall we say...a rather high maintenance brat. He runs from us every time we go to put on his harness for walks unless we give him a treat each time. If we are not fast, he will take the treat and then run also (a thief). He constantly picks up sticks and other things that he should not have and eats them. I try to get him to release them but he won't. I do have some bitter apple spray in a bottle and he knows if I get that spray out, he usually spits out whatever he has in his mouth (I am afraid he will get an intestinal blockage otherwise). But it does not keep him from picking up another stick 2 seconds later and we repeat the same thing all day every day.


He is the most friendly dog I have ever met; he loves to see all people and he loves other dogs. But he is an immature brat most of the time. On top of this, he is the energizer bunny, never really takes naps now nor in puppyhood (even though the literature says puppies sleep like 16 hours a day - NOT! Not this puppy, neither then nor now). Even though he is a very happy dog, he also is a nervous dog - whenever he gets anxious for any reason, his first reaction is to mouth or bite us. He is also compulsive - will dig frantically at bed sheets or blankets or the carpet. I think this stems from his nervous nature but that seems to be in his DNA. It's just who he is unfortunately.

We took him to dog training as a puppy for 4 months and I prayed for the little fellow. Finally at 6 months he was neutered (can you believe it, about a week before he got neutered, he started urine marking in our house! I was beside myself, never had a dog that we owned do that before.) It all helped, he is better now than when he was a puppy but he is still a little brat.

Our other dog was such a sweet mellow gem but he died. This is the new guy. We give him the very best in life, great food (I mean REALLY great food - all homemade, gluten free and I also bake him homemade dog biscuits), lots of walks and he is home with us almost all the time since we work from home. When we do leave him alone, he barks and barks and barks (separation anxiety) and just all around has a fit because he is mad/anxious that we are leaving for any length of time at all. I take him for walk before we leave, still no matter, he has a fit that we are leaving. Any suggestions? We train him but the problem is not that he does not know the right thing to do, it's that he ENJOYS being a rebel. Sometimes we laugh and just shake our head, but other times when we are tired of all of his shenanigans, we just wish he would grow up and wonder if this is how it is going to be for the next possibly 14 years with this guy. I wish he were a mature mellow dude. He is the complete opposite of our last dog.

Are most cotons like he? I thought they were all mellow like our last coton who was such a gem.

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Dec 09, 2016
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Brat
by: Anonymous

Omg, sounds like my little boy. 4 years old now and still as stubborn as ever. Hilarious , so hard to get mad, but he can try my patience at times. Never slept much until recently ( again 4 years ) . Full of energy and antics. Loves the closet. Grabs socks and undies are his favorite! Takes off zooming thru the house. Takes a high value great to get it away from him. Runs when I come with leash also ( got a kick out if that ) but he will stay and sit when told, so I am able to harness him. Still working on " come " command , he gets his sights on something and hard to regain his attention. Ugh. He'll eat EVERYTHING... once a 5 inch arm to a monkey toy. The vet assured me he couldn't have. We had xray taken. No monkey arm. 2 weeks later however up came the monkey arm ! Whew. Scared. He is into everything. Very mischievous, stubborn and extremely smart. The only thing on this planet than can out stare me. OMG, When he wants something it doesn't end... lol. He is a total joy and keeps us laughing. I once read that dogs have such a short life relative to us, so I just give him as much love as I can. Hugs and kisses... ( I actually know when he gets annoyed , he makes a Huge sigh , teehee ) cracks me up. .. tons of praise when he gets things right tho and obeys....seems he loves that... doesn't respond to firm correction, ( brat ) has to be praise... what a dog... gotta love him.... we do !!!

Nov 10, 2016
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brat
by: Lulu

I think your baby tries to be a boss, lol. But it can be frustrated at a time.

I always tell other Coton moms and dads "Coton is a routine driven dog". If there are multiple people in the household, everyone should speak one language to your little one.

First command all dog should lean is "SIT". Since your dog has been a training for 4 month, he should know how to "SIT".

When he sits, you should put harness on, then you can give him a treat. You should have the treat on your hand but show him the treat and put it in your pocket. So he knows in order for him to get the treat, he needs to sit and put the harness on before he gets the treat. Everyone in your house should do the same. If he does not sit and does not let you put on a harness, you should not give him the treat. In this case, you should walk away and not give him attention for 5 or 10 min (time-out). Then you can re-try with him. It will take sometime, but he is a smart kid, so at the end he will figure it out. Good luck with your baby.



Nov 06, 2016
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Brat ???
by: Jacquie Thompson

Oh dear ! I cant believe how you talk about this beauty I understand truly I do, having experienced nearly 11 years of a very anxious stubborn little male coton . But I tell you now I would have it all back in a hearbeat if I could .Life without my boy isn't the same . Was the best friend I ever had .And no matter what a brat he could be he was also the most lovable character I adored him and his strange little ways coton traits id say . He too did all the same things yours is doing no matter how I tried to teach him that his life was great.I gave him the best life and he gave me a run for my money but some of the best and happiest years of my life ..He brought me a lot of love and laughter ..I hope yours settles down mine did after 2 years of age but he was always glued to my side he loved his mummy and id say I spoiled him so was my fault too . Try be stricter but in a kind way they do need to learn and they are very clever little devils .Good luck hope all gets better or at least more settled ..I would love my Charly to drive me nuts again I miss him everyday and think I always will xxx

Nov 06, 2016
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Cute Dog Syndrome
by: Anonymous

It's so easy to let these little charmers gain the upper hand. The only way your cute little "brat" will start to behave, is if he truly understands that YOU are in charge. This requires constant, consistent training and a whole lot of patience.

Nov 06, 2016
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Little Dog Syndrome?
by: Carol - Vestal, NY

Well I had heard of "Little Dog Syndrome" from the Dog Whisperer and I am afraid my Coton has developed it too! I am thinking that it is a combination of my overindulgence at times and paying TOO much attention to him - and then when he feels he is not getting the "deserved" attention he will be a very bad boy. (Cute, but bad!) He starts by sitting up on his haunches and looking very cute - then he will wave his paws. If that doesn't get the attention (or treat) he will sniff or click his teeth! Recently he even started giving an annoying BARK for attention. I tell anyone who comes to visit to try and IGNORE him and not look him in the eye - because he seems to know once he has us in his "gaze" he will get what he wants!! Did this dog just come over on a ship from an African royal palace or what??? It seems that Cotons were born to perform and be treated like royalty....very smart dogs!

I am trying to be more consistent because he is starting to take over the household. It's like baby-sitting a toddler. Can you relate??

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