[Olive Love]

Hi,
My poodle puppy, Olive, loves to scratch me. She normally scratches when she is upset. She only scratches me, not herself. Is it normal for poodles to scratch when they are upset?
Thank you,
Olive Love

 

[Liz]

When you say scratch, do you mean that she paws you?

 

[Olive Love]

Yes! She just dot her nails trimmed 2 days ago but is still hurts!

 

[Olive Love]

She also loves to hit!

 

[Liz]

Yes, that's a normal way for dogs to get attention from people, and you'll need to train her to stop by pre-empting the behavior. Do you have a sense of what she's asking for when she is trying to get your attention? For example, she may need to go potty or want to play.

 

[Olive Love]

She does not scratch to get attention, she scratches when she is mad and upset.

 

[Liz]

And what is it that she wants you to do at that moment? Is she upset because she wants something? Upset because something was taken away?

 

[Olive Love]

Upset because something that she cannot have was taken away and she wants it. We often fight about the slippers and the shoes!

 

[cowpony]

First, are you sure that she is taking the slippers because she actually wants them? Or is she taking them because she wants attention, and she knows you will chase her if she takes something you value?

Trade. When you take the slippers away, give her something of equal or higher value. A stuffed animal or a bully stick might do it. Or, if she wants to play, give her a ball or a tug toy and play with her for a couple minutes.

 

[Dechi]

She does not scratch to get attention, she scratches when she is mad and upset.

Dogs are not like people. They don’t get mad or offended and try to get revenge. She just wants the « toy » you took from her and she is trying to tell you.