How can we give up our bad habits?

Can a Chihuahua give a German Shepard bad habits?

• We are going to get a german Shepard pup very soon. We also have one female chihuahua, Coco. Coco is a really good dog...but she barks. A lot and at everything. She barks at people, ...show more

• Answer:

  Puppies do tend to "copy" older dogs, but whether it copies an older dog barking will depend on the pups temperament. My younger more submissive dog rarely barks as my older more dominant dog thinks its HIS job to do that and has always discouraged the younger one from barking. But since the old dog has gone a bit deaf, the younger one is taking over the "barking" and the old dog is mellow now and lets him. Puppies can learn a lot by watching an older dog and pick up lots of things including the good things AND the bad. My young dog learnt to search for articles and do a sendaway by watching other dogs. I just had to add the polish. You wont know what your pup is like until you get it and then you can review the situation.