Behavior Help
The dog is great and loves attention. He is about a year old and weighs 115 pounds. He doesn't realize how big he is and likes to sit in your lap. He is good with kids. Her sister has a year old boy and the dog is very careful around him, and has only knocked him down once by accidentally bumping into him. She has had the dog a little over a month, and we are only having one problem. He does not like being left alone!!!!! This dog is a year old and has never been crated, so this is not an option. I told her when she got him that she needed to lock him up a few times a day by himself so he could get used to it, but she refused. Instead she takes the dog everywhere she goes. He loves riding in the car etc.. Well now when she has to work or go somewhere he tears everything up. She lockes him in a small 1/2 bath which is about the size a crate would be for him. In that bathroom the blinds were raised and the cord was tied at the top so he couldn't get to it. Well he did somehow. He has jerked it off the wall, brackets and all. He has also chewed up the wood around the sink, and cracked the toilet in the bathroom. This is the only problem we are having with the dog. Any advice would be helpfull. There is absolutely nothing in the bathroom that can hurt him. No soap no toilet paper no nothing. He just chews on anything wooden in there. Any advice would be appreciated. |
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| what about doggie daycare? some vets and grooming facilities have a daycare in which you can leave him all day or however long you want (not overnight)....
i would also suggest leaving him alone for a few minutes at a time (and i do mean minutes) when he doesnt bark or act up..give a treat...continue on expanding the time.....it could take a while, but i know that this has worked.... a crate is a lot safer than a bathroom....there isnt anything that he can do in a crate.... also, some training classes might be in order..that way, you tire him out and give him a ''job''... walk, run, play...at least twice a day....a tired dog is a good dog...... hope this helps |
Presto wrote: ...and cracked the toilet in the bathroom. This is the only problem we are having with the dog.
Wow. That is a pretty big and powerful dog to crack a toilet! Zoicks *^%$# Batman! Crate training is always a test of your patience and determination versus their will. In my case, it involves a lot of teeth grinding...mine, not the dog's - but that's another story. I am sure you will get a lot of great advice here. In the interim, let me tell you what I would do, were I in your situation. All fabulous treats and toys would only be given to Oh PowerfulOne when s/he was in the crate/bathroom. In fact, that is where I feed Betsy. All her meals are given in her crate and I do lock the door, since I have other dogs. So she knows she has to wait until they are done before she will be released. By doing this, your dog will learn to associate the crate/'loo with food and treats rather than abandonment. So, yes, make certain the dog goes in there for short periods of time while you are home, to enjoy a tasty treat. I use Kongs stuffed with peanut butter and treats and then frozen or cheese whiz and treats and then frozen. Freezing slows consumption and keeps things tidier. I also augment Kongs with frozen raw soup bones. I like these as later they serve as stuffable Kong-substitutes. I have found success in leaving Betsy a "bribe" when I am going out and she is going to be crated. I give her a frozen treat (frozen stuffed Kong, bone, etc.) and a toy that is "new" (has been out of the toy rotation for a couple of weeks.) She also has some comfort stuff in there: her blanket, her big stuffed animal and food. You may be able to leave water for your dog. In my case, Betsy just dumps it and plays in it and since my dentist is concerned about my dental grinding, we are going to wait for a while on that one! The trick to this is to make the bathroom a fun space for your dog. In our house, the bathroom is The Penalty Box and only used for corrections. And yet, I can't tell you how often I find Betsy napping in there. They really don't mind things, as long as you have built it in as routine. Working dogs like to work and they like schedules too! Oh, one more thing. I have two rescue dogs that have crate-hate and/or confinement issues. In their case, the destruction ceased when they were allowed to roam free within our home. That is something you will have to judge for yourself and be very cautious about. But yes, what Darcy says is the best: a tired dog is a good dog. The more exercise you can give them, especially in the morning, the better! |
| I have sheepdogs and Pyrs. The Pyr wants to work, but there's nothing to do in an urban setting. You can't leave them outside because they will bark.......constantly. The sheepdog is playful and hates being alone.
As said above, you need a crate, plenty of toys or Kongs with peanut butter. Plus you need to train the baby to go to the crate and remain there quietly. You'll start with minutes and work you way up. No way reward bad behavior by appearing when they've been bad. And the exercise.........lots of of! Fortunately the Pyrs have a low metabolism and don't need to have their feet "walked off" but the sheepdog is an active breed and does. Three long vigorous walks a day are a must. If the dog is social, a visit to the dog park will help.....but Pyrs aren't always that social. Sheepdogs will want to herd. So maybe obedience first where the dog learns how to behave around other dogs and people. You baby is suffering from separatin anxiety. You might also try some of the pheromone sprays or dispensers for doggies with problems. |
| I agree... try to gradually work the dog into accepting the crate. It will be so much easier for the humans and safer for the dog.
When we use crates, we feed all meals in the crate. We cover part of it so it's more den-like. They find that good things happen when they're in the crate... treats, stuffed kongs, etc. We also leave the TV on for background noise. I've had a dog with separation anxiety and it took about a year to get her past it. It was the kind where we couldn't have a closed door between us and she too could not be crated so we puppy-proofed a room. There really is no quick fix but some of the info here might help you to get started- http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1393 |
| Everyone here makes good suggestions and I strongly concur with the crate approach.
I've had seven dogs - most recently our OES puppy. Every one of them has been crate trained. Some were easier than others to train. But I found that over the course of their lives they were safer and less destructive when they could "live" in their crates when I'm not at home. It takes time and patience to crate train, but it is worth it! Make sure to take it easy and get the dog used to the crate by putting food, toys, and treats in it. Let the dog walk in and out of it easily before shutting the door. While crate training it is also important to follow the advice of leaving for very short periods of time and rewarding the pooch when she quietly awaits your return. Gradually you can add more minutes and pretty soon the pup will get the idea. Dogs get frustrated confined in small spaces and they will become destructive. If that is allowed to continue and the pup is given more free access to the house, you could find even more destruction. So, a crate is a sensible and reasonable alternative. Crates are NOT punishment, they are safe havens that your dog can and will learn to enjoy. |
| I too strongly agree with crate training. I have an excellent dvd called CRATE GAMES by Susan Garret. You may find this of some assistance. |
I agree with all that has been said about crate training. I feed my dogs and everything good in the crate. Never use the crate as a punishment though. Although Sophie, when she knows she has been naughty will automatically go to her crate. I guess she thinks she is hiding from us. Go figure LOL 
Please post some pictures of your pup. I'd love to see how cute he is. |
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