Andrea
I got this dog from my cousin. I was told they simply did not have the time for him. My mom and brother warned me that he had severe behavior problems, nothing violent though. I took him anyway as it was me or the pound. For the first couple of weeks he was perfect. Never had any accidents, slept in my bed all night. About a month ago he started peeing all over whenever he got nervous or excited or scared. He gets up in the middle of the night, tips over my bin and eats the crotch out of dirty cloth diapers and eats out of the cat box... He has bitten me and my son. He will push my 7 month old daughter over to get to me and hell sit on her if he cant move her. He is also extremely excitable, if I try to play with him he gets really rough and jumps around all over and bites hard even though he is just playing. He steals food off the counter, off of highchairs, from the garbage and even from my kids hands. He is very skinny, hell eat any and everything I give him no matter how much or how often, always still hungry but vet says he has no parasites.
Today he actually peed on the floor right in front of me twice, this is the first time he has intentionally peed on the floor, not over stimulated and had just been out. This occured just after having a bath.
He has made a little progress, he used to run away everytime Id open the door. He hasnt tried to run off in a little over a week.
I do not know what could be causing these problems, I have tried for a month to address them and I am not able to. He is very smart, I taught him to shake within an hour and he does it well, he is VERY handsy. Even to the point of scratching me badly if I do not pet him long enough. Shake, sit, and cage are the only things he knows and I havent been able to show him anything new. I have to go out of town this weekend to see some family, and I will have to take him will as his behavior is so out of control no one will dogsit for me.
He was a very good dog for awhile, so I know that he can be. I do not want to get rid of him but he will have to go for my familys sake if I cant alter his behavior.
Sorry so lengthy - Can anyone help?
ADDITIONALLY - He is very submissive, even rolls over on his back when scolded - he then pees on himself...
Okay - I thought I had written too much but I guess I havent written enough. I badly want to help this dog. If I didnot he would be gone. I DO NOT know ANYONE who can help me. If I did I would ask them for help. I do not see how I have given enough information for anyone to decide I am making him nervous or sending him mixed signals. I have trained dogs before, my mother did it as a job so I grew up around it. She is unfortunately not here to help. I do not have them time, that is an acurate assement. I am willing to make the time. P.S. he is scared of going outside, our walks are miserable for him.
That would be helpful, does anyone know of any good sites. The ones Ive read on all say different things. I guess Im looking for someone who has experience with these problems. Also, I do not believe in treating them seperately, they could stem from a single problem... I just do not want to confuse him and make this harder. Also, where I live there is no help through the humae society. They are also untrustworthy. Last year I brought them a pregant cat I found and they made me feel like a criminal, finally telling me that they would take her and find her a home. One of the workers told me she was to be out to sleep in an hours time even though she was pregnant. I had to fight them to get that cat back and find her a home myself. They do not seem like they are concerned with helping.
Socion - Thank you. I apologize if I have put you off. Your edit was helpful, you have provided me with plenty of information and I am greatful. I really was just looking for a person with similar experience to give advice for the hard going as it is very frustrating on my own. I have a lot to juggle and my family assumes that I can not help him. Your information was far more encouraging than being told a trainer or someone experienced should do it. After all, no one trained me to be a mother and I certainly wouldnt give my kids away to someone more experienced. Thanks much.
Answer
All those issues can be dealt with but is nearly as much work as having another child. Have the time? And do you want to spend the time...? The dog should really be with an experienced owner, an owner who realizes s/he needs to be knowledgeable *yesterday* and is willing to get on the ball, or an owner who has the means to pay a trainer. Its too many problems to even go into here, when there are lots of websites and books on training and canine behavior. Ask people to recommend some for you, or just google stuff yourself and start reading. Make a point to watch the show "Its Me or the Dog". The trainer addresses problems such as yours on every episode.
Has the dog been neutered? That should help a lot with the excitable peeing and some of the other issues as well. Is he getting at least one long daily walk -- the earlier in the day, the better? Dogs who can count on being taken for a daily walk usually dont try to escape on their own. Put the cat box high enough where he cant reach it. Put food, the trash bin, and the laundry hamper out of reach to remove the temptation until you can address each issue specifically. Make sure you are feeding a high-quality food but if that means switching brands, dont do it abruptly or else youll be adding diarrhea to your list of problems.
You can ask a questions HERE about training and care websites. Or find some yourself. Just google. Look up tips for making his walks more enjoyable. He must like something about the outdoors or he wouldnt have been trying to escape. You might walk him with a treat in your hand, giving bits every so often to make it a pleasurable experience for him. Many people will tell you that regular obedience training will help your dog learn to trust you, thereby increasing his confidence. Is he expected to "sit" before he gets food or treats or a toy? Do you know how to be a "pack leader"? If hes sleeping in your bed and sitting on your sofa, I recommend you get him his own bed or a blanket or something for him to lay on the floor; confident leaders dont share their sleeping/relaxing space with subordinates who arent clear on where they fit in the pack. Even a crate would be fine -- just dont use it as a substitute for proper training. But if hes been allowed to get on the furniture, dont just start shoving him off and yelling at him. TRAIN him! Show him what you expect, show him what his bed is for. Then if he tries to jump up on your furniture, tell him "ack-ack!". Block him with your body and command "off!" or "get back!". Dogs often use their body to correct other dogs with what is known as a "body check".
How to deal with the biting could depend on several things. Is he biting because hes playing too roughly and wasnt taught bite inhibition when he was younger? Is he biting to try to keep you in line? Is he biting out of a perceived need to protect someone or something? Is he unable to get away from your child when he wants to? A crate left open during the day is a good place for a doggy to retreat from rambunctious children.
Dogs rarely do anything without a reason, even if that reason isnt clear to you. There is only enough space and time here to get you thinking about possible solutions to your problems. Hes your dog and its up to you to make the effort to understand canine behavior, and to find and implement solutions that work for you. You should also learn everything you can about the breed.
Here are just a couple of sites with articles on various topics...
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/ttrain.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/taskdt.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care.htm
They could stem from a single problem and that most likely is a failure of the humans in his life to understand canine behavior and how to properly raise a dog.
There is no magic wand someone can wave and fix everything. But also remember, there is no such thing as a perfectly-trained dog. Just start making some positive changes, and keep at it. If hes not trained to "sit", all you have to do is come to him with a food bowl or treat and just stand there. He may wiggle and jump around, but hes not going to go anywhere. And hes not stupid; eventually his rear will hit the floor. The instant it does, say the command "sit!" and give him the food.
Teach him to fetch. Its simple to do and good exercise for him. Throw a ball or his favorite toy toward a barrier such as a wall or fence .That way when he retrieves it, hell have to run back by you. When he runs near you with the toy, let him see you drop a few bits of kibble at your feet. The instant he drops the toy to eat the food, give the command, "go fetch". Have a few sessions of several repetitions and he will be conditioned to fetch.
If he jumps on you, walk into (toward) him; you will be invading his space like a leader should do, and it should also take him off balance enough to discourage the jumping.
If you need a method of discipline, put pennies in an empty Coke can and seal the top with tape. Then shake the can to interrupt him if hes trying to scrounge in something he shouldnt. This technique is called sound diversion. Or simply remove the item, tell him "no" and give him something that is acceptable, such as one of his toys.
For the worst or most persistent behavior, such as growling at you or pestering you for attention, tell him "get back!" and lead him by the collar (or a short lead youve left attached to his collar) to a dark empty room, a closet even, and shut him in it for a few minutes. You dont need to jerk him or lose your temper. The isolation will be bad enough. If he resumes the behavior when you let him out, back to the closet he goes for another couple minutes....Soon, your patience and consistency will pay off. He will learn what get back means. But be fair. If he hasnt had adequate exercise, how can you blame him for being overactive?
If he bites you when youre playing, yelp a high-pitched "OW!" and stop the play. Completely ignore him for a few minutes.
Do take the time to read this article, and good luck:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/humandog.htm
All those issues can be dealt with but is nearly as much work as having another child. Have the time? And do you want to spend the time...? The dog should really be with an experienced owner, an owner who realizes s/he needs to be knowledgeable *yesterday* and is willing to get on the ball, or an owner who has the means to pay a trainer. Its too many problems to even go into here, when there are lots of websites and books on training and canine behavior. Ask people to recommend some for you, or just google stuff yourself and start reading. Make a point to watch the show "Its Me or the Dog". The trainer addresses problems such as yours on every episode.
Has the dog been neutered? That should help a lot with the excitable peeing and some of the other issues as well. Is he getting at least one long daily walk -- the earlier in the day, the better? Dogs who can count on being taken for a daily walk usually dont try to escape on their own. Put the cat box high enough where he cant reach it. Put food, the trash bin, and the laundry hamper out of reach to remove the temptation until you can address each issue specifically. Make sure you are feeding a high-quality food but if that means switching brands, dont do it abruptly or else youll be adding diarrhea to your list of problems.
You can ask a questions HERE about training and care websites. Or find some yourself. Just google. Look up tips for making his walks more enjoyable. He must like something about the outdoors or he wouldnt have been trying to escape. You might walk him with a treat in your hand, giving bits every so often to make it a pleasurable experience for him. Many people will tell you that regular obedience training will help your dog learn to trust you, thereby increasing his confidence. Is he expected to "sit" before he gets food or treats or a toy? Do you know how to be a "pack leader"? If hes sleeping in your bed and sitting on your sofa, I recommend you get him his own bed or a blanket or something for him to lay on the floor; confident leaders dont share their sleeping/relaxing space with subordinates who arent clear on where they fit in the pack. Even a crate would be fine -- just dont use it as a substitute for proper training. But if hes been allowed to get on the furniture, dont just start shoving him off and yelling at him. TRAIN him! Show him what you expect, show him what his bed is for. Then if he tries to jump up on your furniture, tell him "ack-ack!". Block him with your body and command "off!" or "get back!". Dogs often use their body to correct other dogs with what is known as a "body check".
How to deal with the biting could depend on several things. Is he biting because hes playing too roughly and wasnt taught bite inhibition when he was younger? Is he biting to try to keep you in line? Is he biting out of a perceived need to protect someone or something? Is he unable to get away from your child when he wants to? A crate left open during the day is a good place for a doggy to retreat from rambunctious children.
Dogs rarely do anything without a reason, even if that reason isnt clear to you. There is only enough space and time here to get you thinking about possible solutions to your problems. Hes your dog and its up to you to make the effort to understand canine behavior, and to find and implement solutions that work for you. You should also learn everything you can about the breed.
Here are just a couple of sites with articles on various topics...
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/ttrain.html
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/taskdt.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/care.htm
They could stem from a single problem and that most likely is a failure of the humans in his life to understand canine behavior and how to properly raise a dog.
There is no magic wand someone can wave and fix everything. But also remember, there is no such thing as a perfectly-trained dog. Just start making some positive changes, and keep at it. If hes not trained to "sit", all you have to do is come to him with a food bowl or treat and just stand there. He may wiggle and jump around, but hes not going to go anywhere. And hes not stupid; eventually his rear will hit the floor. The instant it does, say the command "sit!" and give him the food.
Teach him to fetch. Its simple to do and good exercise for him. Throw a ball or his favorite toy toward a barrier such as a wall or fence .That way when he retrieves it, hell have to run back by you. When he runs near you with the toy, let him see you drop a few bits of kibble at your feet. The instant he drops the toy to eat the food, give the command, "go fetch". Have a few sessions of several repetitions and he will be conditioned to fetch.
If he jumps on you, walk into (toward) him; you will be invading his space like a leader should do, and it should also take him off balance enough to discourage the jumping.
If you need a method of discipline, put pennies in an empty Coke can and seal the top with tape. Then shake the can to interrupt him if hes trying to scrounge in something he shouldnt. This technique is called sound diversion. Or simply remove the item, tell him "no" and give him something that is acceptable, such as one of his toys.
For the worst or most persistent behavior, such as growling at you or pestering you for attention, tell him "get back!" and lead him by the collar (or a short lead youve left attached to his collar) to a dark empty room, a closet even, and shut him in it for a few minutes. You dont need to jerk him or lose your temper. The isolation will be bad enough. If he resumes the behavior when you let him out, back to the closet he goes for another couple minutes....Soon, your patience and consistency will pay off. He will learn what get back means. But be fair. If he hasnt had adequate exercise, how can you blame him for being overactive?
If he bites you when youre playing, yelp a high-pitched "OW!" and stop the play. Completely ignore him for a few minutes.
Do take the time to read this article, and good luck:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/humandog.htm
Prepared for new dog?
Q. I recently acquired a new homeless dog to help fill the emptiness left by a previous dog. I have the following:
collar
leash
dishes x2
Covered bed
food/water
love and affection for the newcomer
Anything else
Its just a stray. Its no longer a puppy
oh my, god!!! Hes gone. He ran away!! *cries* Hes a beagle and he ran off.
he came back
collar
leash
dishes x2
Covered bed
food/water
love and affection for the newcomer
Anything else
Its just a stray. Its no longer a puppy
oh my, god!!! Hes gone. He ran away!! *cries* Hes a beagle and he ran off.
he came back
Answer
Full list:
Wire or plastic dog crate
Easily washable, hard-to-destroy bedding material, imitation sheepskin works well§ tip-proof, stainless steel or hard plastic food & water dishes.
Buckle puppy collar & lead; I like the soft braided nylon types.
ID Tag with your phone number to wear on the collar
a collection of high quality, safe chew toys: Puppy Nylabones, Cressite rubber balls or bones and sturdy stuffed squeak toys.
grooming supplies: ask your breeder for recommendations
a quality brand of dry puppy food.
"Bitter Apple", a safe spray-on product to discourage chewing on inappropriate objects.
a wire, wooden or plastic âbaby gateâ for blocking doorways.
a good book on puppy care & training . Read through them before bringing your puppy home.
Full list:
Wire or plastic dog crate
Easily washable, hard-to-destroy bedding material, imitation sheepskin works well§ tip-proof, stainless steel or hard plastic food & water dishes.
Buckle puppy collar & lead; I like the soft braided nylon types.
ID Tag with your phone number to wear on the collar
a collection of high quality, safe chew toys: Puppy Nylabones, Cressite rubber balls or bones and sturdy stuffed squeak toys.
grooming supplies: ask your breeder for recommendations
a quality brand of dry puppy food.
"Bitter Apple", a safe spray-on product to discourage chewing on inappropriate objects.
a wire, wooden or plastic âbaby gateâ for blocking doorways.
a good book on puppy care & training . Read through them before bringing your puppy home.
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