Dog questions

Mouseygail

We are having some issues with our dog...the two major ones are incessant barking and peeing/pooping in the house while we are gone.  Today DH got home at 12:30 to find that he had gotten on top of the dining room table and peed on some papers up there...not the first time its happened either.    He often "gets into things" while we are gone...trash, my purse, etc... 

We are at the end of our rope...

He is obviously not crated at this time...how well would he adjust to that at 4 years old?   We have also previous spoken with professional trainers about some one on one training with him...but have been leary to spend that kind of money.  (and I don't think it would solve the fact that most of his problems are from boredom while we are gone...)

We know that he needs more exercise...and in theory, that would solve some of his boredom issues...but is it really the magic pill it is made out to be?

Thanks for any insight!!  I'm afraid to take this to the pet board! 

MonkeysGirl05

All dogs are different, so it is hard to say how well he would adjust to the crate. I'd start off slow. Put him in the crate for an hour or so when you are in the house with him. Then do a short trip out of the house and work up to full days.

Exercise would probably help, but it is no "magic pill".

I don't have any suggestions about the barking. We only have that problem when we have someone drive down the driveway (which I actually don't mind unless the baby is sleeping).

Good luck!

 

BoxTer

Have you thought about hiring someone to exercise him when you're at work? Or maybe doggie daycare to help him get out his energy? We hired a professional trainer to work with our dogs (two of them at the time) and the good thing about the people we worked with was that the fee we paid them, which was high, did cover "the life of the dog" so anytime we had problems, we could call. It wasn't just a one-time visit thing.

MBandBud

UGH.  So not fun.  I definitely think crating would be a great thing to try; but in the end, you are right, probably needs more exercise, activity.  But I also know how difficult this is to do.  It very well might help, but I think crating is in order.  We crated early and it worked well; I'm not sure how it would go crating now.  Maybe ask that on the pet board (don't give details, just see if anyone has crated later on and how it went, any tips, etc.).  I agree with not spending money on a trainer b/c in the end I know for us, it is us that needs the training, not the dog.  Sorry you are going through this. 

DavezWife

I would hands DOWN crate or confine that dog while you're out. Uncle Bloopers used to shred ANYTHING he could find (even magazines on the shelf, he's tall) and go NUTS when we left. Heck, still does - Davez left yesterday and even though I was sitting right here he went bonkers until he came home.

Kongs and other toys that you can stuff with PB, bones, etc. keep him busy for hours. I also get bones from the meat section, and strip most of the gunk off them prior to giving him one. Another treat that lasts forever and is cheap.  They even had a "kong dispenser" that you can load up and it'll release every couple of hours with a new one, for when you're gone all day.

Our dog is in the laundry room while we're out, with toys, and a radio on to drown out any noises that would make him bark or whine. When we get home, he gets to run crazy for a while, but he's a springer, that's his job.

As for the barking, two words:  squirt gun. 

;-)

krissyh21

I would try crating him. Yes, it may take some adjustment, but my dog loves his "room" now and we didn't start crating him until he was 3 years old and she started chewing up the rug when we were not home. We started by doing it at night while we were home for her to get used to her new space and then gradually put her in for longer.

If she is going in the house while you are out, could one of you either come in at lunch to walk her? Or maybe consider hiring a dog walker.

Also, Konga sell toys that you put treats in. That can help her burn some energy if you feel as though she is bored and doig it out of boredom.

ladychicago

I would definitely return to crating...  even though he's used to being out and about, that doesn't make a crate punishment for a dog.   it can still be a safe, familiar, comfortable place for them.    we leave gracie with some of her favorite chew toys that she ONLY gets in her crate, and we give her LOTS of treats when she goes in...   and she happily goes in when we ask her to.  

I'd also suggest a dog walker or doggie day care... those are cheaper options than a professional trainer, but they are great for extra excercise if you can't provide it (and I do think it makes  HUGE difference), and for socializing - which may help with the barking.    maybe start with those, see how things go, and then determine if you need more advanced intervention of that doesn't help?

qtpa2t

First, is your dog getting enough exercise?  That solves more problems than people realize and you would be surprised just how much exercise dogs need.  (I once read the beginning to a Cesar Milan book.  He starts the day with a large pack of dogs hiking the hills around where he lives.  I don't remember how far, but it was an incredible distance and amount of time.  Then he returns to his compound where the dogs collapse, he does office work, and then HE TAKES THEM ROLLERBLADING!!!  No wonder those dogs are well-behaved...)

In any case, do you have access to anything like a doggy daycare?  It does wonders for one of our dogs.  Not until you address the exercise piece can you really tell how much of his issues are boredom, acting out, etc.

ETA:  Crating can also help, but do be aware, some dogs (like one of mine) will then take out their issues on the crate.  He is a smart dog and knows how to open the crate.  And if we seal the openings, then he simply takes the crate apart. 

superned

I would strongly recommend a crate.  It may not be easy to train him initially, but it is possible.  I have crate-trained eight adult foster dogs, so I know it can be done!

It may take some time to get him used to the crate, so maybe you could baby-gate him in a small space (like a puppy-proofed bathroom) while you're gone?

A crate will also come in very handy once baby arrives to give him a safe, quiet place of his own to go chill out.

For boredom, exercise would be really helpful, of course.  Does he have a Kong?  If not - get him at least one, maybe two!!  You can fill it with all kinds of stuff and it will keep him busy for a while.

Don't be afraid of the Pets board!  If you're going there to legitimately look for advice, they really have a lot of helpful things to say.

Mouseygail

krissyh21 - I'm encouraged by you having crate trained your dog later...  I like all the ideas for slowly acclimating him to crate training...he's really weird though and won't play with kongs or any toys or rawhides or anything of the sort while we are gone...we make him a kong, it sits on the floor untouched until we walk in the door...then he greets us and starts playing with it. 

MBudandbud - you are absolutely right when you say that it is us that needs to be trained more so than him! 

I can't see spending the money on doggie daycare or a dog sitter right now...money is tight....

He absolutely needs more exercise....playing fetch isn't enough.  We really need to get off our butts and take him for at least daily walks...sadly, we are no where near that right now    

Thanks for all of your thoughts...for some reason, it breaks my heart to crate him...but it also makes me really sad to have a "bad dog"...so I think it would be a better solution for all of us once the transition period is over. 

 

choco_lab

He needs boundries.  However, I would NOT crate a 4 year old dog that has never been crated.  That could create more problems.  I would get baby gates and confine him to the kitchen, a hallway, etc.  And he needs exercise.  You have to make it a priority for the dog to get a walk every day.  It will not get easier once a baby is in the picture so you need to start now and have a routine.  Get a dog walker if you have to.

DavezWife

don't feel bad about the crate - you could very well be HELPING him feel more relaxed and less anxious.  try it with a blanket over it, so it's more "cave-like" and without, see which tends to make him more content.

He might like it ;-)

TxJen1972

I started crating my dog when she was about 2 and she was fine with it.  First I just got her bed and put it in there and I would put her in for about 30 minutes or an hour at a time while I was home.  She didn't give me too many problems.  I have 2 dogs now and they have their own crates, but normally will go to the same one together.  They love their crate and are often in there sleeping when they don't have to be.  I say go get in your house and they run to it everytime with no problems at all.  Gl!!

CardsfanSM

Excercize works wonders for our dog. If you wear them out, they're too tired to get into anything:)  We also had to crate our dog (Humane Society rescue) for about 6 months. Since then, she's been "perfect."  We did have some peeing episodes after Sophia was born (and our dog is VERY housebroken), that corresponded directly to me coming back to work. She eventually stopped. Also, forgot about this, but when Sophie was about a week old our dog get really sick (throwing up and diahrea) in the nursery. i also think that was behavioral.

kjcullen

I'm a little late to the discussion- but maybe you are still checking? I am a vet and dog fanatic (with 6 of them) and crate training can be done at any time! All of my dogs are crate trained, and many of them choose to go lay down on their own in their crates to get away from things. This will be handy once there are kids in the house... And also when I need a break and need them out of the way (guests, cleaning, repair people).

I usually start by feeding in a crate. You can leave the door open all the time and put treats in there. Associating a crate with mealtime makes it much more enticing to get into. After your dog has eaten a few meals in there, try closing the door for a while, then let them out with lots of praise. I usually try to start with the crate in a high traffic area, where you can be close by (by the couch? or TV?) so that they feel like they are still part of things. It is hard to put them in the other room to start with, close the door, and walk away.  Plus if you can have them chew on rawhides in the crate (while you are there), that will also help distract them.

 It can be done! I would go slow, and after a few weeks of introduction, put them in the crate- treats, then go run out for a bit. They will learn that you will return. 

 An exercise pen or blocked off room can work- but  many dogs do learn to jump or climb out, or destroy the walls around them.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!

Mouseygail

optimist1:

I'm a little late to the discussion- but maybe you are still checking? I am a vet and dog fanatic (with 6 of them) and crate training can be done at any time! All of my dogs are crate trained, and many of them choose to go lay down on their own in their crates to get away from things. This will be handy once there are kids in the house... And also when I need a break and need them out of the way (guests, cleaning, repair people).

I usually start by feeding in a crate. You can leave the door open all the time and put treats in there. Associating a crate with mealtime makes it much more enticing to get into. After your dog has eaten a few meals in there, try closing the door for a while, then let them out with lots of praise. I usually try to start with the crate in a high traffic area, where you can be close by (by the couch? or TV?) so that they feel like they are still part of things. It is hard to put them in the other room to start with, close the door, and walk away.  Plus if you can have them chew on rawhides in the crate (while you are there), that will also help distract them.

 It can be done! I would go slow, and after a few weeks of introduction, put them in the crate- treats, then go run out for a bit. They will learn that you will return. 

 An exercise pen or blocked off room can work- but  many dogs do learn to jump or climb out, or destroy the walls around them.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!

  Thanks!!  I'm definitely still checking this   We reassembled his crate last night and fed him dinner and breakfast in there..and any carrots (his treats) that he gets were all fed in there...  I got sure excited at the end of the night when we were going to bed and I said "Cooper, its night night time, go to your crate!"  and he walked right over and sat down in it!!  DH and I told him goodnight and walked upstairs, but he followed shortly behind us.  So maybe this won't be as bad as we thought!!