ReTraining?

[HeatherUSNWife]

I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advise on retraining my rescue dog. (I think thats what he needs).

We adopted a beagle from a local place a few months ago. He is 16 months old. While a "good" dog, he needed some serious help with his manners.

He has been doing well, he knows "sit" and "come" (most of the time). However, he is getting to be very rough with the kids, bites (nips really hard?) when he plays, and barks constantly.

The last few days, he has been urinating in our hallway (same spot) and this morning I found poop in the spare bedroom. (He goes out MANY times a day, and also right before bed).

I walk him 3 or 4 times a day, long walks too (over 20 minutes) and we play fetch and tug of war as well, yet he doesn't ever seem to calm down.

I am beginning to worry he is going to hurt one of the kids (they are NOT mean to him, they know very well how to treat a dog). All they do is try to pet him, and he bites at their hands or jumps at their faces. I myself have not been able to pet him without getting bitten in weeks. I also worry the neighbors are going to call security on him due to his constant barking (and its LOUD, you would think he was a 200 pound dog!)

I worry that adopting an adolescent dog may have been a mistake. My husband and I would have both perferred a puppy we could train from the get go, however, hubby liked the idea of getting a dog that still acted like a puppy but was housebroken.

The vet (and alot of online research said the same things) told us to get another dog...allowing them both companionship and a way to release energy. She said that Max would calm down, and the puppy would learn from him.

While we DO want another dog, I worry that the new pup would learn bad manners, and perhaps we would have 2 uncontrolable dogs, instead of 2 calmer ones.

I really don't want to "return" Max...he is a beautiful dog who shows signs of being a good dog, however, I dont know that I can keep him if we dont find a way to curb the biting and the barking.

Help??

Thanks!

 

[cattitude]

There are several ways to handle his issues but I'd recommend talking to the people you got him from and see if they can recommend a trainer. Many rescue organizations have trainers that are affiliated with them.

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

Thanks

We adopted him from ARF, and I didnt see anything (nor did they tell me anything) about training. However, I will call again and ask.

I did some research and found a place here that does training, however, as much love as I have for my dog (or any other pet) I just can not come up with the just shy of $1,000 they want for a course.

Does anyone know of any somewhat affordable trainers in this area? (I am really new here, and dont know the area well at all)

Also, is it in any of your opinions, that some good old fashioned obedience training is all he needs? That its not something more that wont be able to be dealt with concidering his age and the fact we dont really know how he was raised/trained/treated before we got him?

Thanks again!!

 

[cattitude]

Originally posted by HeatherUSNWife

Does anyone know of any somewhat affordable trainers in this area? (I am really new here, and dont know the area well at all)

Also, is it in any of your opinions, that some good old fashioned obedience training is all he needs? That its not something more that wont be able to be dealt with concidering his age and the fact we dont really know how he was raised/trained/treated before we got him?

Thanks again!!

I have a Boxer pup that I'm taking to a trainer in Huntingtown (in Calvert County). She's reasonable. $100 for 8 1-hour sessions if you go to her and it's one on one. There's also Chesapeake Kennel Club that is reasonable but they are in Calvert as well. With the biting, some people don't recommend it, but when he does it, come up under his chin with a sharp crack and say no bite. It sounds like he's mouthy and excited but you don't really know his history, do you? How long have you had him?

Is he neutered? He could be having dominance issues which could account for the housebreaking issues too. I'd start completely over. Do you crate him? Keep him on a leash in the house if you can or confine him to the room that you are in. Keep him with you as much as you can and correct the bad behavior as it happens. Are you a stay-at-home mom? Lots of questions, I know, but if I know your situation, I can offer some help.

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

It sounds like he's mouthy and excited but you don't really know his history, do you? How long have you had him?

Is he neutered? He could be having dominance issues which could account for the housebreaking issues too. I'd start completely over. Do you crate him? Keep him on a leash in the house if you can or confine him to the room that you are in. Keep him with you as much as you can and correct the bad behavior as it happens. Are you a stay-at-home mom? Lots of questions, I know, but if I know your situation, I can offer some help.

He is very mouthy, and very excited. Hyper is the first word that comes to mind! As for his history, we were told that he was given at 6 months cause his owner had surgery. Then he was with a foster mom until we adopted him. We did talk to her about him, and she told us he was crated most of the time due to her having numerous pups in foster care. We got him May 15th, so, a month and a half ago. He really was much better the first few weeks, and has been getting worse as time goes on, not better!

He is neutered. He never had accidents in the house, not even at night, until this last week. That is why its boggling me. I am a stay at home mom, which is why I can walk him and play with him so much during the day. (and I do work on "training" him too, with sit, come, stay, down, quiet, etc).

We do have a crate for him, however, I never ever in my life used a crate for any of my animals, so I dont really know what is the right way to use it. I guess in my mindset, putting him in it unless we are in the car seems "wrong" (however, I know from research, its not). We do keep it set up in the living room, with the door off , and occasionally he lays down in there to rest (he doesnt rest often)

Perhaps I need to put his crate in our bedroom at night so he cant relieve himself in the hallways. But during the day...I do not know how to go about using the crate. Do I lock him in it unless we are going out for a walk or a play in the yard?

God, I feel like such a newb with this! All my other dogs were big dogs (siberian husky, irish setter, keeshond)...and I never had these types of issues with them.

Thanks again for your help, I really do appreciate it.

OH! And I will check into the trainers you recommended. $100 for 8 sessions is alot more reasonable and easier to follow through on than that $1000 quote I got!

 

[cattitude]

I'd start using the crate. Especially at night. The crate is your friend!! and the dog's too. Don't be afraid to put him in there if you have to run out to do a errand or go to dinner, etc. or just for a nap. If you've read up on it, just follow what they advise. He may not have had much training...especially if he was left in a crate for long periods. He really doesn't know how to behave in a house.

I'll pm you the # for the trainer I'm using. She prides herself in working with difficult dogs (although my pup is a good boy....he's VERY full of himself. )

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

Well, after another bite and lots of tears and thinking, we returned our pup to the shelter, asking that they put him up for adoption to people that do not have little kids. I honestly think it was the little kids that were making him anxious and hyper and biting.

I do hope someone without little kids adopts him, I just couldnt justify keeping a dog that I know has an issue with my kids.

So now, we have decided that we are going to start from scratch. We are looking for an 8 to 12 week old puppy that we can train from the start...due to having little kids, and not knowing the true history of an older shelter dog.

(And yes, I know puppies bite...but what our dog was doing was much more than puppy bites)

If anyone has a litter of pups that are in need of a home, something along the lines of a Lab or Golden or Irish Setter (no pit or rott mix)...let me know!!!!

 

[Katie]

When you do get another puppy, use the crate. I use the crate for both my dogs, and they know that crate time, is quiet time. Most of the time the puppy is so tired that he will nap in his crate. It is not cruel to use a crate.

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

I do have a medium size crate, which I can and WILL use for our new puppy. We tried the crate with the older dog, he wouldnt stop crying and barking and heck, he even figured out how to unlock it!

But yes, I am very prepared for a new puppy with a trainer, lots of my own books on training, and a crate...freshly scrubbed and cleaned with a brand new little bed inside...

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

Well, we found what we were looking for. Yesterday I adopted a 9 week old Dalmation/Golden Retriever mix, female...I named her Sadie Mae .... so far so good, a genuine sweetheart, LOVES her crate, nary a wimper or a bark so far.

I am very much looking forward to raising her, she is just a doll.

 

[tatgirl99]

Originally posted by HeatherUSNWife
Well, we found what we were looking for. Yesterday I adopted a 9 week old Dalmation/Golden Retriever mix, female...I named her Sadie Mae .... so far so good, a genuine sweetheart, LOVES her crate, nary a wimper or a bark so far.

I am very much looking forward to raising her, she is just a doll.

The little girl holding her is a doll. What a cutie.

 

[jmo2676]

puppy even looks happy to have such a wonderful family. One thing I do know with puppies is hwen u see them starting to sniff the floor u better grab her and run for the outdoors..Another thing that does work when they are babies is piddle pads i would recommend sticiking one or 2 in the crate with her at night as sometimes when puppies get up in the am they lose there bladders right away.

 

[Katie]

Originally posted by jmo2676
puppy even looks happy to have such a wonderful family. One thing I do know with puppies is hwen u see them starting to sniff the floor u better grab her and run for the outdoors..Another thing that does work when they are babies is piddle pads i would recommend sticiking one or 2 in the crate with her at night as sometimes when puppies get up in the am they lose there bladders right away.

Not just in the am do they lose their bladders. Puppies have very small bladders. Tuggy is just now getting better about holding it for more then an hour when I am home. When he is in his crate he can hold it for hours, but for some reason when I am home it is every hour he needs to go out.

 

[jmo2276]

Maybe tuggy likes to be outdoors thinks theres something new out there each time for him to get into or maybe he gets excited and that makes him have to go more often when you are home.

Do you think u could get P to put a fence up around the backyard so u can let the 2 dogs out and let them runn around for awhile and do there business so if you dont want to go out every hr on the hr in the heat u can let them out the door and back in when they come and scratch on it?

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

She has only had one accident in the house so far.
I do know its likely to happen though, so I am prepared.

We have been keeping her in the crate for nap time. Basicly, she gets up in the AM with my hubby and he lets her out to do her business, then he plays with her for a while, and crates her. I wake up about an hour later, and I take her outside again. Then she eats and goes back outside. A little play time, a trip outside, and into the crate for a nap.

Then basicly its play, potty, nap, play, potty , nap...until we go to bed at night.

She hasnt gone in her crate, so thats a plus.

We are having SO much fun with her!! 4 days with us and already she knows sit

I am just so happy!!!!!

 

[jmo2676]

maybe she sees the treat hidden in ur hand and goes yippie if i do what she wants she will give me it. thats how my dog was when he was alive. if u had a treat he could smell if from a a mile away and would come running and we would say it and stay and he did both then we gave him the treat. that sometimes works wish u luck wiht trainin ur pooch.

 

[HeatherUSNWife]

While I have treats for her, so far I havent had to use them in her training. Praise and an ear rub are all she needs and she happily sits.

I am waiting for the day though that she gets totally comfortable and full of herself and decides to rebel....and I will have my treats handy to continue her training

 

[Katie]

Originally posted by jmo2276
Maybe tuggy likes to be outdoors thinks theres something new out there each time for him to get into or maybe he gets excited and that makes him have to go more often when you are home.

Do you think u could get P to put a fence up around the backyard so u can let the 2 dogs out and let them runn around for awhile and do there business so if you dont want to go out every hr on the hr in the heat u can let them out the door and back in when they come and scratch on it?

Probably he is thrilled I am home from work. I would rather take the dogs out every hour, we don't ahve the set up right now for them to just be let out. I have to watch Dixie to make sure she goes, she will go out there and sit look sad and pathetic, then come in the house and pee on the floor.

 

[starr]

I'm glad your new puppy is working out so well. Puppies are always such a joy. That pic is the cutest!