I posted last year and got some great advice - thank you. I'm a newbie dog owner and general idiot. DDog is just over one and it has been a HARD year. DH has tried hard but I think now utterly hates DDog. I appreciate that this is my fault - I have been inconsistent in my training (I have been training but I keep switching from one school of thought to the other as I lose confidence in what I'm doing). But now we have a myriad of problems that I need to unpick and I just don't know where to start. I know that everyone's going to say "get a trainer in" and I will (if DH doesn't just sling the pair of us out) but I just need some help to know what to focus on now as I won't be able to get one until the Summer.
The biggest problem at the moment is sleep and guarding of me. DDog had the snip just over a week ago. Because he was in pain I would get up in the night and go and snuggle with him on the sofa. This seemed to help. We are now at a point where this has become a regular thing and I don't know how to break the cycle. I can't just leave him to bark because DH and DS need uninterrupted sleep. He may also be woken by the baby next door.
I'm not overly bothered about this - quite enjoy the snuggles actually - but when DH gets up, DDog barks and growls at him. It's clearly possessiveness as he's on me and preventing DH getting to me for a goodbye kiss. This morning was nasty. DH did all the right things of just backing off and giving space and I talked calmly to DDog. DDog is alright with DH the rest of the time.
DDog also has manic episodes on walks. It tends to be in one particular field. I let him off lead for a bit and he bounces around quite happily. Once it gets to time to go back I put him on lead again and he will refuse to move. Tempting him with treats or pulling him may move him a little way but then he will jump up nipping. I do the usual thing of standing still, arms folded but it doesn't stop him. A few days ago I got a nasty nip that left a bruise - I think if I hadn't been wearing a jumper it would have broken the skin. I have found that the only way to calm this is to pick him up and carry him a little way but this feels like the wrong thing to do.
I try to give him attention and play, he gets a minimum of one walk a day and usually two. He is quite happy to be left but it's three hours at the most and I try to ensure that I make a fuss of him when I get in.
I don't know what to do. The barking in the night is disturbing everyone and DH, while he hasn't said anything, is clearly on the brink of saying he has to go. I want to do the right thing by everyone but I'm clearly not cut out for this.
Not to dripfeed but there are a few other issues at play but they're not directly relevant to this. I could really do with some practical advice.
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The doghouse
I am failing my Dog and DH
30 replies
OldEnglishSheepDog · 30/04/2019 08:01
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