To be getting sick and tired of uncontrollable dog?

[Zhan]

I love dogs and have always had big working dogs. I wanted a German Shepherd but DH wanted a French bulldog - which we got.

since day one it has been out of control. We tried to crate train him from the start but he would howl and scream for hours. I've successfully crate trained many a dog so I said if we just ignore him and remain firm he will eventually get used to it - 6 weeks later he continued to howl and scream ALL night with no let up every single night. We had to stop it in the end as I was getting worried about neibours complaining so instead he had full run of the kitchen on a night - so he decided to COMPLETELY destroy every bit of wood (cupboards, door frames, managed to eat a HOLE in the kitchen DOOR) ripped his bed to pieces and constantly knocked his water bowl everywhere on purpose.

Now all this shit can be put down to puppy behaviour but he turns one year old next month and he's just as bad now, if not worse.

I can't leave him alone for seconds. If I leave him downstairs whilst I go and get dressed, I can hear him start INSTANTLY as soon as I'm out of sight, he pulls all the cushions off the sofa and tries to dig holes in them, pisses on the living room carpet, pulls at plants - it is literally instant and continuous.

Now the latest thing is that he has learnt to jump UP on the kitchen side - he grabs the bread and just rips it to pieces. I'm so sick of replacing bread that I've now said I'm not buying it anymore. Kitchen roll is grabbed and ripped to shreds - literally anything he can reAch he will destroy just for the sheer hell of it.

I took DS to cinema last week and logged into my kitchen camera on my phone so see the bloody dog up on the kitchen side, kettle knocked over and radio (plugged in!!) knocked off windowsill and balancing over a bowl of water. I had to race home to sort it out. I'm so fucking tired of it. I've had dogs all my life and NEVER had one so irritating and destructive. He's still not house trained and today has managed to drag 2 RAW chicken breasts off the side in the few minutes they were left out that i had taken out for tea and ate them.

Aside from this he constantly attacks people, biting at their trousers and if they sit down, biting and scratching at their neck and face.

He has tons of toys, tons of chews, gets lots of attention - now I'm just fucking bored of it and fed up. He's out of control and I'm not a novice dog owner. He's so stubborn too, he's learnt various commands yet it's 50/50 whether he'll actually obey them or not. I can stand there with a treat and say "sit" and he'll just look at me - he'll carry this on for ages until I give up and put thrvtreat back in the bag. It's like half the time he'd rather go without than actually do what he's told. So frustrated.

Royvon suck tbh.

You train the owner to train the dog madmare77

Ok I was angry and frustrated earlier, just got in from work to yet more chaos.

I do love him and always have, when we went to look at the litter he came to me straight away and I fell in love with him from the start. I think the problem is I'd had a lot of success training German Shepherds in the past and just assumed I could use the same technique with him. Obviously I got it wrong.

I'll look into behaviourists and I'm taking him to vet on Thursday to discuss his behaviour and look into castration.

I can guarantee it's not true that I dislike him though, I've obsessed over him since the day we got him. I think I've lost half of my Facebook friends list because of the constant photos I upload of him. I've changed my job to suit him better and even considered his needs in choosing a new car.

I was frustrated earlier. After I'd told him off (again!) and ignored him for an hour or so I walked into the living room to see him sat looking out of the window looking all sad and sorrowful. Broke my bloody heart the little sod.

So we're back ok cuddling terms and it's back to the drawing board regarding his training. Thanks for the advice.

Btw I never left my GSDs howling in a crate for 6 weeks - one of them adapted in one day, another in 3 days. Rottweiler took just over a week. I suppose I just kept it up with him because I couldn't understand why it wasn't working with him

www.facebook.com/adolescentdogs/ This is who my friend used for her FB, she's a changed dog.

I'm not a rookie dog owner either Zhan but that would be driving me mad. I hope you get somewhere with the vet and behaviourist soon.

Poor you OP! As others posters have said, would be good to know whether he left alone for long periods and how much exercise he is getting.

I agree that castration can help all sorts of behavioural problems; although obvs that isn't guaranteed. We have an entire working dog and thankfully he doesn't need to be castrated. But doing so can help in many cases.

If you are on FB I recommend joining the group Dog training advice and support. They have advice on crate training and separation anxiety etc.

I second behaviourist / dog training classes. But I have to ask a simple question: Do you understand the breed / your dog?
Only asking because you have had big working dogs, a French Bulldog has a very different mindset. You need to adjust your training methods and overall approach to his breed. His aim in life is not to work really hard for you, but to be a jolly companion.

Definitely ask for help from a behaviourist if you are serious about wanting to keep this dog. I'm afraid telling him off etc is likely only making his anxiety worse. He needs patient and consistent positive reinforcement training under a behaviour management plan from an expert behaviourist.

Forget what you did with your previous dogs. Dogs, like humans, are individuals. They don't all react the same way. Castration isn't a magic fix.

I get how frustrated you are - it's very difficult to deal with an animal who is not reacting the way you want them to and who is causing you stress as a result. But if you invest time and ask for help you should be able to resolve his.

Forums always say crate train, but no one ever tells how to do it?

@isadoradancing123
The FB site I mentioned above has excellent resources on crate training. It takes a long time though. The result is a dog that's positively happy to go in the crate.

Forums always say crate train, but no one ever tells how to do it?

This is a fabulous guide to crate training. It should never involve the dog/puppy crying or being in any distress at all. It sounds long winded but a dog/puppy with no negative associations to the crate already built up will catch on really quickly.

Frenchies or any bully breed are tough. They are thick and obstinate yet charming creatures. I think you're going to need a whole different set of training tools and very very low expectations.

Stop leaving food out. Put the bread in a bread bin. Put the chicken in the fridge, if it isn't out. He can't get to it. !

If he won't crate train (my terrier hated his crate, he's turned out normal) then what about a play pen? Give him more of a feeling of being out but without him being able to cause carnage.

At a year old he's old enough to start agility, off lead walking is lovely but it doesn't tire out all dogs. Agility is activity, brain AND training. It was the best thing I ever did for my dog and although we only did a year (I stopped when I was pregnant as running made me vomit) but it was enough to really instill some good training in him.

Personally I'd get his balls cut off and get a force free trainer in to assess him, attacking people isn't normal.

My dog wouldn't crate train so I just let him sleep in my bed! :D

Pleased to report that when DH came along he was happy relegated to the sofa although he is known to sneak in for a snuggle when DH goes to work!

I am really glad to hear that you DO love him, and are just really frustrated.

It IS massively frustrating when you discover that what you THINK worked in the past, or even what DID work in the past, no longer works - an EVERYONE will naturally try that approach more to begin with.

Its called the extinction burst - you flick the light and the light doesn't come on, you don't immediately go and check the bulb or the fuse box or if the whole streets power is out do you, you flick the switch a few more times.

Your pen stops working, you do not immediately put the pen in the bin and get a new one, you scribble a bit harder first!

So what you have done whilst upsetting for those who are up to date on modern dog behaviour science to read, is perfectly normal and understandable.

Here's the tough bit - I suspect you are going to have to re-learn almost everything you thought you knew about dog behaviour and training.

The distress free guide to crate training that Cornflake linked is freely available on the Facebook group 'dog training advice and support' is an excellent place to start with crate training.

They also have a bunch of other files you can look at which will help you learn some new skills and also learn which ideas/methods to throw out.

Hang fire on cutting off his balls just yet - if he IS anxious and worried then this is likely to make that worse even if thats short term, and given you need to change a lot of how he is handled and managed, thats one change too many right this minute - stick it on the back burner for now. You can always lop them off later!

In the meantime, figure out a way to manage him so he CANNOT perform the behaviours you really dislike - for example, putting away food, taking him out of the room when you leave to go to the loo etc so he cannot wreck things.

This dog needs confidence and security first - once you have that then you can teach all the other behaviours you need from him.

why isn't your husband taking responsibility for the dog HE chose?

You don't see where his separation anxiety came from but you let him scream and howl alone in a crate each night for months???

You punish misdemeanours with enforced separations which just mAkes him more stressed. He isn't stubborn. He isn't going to learn anything with his anxiety levels going through the roof.

Poor dog.

I wanted to add this in as well about crate training and separation. We moved recently and mine raised the roof the first few times they were left, not usual but didn't endear me to new neighbours at all! I really didn't know what to do, because I'd never had this before. I read around and one of the best tips, that has worked, is to make leaving a positive thing. I give a treat each time I go out, and over about 3 weeks they have caught on and when I get my uniform on for work start running from me to bed/crate where I give them the treat - because it's become routine now and they know they get the treat and then are left for a while.
When crate training my puppy I did everything positive in the crate, water in there, fed her in there, treats given in there. Yes for a while I needed to physically place her there and then give the treat/food etc. I also sat in front of the door for say half an hour with door open fussing and playing - but stopped if she came out, it took a while but she realised nice things happen in there, it's hers and now when she wants to stash anything like various foods left lying about by inconsiderate teenagers in the crate it goes! And I can't get her out again! And toys - gradually every toy will get taken in the crate and hidden under the blankets. Of course it might not work but maybe worth a try trying to change his mind about the crate.
Routine is good too, dogs seem to thrive on knowing what's going to happen when. I know that can be hard to achieve though in real life.

Hi OP really pleased to read your update, as reading through this thread I've been getting angrier and angrier, you've had some terrible advice from some posters, none of whom seem to have the slightest concern and care for your dog, e.g. Using the spray collar.

I'm pleased to see that you do care for and love him. My thoughts would be that bad behaviour is because he is either under-stimulated or is after your attention. Would suggest back to basics training with him, as adolescent dog he is pushing boundaries and needs positive reinforcement. Mental stimulation such as doggy puzzles, treat dispensers, a raw bone. Also helps with chewing - or an antler. When he is walked, as well as a good run round, take him for shorter walks, and let him sniff. Play with him - fetch, tug etc. And have a look at either adaptil or a thunder coat/ Kalm coat to help his anxiety when you leave him. Good luck.

*Get rid of it.

It sounds like a pain in the arse and sending it on its way would be a huge relief.*

I know the thread has probably moved on, but this couldn't go unchallenged Have you not heard the phrase "A dog is for life"? I really hope you don't have an animal or ever get one

Agree sooty - that was the kind of comment that was making me angry

maybe the dog is feeling rejected by your husband and wants his attention?

or he could be suffering from serious mental/physical health issues?

was he a rescue? or did you buy him from a registered breeder/off gumtree?

I've said it in a previous post but it bears repeating: I really would look at what can be done to help his breathing.

BOAS is a progressive condition and it's not good that he's already struggling at less than a year old.

Whilst it's not going to fix his behaviour it will certainly increase his quality of life if his breathing can be improved.

This is a good overview of the condition in Frenchies.