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Original poster

Dog behaviour changed

36 replies

Firsttimmummy · 29/04/2024 07:28

Hey all, I am having some issues with my dogs (jack Russell and Collie cross) I absolutely adore them but since having my toddler they have become a nightmare peeing and pooing in the house even when I open the door. My girl (jrt) doesn't seem to go outside anymore and the vets said she's healthy just very nervous which unfortunately happened after a dog bite so she's reactive.

I'm very nervous with the collie cross as he had showed his teeth at my LO for no reason so to protect her we have placed baby gates in the living room and the kitchen as advised by the dog trainer which we bought in.

I'm feeling very guilty as since having my LO I had a birth injury so my ability to walk them has deceased however my husband takes them every day and I would love to take them but they both pulled the pram over when I did manage to take them once.

I also don't want to re-home my collie but he makes me so nervous with my LO due to his history. We had them since pups although they're very spoiled before having my LO as I kept having miscarriage.

Does anyone have any advice I do not want to them to re-home them as I love them so much.

OP posts:
user09876543 · 29/04/2024 20:48

What is the collie crossed with?

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 29/04/2024 20:52

Hes crossed with a Plummer terrier xx

OP posts:
noctilucentcloud · 29/04/2024 21:25

I'd suggest you ask a good local dog behaviour expert / trainer for advice, look for one who uses positive training methods.

user09876543 · 30/04/2024 11:25

Do they go out into the garden? Can you have the back door open all day during the day (weather dependent of course) so that they can get used to being outside with the security of knowing they can get back in?

It's much better for dogs to be able to do this anyway since it provides a source of stimulation for them.

I'd spend a few days almost entirely in the garden with them and then after that some time inside but with the door open

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 14:29

Unfortunately we are unable to let them outside all day due to our neighbours and how low the fence is (they won't give permission to higher this) I do open the door as much as I physically can however theyre a bully to our postman (never bitten but barks like mad) so it sounds scary.

OP posts:
fieldsofbutterflies · 30/04/2024 14:31

Could you afford to pay for a dog walker to take them out a few times a week?

user09876543 · 30/04/2024 16:30

Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 14:29

Unfortunately we are unable to let them outside all day due to our neighbours and how low the fence is (they won't give permission to higher this) I do open the door as much as I physically can however theyre a bully to our postman (never bitten but barks like mad) so it sounds scary.

So add your own fence alongside the neighbours fence. Your garden needs to be secure if you have dogs.

Dartmoorcheffy · 30/04/2024 16:31

user09876543 · 30/04/2024 16:30

So add your own fence alongside the neighbours fence. Your garden needs to be secure if you have dogs.

Show quote history

I was about to say the same. Nothing they can do about it.

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 17:16

They actually stopped us putting a gate. It's secure just the walls are short.

OP posts:
Notsurewhatsgoingonhere · 30/04/2024 18:11

Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 17:16

They actually stopped us putting a gate. It's secure just the walls are short.

No….no they can’t stop you from putting up a wall in your own garden.

DonnaBanana · 30/04/2024 18:13

I don’t know anything about dogs but I saw a tv program with a “dog whisperer” who solves problems likes this, maybe they exist in this country as well.

takemeawayagain · 30/04/2024 18:29

When you clean up in the house are you using a specific cleaner for dog wee? If not they'll be able to smell that they went there before and are more likely to go there again.

It sounds like you've created monsters tbh, you say they're spoiled, did you train them at all? One walk a day for a collie is not nearly enough stimulation. Pulling the pram over is not ok, they're probably doing it because they're not getting nearly enough exercise, are desperate to run and haven't been properly trained.

You need to train them properly with help from the dog trainer, you need to be really consistent. It needs a lot of time and effort putting into it. You need to get help for your anxious dog - meds might be the answer. You need to sort out some stimulating activities they can do in the house or garden to get their brains working. You need to get a walker to take the collie out a second time each day.

Really these dogs need a lot more than you are giving them right now and you're getting a lot of bad behaviour because of it. A collie is a working dog, they can't just be kept in the house 23 hours a day.

SoundTheSirens · 30/04/2024 18:38

I genuinely don’t mean this to sound unsympathetic, but it really doesn’t sound like your lifestyle is set up for dogs. Maybe it was pre-child, but not any more. Insufficient time / ability to walk and train them, very young child in the house, garden without secure fencing that you don’t sound willing to change…your dogs are becoming increasingly stressed and unhappy. You either need to throw money at it in the shape of behaviourists and dog walkers, and be prepared to put in the time needed to break bad habits and form new ones, or you need to give serious thought to rehoming, hard as that is to accept.

(I’ve had a collie X myself and they really need a huge amount of mental stimulation - plenty of games, snuffle mats etc as well as long walks.)

Notmyuser · 30/04/2024 18:46

You need to get a dog behaviourist involved - not a trainer.

You need to build a fence - probably at least 5ft high, maybe more - and allow your dogs plenty access to the garden. Or you need to go outside with them for hours each day.

Both dogs are high energy working breeds - how much exercise are they getting?

user09876543 · 30/04/2024 19:42

Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 17:16

They actually stopped us putting a gate. It's secure just the walls are short.

You're not allowed to put a gate in their fence. Of course not. You are absolutely allowed to put up your own fence on your own land running alongside theirs just higher.

PonyPatter44 · 30/04/2024 19:47

If you can't/ won't change anything in your home and the dogs aren't getting enough exercise I think you might be better off rehoming the collie, at least.

Why haven't you put up a secondary fence in your own garden, so that the dogs can go out there safely?

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 20:03

We have put a secondary gate but the neighbours wouldn't let us put it

Tw to cut the garden off as it was his touching his wall.

He has plenty of excerise with my husband and with me loads of cuddle and treats. I can't really help if I got a birth injury which again wasn't my fault and I'm trying my best. We have a low boundary wall but unfortunately we couldn't extend because of my neighbour and the fuss they caused.

Two walks a day and an half of acre of garden to run their energy off.

OP posts:
user09876543 · 30/04/2024 20:04

Just put in a fence post and then you don't need to touch his wall..

user09876543 · 30/04/2024 20:05

But a collie needs a really long walk every day and loads and loads of mental stimulation.

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 30/04/2024 20:07

I understand that and he does.. just because he can't run all day doesn't mean he don't?

We also planning to move to a different house with a bigger garden.

OP posts:
fieldsofbutterflies · 30/04/2024 21:38

Two walks a day and an half of acre of garden to run their energy off.

Walks are about quality not quantity - are they getting off lead (outside the garden) to sniff and explore? Do you take them to different places and do mental stimulation?

You have two really intelligent, energetic breeds of dog - of course it's not your fault you're injured but if you can't provide the exercise yourself then you need to look at a dog walker or daycare instead.

Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 01/05/2024 06:41

Yes of course they are off the lead in the house/garden and we rent a field as one of them are reactive so she doesn't like dogs and she's getting older now anyway so she prefer a cuddle.

OP posts:
Original poster
Firsttimmummy · 01/05/2024 06:41

Also you're missing the point they have plenty of excerise from my DH.

OP posts:
fieldsofbutterflies · 01/05/2024 06:43

Firsttimmummy · 01/05/2024 06:41

Also you're missing the point they have plenty of excerise from my DH.

Not missing the point at all 🫣

It’s not just about the amount of exercise, it’s about quality - they also need mental stimulation on top. If their behaviour has changed since you had a baby then they’re obviously missing something.

Two intelligent dogs need more than just two walks a day plus a garden to run in.