..... to feel like getting rid of the x@$%** dog!!!!!

[CheekyGirl]

Hi,

A bit of background: my sweet, sensitive, deep feeling/thinking 8yr old dd has been dog obsessed for over a year. She has been desperate for a pet dog for this time, but never nagged or anything. I am not a dog person. We also have an energetic, stubborn, boisterous 4.8 yr old ds.

After sponsoring a dog at the local dog rescue for a year, and visiting it weekly, the staff told us about a 6mth old terrier/daschund cross looking for a home. After discussing it with dh and doing some research, we decided to go for it. This was one month ago. The whole family is in love with dog. I am not. Very.

I freely admit I don't know much about dogs, although I am trying. I am worried about a few things:

• Dog growls in his throat quite a bit, and it's getting worse eg. if we approach him and he doesn't feel like being stroked, if we say 'no' and he doesn't like it or sometimes if ds just approaches him. He has never bitten or seriously attempted to bite the kids. Just 'mouthing' sometimes.

• He sort of attacked me the other day when I tried to move hime away from a hole he'd dug in the lawn. He'd growled a few times when I'd tried to call him away, and I then put my hand down and tried to get him by the collar. Before I'd touched him, he went mad, snarling and lunging for my hand. He didn't bite me, but only because I moved quickly!!

• He barks alot when we aren't in the house. Neighbours patient at the moment but how long will it last??

So, what to do? Will it get better? Do we all need 'training'? I know my dd will be utterly DISTRAUGHT if we have to get rid of dog. Rest of family would be upset but would get over it. I feel totally trapped. Help!!!!

[trooth]

FFS this thread is 10 years old

[StrawberryBlondeRed]

You have a 6 month old PUPPY which requires a lot of training and patience. Could it be that your DC are teasing, unintentionally tormenting the puppy? You talk about "getting rid" of the dog puppy. If you haven't got the patience or inclination to train the puppy you decided to take on then I think the kindest thing you can do is to rehome him or better still return him to the rescue centre.

[MoreCheeseDear]

ZOMBIE THREAD.

Nothing to see here.

[Confusedbeetle]

Get some professional help and training. Rehomed dogs need more experienced handling than dogs who have lived with you from the start, Many have issues. Get proper training ( classes are good) before it gets worse, It will also help you bond

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Please find a reputable, ethical behaviour consultant -and please do NOT follow pp Valhalas advice, it is outdated and dangerous - similarly any so called professional who spouts similar crap, avoid.

All this 'show them who is boss' and 'make them know their place' stuff is absolutely rubbish, and dangerous.

[ChocOrCheese]

You have an adolescent dog which has probably had no training whatsoever, as the previous owner could not cope with a puppy.

Dachshunds are feisty dogs with a bitey nature. This can obviously be curbed with training but you need to get a dog behaviourist to help with the initial training, before this escalates.

What you do NOT want to do is discourage the dog from growling as such. The growl is a warning. If a dog is forbidden from growling to show it is upset by something then the next step is a bite. You don't want that. What you need to do is get to the bottom of what triggers the growling and work out how to manage the situation so it does not escalate to that stage, and then if the dog is objecting to something you require it to tolerate, you start conditioning it to accept whatever it needs to accept.

[Paulajburd]

Hi. I have a 17 month old cocker/ lab cross. We tried crate training when we first got him at 8 weeks but he got too distressed and we didn't keep it up.
He now has his crate in the conservatory but sleeps with the door open of a night.
However lately he has been destroying the flooring in there and has ripped it up making a right.mess which i have to clean up in the morning.
We have now brought his crate inside and we are going to start locking him in. He also has a tendency to cry. Whine and bark during the night which the neighbours are not happy about. He hates being left alone at night and during the day. Any suggestions in how to cope with this.

[CheekyGirl]

Well, he was neutered today and we have a dog behaviour therapist coming next week. I am prepared to give it a good go for another month and then review it.

Thing is, if I thought it was only going to be for a year or so, I think I'd be fine. I am just balking at the fact that dogs live for a lot longer than that.........

[westendmum]

We too got a rescue dog about 4.5 months ago. It does take time. We could have probably got rid of him in the first month as he showed some serious fear aggression. A friend told us that basically the dog was a dog and we all had to come first. We did all the stuff like making sure not on sofa, he has to give us his ball , and we found sometimes his barking and aggression was a fear thing so if he barks we firmly tell him off , but dont move him but stand in front of him. Basically taking charge and being consistent has worked but it has taken time and patience.(considerable!) but I feel we really have made amazing progress. Maybe the pack theory has been dicredited but my eldest child age 13 was the one he was most aggressive to and now she firmly puts him in his place and he rolls at her feet.

I do all the ignoring him when I com in the door as he gets anxious and it works well.

I have had a lot of good advice by searching on the internet.

We also got a crate and put a little blanket on top and accostomised him to it gradually now it is is favourite place and I think he feels safer there.

Keep at it but you do need to be in control you cant in some ways be too kind-as it forms bad habits.-its preety much like children. Calm in control but set the boudaries.

[valhala]

Yes you did Ninks! You want to read some of my strops on dog-related forums when someone has given me the hump because they are uncaring or just plain stupid, you've got nothing on me hun, I'm the mistress of the outspoken comment!

I just wish I could introduce you to my huge and daft GSD who people often give a wide berth to, little knowing his only potential for damage is to lick you to death... I'd love to help convince you that not all dogs are threatening to you and your family.

Then again, as much as I don't quite understand why anyone would be frightened of my GSD, you would probably fall on the floor laughing at my fear of blood tests and boats!

[Ninks]

valhala thank you so much. I didn't deserve such kind words

[valhala]

Ninks, I have never before seen someone come back with so gracious a post - good on you. You weren't ignorant, you spoke on the basis of personal experience. My 53 year old DP has been bitten on 3 seperate occasions by 3 different GSDs and is unsurprisingly scared of them so I understand a little of your concerns. Luckily, since meeting my late GSD and my present one, DP is gradually becoming less afraid of them and trusts my boy because of both his personality and my confidence in him. I hope that you will be as fortunate and meet dogs which make you feel the same in future.

My own experiences have been the opposite of yours - I have trained foster dogs out of problems such as Cheeky's and took on a previously abused large breed dog with issues who is tonight asleep at my feet, my faithful friend and our(unbidden) protector and love of my and my DC's lives. So, I DO know that these problems can be turned around but am such a dog-fanatic that I sometimes forget the real fear and horrid experiences others can go through.

I honestly believe though that with the right attitude on the part of Cheeky and family, some training and perserverence and consistancy, this dog, given that he is young and small, can become as much of a loved and affectionate pet as my own Lab and GSD. So often I see, in my task as a rescue volunteer, people who are unwilling to make an effort or take advice and who give up at the first hurdle, which makes my blood boil.

Cheeky hun, you are not one of these people and (I hope that you don't find this patronising, it's not meant to be), you should be proud of yourself for this. As I have said before, it may help to find a rescue or dog-owners forum with which you feel comfortable and gain further advice and support. Hopefully you may also find someone local to you who is as daft as I am and who might take up the challenge and meet you and pooch, and who may be able to help out practically.

[elastamum]

Poor you, do go and get help from a dog trainer before you give up. You will need to get firm with your dog and establish the ground rules about who is in charge and the trainer will help you do this. Growling at you is their way of testing you and challenging your authority. Your six month old is a teenager in dog terms. Both my labradoodles have growled at me as pups and got put in their place and they have grown up into beautiful loving dogs who wouldnt hurt anyone, my kids love them to bits. I did spend a lot of time saying NO very loudly when they were pups and sometimes getting hold of the side of their face, like a mum dog would and giving them a telling off. Having your dog neutered will help but dog training and disipline is a must. He should also getplenty of exercise, ours cause havoc if they dont get walked. Hopefully the dog will grow into a well behaved member of your family and be much happier once you are firmly in charge

[Ninks]

And very silly words from me - I do apologise. Glad everyone ignored my drunken and ignorant post. I do have awful experiences which shaped it, but I should not have cannoned into your dilemma. Thankfully you have received good and supportive advice.

Cheeky I am very sorry that this is happening. Poor you, having to deal with this bearing in mind your DC. I really hope you get it sorted x

[CheekyGirl]

Wow, been away from PC for a while and so many more replies and kind words!!

Things are no better, and I have to admit I'm feeling a bit resentful about the situation. I've contacted the dog rescue and they've put me in touch with a behavioural therapist who I've now emailed. I hope she'll be able to come to the house and advise us!!

Sounds awful, but if it wasn't for the fact that I know the kids would be devastated, I'd hand him back tomorrow even though I am truly fond of him.

[UndomesticHousewife]

This dog has attacked you and may very well do it again to your kids.
It warned you often enough and if your kids don't heed the warning (growling) the dog will bite them.
Speak to the shelter or your vet about how to manage a dog which displays this type of behaviour.

Is it a territorial thing when a dog growls and attacks when you try to go near something it has?
If I remember correctly a dog shouldn't own anything, it's all yours and you should be able to take anything away from them that you want (though how this applies to a hole I'm not sure!)

[yorkyporky]

DailyMailNameChanger - I don't think I know you, if that helps?

[yorkyporky]

Stayingsunnygirl - Google "dominance myth" there is absolutely loads of information out there about it.

The main things to do are firstly to manage the situation. When you've got a dog you think may bite around small children you need to make sure they are kept physically separate unless you are there to keep control of the situation. Secondly remember that dogs (people too) do things because there is some kind of reinforcement in it for them. Think about what you do when they behave in a certain way and if your response is going to reinforce that behaviour or not. Lastly don't give freebies. Make your dog earn your attention, food and toys. Think of it as getting him to say "please". Just a simple thing like "sit" would do. This teaches him that doing what he's told is more beneficial than not.

[Stayingsunnygirl]

This is a fascinating thread! I am another novice dog-owner and am doubting my own abilities too. We've got a 16 week old labrador puppy, who is gorgeous but bites if frustrated. I have spoken to one of the local ladies who runs puppy classes, and she is going to work with me once we start the classes next week.

I did also notice that some of the adverts for puppy classes also mention one-to-one training at home, as valhala mentioned.

I am particularly interested to read about the pack theory being widely discredited - I can't say that it's been at the forefront of everything I've done with the dog, but it has definitely been in my mind.

[Alambil]

Did you know it can take up to 20 weeks for a dog to start to feel settled in their new family?

A year, and they're fully integrated

Don't give up yet - and yes, a good trainer who also knows dog behaviour patterns will be able to help with everything - my mum would be able to sort him out in 4 lessons (if you put in the homework!) as it sounds like lack of knowledge and confidence rather than a bad dog.

[Mybox]

This is a great book that will help you be the leader of the pack! www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Dog-Owners-Canine-Psychology/dp/1844031209?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

It sounds like your dog needs to know he's last in line.

[Glob]

Cheekygirl (and Teamcullen) - we adopted a dog who displayed the same behaviour as yours. He was 18 months old at the time and we believe had a bad background. Long story short, he ended up biting me on the face (luckily this was pre-kids). He did warn me with a lot of growling but I had no idea.

I don't say this to scare you but I really wish someone had warned me.

If you stick with him, like we did, you will have to put in a lot of time and effort to change his behaviour, and you may have to really toughen up. He needs to know the boundries. You might also have to resign yourself to the fact that you won't have the kind of relationship you want with your pup. i.e. you will always have to keep a close eye on him with the kids, make sure they aren't eating anything which he could grab or get defensive about etc.

Your second option is to say this isn't the pup for you and take him back. No one would judge you for trusting your instincts. Better now than later, so he can be rehomed with someone with more experience.

It is such a hard decision and I feel for you. Our dog-friend is 13 now. He has been (and still is) a lot of work. It's not at all what we expected when taking him on.

By the way, a crate really helped with sleeping at night (previously he was waking at 5am and high pitched yelping for his morning walk until we got up). It was/is worth the room it takes up.

All the best.

[bumpsoon]

Cheekygirl ,i love dogs ,all dogs ,big ,small etc .I got a rescue when my DD was 18months old and it took me a good six months to bond with him . I took him to dog training classes ,we did the remedial course twice !! It really helped me ,because it made me undersatnd him more and this helped me to relax and trust in my own abilities .Four and half years later ,he is still here and very much loved ,oh and a bit better behaved . His 'issues' were different to your puppies issues .You really do need to be firm with your puppy , as others have said he is taking the mickey out of you and pushing his boundaries ,as all terriers are wont to do. Hope the behaviourist can help you and good luck.

[valhala]

If you'd like to join the Poplar Farm Kennels Forum you'll be made very welcome. Because of spammers the owners have reluctantly decided to request that newcomers email them in order to join in and post so please don't be put off by that.

"Harvey" hopes to see you there!