..... 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!!!!

[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!

[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.

[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.........

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[MoreCheeseDear]

ZOMBIE THREAD.

Nothing to see here.

[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.

[trooth]

FFS this thread is 10 years old