We have a 14 month old golden retriever. She is a lovely dog. She is good with the children, loves the cats, has retrieved the chickens without killing them, has good social skills with other dogs and isn't too bouncy with strangers. But in general living terms we are really struggling. Well, DH is really struggling and it's driving me mad. He isn't a dog person and although it was his idea to get the dog, I realise now I should have said no.
We live in rural NZ. We have a couple of acres of land which should be heaven for a dog. It is heaven for her, but her escaping has reached the point where she has to be on long lead outside. Recall is good when she is focused on me (ie whilst training) and she's pretty good when we're out, but when she escapes she won't come home until she's ready. Our property is fenced but it's wire fencing and she squeezes under/through. We will be moving in 6 months so chicken wiring the whole property is not feasible, and our layout means fencing a small area is not easy either.
She has a compulsion to roll - in poo, dead things, things she has stolen or been given, muddy puddles, an effluent run off she has found somewhere on the neighbouring farm. So I am forever hosing her and bathing her and even then she often stinks. If she goes further afield where the neighbours don't know her, she could get shot - farmers don't like dogs on their property.
DH is a kiwi and grew up on a farm - for him, dogs should be outside. Before we got Maisie we discussed that for me, dogs are part of the family and do come in the house and he appeared to understand, but he is finding it so difficult. Given her absconding, she either has to be outside on a lead or inside with the doors closed, so he frequently complains about the house smelling of dog (I don't notice it) and she is digging up the lawn (bored on the lead no doubt). The sniping from him is getting worse, because every day she does something else naughty. I came home this morning after school drop off (max 1/2 an hour on her own) and she has chewed up a very obvious corner of the skirting board.
Walking her isn't that easy. I take her for a lead walk down the road, which isn't ideal as it's a winding country road, and usually twice a week I'll drive her into town for an off lead walk at the dog park. Also twice a week she spends some time with her sister who my parents have. Exercise makes no difference to the running away - I have let her into the house after a lovely long walk and she has run straight through the house and out of another door and buggered off for an hour. I thought we'd be able to exercise her on our property some of the time - throw balls, etc - but she runs off after a couple of throws.
This isn't how I envisaged dog ownership. It's so much harder in the country than the town. I'm not even sure what I'm asking, just some tips on making life easier, or dealing with DH who hasn't bonded with Maisie at all, or even just reassurance that her behaviour will improve after adolescence. We have been to dog training classes, which she was very good at, and I am considering getting a trainer to come to the house but don't know if it'll work - any thoughts on that? And be gentle with me - I'm asking for help!!