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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Really don't want to rehome.

59 replies

MrsWineasaurus · 11/12/2017 18:26

Hi,

Don't know where to start really, DH wanted a dog so in April after months of looking we got our puppy. Toilet training went quite well but everything else has been an absolute nightmare.

DH has now decided he doesn't want dog anymore. Dog has chewed his way through most of my house and bit my son and DH on numerous occasions.

I didn't want a dog, but have grown quite fond of him. I don't think it's fair just rehoming him when he seems to have a behavioural problem, DH has now said if I want to keep him then he's my responsibility not his. I work full time, DH part time. I don't think I have the energy to do this myself.

Is there any tips or training techniques you can share so I can make this work? I'm at my wits end.

OP posts:
MrsWineasaurus · 11/12/2017 18:51

He is crate trained, has been since he came home with us. Still barks when we leave in the morning.

Must admit the xmas tree decorations were probably my fault this morning as he's been so chilled over the weekend I thought I'd try and leave him out the cage for the 3 hours.

The leads of xmas penguins were kept hidden away and he chewed it from the bottom of the plug. I wasn't aware there was electric obviously being the horrible dog owner I amHmm

OP posts:
ApplesTheHare · 11/12/2017 18:54

Good on you for sticking with it MrsWineasaurus

Upping the walks will help, they have so much energy to burn off when they're young. Doing more training will also help tire him out mentally. We used to have to take ddog out for 2-3 hours every day or he was a nightmare in the house. Selfishly I'm very glad he's calmed down now he's older Smile

bluemosquito · 11/12/2017 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 18:55

The chewing stops OP - take heart. Our puppy chewed up so much stuff - DH's 90quid shoes, several Barbie dolls, my slippers, the heel off one of my boots, one of my coats, the remote control, several soft toys... you name it. He jumped on the table and got a cake once.

It doesn't last forever though. Ours no longer chews at all - except 'his' toys. He loves his toys Smile Don't re-home him - a re-homed dog has such an uncertain future.

MrsWineasaurus · 11/12/2017 18:56

Thank you ApplesTheHare.

I really do want rehoming to be the very last option, so I'm looking into a trainer and will up the amount/length of walks he has.

OP posts:
ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 18:58

Oh and you aren't horrible - you voted for the dog to stay?

Puppies honestly can drive you to the very limit. I found my puppy far harder work than the babies - I've said so many times here. But give it time. Definitely veto the re-homing - this is an old story of "oh shall we get a puppy?" "Yes! Oh, the puppy chewed up all our stuff - lets get rid" - it makes me so sad. Just give him some time to grow out of it.

ApplesTheHare · 11/12/2017 19:01

Good luck with it MrsWineasaurus and just ignore the less helpful replies on here. I really don't understand why posters lay into people who ask for help on here. You clearly want to do the best for the dog despite challenging circumstances. Just remembered that kongs filled with grated carrot/apple and peanut butter and then frozen were lifesavers for one of our chronic chewers so might be worth a try for your little lad.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 11/12/2017 19:08

Is there a particular reason you got a high energy mix of two seriously stubborn breeds that can be prone to being nippy when you can only just about manage 1 walk a day?!
Sorry I know it sounds harsh but you say you looked into this! These are working dogs - they need their minds and bodies stimulated. Get a decent trainer in abs get some decent exercise in and it might be salvageable. I wish you luck.

MrsWineasaurus · 11/12/2017 19:12

Because DH was going to be here everyday, DH now no longer wants anything to do with him so it's now down to me. I'll have to get up earlier and do extra walks with him as I don't want to rehome him.

We did the research, got the insurance, got a pet plan at vets. I'm not the sort of person to get a dog off the cuff. As I said before we spoke about this. DHs excuse is that he's not as big as he thought he was going to be when in all honesty I think he just can't be arsed. I'm fuming with him. I really don't need people telling me how useless I am and how I'm such a bad person. I'm asking for advice not judgement.

OP posts:
sparechange · 11/12/2017 19:13

1 walk a day is almost certainly not enough for a young active dog, especially if that isn't almost entirely running/hunting/snuffling for at least an hour

Can you send him to an active dog daycare a couple of days a week while also working with a trainer?

Somewhere he can have 4+ hours of running around with other dogs would almost certainly make a big difference to his energy and frustration levels in the house.

And you should probably make the realities of 'rehoming' clear to your DH and DS
Telling them he is destructive with a history of biting means he is more likely than not to just be put down
Or if they take him in, he will only be available to a limited pool of potential new homes so will languish in the centre for a long time, where he will be utterly miserable and frustrated which will make him even harder to rehome

If they refuse to help with training, please take them for a trip to a rescue centre for them to see the reality of what their laziness and selfishness would mean...

Killerfiller · 11/12/2017 19:15

Sorry but your husband is an arsehole.

Wonder if he will say this about your children one dayHmm

Killerfiller · 11/12/2017 19:16

And as for not as big as he thought he would be.

Yes because that's what you need a bigger stronger more energetic dog.

ApplesTheHare · 11/12/2017 19:19

TheHodgeoftheHedge why are you trying to make the OP feel worse? She's asking for advice about how to make this situation better for her ddog. Passive aggressive comments help nobody.

8pawsgood · 11/12/2017 19:22

He's bored bless him.... he'll be a super little dog but you've got to stimulate him, walk him, train him.. he's a working breed..get the best out of him and you'll be rewarded a thousand fold..make it your mission to make him YOUR dog.... it's exciting, don't give up on him. 🐾

ShoesHaveSouls · 11/12/2017 19:23

Your husband's the problem, OP. Not the dog. The dog will grow up.

Wolfiefan · 11/12/2017 19:24

Can you dog proof a room? (We have a whelping pen you can add extra panels to in order to make it big (enough for a wolfhound!) This means no chewing but room to move.
Upping the exercise is good. Also maybe more training or brain games. Exercise makes dogs fitter as well as wearing them out! Brain work is tiring but doesn't also make them fitter so harder to tire! We do dog training every week but also a ringcraft/socialisation group. Agility etc would also be worth a try in the longer term.
No flaming from me. DH is being an arse and you're trying to do your best. Good luck.

8pawsgood · 11/12/2017 19:26

Your Husband doesn't want him because he's not turning out to be as big as he thought he would be....Bizarre.

Viviennemary · 11/12/2017 19:28

This is really annoying since your DH is the one who wanted a dog. The dog needs to go to those dog training classes. Three or four hours alone is quite a long time for a dog in a house. And I don't think one walk a day is enough for this dog.

missbattenburg · 11/12/2017 19:39

MrsWineasaurus I honestly don't think anyone here thinks you are a bad person. They think you are the good one and your OH is a dick. To be fair, hearing he thinks the dog isn't big enough and that's why he wants rid, is pretty damning evidence. Only he's not here to have the anger aimed at him so it's seeming a bit like it's aimed at you - it's not.

As others have said, you have there a cross of two of the most stubborn, energetic and independent breeds I know. Being cross bred suggest it may have come from non pet lines as workers are often used for cross breeding. That'll make all those traits even worse. You have a dog that is built, body and mind, to tenaciously dig and dog and dog and then use it's mouth and paws to destroy whatever it finds. To never give up. Makes it a brilliant ratter. Makes it a trickier pet Grin.

Increasing the walking will help and defo do that if you can but there are other things you can also do to help use up some of the mental energy your dog has.

We have a Jack that loves, loves, loves a tennis ball. Try that when out on a walk - though at this age and with the trouble you are having, I too would be using a long training lead rather than going off leash. They also love chasing small furry things so you can use something like www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075JLB7L9/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8 to take on a walk and make the furry end dance along the ground to encourage a tug game.

This Jack also bloody adores a toy to destroy. Something furry. We often use www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001PT9BBE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8 which we play tug and encourage her to shake and kill. It takes her about a week to turn it into an empty rag but she keeps on playing with it long after that. It gives her an outlet for her hunt instinct.

Other things that you can do to entertain terriers is bury treasure in a sand pit in the garden. Treats and toys. It gives them a digging outlet.

They are normally pretty savvy at learning tricks. Have a look at clicker training. Once you get the hang of it you suddenly see how much you can teach the dog and it will think all the learning is FUN. Two minutes a few times a day can go a long way to calming a dog down. 'Leave it' might be one of the first things you try Grin. Some basics here: www.thelabradorsite.com/5-steps-to-charging-a-clicker/

In short, it involves you first teaching the dog that a click = treats. Once he knows that for sure you then work with him to help him figure out what makes the clicker work. An example to teach him to go to his bed might go like this:

  1. Find a quiet space in the house and take your dog, clicker, treats and a mat you use in his bed.
  1. With your clicker in your hand ready, pop the mat on the floor.
  1. Dogs are nosey and will at least look at the mat, maybe even go towards it. Any sign of ANY interaction at all (even just a glance in the right direction) earns a click. Click as soon as you see it. Then give a treat.
  1. Wait patiently. The dog will then try to figure out what caused the click. he may try lots of things first but sooner or later will look at the mat again.
  1. Click. Treat.
  1. Wait until it happens again.

It only usually takes a few turns for the dog to figure out that looking at the mat gets the click and therefore the treat. Now you up your requirements.

  1. Dog looks at mat and you don't click. Inevitably the dog tries looking again. No click. More likely the dog really tries looking, e.g. a more purposeful stare or even a step towards the mat. Click and treat.
  1. Every time he gets a stage you up your requirements until you are only clicking when he gets all four paws on the bed. Dogs new to the clicker may take a while but honestly, most get this within a few mins.
  1. When he is absolutely sure that getting on the mat earns the click and treat then you can add the command. As he gets on the bed say "on your bed" (or whatever phrase you want to use). Repeat that several times and before long you should be bale to say "on your bed" before he gets on it, he then gets on it and gets a click and treat.

Repeat everything above but in the right part of the house for his bed. The point of moving elsewhere in the house is that the dog isn't used to seeing his mat there so is more likely to look at it when you start training. It doesn't take anywhere near as long the second time.

You just repeat, repeat, repeat and now your dog knows to get on his bed.

Whatever you do, this dog will need somewhere around 2-3 hours of your time each day (grooming, training, walking, feeding). Only you know if you have that time but obviously it would be much better if you could share the responsibility with your OH. In all honesty, my idea of marriage is not to say "it's now your problem" regardless of the history or who now does or does not want the dog. That doesn't sound anything like a partnership to me at all.

treeofhearts · 11/12/2017 19:42

He is a high energy and very intelligent breed. He needs lots of exercise, running about and games to challenge him mentally. Chewing and destructive behaviour is almost always down to boredom and being under exercises.

Floralnomad · 11/12/2017 19:44

I wish people would stop calling this mix ‘nippy’ they are not generally , patterdales in general are really people orientated dogs , they are not particularly good with other dogs but they adore people and are not the slightest bit nippy .

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 11/12/2017 19:49

I asked because it's actually got to the heart of the problem - the DH. Yep, your DH is an arse hole and I really feel for you being left to pick up the pieces.
As i said though, stimulation is needed for body and mind here. That, some guided training and some time and patience (still a pup after all) and you can get there.

billysboy · 11/12/2017 19:55

I have two patterdales and one JR the patterdales are bred as working terriers so will soon get in trouble if they dont have enough to do

Buy yourself a crate and put some vet bed in it and feed the dog in there so that he knows it is his safe place and that he sleeps in there

When you go out shut him in there he may chew up the bed if he gets the hump but at least it isnt the sofa

Mine go in there quite happily even if I am with them at home as its their bed I only shut the door when I am not here

BiteyShark · 11/12/2017 19:56

I feel for you as it was your DHs idea and he has washed his hands of the dog and you are left to sort out the issues.

Your dog is at a difficult age and needs constant training and stimulation to manage his behaviour. Personally I would be extremely cross with your DH. Is he going to ignore the dog then when you aren't around? If he is then he should sort out a dog walker or daycare whilst you work to take the pressure off you.

Oops4 · 11/12/2017 20:33

Aw OP what a dilemma. Clearly not an ideal run of events but it is what it is and you are trying to make it work.

I love terriers, have always had terriers and will probably only ever have terriers but what you have is a mix of two of the most "terrier" breeds. Energetic, stubborn, determined, clever, fearless little dogs. You are definitely at a point where you can turn this around and you have what could be an amazing, funny, loyal, clever best friend but you have to be realistic about what your dog needs.

Terriers dig and chew. The less occupied they are the more they will do it. It will get much less but it may always be something you have to be prepared for. I'd definitely recommend using the crate when you are not there. After my border started to dig through the plaster on my wall I take no chances! Upping the walks will definitely help but I agree with a pp and would keep on a lead for now until you are really sure his recall is spot on, and I mean spot on for a terrier. As for the snapping, this is more likely to be due to boredom/unspent energy and a response to the behaviour of your husband and son toward the walk. This is a challenging mix for a first time owner but has the potential to be an amazing little dog if you and the rest of the family are prepared to put in the work, and I really really hope that is what you do. But if you can't, or if everyone is not on board, then I would rehome sooner rather than later as the situation will only get worse and not better and that is not fair in the dog

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