So, I've had Monty for about a year and a half now... even though my soon to be X has kept him for a little bit when I absolutely was about to give up.
He's a sweet dog, decent tempermant, listens most of the time... but he has some huge behavior problems (that I have gotten a trainer for) that I just can't correct.
recently he stayed with my X in a house and it worked out wonderfully because he was able to be out in the yard most of the time... the problems apparently disapeared in that environment.
He's back(I live in an apartment) and I feel bad because I have to crate him all of the time, and when he is not crated I have to keep all the doors shut and make sure that he is only in the room with me and know exactly where he is. He is 2 years old, he shouldn't have these problems anymore! And I can't afford any more trainers (and can barely afford them now that I screwed up my leg).
Does anyone have any suggestions? My parents suggested taking him to the SPCA... but I feel horrible even thinking about it. Maybe if I could just find someone with a big yard or a farm... he'd be a great farm dog. Or maybe the reason he did better with the X is because he feels that they are more dominant. I dunno.
I contacted Second Chance once... but never heard back.

5/12/2006 4:12:18 PM

Thats a big dog to cram into an appartment. Give him up to the X would be my vote, that would be much better than the SPCA, which is already full enough as it is.

5/12/2006 4:20:52 PM

sounds like he just has alot of energy. my 10 month old boxer/lab mix is a little wild sometimes (especially after a while in the crate), but you just have to expect that. take him to a dog park a few times a week.

5/12/2006 4:21:45 PM

Get a better trainer. Pet smart training is very general. What behavior problems is he having?

5/12/2006 4:21:55 PM

I have tried to give him to the X, but he won't take him. he has a border collie and 3 cats... I have even offered to take either the three cats (which I am allergic to) in trade or even the border collie (he's an old man). And technically it wouldn't be like trying to trade for his babies, because we rescuted all of the animals together and just never found homes for most of them. He's moving into an apartment too so that doesn't help.
but after today I think he's going to drive me nuts... left for not more than an hour and he managed to get the chocolate cake off of the microwave, had it in the living room, then worked on the container... then shit around it.
it's not like he doesn't get attention... plz don't accuse me of htat.

5/12/2006 4:26:25 PM

heh... dog park... we go every day

5/12/2006 4:26:49 PM

oh, and the dog playing with the cat isn't monty (and both dogs are only around 40 pounds)... if I can find some pics I will post one of him too.

[Edited on May 12, 2006 at 4:33 PM. Reason : ;;]

5/12/2006 4:32:42 PM

is he still crazy afterwards?

5/12/2006 4:39:07 PM

Some dogs just require a level of activity that you might not be able to provide. This is why I don't have a dog, I know I couldn't be around enough to take care of it like they deserve. I'm going to think the better of you and believe that you knew this but wanted to save this dog from certain death at the shelter. So...I would just put up classifieds and keep doing what you're doing...the dog needs more space and attention to get it's energy out.

The other option is instead of just doing mindless things like throwing a ball or taking him for a walk, do mind exercises like teaching him tricks. Often that can be very beneficial because it gets their mind working on things that aren't destructive, and they learn to obey you on little things which can translate into bigger things. My border collie loves to learn tricks and he is always more obedient in general when I've been teaching him a new trick.

5/12/2006 4:43:34 PM

he's not necessarily crazy... he is actually pretty calm most of the time... I think he's over his crazy part... he's just has issues apparently.

5/12/2006 4:44:18 PM

when you say issues.....what do you mean?

5/12/2006 4:46:12 PM

do you ever watch dog whisperer on national geographic / if not...you should

sounds like you are projecting a nondominant demeanor and the dog is taking advantage of that

you cant treat the dog like a person / you have to treat it like a dog

even crated dogs w/ lots of energy can be trained you just have to be the pack leader and take

that role

(i watch too much tv)

5/12/2006 4:47:04 PM

^ that show is wildly entertaining, for a variety of reasons.

5/12/2006 4:47:54 PM

for real
i can watch hours of the episodes but it also makes great points

5/12/2006 4:48:57 PM

yea, i've seen it... and i have tried to take a dominant role, but he doesn't always respond to it.
I use to always treat them like people... but I've had such a problem that I changed months ago after I had the trainer talk to me about how to attempt to fix it... we've fixed most of his excitment and demanding problems... it's just when I'm not watching him... i can't let him out of my sight at any time w/o him shitting in my place.... even if he's already gone that day.

5/12/2006 5:01:59 PM

try to be dominant.

run him ragged every day.

take him out multiple times a day to use the restroom and give him a treat when he does.

train yourself not to leave things out for him to eat and chew on.

[Edited on May 12, 2006 at 5:22 PM. Reason : sss]

5/12/2006 5:20:24 PM

he needs to have calm submissive behavior


dude, i read all of that and still have no idea what the problem is...is he a pee-er? bite-er? bark-er?

5/12/2006 5:23:51 PM

Cesar Milan's recipe for success

1. EXERCISE!
2. Dicipline
3. Affection


In that particular order. He claims that if #1 is done correctly, #2 will not be hard at all.

So I'd advise that you wake up 45 min earlier every morning to walk him, and then repeat with a 30 min walk at night. That should calm him down lots.

5/12/2006 5:31:31 PM

i don't know how much more money you want to spend, but have you considered getting a referral to a board certified animal behaviorist? they might offer another perspective. i looked on the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists website and it listed a couple certified practitioners in NC, but you have to have a referral from your regular vet. good luck!

5/12/2006 6:01:11 PM

oy.... he gets exercise, dicipline, and affection... in that order. Usually I take him every morning to the dog park and let him run around with holly (and any other dog that is there of course). I try to wear them out so I don't have to worry too much about them the rest of the day.
as for what his problem is... I think it's that I won't let him be dominant. So, he acts out against me. if I even turn my head for 15 min he does basterdly things, like shits in my apartment. The other morning I had taken him out and wanted to go back to bed before going to the dog park (it was like 9am and I hadn't gone to bed until 5am... which I was home the whole time), he decided he wanted attention and jumped on the bed... I don't let them on the bed unless I invite them and they have to stay at the foot if i do... anyhow, I scruffed him and told him to get off.... he peed all over my bed.
again, i took him out maybe 5 min prior.
it's just stuff like that... and the fact that he is a little over 2 years old and still has issues like that. He should be past the point of me having to crate him all day, and it's not good to crate them for too long of periods. I can keep him, but he'll have to be crated like 15-20 hours out of the day (hopefully not consecutively) when I go back to work full-time and going to classes. It wouldn't be as bad if I could trust him enough to leave him out of the crate at night...
and of course now that I have been talking about him he is back to being a good little boy and even playing with holly.

5/13/2006 12:43:11 AM

he peed on the bed b/c you scruffed him. he was trying to appease you by being submissive and peeing. That isn't something they are supposed to outgrow. You need to be consistent with what you do with him. It sounds harsh but NEVER let him on the furniture, crate him for bed, while you are gone, and any time you can't watch him. Do obedience with him every day for short sessions. Make him sit and wait for his food and do not feed him until he stays seated and you release him (you have to be consistent with this). Make him sit and wait to go outside or through any doors in this house. I guarantee if you do this and ARE CONSISTENT, then he will respect you and you will not have as many problems. I think what you have is a confused dog. Once he learns where he is in the "pack" (you, him, and any other dogs or humans that live in your house), he will feel more comfortable and probably be a kick ass dog. Some dogs are really easy to train with this stuff but that depends on breed, how stubborn they are, and how stubborn you are. I can help you if you need me to. It is hard believe me. It took me 2 years to get my dog to listen to me and behave (which she doesn't do all of the time now), but it was all my fault. I wasn't consistent. My trainer snapped me into shape and my girl changed tremendously! good luck

5/13/2006 8:58:34 AM

Quote :

"Cesar Milan"

5/13/2006 11:44:18 AM

teamworks dog training
i've heard great things about them

otherwise what Jeremi ^^ said

i've worked with a few problem dogs and you need to be consistent and use the crate whenever you cant directly supervise him

5/13/2006 6:36:32 PM

Yep, I relaxed on my crate use with my pup and she started having accidents again in the apt. So now I make sure to put her away whenever I'm involved with something too much to watch her.

Crate him when you're in bed or gone. No exceptions. He'll get used to it. I know it's been said already, but I just wanted to emphasize, because that simple action will go far. Just make sure that if he's in the crate for more than an hr+ that you take him immediately outside for a potty break once letting him out of the crate.

5/13/2006 7:44:37 PM

thanks. I guess that is going to be the life of this dog. I just hate that I can't trust him.
My friend just came up with an idea for me to sub-let from him... so maybe I will be able to make him a mostly outdoor dog after all, which will make me feel less guilty

5/13/2006 9:52:42 PM

he might stop the behaviors once he gets older.
a year and a half old dog is gonna have energy and might not calm down for a few yrs

5/13/2006 10:01:37 PM

^ I agree. Most dogs don't mentally/emotionally mature until they are 3 or 4 years old. you might see a huge difference once those birthdays role around.

5/14/2006 8:52:23 AM

PSST!

5/14/2006 10:03:48 AM

about the dog park thing...

he very likely sees playing with other dogs as more exciting than you...does he come when you call? does he behave himself when you give him a command? if not, you aren't his top priority. you might want to take out the dog park and substitute you-and-him time. take him on a walk or run without any other distractions (at least as few as you can control). don't let him pull you, make him heel. dominance training is an all day thing, not a once in a while thing.

the 15-20 hour alone time, be it in a crate or free in the house...I've got a problem with that. Once in a while I can understand, but not on a frequent basis. He's a pack animal, and if his pack leader isn't present he'll find other things to do with his time and attention. Of course he'll act out when you try to exert your authority...he doesn't see you as top dog because you aren't.

i also agree with odie

5/14/2006 4:52:36 PM

well, he's about 2 and a half.... so maybe I won't have much longer to wait.
as for his obedience... he always comes when I call him (unless he sneaks out through the whole in my porch fence, then it takes a little longer), is good at sitting, walks well on the leash, and is generally a good dog with commands. Sometimes he gets overly demanding about getting attention, but in the last two days I think I put him in his place on that aspect.
But the real problem is when no one is looking. but, for now I am able to spend a bit more time with him since I am having knee problems keeping me from working full-time, which is also why long walks or running is out of the question... we'll see what happens when I am able to literally get back on my feet full time.
and as for dog-park time... he is more likely to play ball with me than the other dogs, unless I forget the ball.
oh, and the 15 hours alone is not consecutive... and about 7-8 hours of that is bedtime, and he goes in there all on his own.

5/14/2006 7:46:55 PM

Two years old is still "puppy." He obviously needs more exercise, if you do that, problem solved.

5/14/2006 8:50:50 PM

OMG YOU GUYS ARENT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DOG WHISPERER!

bahaha.

his number one technique is the walk! thats the best way to establish dominance. so walk him absolutely on your terms. he doesnt pass you, he doesnt sniff, stop, pull, etc anything. unless you initiate it. its been working great for my puppy so far. and it makes sense.. what do dogs do all day in the wild? walk. and what does the pack leader do? lead them.

its also hard as hell to wear a dog out. i ride my bike while my dog runs for a few miles every day and it still doesnt wear her out. we go further every time and as of now we're at almost 3 miles w/ no problem for her. and shes only 4.5 months old. so farther we shall go. so maybe try something like that or getting a dog backpack to load her down with for walks. id bet 95% of dogs will wear their owners out far before themselves so we need an edge

5/14/2006 10:58:34 PM

^ what breed is your dog? some, like boxers or boarder collies, can run for miles without a pause

other breeds, especially mid-sized or small, tire out quicker and don't need as much exercise

5/14/2006 11:18:23 PM

^^I would be cautious running it that much. Running a young dog too much can often lead to hip problems later on in life. Especially if it is of a breed prone to hip problems.

5/14/2006 11:31:59 PM

I think you answered the question in your last post, arraeuber. You said when he's got problems when no one's looking. If that's the case, your problem is solved - go the crate route. Hopefully with enough discipline with the crate use, he'll eventually be trustworthy when you need to look away for that split second. I made the mistake of sitting at my PC and letting my foster pup wander into the living room. Even though I called him he didn't come b/c he had immediately started to use the bathroom. That's my own fault for not putting him up while I became involved in something.

It sounds like you're giving him plenty of exercise, and he's a good dog otherwise.

[Edited on May 15, 2006 at 9:32 AM. Reason : ]

5/15/2006 9:32:06 AM

hahahaha, no one even mentioned the easiest and most effective way to discipline your dog.

spank that motherfucker when he steps out of line.


but most of you are probably too pussified to do that.

5/15/2006 10:24:11 AM

yea pussified thats exactly it

5/15/2006 10:47:04 AM

^^i do the 'dog whisperer pin attack'! bahah it works like a champ though. i dont think hitting em gets anything done

shes an australian shepard/lab mix. yeh, i dont make her sprint the whole time, but a decent gallop w/ some sprinting and some walking. we also stop and play in creeks along the way. i think shes fine *shrug*

5/15/2006 11:17:38 AM

5/15/2006 11:22:23 AM

dannydigtl: please be careful about doing that. most vets recommend not running your dog for long distances until they are full grown. It can really damage the dog's joints. I am not trying to tell you what to do, i just want you to be careful. Call your vet and ask them about it. nice mix of dog though!

5/15/2006 11:55:45 AM