We've tried 3 diff. shock collars, and none of them worked. We've also tried lightly smacking his nose and rear end. Nada!
Also, we seem to have a problem with him whining in his crate while we are at work. The landlord recommended we get a muzzle, but his mouth is entirely closed with the kind of whining he does, and it won't work. I don't know what else to try...
Please help!
Training A Dog - Fundamental Dog Training - How-To
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Clearly positive punishment does not work for this problem.
If it was obvious from the start- I dont understand why you would continue to use it to try and stop the behaviour.
It sounds like you have an active, intelligent dog that does not get nearly enough exercise or mental stimulation to keep him happy.
Your dog should not be crated all day when you are at work.
If you were locked in a small cell all day for no reason- I think you would be crying, too. This behaviour is not going to stop, because your dog cannot see a reason to stop.
When you get home, you let him out of the crate, and basically reward him for spending all that time and effort whining.
You appear to have a very social dog, who needs to have contact with other dogs. He reacts so badly with other dogs because he is desperate to play with them (trust me- my parents have an Australian Shepherd at home who is very similar- she barks like crazy at dogs when she is out walking- but all she wants to do is play with them) I think that dog obedience can really help here- it gives your dog a 'social release' where he can learn to play with other dogs, and learns how to act and behave himself around them. I think it is also important that you spend some more time socialising your dog with other dogs- whether it be through taking him to an off leash dog park, or taking him to visit friends and family that have dogs- the dog needs to get out and interact with some dogs. This should help him to learn how to behave around your neighbours dogs- and should make walking him much easier!
As far as his behaviour when you are away from home goes...
Basically- you have a dog that is completely inappropriate for your home. You have a large, active breed that is not bred to live in an apartment. This dog would require at least an hour of exercise per day, and needs time outside to play, as well as plenty of time interacting with the family.
It is no wonder he is going crazy in the crate! An apartment is too small for this dog- a crate is just cruel.
I am guessing you crate him because he is causing problems in the house- but this is where you really need to consider what is best for your dog.
He is not happy where he is- so you need to either find a way to ensure that he is happy- whether it be by dog proofing your apartment- even a room at the least- or by hiring a dog walker, or getting him a babysitter while you are at work- or you really need to consider finding him a new home with people who have a large house with a big backyard that can put the time and effort into training him and socialising him properly.
Dog Training - Enjoyable Dog Obedience Training Techniques
- First of all, stop using the harsh equipment. Shocking, choking, and smacking will make the problem worse, and may result in your dog fearing you. I suggest contacting a trainer or behaviorist in your area. Go to the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and find someone that trains positively, for this will build confidence and security.
http://www.apdt.com/
I also suggest watching the dog training show It's Me or the Dog. That show has many episodes with dogs with the same issues as yours. - I have a 5 year old boxer/pit mix which is also around 80 lbs and is also a royal pain. For him to be able stop reacting to other people around him there are a couple things you can do. You have to find the one treat/toy that he loves. When you go outside and notice someone walking down the street you want to "body block" his view. Which means stand between him and the person walking down the street. Whenever he focuses his attention on you, you reward him. Since it sounds like he's very persistent this might take awhile. Also if he doesn't have a favorite toy try cut hot dogs (no dog can resist that). For the problems that he has while being put in his cage can also be pixed just not overnight. The main thing is, is that you want him to think of the cage as a good things. That's why you never should use them for timeouts when he doesn't something bad. You can do this by keeping the cage open during the periods of time that he's out of the cage. You should notice him go in the cage just to sniff around, but do not close the door on him because he needs to trust you. You have to spread out the times that he's going in the cage. Put him in the cage for 15 min when you are home so he understand that you aren't going to leave him in there. A good things that worked for me was making sure he had a toy/bone in there and a blanket that I slept on so he feels comforted. Hope this helps
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