Do You Make These 4 Common Mistakes in Dog Training?
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Not even the best dog trainer in the world can stop a bored and frustrated dog from chewing up very expensive furniture! How old is this dog? It also takes a couple of weeks to house train a dog if done correctly. He obviously was never correctly crate trained, he's likely not getting near enough exercise and for sure, not getting any obedience training or anything else to keep his mind active.
You need to start all over again and train this dog - a good breeder is an invaluable resource. Get a book on basic dog training - Tamar Geller has a book called "the Loved Dog" that's really good for novices - gives step by step, very clear instructions.
However, if you won't invest the time a dog needs, it would be a kindness to him to find him a good home now where he'll get the care, love and training he deserves.
Dog Training - You and Your Dog
- plz don't give him anpther try...it's just a stage...he'll get out of it
- what kind of dog is it and how old your husband needs to train his dog
- You could ask your husband if he has a friend or a relative who'd be willing to keep the dog, so he doesn't lose it completely.
- Well in my opinion i think you should get rid of the dog but then again if your husband really wants the dog maybe he should try harder to train the dog if he really loves the dog. But that is not my choice but it is just a idea.
- try to take him on a lease in the house for a wile and when he bits on ur stuff tell him no bad dog and he might no what his doing!!!! wrong if that doesnt work try keeping him outside!!!
- Is your husband who loves this dog so much taking him outside to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours? Is your husband taking him on at least 2 30 minute walks a day? This dog needs exercise and to be taken outside to use the bathroom. If a dog is well exercised and has chew toys he will not destroy the house. A dog that is supervised in the house and taken outdoors every 2-3 hours will not eliminate in the house.
So many people get a dog and expect it to come perfect. Dogs are hard to train and a lot of work to exercise. You have to include this dog in your everyday activities as if it is another child. He sounds frustrated and bored.
Tell your husband if he wants to keep the dog he is going to have to start taking care of it. If he isnt willing to do those things then you will have to rehome him. - Yup I would enough of that.
- What was it about the training program that you weren't able to follow?
You need to put your dog on a schedule for pottying and watch him carefully. The habit of pooping in the crate must be stopped ASAP.
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.…
Your dog needs a LOT more exercise and needs to be *rewarded* when he has successful potty trips outside. Your puppy must never be allowed access to things that he can destroy. I strongly urge you to review the materials that the training school gave you and if you have questions, call them and ask. Are you aware how hard it is to place a dog with another home? - You should keep him becasue I have a dog too thats 8 years old now and very calm, when he was a puppy he destroyed and chewed up our carpet, and everything else in sight,which caused my parents to lose a lot of money like u but he's callmed down now, and we love him. A tip for right now though, is @ petco u can buy training pads which are these water absorpant pads that if your dog goes in the house, then it won't be a mess u throw that pad away, also if you buy "gates" so your dog can only stay in 1 room (like the kitchen) is where we put him becasue the floor is tile and there's nothing on the floor to chew so he can't ruin the house. gate off archways and usually you can buy gates that are like high enough so the dog can't jump, ut low enough where it's convinient 4 you to get around the house.
- ok, the dog chews up your things. dogs do that, they chew. especially puppies. what means more to you an object that is incapable of loving you back, that you will throw away in the next 5 years more then likely anyway, or a dog who will love you unconditionally for the rest of it's life? someone who, no matter what happens in your life or it's life, will be there with kisses for you and a wagging tail, someone that will more then likely lie down his life to save yours or your child's? a friend for your child who will never hurt their feelings and will do all they can to cheer your child or you or your husband up during times of sadness or illness, doesn't that mean more to you then having to clean up after the dog while he is training?
ok, here are tips for housetraining, walk the dog often and long walks. walking stimulates the dog to have to go to the bathroom. bring treats and reward dog EVERY time he goes to the bathroom outside. DO NOT STICK DOG'S NOSE IN IT IF HE MESSES UP INSIDE. You will end up with a dog afraid to go to the bathroom because they think that is what they are in trouble for. This will lead them to not wanting to go in front of you ever, including on walks. Forget putting the dog out in the yard to go while training, dog won't learn that way. You must WALK the dog. Keep the dog in the same room with you, and if you see dog sniffing, take for walk immediately.
Chewing advice, buy things that the dog would prefer to chew (bones, rawhide, kongs with treats inside, toys that squeak, balls, rope, etc.) When the dog chews his stuff, reward him for it, when he goes for something of yours, tell him no in a firm voice and take the item away. I would also teach the dog the command drop it. - Change his diet, we had the same problem with our dog, so a breeder recommended to change his food to some thing with less protein in it, we did this and now he is a totally different dog. Try chappie, it comes in a few different flavours to suit your dogs taste.
- How old is the dog? Did you have a child after the dog was already in the house? Sounds like he needs lots of attention.
He should be crate trained. It is not cruel, did it with my dog and the destruction was minimal. He is demanding attention from more than just your husband and it sounds like he is jealous of the baby. He needs a regular schedule of exercise, training, play etc. He should go outside shortly after eating. Need to reward the good behavior to reinforce. Try a different trainer if you don't have any luck setting a better schedule. - It sounds like your dog has too much energy, have you ever watched the Dog Whisperer on tv? Dogs need exercise daily, and not just a little walk, exercise that will tire them out, so they won't destroy your house. When he chews everything up, it's because he is bored and has too much energy. I have dogs, and if they don't get their daily exercise, you best bet that my shoes are the first thing in their sight! You need to start exercising your dog with a constructive walk, have him walk beside you, don't let him pull you and be crazy, then go home and play with him, so he'll be too tired to do anything else. I would suggest buying Cesar Milan's books, he's the dog whisperer, and you'll understand your dog's bad behavior for it!
Good luck! - Pent up energy...this dog need more exercise......he needs long walks, runs, a couple of times a day.....Rollerblade with him......like Cesar Milan does.....ever watch The Dog Whisperer? Alot of his techniques do work....
- You should doggy proof your house. Your dog is spoilt. The only way is to show him who is the boss and who is the dog.
Read my blogspot http://woofwoofdiary.blogspot.com for tricks and tips on raising up a doggy. - Displaying puppy lonelyness! to think of is he trainable? and maybe he needs the great outdoors? as far as him going in the house does he have exscape a (DOGGY) door/ or have trainedhim to hold it? if thats the case don't leave water out except bathroom and don't feed him after 6PM. make sure you take him out for long walks before sleep time...1-2 miles....if you have get rid of him do it though a shelter? and give all his toys,food etc.
- Well, sounds like a delema for you. The thing is I don't think you spent enough time with the trainer. How long was the training, and most importantly did you do what the trainer told you to do. You have to follow up on what the dog trainer told you to do. It does not sound like you did that.
I would suggest this, you don't want to disapoint the hubby, so try this. Tell him he must handle the dog. Try another trainer, and send hubby with the dog, for dog training.
Make him responcible for the dog, if in 2mo you notice no improvement with the dog, and you tell hubby about the two months, then the dog must go.
Good Luck - The difficulty is that no-one will take on a problem dog. Your dog is completely "fixable" but needs a lot of time and attention. I'm thinking if you have young kids then it's hard for you to find the time to do that.
Basically he needs a lot more exercise to wear him out (morning and night), and he needs to be supervised in the house. Take him outside on a leash at regular intervals and walk him around until he pees, then bring him back in. If he pees inside then say NO and straight outside. When he is inside it would help to keep him on a leash and with you so you can supervise his behaviour and correct him when he does something wrong.
He will outgrow this stage I'm sure. You can get him a belly band so he doesn't pee on everything and you might hope he grows out of it. I'm assuming he's an active breed like a terrier or some sort of working dog? If so you need to really work on keeping his mind active with walks and toys.
If it's all too hard then you should rehome him, but what kind of person is going to take on a dog like this? If you do a bit of work with him you might have a better chance of finding someone to keep working with him.
I know a lot of people aren't a fan of the dog whisperer (Caesar Millan) but check out his website, he has some good tips.
Good luck - and tell your husband he has to start working with this dog! - Keep on trying eventually he will grow out of this stage. Keep on pratcieing to and maybe see if he'll wear a muzzle or something.
- Did you go to a class? Have you read any books by Patricia McConnell, Ian Dunbar, Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Trish King...... YOU need to learn how to work with this dog, not count on a trainer to fix him. You don't mention what kind of training you've done with the dog, so it's impossible to comment on alternatives. What does the dog like to do when he's not being 'bad', run, catch balls, chase sticks, etc. Does the dog's mind and body get stimulation from learning new behaviors and commands?
If the dog is young and just untrained and you don't intend on working with this dog to teach it appropriate behaviors (spending money on a trainer is grand but living and with a dog requires 24 hour training since dogs are learning from us every minute), find a new home for it before it gets older and inexperience and immaturity are replaced by adult dog inappropriate behaviors, not just puppy wildness. If you think the dog is untrainable, put the dog down, don't pass him off to a rescue system that causes dogs' behaviors to usually get worse and the dogs are stressed until they get adopted out to another a home that can't manage them or they get euthanized. Too often a dog that needs special training doesn't get it and ends up chained up to tree and lives out it's life alone and miserable.
Loving a dog isn't enough if you're not willing or able to put time into learning how dogs learn.
www.fearfuldogs.com - I bet this is a small dog right?
Buy Ed Frawleys Obedience training dvd from Leerburg.com.
Theres really no point sending a dog to a trainer, they don't work usually.
I have a similar problem with a Dobe. I know how much money you waste trying to rctify the problem.
Don't let him have free run of the house! Come on! If he's like that the Kitchen should be the only room for him.
Now housetraining? Thats simple and it should have been done the second you brought him home! Its gonna be a lot harder now.
I think this is just a simple training problem, YOU have to train him, this does come more naturally to some than others, but work at it with the help of Ed Frawleys DVD. I wouldn't bother with any other trainer, I think this guy is really good.Good luck! - i dont understand. why would you want to get rid of your dog because he's destroying your house? this basically is the same thing that happened to my aunt. its not the dog's fault. this is yours. you need to understand that this dog needs to be trained correctly. nothing will turn out right if you dont. crate training is the best way to control your dog. unless you dont take him outside to do his business every 2-4 hours, he'll basically go insane and mess up the house. what do you expect? a dog is not capable of controlling themselves when they need to go to the bathroom. you need to remember that these are dogs and they are like babies. you cant just get rid of a baby if they mess something up in your life. basically, you're trying to say that your dog you have is not 'good enough' for you. if you cared about the dog, you'd start over again and try harder. its not easy but its not difficult. you need patience, my friend, and i promise you with my heart, he will listen to you with correct training. dont praise him whenever you want, dont give him food every second, and don't scold him harshly. he will basically stress out and wont know what the 'right' thing is. i understand your problem but you cannot get rid of a dog that is trying. if he's only a puppy, okay. i understand that. if he's an adult dog, the reason can definitely lead to the owner. the dog is not to be blamed for. he is trying and isnt succeeding because you're not training him correctly. look online for crate training or housebreaking tips, go to stores or the vet for suggestions, do something. from the sound of it, you're not trying. when he barks, make a strange noise he's never heard of because basically he'll be too interested into the noise, not barking. if he needs to pee, take him outside. if you're not home, put him in the crate if you have one. if not, BUY one. there's always an answer to your questions. try at least, hun. everything will be fine if you start small!
- you obviously spent a lot of money getting your dog trained.
Problem is that a good trainer will not train your dog for you. You will still not have a well behaved dog that way.
In my classes you must demonstrate every class that you know the exercises taught that day before leaving.
Training a dog does not come down to what it is taught once a week in class. You must go home and at least spend 2, 15 minute sessions daily between classes reviewing and training what was taught to you.
Don`t give up on your dog, find a trainer that is willing to work with you. In my classes , I am very hands on, that is , if I see you having problems learning an exercise I step in to help you.
You may also want to find an obedience club that offers classes. Yes they are far more regimented but it sounds to me like your dog could use it.
Find a class with a small amount of dogs enterd in it, or you won`t get the attention you need.
With so many trainers out there, for some it has become about the numbers of dogs entered in a class and the money they charge.
And bottom line after reading your frustration, If your husband wants to keep the dog, make sure he takes him out to class, play, teach, and do it`s business on a daily basis.
Their should be one Alpha for a while with a dog like this, give him the job, and make sure he follows through if he wants the dog.
If he balks at it, tell him that the reason the dog is doing these things is that it is bored, and if he wants a dog he should be willing to sacrifice the time to properly train it.
Good Luck - put him out of the house. Training has not helped him and you should not feel bad. Some dogs just do not do well in the house. He could have a problem with you are your daughter. If you are not the boss he does what he wants. This is simple and alot of people do not become the boss. You have to take control and whip him when he does wrong. Dogs in the house should be small get them as pups so you can be the one that decides how things run in your house. What kind of dog is it ? Does he like the out doors? Build him a pin outside. Another thing that you can do is get him a playmate. If he is a big dog you might want to put them outside in a pin. I have chihuahua's and they play and sleep together all daywhile we are gone. One is perfect and the other makes me crazy. Abby has heartworms and she came from somewhere else and it was to late to treat her. So we love her all that we can but she does get on my nerves. She hates my 19 year old daughter. She messes where ever she wants. I close off certain areas where i do not want her to be. Maddy is a gift from dog heaven. The advice is find a playmate, or put it outside or find a home for him and get something else.
- Em.. I'm not really a dog expert or anything but i think he just wants attention. Try buying him/her a few chew toys for it to chew on. Maybe that might help a little. And if you want to abandon it please please dun leave it to stray, put him/her in a proper pet shelter where he/she will be taken care and *loved. GOOD LUCK ANYWAY!!
*cant be sure of that... - I don't know how your dog trainers worked, or if they involved your family, but your dog really sounds like he doesn't respect any of you as Alpha Pack Leader.
Your entire paragraph poses questions in my mind.
1) do you give him positive attention? If so, do you give enough?
2) do you give him enough exercise? If so, is it enough.
3) you don't say what breed or size he is
4) you don't say if you've joined a yahoo group on this breed of dog
5) you don't say what the dog's age is
6) since your husband loves him, I can't just say "rehome him" but that may be what you need to do. You don't say ANYTHING about what your HUSBAND has done:
... a) to be Alpha Pack Leader
... b) to train the dog
... c) to exercise the dog
Dogs that are destructive are often either confused or bored.
Dogs are Pack Animals and need to know their place in the pack.
Not knowing causes confusion.
Dogs need a JOB to do. Has your husband attended obedience and training classes WITH the dog to learn how to train the dog to Sit, Stay, Lie Down, Roll Over, Leave It, Back Off, and other such important commands?
Has your husband tried to train the dog to do Frizbee competition? That's very rewarding for dogss.
How you work with a dog depends to some extent on what breed(s) the dog is. Some breeds are easier to train as they are geared towards working with their human. Some breeds are more independent and harder to train.
You only say you spent $500 on a trainer... you don't say what the trainer did, if you actively participated, if your husband actively participated, or what the trainer said about your dog's training, capabilities or problems with training. If you just handed the dog over and said "train him for me" that doesn't hack it. The dog needs to be trained by and loved by it's owners, and I don't think the dog is getting the interaction with you all, and ESPECIALLY with your husband that he needs.
So, you need to read my notes, and write a list of what you don't do and what you do do... and review it... and decide what you didn't do that you need to do if you are to keep the dog... then you must discuss and decide (we cannot do that) IF you will try to do some of the things you have failed to do so far or if you are ready to give the dog over to rescue, ASPCA, or your local Humane Officer. The dog will not be rehomed (hopefully) until he's tested and his problems fixed.
Karen had a good point, but it took time to decipher since she kept referring to a "pin". If your dog is a breed that needs to be OUTSIDE, a kennel of "pen" would help, but again, it has to be large enough for the dog to get lots of exercise. Then the dog could run in the pen outside much of the day. Two of my dogs insist on staying outside on guard each night, but I'm in the country and their barking wards off the coyotes for us. A WELL fenced yard or a kennel (pen) can work, BUT ONLY if you also give the dog personal time and attention and exercise. If you don't have time for the dog, you should not have the dog. It's like raising a child....!!!! - Yes.
The first reason I say this is you have already given up.
I don't know what breed you have or how hard this dog will be to find a home for. I'm hoping there is a reputable rescue in your area.
The second reason I'm saying to surrender your dog is that I don't believe you are committed to having a dog and making it work. I'm going to say some things that may sound harsh and I'm not trying to be rude but if you disagree with me, then prove it by changing things in your home.
If the dog is going to the bathroom all over your house, that's your fault. You aren't supervising your dog. I have 5 dogs in my house. No one potties in my house ever. They are all house trained AND crated trained.
No one destroys anything here either. They are supervised, corrected if their behavior is incorrect and they are trained. I reinforce good behavior and I correct bad behavior.
If he is pottying in the crate, he's being left in it to long.
The dog is in charge of you and not the reverse.
Dogs need schedules, rules, discipline, activity, training, supervision and affection. In fact, if you look at this, it's much like having a child. You can't let up at all. If the dog realizes you will let him out of the crate at night if he cries, he will cry.
If you leave him too long without potty breaks, he will go in his crate.
Do you have a fenced yard? Is that why he's going to the potty in the house? You have to walk him to potty instead of letting him out on his own?
If you aren't 100% committed to making major changes, he's better off going to someone else who can. And if you have a baby in the house who is demanding all that attention from you, the dog is getting very little attention now. I'm sure that's part of what's going on.
As I said, I'm not trying to be mean, but loving a dog isn't all there is too it. Loving your child is great but there's a ton of work that goes with having a baby. The same goes with having a dog. You have to do the work to get them to turn into good well behaved dogs. Depending on the breed, it may take a little more time. Some breeds are more active, some need more exercise etc. I don't know what you have so I can't help with that.
I'd start looking for a good rescue unless you are willing to REALLY change your lifestyle.
Good luck. - In my opinion you sound like a very busy mom and have no time to watch and or give attention to the dog. Since your husband wants to keep him, he should walk the dog for at least an 1 1/2 before going to work and in the evening. The dog needs someone to be there BEFORE he destroys anything rather than AFTER he already destroy the item. You and or your husband need to catch the dog in the act (destroying) and yell no and put him in the kennel so you can clean up the mess without having to worry about him being in the other room. Every time he goes in the kennel and does not bark and is calm give him a treat, he will start associating the kennel with treats. Once he gets the hang of it you can stop giving him treats. Overall you husband needs to spend more time with the dog...playing,fetching,walking,running daily exercise is what the dog needs! Good Luck.
Add: With defecating all over the house problem, you need to pay attention to the dogs motions, when you see he starts sniffing around the entire house non-stop means he is looking of a place to defecate and when he starts circling that area means he already found the spot. When you see this motions take the dog outside to relive himself! Also when you hear him wining he needs to go outside right away! consistent housebreaking must be done. - Jessica, you have just described every puppy on the planet. It's totally normal for a puppy to act like this, and the only thing that can be done is for you and your husband to work together on training.
He chews because you're not watching him (try keeping him on a long leash in the house for a while, you'll notice when he has to potty, and you'll also notice what a short time it takes for him to get bored and go find something more fun to do...like chew stuff up). Keep on using the crate, and use it consistently...it won't take long for him to stop eliminating in his crate, especially if you commit to using it regularly.
The yelping and screaming when crating is also normal...he wants you to come open the door and let him out to chew on more stuff! Don't pay him any attention when he is in the crate, and he'll learn soon that he needs to be quiet. Try crating him for short periods when the baby is awake, so he won't wake her.
You don't HAVE to get rid of this dog, he's like every other puppy out there...believe me, the "good" puppies are the exception, not the rule...they're like human children, they need someone to guide them in manners, and that would be your job. It would be a very lazy way out to dump this dog. - I think it would be easier and cheaper to buy a fifty dollar crate to keep the dog in when you are otherwise busy.
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