Dog and Owner Behavior
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- RevNancyLeigh
- Ann_Downing
- RevNancyLeigh
- valie
- DJJos167
- sbarker13
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» RevNancyLeigh - Dogs
I find it interesting that you never hear:"My well socialized dog who gets daily exercize has been chewing up my favorite shoes..."
I find a major factor in behavior problems comes from a simple lack of exercize. If a dog were wild, he would run with a pack, usually in a terratory that would cover several miles in radius. Yet we expect these creatures to spend the entire day lounging in the living room, never getting bored or depressed, never "mis-behaving". I think we expect far too much from our canine friends.
When I adopted my dog he had never had an imunization, never been house broken, never wormed, never given heart worm preventative. He had been living in someone's back yard for 3 years. He had heart worm, ring worm, an enlarged liver, every other kind of worm. I can only assume that he was also hurt, as he is very broom-shy. I spent nearly $2000 to save his life.
He is now pretty well-adjusted (even though I am even gulity of not getting him enough exercize at times!), the only thing he still does is mooch for food. I can only assume that as a puppy (he is a Springer/Cocker/Lab mix) he chewed his way through his owners house and was kicked out.
I am sure he was an awfully cute puppy, the wrong reason for getting a dog...
<img src="http://www.suite101.com/files/members/Re...">
With love and care he was housebroken in a week, learning commands like shake and speak in hours, and has never chewed or bothered something that was not his. He knows the difference between his toys and my daughter's. He is incredible, and I hope the illnesses he had do not seriously effect his life span.
What I am saying is that I agree with you. That dogs are a pack animal, and therefore humans who reside with dogs have to learn to be a pack animal as well. Isolation and neglect is a very harsh form of abuse to a dog, though they cannot speak up to explain this to us. If we do this to them, they are going to act out because they are miserable. They only want our love and companionship...is it so hard to give back?
Blessings to you!
-- posted by RevNancyLeigh
» Ann_Downing - Re: Dog Behavior Discussion
Nancy - Thank you for sharing your experience as a pet owner. It sounds like you have one lucky pooch.
Was that a picture of him. He looks like my Lab/Chow mix, who we recued from the back of a guys pick-up truck when he was only about six weeks old. To this day my dog is traumatized everytime he has to ride in a car. Several times he has thrown up, so I avoid driving him anywhere as much as possible. I may have to research that topic and see if there are any solutions to a situation like that. Anyway, thank you for your input. It is very evident that you truely care very much for your VIP, (Very Important Pooch).
-- posted by Ann_Downing
» RevNancyLeigh - Yup...
Yes...that is him...though I am sure he is much smaller than your Lab/Chow...he has little Cocker legs and a big Springer/Lab head! He's about 35-40 lbs. The fact that this makes him a little "funny looking" in my opinion adds to his charm. I can't help but wonder if the same type of fate came to his litter-mates...He IS lucky to have his life back, but I am even luckier to have him in mine! *smile*
Blessings!
-- posted by RevNancyLeigh
» valie - I've done all I can do for my dog.... help me please
I have a wonderful dog who is handicapped. I found him 6 years ago, abandoned, hit by a car and starving. I had his amputated and he has done amazingly well with this. The problem is that he has SEVERE separation anxiety. He has been on every medication possible, had all kinds of work, therapy done to him, and he is to the point now where he is deficating on himself and barking continuously even with the medication, while I am working. I am thinking now that it is really cruel to keep him like this. I am thinking is more humane to put him out of his misery. He is crate trained because he will destroy my home (which he has done over and over again). His medication was clomicalm which did nothing for him. The vets are to the end of their rope with my Benjamin and I am basically crying everyday now. Ben is such a wonderful, loving dog but he cannot understand that I have to work. He howles like you would not imagine and the neighbors are fed up with me as well as Ben. I have done every suggestion possible. Can anyone out there help me. Please I need it now as I am facing the sad and last resort, putting him to sleep. I have been crying all week but I do not want this to continue. It seems like this has been an ongoing problem with Ben but it has gotten WORSE in the last 2-3 months. I don't understand what could have triggered him to get worse. I go to school 2 nights a week and he has a doggie sitter (I've thought of everything to make his life better) but he just can't understand that I am coming back. Please help me, anybody out there?Thanks. Valie
-- posted by valie
» DJJos167 - Dogs
I don't know what to do with my 4yr. old Lab. He is a wonderful dog until he gets ahold of something that does not belong to him. He will growl and show his teeth at you and he has bitten my husband and myself. We have an 8yr. old son and a new baby on the way. If anyone can help with some advice I am more then willing to listen.-- posted by DJJos167
» sbarker13 - Help to those with similiar problems
I just wanted to post some tips to help those with similiar problems.1. Make sure your dog has tons of different toys to keep him/her busy. Even if you say your dog doesn't play with toys, he will if you have him in a crate or room when you're away as dogs will get very bored and will eventually come to love their toys.
2. Whatever's not a toy you have to teach them that. Dogs don't know whats exceptable and not exceptable until you teach them. One easy way is to buy some "Bitter Apple" and spray it on things you don't want your dog chewing on, and also on things your dog often picks up
3. Don't give your puppy things to play with that you wouldn't want them playing with as an adult, for example socks and other clothing articles, or your puppy will see ALL clothing as a toy.
4. Leave the TV or radio on when you have to leave.
5. Control the amount of food you give them, don't just leave food out. Schedule feeding times and only give snacks as rewards. I turn snack time into training time.
5. If you're paper training your puppy expect chewed up and shredded paper in the beggining, or switch to litter box, or pee pads.
Hope this was helpful!
-- posted by sbarker13
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