The dogs in hand aren't actually mine, they are my boyfriends sister/brother in laws.
Anyhoo to the problem, we moved house recently and my boyfriends sister/ brother-in-law has moved onto the drive temporarily in my boyfriends parents caravan. They own 2 dogs both pretty big, they have a 16 month old golden labrador and a 7 month old german shepherd pup. They're toilet trained but not really house trained.
The problems we seem to be having are mainly anxiety led and when we are out on the lead walking them.
The Golden Labrador:
she can be giddy at times
she jumps up at people
begs for food
sometimes barks at people
tries helping her self to food
jumps up on the kitchen counters
takes playing too far to a fight
yet on the lead she won't go the toilet at all or do any form of business.
The German Shepherd:
chews (when left alone)
is very clingy
barks at other dogs who show show any sign of aggression towards her or fran (nicks sister)
she lunges for ANY dog who barks at her
I have been told that for the chewing they've tried the sour apple anti chew spray and that hasn't worked.
Any suggestions are welcome as Fran really needs a job (not being nasty) theirs only her husband in her household working and the dogs are holding her back
scarletfang [forum info]
[PM]
Goddess of Chaos
Fuzzy kitten lemming
(also destroyer of worlds)
I'm so hot I kill fridges
VFKKK Hottie
I may be small, but I'm made of FIERCE
Posts: 66441
Both dogs are still young, so the 'giddy' behaviour is likely typical puppy energy.
Both are also quite high energy breeds - my first instinct is to suggest more exercise...like...a LOT. Take them to the park for a few hours of fetch. Go running with them. Tire them out. A tired dog is a well behaved dog.
For the specific unwanted behaviours, the most effective way to stop them with most dogs is to teach them an 'alternate' - ie if a dog normally jumps up on people as they enter the home, training him or her to go to their crate when guests knock or ring the doorbell, rather than trying to train them simply not to jump up. For a dog that typically begs at the dinner table, give them something enjoyable to do BEFORE the family sits down to dinner, to keep them distracted, and if they do come over and beg, ignore them completely.
For anxiety when left alone, I'm a big fan of providing a special 'treat toy' that the dog REALLY likes, and is only allowed to have when left alone (something interactive and engaging is best, especially for a breed like a Shepherd, who are happiest when they have a 'job'). Basically, you want the dog to look forward to being left alone because it means she will get to do something she really likes.
With ALL dog training, consistency is key. You need to ALWAYS reward a dog for doing what you've asked (not always with food - praise and affection can be just as, if not more effective), and ALWAYS discourage or deflect unwanted behaviours AS THEY ARE HAPPENING. Deflection seems to be more effective than discouraging - instead of, for example, telling the dog 'no' when she starts acting like she's about to jump up on the counter, ask her to do something else. When she obeys, reward her. It is important that everyone in the home follows the same 'dog rules' - if you have one person enforcing the rules, but someone else allowing unwanted behaviour to continue, you'll end up with a confused dog who never knows what's expected of her.
To be honest before they came here, my boyfriends mum made a remark of " she [fran] spends far too much time playing on facebook than training her dogs" although she was spoken to/ advised about getting a second dog while the first dog wasn't really trained at all. We walk both dogs seperate anyway because we've realised they're better behaved when they're being walked seperate but when we do take them out they won't do ANY business what so ever they wait until we get home and then all down the street they pull and cry until they get home and off the lead before they run through the house until they get to the yard and frantic round the yard to go.
The meal time issue, we don't actually have a dining table as of yet because there is no room due to everyones stuff being everywhere, but when the dogs we're with my boyfriends sister and brother in law they was used to begging and getting food off the plate, now they've started jumping up at the kitchen units [work surfaces] when they think theirs food their.
the chewing, that was sheerly because fran had been out of the caravan for like 10 minutes and when she came back a chunk of a cupboard was chewed out.
the dogs WILL do as they're told which is strange its more when they're not supervised then they play up like they crave attention
scarletfang [forum info]
[PM]
Goddess of Chaos
Fuzzy kitten lemming
(also destroyer of worlds)
I'm so hot I kill fridges
VFKKK Hottie
I may be small, but I'm made of FIERCE
Posts: 66453
Don't give them free food and water till they are house broken completely. make them work for there food and water. take them out 45 min after they drink, and 2 hours after the eat, repeat till they finally go outside, right down when you fed them and when they went , sounds weird but it will help you take them out around the time they go. praise for when the go outside. If the y have an accident dont get mad at them or rub there nose in it, this just reenforces that. try to interupt them when they go inside, leash them up take them out before you even clean it. when cleaning up the mess dont let them see you do it, dogs like it when we or another dog show attenion to there potty. as for the dont beg when they give up and are laying down and calm, praise them lighlty. also never give them treats or toys at the area you eat at. they will ascocitae that spot for food for them,
