The fun in raising a puppy...

draggar · 31-08-2010, 18:09

So Luna went for a swim last night (a place where dogs can go to swim, water retrieve, or just dock dive). She loved it.

Then, she did her first test as a service dog, we went into Bass Pro shops for some shopping - she did well except when she tried to steal a toy on display.

Then we sent to the Islamorada fish company for some dinner. She did OK, she was a little antsy and she didn't like to be under the table but some bread helped her behave.

She did better than we expected in both places.

Rona · 19-09-2010, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by draggar

Luna has also regressed with her house training. Even though she's 8 months old and she SHOULD be able to hold herself for 8 hours, she's having to go out every 4-5 hours now (and if we don't let her out she'll go in the house). I'm not sure if it's a training issue or she's just being a bitch (and not just because she's a female dog).

Have you checked her bladder/kidneys? My experience shows when a wolfdog behaves in a certain way, there is always a reason behind it, even if it's not overtly obvious for the owner. They are extremely rational animals!

20-09-2010, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by draggar

if we're out and don't want them out (cleaning, eating, etc..) but she wants to then she'll get bratty (bitchy) and pee in her crate just so we let her out.

hahaha Don't you just love clever dogs? "Well, if you're going to ignore the barking, you're NOT going to ignore this..!"

What's your routine when she does that? I'm guessing you're not letting her run around/stay out, because that'd just keep reinforcing the behavior. Does she get it on herself and need to have her paws washed or anything? I would think the key would to make it a "no win" situation for her somehow.

20-09-2010, 15:18

Aahhhh, I bet it's the walk!

That's an instant reward for her, regardless of whether she's being crated again right away after returning. It's soooo tough with this sort of situation, because you don't want her to suffer if she DOES have to go, and you DEFINITELY don't want her messing her crate again right away if she does.

Do you think it might help if you moved her to another crate right away, and washed hers without taking her out? Then you could switch her back and leave her for a bit before taking her out again. That way she's getting out and getting her walk, but only after she's been calm and all that. Also, it could be a good idea to start taking her out for walks in between, BEFORE she winds up peeing in her crate, just so you can give her a reward for being good. Kinda like starting crate training over again, regardless of how long she's "supposed" to be able to hold it for, since she's obviously fighting tooth & nail about it.

20-09-2010, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by draggar

I don't want to put her in the other crate right away incase she really does need to go - I'd rather clean one crate than two.

I totally understand that and the frustration you're facing, I'm just saying that she's likely considering that walk to be a "win" in her mind, which could be a setback to training similar to letting a dog out of the crate when they're barking. That's good that she's starting to calm down about the situation, though.

Gypsy Wolf · 29-09-2010, 01:49

Oh, Vicky, wanted to let you know about Pongo and SchH... Pongo is now "officially" co-owned by my girlfriend Siobhan and I... we trade him weekly - sort of a shared custody thing - to give him the biggest variety of experiences...
Yes, I take Pongo to SchH along with the rest of my crew. My club is awesome - they are very positive (NO pressing/pushing of the dog) and though Pongo will grip the toy if it literally tossed onto his head, he is stressed dealing with people that are not his pack, and his prey drive is not strong enough to overcome that. So right now, the extent of his SchH experiences are now socializing him. He has strong food drive, so we do fun things like stuff hotdog bits into the tug toy, have EVERYONE give him hotdog bits - bringing him in very close, etc. So far, he is good with that.
I don't know how he will develop - in Europe, the old-school SchH people don't even look at their pups until they are 12 months old - so we will see how he grows up.

29-09-2010, 02:28

Thanks for the update! That must be a fantastic environment for socializing, has to be a ton of people around.

It's good that he has that opportunity, to experience so many "scary" things in a positive way.

31-08-2010, 18:09	#1
draggar Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 370	So Luna went for a swim last night (a place where dogs can go to swim, water retrieve, or just dock dive). She loved it. Then, she did her first test as a service dog, we went into Bass Pro shops for some shopping - she did well except when she tried to steal a toy on display. Then we sent to the Islamorada fish company for some dinner. She did OK, she was a little antsy and she didn't like to be under the table but some bread helped her behave. She did better than we expected in both places. __________________ Fred Lanting's Official Site Dog Actors

20-09-2010, 15:18	#4
Vicky Guest Posts: n/a	Aahhhh, I bet it's the walk! That's an instant reward for her, regardless of whether she's being crated again right away after returning. It's soooo tough with this sort of situation, because you don't want her to suffer if she DOES have to go, and you DEFINITELY don't want her messing her crate again right away if she does. Do you think it might help if you moved her to another crate right away, and washed hers without taking her out? Then you could switch her back and leave her for a bit before taking her out again. That way she's getting out and getting her walk, but only after she's been calm and all that. Also, it could be a good idea to start taking her out for walks in between, BEFORE she winds up peeing in her crate, just so you can give her a reward for being good. Kinda like starting crate training over again, regardless of how long she's "supposed" to be able to hold it for, since she's obviously fighting tooth & nail about it.

29-09-2010, 01:49	#6
Gypsy Wolf Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida & Minnesota U.S. Posts: 252	Oh, Vicky, wanted to let you know about Pongo and SchH... Pongo is now "officially" co-owned by my girlfriend Siobhan and I... we trade him weekly - sort of a shared custody thing - to give him the biggest variety of experiences... Yes, I take Pongo to SchH along with the rest of my crew. My club is awesome - they are very positive (NO pressing/pushing of the dog) and though Pongo will grip the toy if it literally tossed onto his head, he is stressed dealing with people that are not his pack, and his prey drive is not strong enough to overcome that. So right now, the extent of his SchH experiences are now socializing him. He has strong food drive, so we do fun things like stuff hotdog bits into the tug toy, have EVERYONE give him hotdog bits - bringing him in very close, etc. So far, he is good with that. I don't know how he will develop - in Europe, the old-school SchH people don't even look at their pups until they are 12 months old - so we will see how he grows up.

29-09-2010, 02:28	#7
Vicky Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the update! That must be a fantastic environment for socializing, has to be a ton of people around. It's good that he has that opportunity, to experience so many "scary" things in a positive way.