Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

we went to a boot sale this morning, left at about 7.30am, got back about 1.30pm then went out to the pub with some friends at about 4.30pm and got back about 6.30pm.

 

one of the neighbours has been over to tell us that Molly has been driving everyone in the close nuts, barking, howling and whining! He wasn't complaining but just telling us what had been going on

 

we left her in the garden with her bed in her kennel, food, water and treats. we can't leave her in the house as she would wee and poo in there.

 

I know she's hormonal at the mo due to being in season and being a rescue dog, she might have seperation anxiety issues.

 

we're going to have to take her with us now when we go out until she's had the snip or leave her in the kitchen and put up with the mess, unless anyone has any ideas what we can do!?

[chelsea]

You're probably right, it all boils down to when she was in kennels I bet, plus being in season doesnt help because they get all clingy and do not like being left. I suppose only time will tell when she her finished being in season and she's still a howler you probably will have to spend some time trying to break the habit.... .

 

I've seen dogs with seperation anxiety on "its me or the dog" and her advice was to start off by leaving the dog for very short periods (few minutes) and then giving praise upon your return and then gradually build the time up that you are leaving her. Have you tried one of those treat puzzles/balls? We have a ball that we place a tiny piece of cheese in and Bracken will spend a long time trying to get it out, you could try something similar with Molly to keep her mind occupied.

[Guest]

just went round to next door to explain about her being in season etc and they've said they can hear her thru the walls at night and she's been waking them up

 

we're going to have to move her bed to our room!

[Blackrocksrock]

The cage in the kitchen for a bed, water bowl and enough room to stretch and she will not pee her bed/poo on it as its hers and will learn to go outside. We used the word busy and rewarded a busy toilet stop outside and it soon makes sense to them but the cage should be used to leave her in and also her bed at night so it is def hers.

[Blackrocksrock]

just went round to next door to explain about her being in season etc and they've said they can hear her thru the walls at night and she's been waking them up

 

we're going to have to move her bed to our room!

Thats the worst thing you could do - leave the radio on for her maybe and go and reassure her but dont let her in your room - beginning of the end that is.

[theherd123]

just went round to next door to explain about her being in season etc and they've said they can hear her thru the walls at night and she's been waking them up

 

we're going to have to move her bed to our room!

Thats the worst thing you could do - leave the radio on for her maybe and go and reassure her but dont let her in your room - beginning of the end that is.

 

 

I totally agree!!! Dont move her into the bedroom as you are upping her status within the pack - she is a dog and must know and understand this. You & Ian are top of the pack, she must know her place.

 

I advise both you and Ian sleep in old t-shirts for a few nights and then put them in her crate at night so she can still smell your scent - this may help to settle her.

 

Have you tried Molly with DAP - Dog Appeasing Pheromone?

Works really well - take a look here - http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?number=DAPREFILL&variation=

 

Are you planning to have her spayed? You may have mentioned this but i cant recall!

 

EDIT!!!

 

Just read the other thread!!! Spay mid- season and check she doesnt have any discharge from her lady bits or milk from her teats. Poppy was out of season but was producing milk so her op was postponed a number of times. The vet should check this.

[Blackrocksrock]

Forgot the DAP = they are good and work to keep her calm

[Guest]

thanks guys, we're feeling really down about all this, especially as we know all the neighbours are muttering about us

 

we're trying her back in her cage in the living room tonight with one of Ian's t-shirts in with her.

 

I suggested covering the cage in blankets too so she feels more secure but Ian thinks the cage will be enough.

[Blackrocksrock]

I would put a blanket on the top of the cage and draped round the back for security and make her a little den! It is comfort and I would always keep the cage for her bed and she will feel safe in it she will go to it when she feels like it too. Routine is also a good idea with bed time walks and biscuits at around the same time and the same terminology etc i.e. we always used to say bed time= out for a pee and then you will get a bonio. It got that the dog wanted out so bad as she wanted her bonio and would go to bed by herself if we were late.

She should be house trained by now and a good tip is to get up early in the morning and take her out and get later and later in the morning till she is trained to last all night - yes I set the alarm for my sons puppy too = I would also keep the kitchen door shut and take her out often to pee and use the terminology you want to use and reward results. Dont take this as any criticism as you are doing a wonderful job with her and will get over this no bother when she is out of season and when dressed. I had a rescue dog of 1 year old and it took 3 days to house train her only and she was so so good for the rest of her life and behaved so well.

[Blackrocksrock]

How did she do in the lounge last night? Hope you all got some sleep

[Guest]

thanks for the advice everyone.

 

we put the cage in the lounge (because it's the room farthest away from next door!) with her bed in it and one of Eo's T shirts and a cple of her blankets draped over the top. Eo had to go down to her about 3 times initially as she was crying but then things calmed down.

 

I didn't hear anything during the night but I was really tired from yesterday so am just hoping she didn't whine in the night because if she did, I probably slept thru it! Eo didn't hear anything either so here's hoping!

 

When he got up he moved the cage to the kitchen and left the cage door open (just in case she needed to...you know what) and then he went out. I still wasn't woken up so hopefully she was quiet.

 

When I got up I let her out and thankfully there was nothing on the kitchen floor.

 

She's been a bit grumbly today so far but I keep telling her no (in a calm assertive manner, like Cesar Millan! )

 

this must be worse than having a baby!!!!

[Tessa the Duchess]

Sorry to hear of your problems with Molly. I agree absolutely with others re moving her into your room....don't do it! She has to know her place in the pack otherwise you will start experiencing some serious behaviour issues You can reinforce your dominance by always feeding Molly her dinner after you have eaten yours, by making Molly wait until you or Ian have gone through a door first as the pack leaders, she always goes through last. If you don't mind her being on the furniture, make sure she is always 'invited' on to the sofa, not able to jump on it whenever she wants. I remember Battersea dog home's advice on dominance was to sit or stand in the dog's bed every day, the dog was never allowed on yours I know it's hard when the dog is part of the family, but she will be a much happier dog if she know where she stands in the pack. Have you thought of going to dog training classes Poet? It's not just about 'sit' and 'stay' they deal with all sorts of doggie problems.

Regarding your problem with Molly having to be left in the garden when you go out without her, would it be possible for you to have a dog flap fitted, so Molly can get into the garden without you being around.

 

Maybe pressies of eggs and ear plugs for the neighbours?

 

Tessa

[The Dogmother]

The others have all given great advice Poet - a covered crate at night will help her to feel secure. One last piddle outside before you go to bed, then she ought to be fine until the morning.

 

Dogs are far easier to piddle train than toddlers ! Susan has outlined how to do it - for your own sanity, you need to get her house trained otherwise she'll rule your lives.

 

I found the DAP spray very helpful when we first got Ruby and she was missing her siblings (Emma suggested it to me) I think I have some left somewhere if you want to borrow the spray until she's more settled.

 

When you're out in the day, do you leave her with a few toys to play with?

[Guest]

our doors are doubled glazed glass, one from the kitchen to the conservatory and then the outer conservatory, door so dog flaps aren't an option for us

 

next door have already had plenty of eggs and rhubarb from us in the past so I doubt that would help.

 

we can't afford dog training classes just at the moment but it's something we would do when we can afford it. In the meantime we've been reading loads of web sites etc.

 

We had a bit of a fall out last night over this as Ian kept insisting we should take her upstairs and I kept saying no, we should use the cage with blankets etc and he said she'd feel like was in prison. I said she'd feel secure but then when he had to go down a few times...

 

I'll have to make him a nice tea tonight

[Guest]

hi clare, that spray would be great if you don't mind please!

 

she has loads of toys but I don't think anyone has ever played with her before as she doesn't know what to do with them. we've tried to show her by playing with them ourselves and throwing a ball to each other and trying to get her to join in but she looks at us like we're crackers!

 

I think we'll get one of those kong things and stuff it with something tasty, peanut butter or something?

[The Dogmother]

Kong toys are great, I just stuff them with biscuity treats or bits of cheese.

 

I lent the spray to the ex for his GSD pup, will ask him if he can find it, then let you know.

 

I once had a rescue lurcher like that - she was an ex-working dog and had been used for poaching and lamping, then abandoned. Not at all used to humans, nor to playing. It took ages to train her to find it fun. If I were nearer, I'd show you how, but try finding a good dog trainer/psychologist near you and carry on giving her treats ONLY when she does something right.

 

Training can be hard work, especially with rescues but it is so rewarding in the end.

[Guest]

so far we've taught her to sit and give her paw and (intermittently) to come when she's called, she is getting better but I don't think she's ever had proper discipline but she's very very sweet which is why I fell for her in the first place

 

She's always under your feet though which is another thing that needs sorting as one of us is going to trip over her if she carries on! She is very wilful

 

I think this 'season' thing is a lot to do with her behaviour at the moment, I'll be so glad when that bit is all over And to think, men think women are bad, they want to try living with a 'alternate word for a female dog' while they're being hormonal! Mind you, a lot of them would say they probably do already

[The Dogmother]

Try popping her in her crate if you need to do stuff in the kitchen without her under your feet.

 

She is trying to get your attention and needs to learn that she will only get it when you want - otherwise she will become more needy and what seemed sweet at first will quickly become a pain.

 

Ignore her if she nudges you or wants attention, don't make any eye contact, nor look at her or tell her off, just step over her as if she's not there. Molly will be more insistent at first, then will go and look for a toy to bother (try smearing a hide chew with cheese).

 

Once she is doing that rather than being underfoot, you can call her to you for attention when you are ready to give it. She will soon learn when to avoid you and when to come for cuddles.

 

Demanding attention is a form of dominance and should only come from you as her pack leader, she doesn't need reassuring that you are there as she knows that. Just don't give her any attention at all, not even a telling off, and only reward good behaviour. All training is ongoing and will be more or less constant through the first year you have her.

 

Training dogs, children and men is the same technique

[Guest]

thanks xxx

 

we'll do our best

[chelsea]

Some great advice on here Poet. Dont give in to her -show her who is boss!

 

Terriers are especially willful. MIL's terrier who we dog sit for howled the house down when we left her in the kitchen on her 1st night here - but we let her howl until she was ho"Ooops, word censored!" and the next night she didnt do it!

 

You will soon get into a routine and she will learn, I suppose she's all mixed up at the moment with the new home and being in season. Just keep up the good work and it will all pay off in the end.

[Nutmeg]

 

Training dogs, children and men is the same technique

 

Brilliant!

 

Cannot add much to the excellent advice you have already received, except to say we had to take our rescue lurcher to a behaviourist as she had severe separation anxiety and one piece of advice she gave us was when you return home after being out, do not make a big fuss of the dog, almost ignore it, give a quick pat and then walk away. It is really hard, but if you make a fuss of them you are affirming that they were right to be worried with their howling, whining. They need to learn that you can leave the house if you choose without them and that you will return, so they don't need to get their knickers in a twist about you not being there!

 

I'm sure the season is not helping, but if you need any more tips on separation anxiety, please ask.

[Blackrocksrock]

Good advice on here for you and like children she will only cry twice tonight and then tomorrow once hopefully and then not at all as she wont bother. She will love her cage den and will go to it when she wants to be alone and enjoy her - she will learn to play eventually - she is lovely.

[Guest]

thanks guys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

is it okay to move the cage from room to room, as we did this morning?

[Blackrocksrock]

I would say so just now as if it works then go for it but I would later on when you can trust her find a space for her bed and it will be her space whether in the kitchen or the lounge or conservatory or wherever - just so she knows its hers.

[Guest]

thanks xxxxxxx