Smart Door Power Options

[The Dogmother]

I'd forgotten to mention SA, Nutmeg - good call.

 

It's important also to ask visitors to the house to ignore the dog, no eye contact or brushing her away just talk to you and ignore her completely (hands in pockets helps). I do this with people who are new to Ruby as she just gets over-excited and being a big dog, it's not nice when she jumps all over people. I ask them to wait until they've greeted me/us, then to look at Ruby and ask her to sit (giving the hand signal - I am teaching her dog sign language), they must wait and not greet her until that botty is firmly on the floor and the springs on her feet are under control.

 

It doesn't always work though as Lesley and Carl will confirm when they last met her - she was so excited and all over the place!

[Guest]

eek, lots of homework!

 

thanks xxx

[The Dogmother]

There's a great training method called 'nothing in life is free' or something like that - it's been around for years and I used it for the last hound.

 

Ahhh, here it is. She wrote a book yonks ago and I have it somewhere.

 

Rosie's Dad forgot to bring the DAP spray over - will get it from him tomorrow and post it as soon as I can; could you PM me your address?

[Guest]

thanks clare, will do, much appreciated!

 

Madam has put herself to bed, she's properly in a sulk because we've been a bit firmer with her tonight so she's in a huff, oh dear!

[The Dogmother]

Don't worry, she's just adjusting to the new regime. She will be fine once she understands the ground rules and feels secure. Remember to reward good behaviour.

[Guest]

well, Ian put her to bed last night and closed the cage door and went to bed. She had a bit of a tantrum but I sat with her (didn't let her out) stroked her a bit, talked to her and when she still carried on I told her "No!" a few times and stopped stroking her. She settled after a few minutes so I went to do the dishes and when i came back she was lying down and quiet so I gave her a little treat and told her she was a good girl and then I went to bed.

 

Didn't hear a peep from her after that! I hope this carries on

 

 

xxxxx

[The Dogmother]

That's good, she will try to push the boundaries, but only reward her if she's doing the right thing - cuddles and stroked count as rewards.

[Guest]

I know but I was trying to get her to settle down. Do you think it's a bad idea to try and calm her down like that then?

 

she was a bit frantic and trying to get out and crying. should I just sit there until she calms down but not stroke her? We know leaving her on her own doesn't work and I'm so conscious now of the neighbours

[The Dogmother]

No problem with just sitting there with her and reading a book, try gradually moving further away once she settles, then into the other room wheer she can see you, or pop in and out.

 

I once fostered a lurcher that was looking for a new home and he had dreadful SA, used to cry the house down. He was OK once he realised that I was going to come back.

 

Just like controlled crying with babies

 

Try getting her used to spending random periods in the crate while you're busy flitting in and out of the room, just pop her in the crate with a toy or chew (Kong chews that you can put treats in are good). Just ignore her and leave her to it.

 

take her out to toilet every hour and reward her when she performs, then lenghten the times between toilet visits.

[Guest]

okay, thanks.

 

I'm going for a bath in a bit so she'll have to go in the crate for a bit. I'll give her a chew and hope for the best

[The Dogmother]

Try smearing the hide chews with cheese - they love it!

[Rhapsody]

Hiya, just caught up with this, sorry you are having a bit of a hiccup with new doggie. Great advice here, you really have to put a bit of Tough Love into practise or you will be stuck with this behaviour for ever I'm afraid. Molly has to learn to rely on herself and her special toys/objects in her crate for comfort, not you and your very well-meaning OH.

As has been said YOU have to be the ones to decide when she gets attention and when she is played with, not her- this is how Alpha dogs behave and it will actually help her feel secure so rest assured you are doing the best for her and her wellbeing.

All the best

Rhaps x

[Guest]

thanks guys. It's difficult because she's a rescue dog and all you want to do is snuggle her all the time but I/we will do what you said xxxx

[The Dogmother]

The best comfort you can give her is the reassurance that she's in your 'pack' and you're in charge. She will feel secure with that.

[Blackrocksrock]

thanks guys. It's difficult because she's a rescue dog and all you want to do is snuggle her all the time but I/we will do what you said xxxx

 

 

The thing is SHE does not know she is a rescue dog and so what you do now will last for the rest of her life and you will have ample opportunity to spoil her and trust her all the time - eg around food and off the lead and in the house not to do any "mistakes". It will be well worth it so treat her as a DOG first of all till she is all trained and she will repay you time and time again.

[Guest]

yes Maam!

[Blackrocksrock]

 

doggie sleeping

[Chucky Mama]

A DAP Collar would be the best way to use DAP as is stays with her wherever she is. If you use the spray make sure it has dried before you dog is exposed to it as the spirit that carries the DAP is very pungent to dogs and they find it unpleasant; once dried it is not a problem. This will help to calm her to a degree but the problem is really and training and conditioning one. She has classic Seperation Anxiety which is something that you need to deal with. Unfortuanately all on the things that come naturally to us such as the cuddling, soothing words, protracted fairwells, exuberant welcome homes etc all make things much worse. If you think that she is much worse during her season the other thing that you can use is 'Zylkene' which is fairly new but has proved very successful in stressful situtions such as kenneling, new babies, rehoming etc. Good Luck

[Guest]

thank you

 

well, last night was much better. Ian got her to go into her crate by herself, she was given a little treat to keep her busy and I stayed down with her for a bit as I was in the middle of watching 'the dog whisperer' anyway

 

Then I gradually turned the lights out one by one until only one was left on. I went and did the dishes in the kitchen, made myself a drink and went up. Not a peep from madam! I got into bed thinking 'any minute now' Not a peep!

 

I did crate her yesterday when I went upstairs for a bath (about an hour) and she cried the whole time but that was the only blip. Not sure if I should trust her with the run of the kitchen while I'm upstairs (which will hopefully keep her quiet) She's been good with her toilet lately so I might just trust her today and see what happens.

 

Thank you all for your support and advice xxxxx

[Guest]

I put her in the crate while I had bath with a cple of treats because she went in okay but when I was in the bath, it started again!

 

How do I deal with it during the day please?

[Blackrocksrock]

Just ignore her and leave her often - she should get used to it eventually - its difficult but if you can stand it = just keep going as sounds as though at night she is good now. Did you check with your neighbours - great stuff if she is.

[Guest]

well, I plucked up the courage and went round with a present of a bottle of elderflower cordial and asked them. They hadn't heard anything!

 

I explained about the new bedtime routine and that we were trying our best etc, I also told them we were going to try the DAP spray.

 

I think they're going to bear with us, I've told them to let me know if they hear anything at night, in case we sleep thru it and they said they would.

 

Apropos of the DAP spray, I got it today thanks Clare. I've sprayed some on her bed and she's lolling all over the bed like she's a bit tipsy! Thanks for the lend of it, if it does the trick I'll buy one and return yours, thanks very much xxx

[Blackrocksrock]

She is really doing well - seems quick to learn and you will be relieved at the neighbours not hearing anything at all - great stuff.

Have you tried leaving her for 5 minutes while you go out and then extending it and leaving her in the house - you can always sneak back to see if you hear her

[The Dogmother]

Glad to hear you got the spray Poet - I've been away and not checking the thread.

 

As the others have said, just ignore her and let her whine for a bit. It never lasts.

 

Ruby still does it sometimes on the odd occasion, usually if I've been down with her and pop her in the kitchen while I run upstairs.

 

Don't feel tempted to answer her at all as it rewards the bad behaviour. You did right to go and explain to the neighbours - once they understand, it's no problem at all.

 

She will enjoy herself much more once she's sure that you are in charge and that it's OK for her just to be apack member rather than assume the stressful pack leader role herself.

[The Dogmother]

Just wondered how she's getting on Poet...