please help, hubby is threatening to rehome Charlie

[ashleycat]

For the first few weeks of having Charlie. He was a good dog.

He's been here lil longer than a month.

Now he is knocking plates off counters, getting his treats himself, marking his territory INSIDE even tho he has been neutered more than a month ago. Why inside tho? I thought they didnt' do that. Unless, he is smelling the neighbors dog. It was raining and the smel of them must have came in. They don't pick their poop up. their yard is full of it.

We don't have a crate for him, but am planning on getting one.

Any good videos out there? I have one, but it doesn't cover what's happening here.

also, I don't know wether he has to potty, or just wants to go outside to mess around. I can't just let him free out there yet untill his poo isn't soft. It's hard to pick it up till the sun hardens it. He won't stay outside unless someone is out there with him.

[BC_MoM]

For the knocking plates off of the counters:
Try putting tape around the edges of the counters, sticky side up.
Also, you have to remember, if he's knocking them off, he's in reach of them. Try to avoid the situation by putting them out of his reach.

What do you mean gettings his treats himself?

I don't think he'd be marking inside just because a smell of the neighbours dogs. (I could be wrong)

I suggest taking him outside more often and not coming in until he pees. How often is he peeing? Is it always in the same spot, or all over?

Why is it too hard to pick up the poo when it's soft? Use a spade and scoop from the edges rather than the front point. Or use a bag. It's not that difficult! Unless his poo is watery, (sorry, gross, I know) I don't see the trouble! lol

Make the time in your day to go outside with him when he needs out. Imagine how hard it would be if he had to let you out everytime you needed to go but he wouldn't let you out because he didn't have time.

You have to adjust to your dogs needs.

[K9soul]

It sounds like a few things. 1. He has excess energy and no direction for it, and 2. He feels he is the pack leader in your home. He needs lots of exercise and a direction, i.e. obedience training, and he needs to be put on NILIF program I think (nothing in life is free, meaning he has to earn all good things, from food to attention). You can do a search in google about NILIF and it will talk more about it. He just needs structure, guidelines, and to realize you and your husband are his leaders. He needs to not have a lot of excess/bored energy to deal with too, which causes frustration and destructiveness and other negative behaviors.

[ashleycat]

I had his treats on the counter. I have milk bones and a bag of those steak ones. I've been trying to train him. He's 4.

I'm also treating him for coccidia and whipworm. so that's why his stools are still soft.

I take him out all the time. I'm home all day. He scratches the door all the time it seems like. It seems like he's going out there every second. But he only fiddles around. He pees atleast 3 times a day. If not more cus of marking out on walks. He uses the whole yard. I've been using the leash on him for the back yard sometimes. I should do it more often. I just started tho. For the first few weeks I have been just letting him out, and he'd do his business. Now, it's fiddeling.

I'm trying to adjust to his needs. It's hard when I don't know what he wants.

He's giving me the runaround

[ashleycat]

I play with him all the time. I run around the house have him chase me, I play fetch with his bone. I have the bruises to prove it. lol

I keep his food up, and make him sit before he gets it, make him sit before I open the door.

I'm going to google the nilf, I read a little upon it. But need more.

[BC_MoM]

How about mental stimulation? Having mini training sessions on your own. Does he know his basic commands? If so, you can teach him different tricks.. or perhaps enroll in some obedience, flyball, or agility classes?

[ashleycat]

so part of the NILF is that he has to be on a leash while inside too, if not in crate. Well, that might have been the problem here. He has access to everywhere. lol.

[K9soul]

It sounds to me like you are catering to his needs so much that he feels he is the pack leader. You definitely should not have bruises on you from his playing, he is playing too roughly with you then. I don't know about the chase game, especially for a dog who is feeling like he is the pack leader. It might just encourage and reinforce dominant behavior. Fetching games are good as long as he gives up the toy easily he is fetching, and I'd give him obedience commands in between and have him earn the throw. Of course no exercise is as good as a nice long daily walk, just playing in the house or yard will never expend enough.

After reading many books and watching a lot of Cesar Milan's show on Ntl Geographic, I really am convinced the majority of dog behavioral problems have to do with excess energy and confusing messages sent to them by our own behavior, putting them in a position of leadership without us really realizing we are doing so. This can cause anything from anxiety and fearfulness to aggression and acting out to just destructive, pushy behaviors. A dog with calm, assertive leadership, not aggressive leadership with punishment, but just calm and consistent, is a much calmer, happier, and well behaved dog.

[K9soul]

This is a good post someone posted not long ago. Some may have slightly different version of NILIF but the basic idea is the dog learns all good things must be earned and that you are the one they come from and only when he behaves.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=102679

I personally don't use the head halter collar but I have used Cesar Milan's method of putting the collar up just behind the ears and under the chin, and keeping the dog by my side on walks, not in front. It was surprisingly easy to nix any pulling problems (mainly with Tommy) with this method. I also stopped watching the dogs while I was walking them all the time, and look straight ahead like I am leader and am confident about things. In a pack, the dog watches its leader, not the other way around .

edit: I just realized you asked about a video. I haven't seen it but I have watched a lot of Cesar Milan's shows and he has a basic dog behavior and how to interact with them video. http://cesarmillan.securesites.net/p...products_id=34

[elizabethann]

What's a NILF? I don't understand the leash in the house thing. Maybe it's just me.

I would take obedience classes and teach him who the alpha being is - you. Also someone mentioned Cesar Milan (the dog whisperer on the national geographic channel), he has a new book out. You should see if the local library has it.

Good luck.

[ashleycat]

How about mental stimulation? Having mini training sessions on your own. Does he know his basic commands? If so, you can teach him different tricks.. or perhaps enroll in some obedience, flyball, or agility classes?

He knows sit, down and roll (where I get him to lay on his side)

But he ignores me a lot of the time. Unless I have something he wants. Sometimes I reward him with getting pet. No treat. So I've been doing that not every time has a food reward.

Depends on what I have. Sometimes he acts like he's the best trained dog in the world and sits and downs sooo fast. Then theres times where he ignores me.

[Karen]

NILF= Nothing In Life is Free

This makes the dog realize that every treat, every bit of praise must be earned. It establishes and reinforces you as the Alpha of the pack. It is a very good method for training smart dogs who think they're in charge. It is work, yes, but you, Charlie and your husband will all be happier with the results.

[K9soul]

What's a NILF? I don't understand the leash in the house thing. Maybe it's just me.

It's Nothing In Life Is Free (NILIF). Like I said there are different versions of it out there. I have not personally done the leash method but if I had a real problem behavior dog on my hands I probably would. It's just used for the first couple weeks, the dog learns in that way he goes where you (the leader) goes, and freedom off leash comes only from behaving.

[ashleycat]

I also take him 20 min walks around neighborhood too. I forgot to mention that. I get my excercise too. lol.

I have to go and buy a crate too.

[ashleycat]

how do i know where to find good obedience classes?