Sleepless Dog

[Zoeythelsot]

I've had my boy for about a month. We adopted him from the animal shetler where he lived for 2 and half months!!! We were told hes about a year and a half. We have worked through alot of problems, marking in the house, pulling on the leash, trying to eat the cat. His latest problem is quickly becoming annoying. He doesn't sleep at night!!! The first couple of weeks he was crated at night and he just slept but I'm trying to let him have more freedom, working up to have free roam of the house. So for now he sleeps in my room with the door shut. Rather doesn't sleep, all night I heard him chewing on things, rolling around, jumping on and off my bed, licking me. so far hes eaten a rug, that was under a huge ferret cage, really not sure how he pulled it out from under it. Destoried a huge tennis ball, shreding it into tiny pieces, that must have taken hours th pieces were so small, and last night he was trying to pull his crate bed/pad from between the cage bars and chew it. Yes the crate door is open, yes he had plenty dog toys and chew toys. He just doesn't like to sleep with results in me not sleeping and being late for work. This is his normal day. Wake up he gets free roam for 30 mins while i get ready for work than goes into his crate, my dad lives with me and gets him out around noon and stays out the rest of the day. As far as I know he just lays around with my dad, my dad wont walk him or play with him I've gotten into that fight already, I come home around 5:30, I normally play with him and my son, hes 2, in the backyard for 15 mins or so. He gets fed and gets a 30 min walk/jog around 7 and we normally go to bed around 11. Theres no way I can squeeze another walk in. Hes driving me crazy. any advice?

[lizbud]

As far as I know he just lays around with my dad, my dad wont walk him or play with him I've gotten into that fight already,

There's the problem. A dog NEEDS walks & exercise several times a day.

Please excuse my bluntness, but why did you get a dog that you don't have
time for? It's not fair to you or the dog.

[Zoeythelsot]

I'm sorry, let me quit my job and become homeless so my dog can have more than 1 walk per day. And to be honest he would still only get one walk per day as its far too hot to walk anywhere during the day, it gets close to 100. The fact that someone is with him 24/7 is more than 80% of dogs get. I do not work long hours, but the simple fact that I do work means a large part of the day I can not give him attention. Should no one that works be allowed to own dogs? Most dogs do not get walks everyday, some remain tied up in backyards, yes I agree they shouldn't have dogs. but point is he gets more attention than most dogs. On weekends we go to the park, we go to petsmart, and the dog park. He is NOT completely ignored while I am home, he doesn't not sleep while I am awake and generally is right next to me or on my lap. It is unreasonable to ask me to devote every waking minute to him or I shouldn't have a dog. I'm kinda insulted you would say I shouldn't have a dog. Hes got a warm home, a huge backyard, good food, vet care, someone who loves him. You know where he would be right now if he wasn't here? A landfill. I got him at 4:30, he had until 5. So tell me again I shouldn't have got him.

[Giselle]

Please don't be offended! MOST dogs are only walked once or twice a day. My girl, Ivy (who is training heavily in agility and so needs a lot of physical strength/endurance training) only gets two walks a day. Granted, the first one is a 2 mile hike, but she only gets one in the morning and a jog in the afternoon. We also do a lot of play, training, and body work at home, which are all equally as important as walks. So you see it is not the quantity but the quality that counts.

I don't believe this is an exercise issue in of itself, but I do agree that more strenuous exercise, like short bursts of top speed, will help. However, I really think you should just draw up a night schedule, stick to it, and begin locking him in the crate at night again. If you really prefer to let him sleep outside, babygate him or put an ex-pen around his crate so that he has room to pace but not roam free. This is an ex-pen:

[bckrazy]

Wait.... so...

The first couple of weeks, in the crate, he slept all night? And since being out of the crate, he isn't sleeping, but instead is chewing on things through out your room?

Hmmm. I guess the obvious solution here is back in the crate! : ) Seriously. At 1 1/2 years old (and quite possibly younger, because no one knows for sure) many dogs are still adolescents and cannot be trusted with complete freedom. Put him in his crate to sleep. Give him a safe chewy (like a bully stick) or a stuffed & frozen Kong to get out his urge to chew and tire him out a little. Remove his crate pad if he is trying to chew on it, and replace that with a sheet or a towel.

A lot of people think that ONLY physical exertion is important for dogs, but it isn't! It is essential but mental exertion is just as important. Start with the basics (if you don't already have those down)... sit, down, stand, stay, wait, come, heel, etc. Practice them for 15 minute sessions, as many times per day as you can. Practice them for 2 minutes during a commercial break. Every little bit counts, and will result in a more mentally stimulated, not to mention more obedient dog. Progress from that up to more challenging commands, tricks, and longer down/stays, and long-distance recalls. Encourage your Dad to practice these with him, while he's home during the day.

You can also play "games" with him. Hide treats around the house, and send him off to find them. Instead of pouring his kibble in a bowl for dinner, pour it in a treat ball (like a Buster Cube or a Tricky Treat Ball), so that he has to work for his food. Appropriate chew toys, raw bones if you're comfortable with them, and stuffed/frozen Kongs will alleviate his desire for destruction, as well as tire him out! It might be a good idea to prepare one of the above and ask your Dad to give him one when he lets him out, if he flat-out refuses to exercise him.

[Zoeythelsot]

thank you. He actually slept all last night, at least didn't wake me or destroy anything. The only thing we did different in our schedule was go to petsmart instead of our normal walk. oh and stayed up later. He has a Kong but I've never stuffed it, I'll try that. Hes also got a bone and rawhides. I've tried working with him on training but I sorta gave up until his training classes start. Seems to be far too many distractions around here and hes not very food motivated, he much rather have a stick then a dog treat. I was going to try hot dogs, what dog doesn't go crazy over hot dogs, I've just been lazy and haven't pick up any at the store. I'm not really sure what my dad's problem is, he doesn't like my dog, I've asked him and gotten lame excuses, some include the dog looks like a boxer and he doesn't like boxers, he wanted a puppy, he wanted a purebred. Never once anything directly concerning my dog. I think it something to do with his cat not liking the dog. Its more of a cat issue than a dog issue, the dog is scared of the cat. I think with time everybody will adjust to liking each other.
I like the idea that I can keep him in a crate if I need to, but I really dont like having him in there all night. It maybe that he is still a puppy and needs to stay in there. He'll go in his crate and wont complain but he gets really depressed in there, he wont chew on toys, he wont eat treats, he just lays there. When you let him out he gets so happy and runs around like mad, then go back for his treats in the crate.
I love this dog, it hurts that someone would say I shouldn't have him. He not some puppy I impulse bought. I talked to a volunteer at the shelter for 2 weeks before I got him. I went to see him with my son 3 times to make sure they would be ok together. I've work him through a good bit of his issues. The fact that he can ride in a car is amazing. He even willing jumps into the car now, whereas when i got him he was flat against the ground, all 4 legs spread out, refusing to get up. Once in the car he refused to get off my lap and a 50lb shaking lap dog is not something you want when driving. I admit thats my fault but I looked at the crate and my car and there was no way the two were going to mix. He use to be terrified of going outside alone to potty, he had to be dragged and even then someone had to outside with him, now you tell him to go potty and he runs to door wagging his stub. Hes a good dog and he has a good life. It may not be the very best but hes got a family that loves him and will take care of him forever. Thats so much more than what he had before. But the fact remains I do have to work. Sorry I had to vent. Heres a pic of him and my son the second day we had him.