My Dogs were expelled from Day Care! Help!

[TYTY]

I need advice desperately. My dogs are so bad. I have a two year old boxer mix and a two year old yellow lab mix, along with a pitbull (who is an angel -the exception).

My dogs are so bad --they've been thrown out of doggy day care for being the first dogs to break down the steel fencing. They're in runs, and I was told the workers can't handle them and that they are the worst dogs they've ever had there! The boxer likes to fence fight and has nipped one of the workers who was trying to grab him.

At home, they have just chewed up my third pair of shoes in three days. I didn't leave them out either. They were just beyond the dog gate, at the top landing. They must have lured them under the gate with their paws and brought them into the downstairs area for their afternoon snack.

I have scrathes all over from them jumping on me, particularly the lab. He also locks me out of the house on a continual basis. He jumps up on the door and literally locks the door when I go outside. He recently knocked me in the head with a steal garage door -jumping on it. The vet calls him a big oaf!

They jump up on the wide screen tv and steal anything on top of it and chew it to pieces. They also chewed a coffee table to pieces.

They refuse to acknowledge commands and dive around onto couches, beds, anything they please. When I try to reprimand them, they think I'm playing. The boxer has food aggression and must be fed seperately but goes nuts if he see anyone else with food. He also likes to wrestle his leash from me.

They ransack the garbage, jump on the countertops to search for food, drink out of the toilets, raid the sink, and will only follow one command -SIT and that's only for a treat. No freebies from these dogs. Oh, and did I mention they run away whenever the opportunity is available and do not come back. Forget about the "come" command. I have to lure them back with a bowl of food.

Here's the catch -I spent about $2000.00 to put them in training last year. They were away for a month and a half. By the time they returned they could walk on their leads better -that was it. Now, they pull again until they're tired.

Their situation: They use to sleep on the bed but the boxer (85 pound mush)was monolpolizing and pushing my husband and I off, so now they sleep in their crates and are confined to the downstairs part of the house. However, they were still awful and destructive when they slept with us, so I'm not quite conviced they are rebelling --except against our busy work schedule, maybe.

On the plus side --they love to cuddle and give kisses. So my question is: What do I do? I'm desperate. I would NEVER give up my dogs. They're like my children....but I'm at wits end!
Any advice would be appreciated. I don't know where to begin anymore.

[Uabassoon]

Maybe you should try a different kind of training. One where you actually get to handle the dogs. Sometimes if a dog is trained by someone else they will only respond to that person and not to you. Plus if you are there for the training it will help you and your dogs bond plus the trainer will give you personal advice on how to handle your situation.

[binka_nugget]

I'd do what Laura suggested. Find a behaviorist who will work with your dogs AND you. Sometimes, dogs will respond 100% to the trainer who trained them but the moment their owner asks them to sit, they refuse to. It's likely, they respect the trainer, not you. It also sounds like they think they're the top dogs. One of my dogs was extremely dominant back in September. With some consistant training, he accepted the position of the lowest ranking dog in the pack and things have gotten much better from there. The only command he would do back then was sit. I was positive he knew down but refused to. Why? Because he didn't respect me as the alpha. He growled and bit me when I asked him to down (as down is a submissive position). After he learned that I was the alpha, things got 110% better.

So, I'd look for a behaviorist who has had experience with dogs like yours. Make sure they will work with you and your dogs as they need to know that you and your husband are the top dogs, not just the trainer.

[Pam]

Originally posted by Uabassoon
Maybe you should try a different kind of training. One where you actually get to handle the dogs. Sometimes if a dog is trained by someone else they will only respond to that person and not to you. Plus if you are there for the training it will help you and your dogs bond plus the trainer will give you personal advice on how to handle your situation.

I agree totally. I am just wondering if you got all three at the same time. I would imagine it is going to be very difficult to train three at the same time. One at a time would have been better. Anyway, I can't offer much advice other than what you have been given, but I can wish you good luck.

[TYTY]

Thanks for the advice.

We pretty much adopted the two boys at the same time. The boxer came maybe a month before the lab.

The pitbull came along in September of last year, about a year and a half after the two boys.

She's awesome and doesn't need training, but the boys... Ugh!

I'll look into the behaviorist.

[Karen]

Yes, I'll be the echo - they need training WITH you. Training is both for the owner and the dogs - both learn, both modify their behavior and expectations, and some day, you'll be the alpha dog! Then it's all follow-through, repetition, day after day after day after day. It gets easier as you go along, I promise!

[MariaM]

I would HIGHLY recommend (yes, once again) The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell. It explains alot about being the Alpha and how dogs were derived from wolves, explaining most of their behaviour.
When you walk into the house, I would try COMPLETELY ignoring them until they calm down. Then wait another 5 minutes (if they are still being calm). Ignoring includes not making eye contact, not talking and not touching. Act like they are simply not there, no matter what they do (jump, bark)
You and if there are any other members of your family should do that everytime they come in, you should be consistent. After that there are more steps, example eating something before you give your dog the food (making sure they see you). Still, get the book!

[stacwase]

Another very good book is "Good Owners, Great Dogs".

[guster girl]

For the specific problem of them pulling on the leash, the gentle leader works wonders! Dogs will usually fight it when it's put on them. I've heard of dogs that take a couple of weeks to completely accept it. But, if it's put on the dog correctly (ie not too tight, not too loose), it's absolutely a wonder for teaching not to pull! Let us know what you decide to do and keep us posted on their progress! good luck!

[Varga]

Yeah, I would also definitely recommend The Dog Listener.

I just read it a couple of days ago and it is by far one of the best dog books I have ever read.

Every problem you have is mentioned in the book.

For example;
When we take our dogs for walks, in their eyes it’s the same as when wolves go hunting. So when your dog pulls the leash, it’s because he thinks he’s in charge of “the hunt”.
Jan Fenell (author of The Dog Listener) suggests that when your dog acts like that, you simply call off the walk, go back to the house and let him calm down.

He needs to learn that you’re in charge and that you, as alpha, decide when and where your pack “goes hunting”.

-Varga

[dragondawg]

I'm surprised the dogs aren't sleeping in the bed, and you two aren't sleeping in the crates!

You definitely need to start training 1:1 not 1:3 or 2:3. I know with my two, that if both are present it's hopeless to work with one or the other.

The book mentioned sounds very interesting!

[TYTY]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

I'm going to pick up a copy of the book tonight.

In recent escapades:

Today, I was dragged across the lawn on my stomache and both dogs took their turns running away. A sight to see!

The other night, my husband wanted to let them come upstairs to sleep on our bedroom FLOOR. After several attempts, they learned their lesson that they can't jump on the bed. Instead, my boxer (the mastermind behind the operations) kept his feet on the floor and put his top paws and head up by me trying to cuddle. He actually thought enough that if two feet were on the ground...he's not really on the bed. Nevertheless, he was pushed down. But in the morning, I woke up spooning a dog, never even felt him sneak into bed.


At least I have one well trained dog. I'm not sure how that happened!

Please feel free to keep the advice rolling. It really helps.

Hope this book really works.

Thanks everyone.

[ScoobyDoo-Doo]

I have good news and bad news for your situation. The 2 breeds of dogs that you have are the 2 breeds that go through "Puppy stage" for 2 years. Most dogs tend to mature and grow out of their behaviors by the first year or year and half. However, Labs are notorious to stay in puppy mode for 2 years before "Growing Up" Once they do mature they are the best companions ever. Your boxer may mature just a little bit earlier than the lab but expect both to mature slowly.
The good news is they do grow out of this by year 5 they are full adult dogs that are very adult and mature. I had a golden retriever and know alot of boxer owners who have gone through the same thing.
There should be a warning attached to certain breeds of dogs on their maturity level you should expect. Not all breeds are created equal and do have their own quirks. Understanding what to expect out of each breed should make you relax to know everything is normal. Example: Dalmations have a deafness trait in their breed. White long hair dogs can develop hearing problems as well. I have an Eskimo Spitz with hearing issues that is 10 years old. So read up on your breed of dog and find out what other traits to expect. Labs and Boxers are great dogs! Good luck!!!

[MariaM]

Any updates?