Help, Dogs Chewing!!!

[mruffruff]

Maybe you could point out to your husband that there would be less chewing, etc. if he could spend time with the dogs. Besides, the dogs need to know that he's alpha to them, just as you are.

In the meantime, and under your breath, keep saying "and this too shall pass!" over and over and over.........

[beyond_me]

You are right. I know I prob bit off more than I could chew, that is why I am asking for idea's on what to do. My husband does help, he's just not as as much of a push over as me, but he does love them. The dogs do know that he is alpha. They listen to him and do really good with him. I'm the one that deals with them the most though so I need to start being alpha. It has caused some problems with our relationship, but we are working though it and doing a lot better!!! I didn't want 3 dogs. I was happy with two and working with Cali. Then I saw a stray that was a sweet heart and had to stop. I have seen to many dead dogs on the road that I couldn't drive by. She didn't have a micro-chip and I never saw any signs for anyone looking for her so I tried to get her a home but the girl who took her was wanting to breed her (which I am against because there are already to many dogs that don't have homes) and she didn't have money to pay her apartment bill for having an animal but could get her a $25 collar that said (b*tch). I know that I'm not the best home,but I love them, and where I live it is hard to find a loving home with her breed!!! Everyone breeds them, fights them, or just leaves them in the back yard in 120 degree weather!!! I don't think so. And every one that I know that are good to there dogs already have 3-5 dogs. I love all my dogs and I'm going to make it work. I am working with them and learning what works best for teaching them. I was just looking for idea's from people that have gone through it. No body wants a dog with tick fever and mange, but I do because I love her, and I don't want to worry about her being taken care of. With me I know that she is getting her medication, vitamins and baths. She's learning, and so am I!!!
oh "and this too shall pass" is my fav saying!!!

[jojo]

Remember firmness is they key in disciplining your dogs. Use a Low "BAH" (keep your tone low) when you catch them in the act doing something you don't like, and use a high pitch praise when they respond to your commands and appropriate behaviour.

For jumpers it can be of benefit to ignore that behaviour and wait for the animal to become more settled before you give them special attention, especially if it is in greeting (visitors, or you've come home from work etc), ask your guests to abide by this as well. Give them the appropriate commands. Teach your animal by rewarding the best behaviour, with treats and praise, and though you may think you are not the top dog, if you are persistant, you will realise that it is so much easier than you originally thought. . Remember they're still young and full of energy!

I personally had to raise a staffordshire bull terrior with a heart defect, as well as my weimeraner, so I understand the time and attention this requires, as well as the cost. But you have made the committment to these animals, so my belief is to follow through. I know you will try your hardest, but you need to be realistic as well, don't compromise your family and your animals sanity if you really cannot cope well enough. Do try and get assistance, but know your limits.

Good luck.

[beyond_me]

Thank you jojo!!!

[renfest]

I hasve a very active 7 month old Shep/Chow and even the walks are not enough I take about an hour severasl times a day and have time w/him working from home makes it that way at times it is not easy. When we started that he was chewing all the time I got some hooves and he loves them to the poing he knows when it's our time and he will bring it to me where ever I am, correct and direct is the way to go .. if he has toys use them as well

rennie

[bckrazy]

I admire you for at least seeking out help, not just dumping them off at the pound!

However, just letting the problem fix itself or being apathetic about it is almost just as bad. The more your dogs are allowed to chew, the more they will chew. My advice is (and this might be difficult, but I think it'll be a lot less painful than being chewed out of house and home)...

*Get enrolled in a good Obedience class, now! If you must, bring one dog at a time, on different days of the week. The class experience and one-on-one demonstration with a trainer is essential. You should really consider getting at least one at-home visit from a dog behaviorist.

*Get up 30 minutes early and run your dogs!

*Get a dog-walker, have your husband go home on his lunch break, or you go home on your lunch break, to exercise the dogs. Do whatever is possible. They are obviously very bored and unhappy sitting around by themselves all day... would you expect a 3-year-old child to sit peacefully in a room all day? They need exercise and attention! Consider crating them, or setting up a secure pen that they can stay in while they aren't supervised. Not only is chewing bad for you, it's SUPER dangerous for hard chewers! Pieces of wood or plastic can become lodged and can cause death, very quickly.

*Suck it up and be an alpha. It's hurting your dogs, and confusing them, to not know who the leader is in their family! Both you and your husband need to use strict NILIF (Nothing in life is free training) with your dogs, give them very limited access to privileges, and treat them like dogs - not people! This doesn't mean you need be abusive or negative at all. It means you need to clearly establish what you expect of them... they need to earn everything - their food, treats, petting, everything - by either sitting or laying down. They come last - they eat after you, walk through doors after you, and they do not pull you along when you're on a walk with them.

[beyond_me]

Thank you. Spaz has been doing a lot better with knowing we are the boss. I've only had her for about 1 1/2 months. I think with her it helps that she goes in the kennel at night. My other dogs think that they are human though. Roxy our boxer was riased by my husbands family, and my mother in law always wanted a 3rd kid so she was that to her. And Cali I've had for half a year is totally spoiled but pretty good other then chewing. It took a while to potty train her, but I've heard her breed can be normally hard to potty train. But she listens pretty good. We are taken them on longer walks at night, and my husband is playing more with them when we get home while I'm cooking dinner. We should get up earlier, but I already have a hard time getting up, not a good enough reason, but right now I'm happy that we are walken them more at night. 1 step at a time. They have been doing pretty good lately. Spaz if getting fixed this saturday so that should help. It totally calmed down Cali. I do need to work on the dogs letting me go through a door first, and us eating first. Usually I have to move out of their way. But I do see things changen and I'm doing better at making them sit before they get a treat and before we go for a walk. When we walk I'm telling them to do stuff just to make them know they need to listen to me all the time, and to stop Cali from pulling, they are doing good. My husband has been helping me out a lot more. He's being more understanding and helpful. We normally walked them, but now we are running with them and getting them (and us) worn out.

Also does anyone know of any tricks to get Spaz to stop barking at at my cats? They stay in the laundry room in the day because I have a dog door and my cats are house cats, so Spaz doesn't see them that much. I usually let her visit them but they don't come out much when she is around. They mostly come out at night now when she is in her kennel. I'm just wondering how to speed things up with her leaving them alone.

We work about an hour away from home. So we really don't have the time or the money for gas to go home for a luch break. I have thought about kenneling, but I hate to do that because I know dogs need to play and do stuff for their health. I would hate to make them hold it for 14 hours most days.

About the trainer, I would love to but money wise I can't really afford it. Also I know that when you get a trainer you are being trained too. You have to keep doing what the trained does for it to work. Which is fine but hard. I have a gentle leader for Cali, and my sister was training to be a dog trainer but had to stop because things came up, but she has shown me how to stop her from pulling, I just don't like to do that. But I should though huh? Also I know how to stop a dog from jumping with using a leash, I just need to do it. So I rather try and do things myself with advice if possible.