OT: Seeking advice for new dog owners

[Husky Alien]

Good luck with your puppy, she is beautiful. Looks chilled to me from pic.. Can't offer anything that has not been said yet. Oh! Wait make sure you train her in watching UConn hoops.

 

[phillionaire]

I have two dogs -- our oldest, that we got first, picked up on this within a day and we've been using it ever since. Our younger one that we got the following year is a super sweet dog, but not the brightest and never figured out how this worked. Luckily my other dog rings the bell for her when she has to go. I highly recommend bell training.

It was a little bit annoying at first because he realized he could just ding the bell and get a treat when we took him outside but it was a lot less annoying than cleaning up puddles of pee. Plus it impresses guests.

 

[bendm]

i'm getting a red heeler named Dingo one day!

 

[CL82]

Didn't read the whole thread...but regarding putting puppies in a crate when your not home, I just had to share this sad story...
never..never leave them in a crate/cage with a collar on. One of my best friends and his wife came home to a tragic sight because of the puppies collar getting hooked on the cage and you can figure out the rest.

Yeah crate training isn’t sticking a dog in a crate when you’re not home, especially for sustained hours. I’m not a big fan of that, though when they are young, it’s wise to keep them in the crate when they’re not being watched. But very young dogs don’t do well on their own. Dogs are inherently very social animals.

 

[Dove]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but my 6-year-old goldendoodle, Ollie (there's your advice right there, 87) has gotten worse in terms of barking. We live in a city and he's barking at everybody he hears going by and everybody that comes in, whether he knows them or not.

We bought a collar that shot out citronella when he barked-- didn't work. We bought a non-shock collar which has two protruberances that vibrate against his throat and which beeps when he barks -- that worked great at first, but now it doesn't bother him at all, even after I turned it up to 11.

We hired a trainer but she got sick. I guess we could get another one. But short of shock collars, does anybody have any recommendations as to something we can buy to curb this maniac's barking?

Also, yes on immediate potty training (do not over-rely on weewee pads inside the house) -- your dog will learn to go outside faster than you think. Yes on crate training. For a few months, when we left the house we would lock him in the crate, but soon enough we began leaving the door open. He now likes the crate and goes into it for naps. We trained him to go into on the prompt "kennel up" but now we don't even need to say it; once he knows we're leaving and not taking him, he goes right into it.

"We bought a non- shock collar which has two protuberances that vibrate against his throat and which beeps when he barks..."

 

[CL82]

We bought a collar that shot out citronella when he barked-- didn't work…We hired a trainer but she got sick. Apparently she had some kind of allergy to citronella. Had to stab her with an epi-pen. Who knew you are supposed to use them on the throat?

Well, that was unfortunate.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but my 6-year-old goldendoodle, Ollie (there's your advice right there, 87) has gotten worse in terms of barking. We live in a city and he's barking at everybody he hears going by and everybody that comes in, whether he knows them or not.

We bought a collar that shot out citronella when he barked-- didn't work. We bought a non-shock collar which has two protruberances that vibrate against his throat and which beeps when he barks -- that worked great at first, but now it doesn't bother him at all, even after I turned it up to 11.

We hired a trainer but she got sick. I guess we could get another one. But short of shock collars, does anybody have any recommendations as to something we can buy to curb this maniac's barking?

Also, yes on immediate potty training (do not over-rely on weewee pads inside the house) -- your dog will learn to go outside faster than you think. Yes on crate training. For a few months, when we left the house we would lock him in the crate, but soon enough we began leaving the door open. He now likes the crate and goes into it for naps. We trained him to go into on the prompt "kennel up" but now we don't even need to say it; once he knows we're leaving and not taking him, he goes right into it.

Nice Spinal Tap 11 reference.

We trained one of our previous dogs to go in to crate with "To the bat cave". She loved it.

 

[87Xfer]

We bought this one from chewy: CALDWELL'S Potty Bells Original Dog Doorbell, Black - Chewy.com
He’s a little over a year old now and still dings his bell when he’s got to the bathroom, and our older dog that we never trained picked it up just by watching him.

Thank you. Ordered!

 

[87Xfer]

i'm getting a red heeler named Dingo one day!

It has been discussed ever since we learned that the breed is a relative of the Dingo. But looks like Senna it is. Just got her home and surprisingly, she's been 100% chill through separating her from her mom and her people, an hour car ride, and a new environment.

 

[nomar]

Have you tried BarxBuddy?

BarxBuddy Ultrasonic Bark Control Device: Stop Barking Humanely

Our ultrasonic dog trainer is safe and effective for training your dog to stop barking, howling, jumping and more. See how it works.

www.barxbuddy.com

We adopted a 2 1/2 year old Springer Spaniel rescue a year and a half ago (to accompany our 12 year old Springer) and she had (and still has to some degree) a few unwanted behaviors we needed to curb, especially jumping up on counters (and people). My mother-in-law loaned us one of these and it works very well. Now all we need to do is grab it and point it and she stops whatever she's doing.

Sounds interesting and useful -- but I assume you have to press it manually whenever you want to send him a message he's doing something wrong?

I'm just so annoyed that the collar we bought him didn't work. It did at first -- he was confused about the vibration and the noise. And then he just got used to it and the barking is as bad as ever. Took about a week for him to make the adjustment.

 

[nomar]

Well, that was unfortunate.

 

[8893]

Sounds interesting and useful -- but I assume you have to press it manually whenever you want to send him a message he's doing something wrong?

Correct.

 

[mauconnfan]

Beautiful pup best of luck. Sounds like all kinds of real good advice to learn from. We were lucky enough to have a black lab for 16 plus years who brought home at 3 months old and never had to crate or train. Rarely a barker and just a lover didn’t have to crate her ever we got lucky.

Bring in a 2 yr old rescue a Mountain Cur from Mississippi that had 5 puppies in the wild and throw all the rule books out the window. After a couple weeks she was almost heading back to Ole Miss but the turn around has been amazing. Some excellent training at Dave’s Pet Food City for a few weeks and realizing she needed dog parks to be friendly with all other dogs everything has changed. She was awful walking in parks or trails with the harness and leash loves people but was terrifying with other dogs leashed. But the more she went to the dog parks she seemed to find that she likes most other dogs in any venue. We were told by the foster parents in Stamford CT she will never be a lap dog but she will be loving and loyal. I can’t get her off my lap and she’s just a great walking partner.

Your pup will need tons of exercise and I am a huge believer that dog parks help them get along in every day life with other pups.

Good luck you’ll love Senna

 

[dvegas]

I have a Rhodesian ridge back

That is a beautiful and smart & loyal dog. My buddy rescued one. Rehabbed it, and I had no issues leaving him with my ex's Brussels Griffon (the girl freaked out). Roxy slept curled up in the Rhodys tummy. Wish I had a picture, because the Griffon is an acronym for a lion. What the ridgeback was bred to protect livestock from....

 

[August_West]

Discipline & Routines

And your time and exercise. Especially 1st year.

Crate can work but you will never need one if you are committed early. It’s a big time commitment though.

 

[dvegas]

And your time and exercise. Especially 1st year.

Good advice for a newlywed also

 

[August_West]

Good advice for a newlywed also

It works for both.

 

[dvegas]

It works for both.

Yup, she might want to go with the crate

 

[CL82]

That is a beautiful and smart & loyal dog. My buddy rescued one. Rehabbed it, and I had no issues leaving him with my ex's Brussels Griffon (the girl freaked out). Roxy slept curled up in the Rhodys tummy. Wish I had a picture, because the Griffon is an acronym for a lion. What the ridgeback was bred to protect livestock from....

She’s a good one…

 

[Fishy]

I don’t have a dog, but screw it, this is the internet and I am an expert.

1) Seriously? A crate? All day while you’re not home? My idea is that if your lifestyle is such that your dog needs to be stored in a box for eight to ten hours a day, don’t get a dog. The dog is halfway to living life as a veal calf. (“But Sparky LOVES his crate!” No. Stop. Sparky is just happy to be let out of solitary when you come home.)

2) Don’t let them on the furniture. Dogs make your furniture gross.

 

[87Xfer]

She’s a good one…
View attachment 71500

Beauty!

 

[87Xfer]

I don’t have a dog, but screw it, this is the internet and I am an expert.

1) Seriously? A crate? All day while you’re not home? My idea is that if your lifestyle is such that your dog needs to be stored in a box for eight to ten hours a day, don’t get a dog. The dog is halfway to living life as a veal calf. (“But Sparky LOVES his crate!” No. Stop. Sparky is just happy to be let out of solitary when you come home.)

2) Don’t let them on the furniture. Dogs make your furniture gross.

No intention of doing either of those things, but thanks for your interest in dog ownership.

 

[storrsroars]

I don’t have a dog, but screw it, this is the internet and I am an expert.

1) Seriously? A crate? All day while you’re not home? My idea is that if your lifestyle is such that your dog needs to be stored in a box for eight to ten hours a day, don’t get a dog. The dog is halfway to living life as a veal calf. (“But Sparky LOVES his crate!” No. Stop. Sparky is just happy to be let out of solitary when you come home.)

2) Don’t let them on the furniture. Dogs make your furniture gross.

I used to feel that way on #1, but I learned that a lot of dogs actually prefer having crates as safe spaces. Maybe they're liberals, lol. I don't use one with my current dog, but he's huge and we didn't get him till he was already 3 and hadn't been crate trained, but as I also walk dogs as a side gig, I've run across plenty who are in crates when I get to the house and they're fine.

As for #2, I have one couch I let the dog on. but only with permission. He knows not to even try other furniture, but with the one couch it's actually a reward. And he keeps my feet warm.

 

[storrsroars]

Thanks for that. I've never done the crate thing but we're planning to get one on the way to pick her up.

She's an Australian cattle dog, also called a red heeler. Supposed to be super smart and very trainable. Just needs LOTS of exercise.

Your family is going to get herded a lot. A LOT. And there's not a ton you can do about it as it's what that particular dog is bred for. I'll just warn you it can get annoying. So, if you have a big yard, I'd recommend getting some goats or sheep to give him something to herd other than you

Btw, if you've never watched an Aussie cattle dog in action, they're amazing. Saw a competition up at the Calgary Stampede a few years ago and it's truly incredible how well they follow whistle commands, in addition to their natural inclination to guard and herd.

Also, for this breed, I think you'll want to consider agility classes. She'll love that.

 

[phillionaire]

Thank you. Ordered!

Good luck! Enjoy the pup!

 

[dvegas]

I don’t have a dog, but screw it, this is the internet and I am an expert.

1) Seriously? A crate? All day while you’re not home? My idea is that if your lifestyle is such that your dog needs to be stored in a box for eight to ten hours a day, don’t get a dog.

Nope, with a properly trained "crate" dog, you never need to close the door of the crate. They can come and go as they please, or more importantly, when commanded to.

 

[borninansonia]

Feed the dog well to help build her brain and body.
I suggest the New York Times Best Selling book, the Forever Dog by Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib.
It is an excellent book.

 

[87Xfer]

Feed the dog well to help build her brain and body.
I suggest the New York Times Best Selling book, the Forever Dog by Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib.
It is an excellent book.

Thanks, I'll check this out! It's 25 degrees here and Senna was NOT thrilled about leaving the nice warm bed in the crate during the night and this morning to go outside.

 

[husky429]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but my 6-year-old goldendoodle, Ollie (there's your advice right there, 87) has gotten worse in terms of barking. We live in a city and he's barking at everybody he hears going by and everybody that comes in, whether he knows them or not.

We bought a collar that shot out citronella when he barked-- didn't work. We bought a non-shock collar which has two protruberances that vibrate against his throat and which beeps when he barks -- that worked great at first, but now it doesn't bother him at all, even after I turned it up to 11.

We hired a trainer but she got sick. I guess we could get another one. But short of shock collars, does anybody have any recommendations as to something we can buy to curb this maniac's barking?

Also, yes on immediate potty training (do not over-rely on weewee pads inside the house) -- your dog will learn to go outside faster than you think. Yes on crate training. For a few months, when we left the house we would lock him in the crate, but soon enough we began leaving the door open. He now likes the crate and goes into it for naps. We trained him to go into on the prompt "kennel up" but now we don't even need to say it; once he knows we're leaving and not taking him, he goes right into it.

How to get your dog to stop barking

A barking dog can be a headache for pet owners. Here are six ways to reduce the noise starting by understanding why they bark.

www.humanesociety.org

Get a trainer or learn how to train. You need positive reinforcement.

And stop punishing your dog for doing normal dog things.

 

[husky429]

I have a 120lb Rottweiler and an 80lb pitbull. Being able to walk them without them pulling like psychopaths was 100% a necessity for their training. It takes a long, long time but I really recommend working on that. It makes it very enojoyable to walk my dogs.

Make a decision about dog on furniture early. You won't get it back if you change your mind. 200lbs of dog on my bed at night isn't always the most pleasant experience.

Exercises, exercise and more exercise. Every day. A tired dog is a good dog.