lurcher is driving me to despair

[rogue 9]

If, your hosing a 9 month old pup down mate, no wonder he runs off ! he must hate you, tempting though it is, you need to remain calm, be his friend. Try wearing an old sweatshirt all day, rub it under your arm pits then give it to him to sleep with, it works sometimes. Lay off training for a couple of weeks, use the time to read a book on training, then start again from scratch and do it properly. You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

Some good advise there mate. i always chuck a pair of socks ive been wearin in with them.. like some of the peeps on here alresdy said foret rainin 4 a few weeks but make sure he gets plenty of attention.. to be honest i think every dog goes through it.. i find things worth havin dont come easy

[Guest Buttermilk]

I've just been having a cup of tea and thinking about this....and I agree with Romany totally. He must think you're his enemy...no wonder he runs off and won't do anything for you. Plus you're tired and stressed with having the baby up through night etc....and we all know what that's like...nightmare.

You need to get close to him again...give up on the intense training for a while...it'll come later. And please, please, please do not get an electric collar for the night howling...you'll ruin the pup by doing that. Hosing him down with cold water and then electric shocking him ....he'll think he's in some sort of hideous concentration camp. You'll end up with a cowed, nervous pup who doesn't like you.

Edited July 27, 2010 by Buttermilk

[kev2010 8]

If, your hosing a 9 month old pup down mate, no wonder he runs off ! he must hate you, tempting though it is, you need to remain calm, be his friend. Try wearing an old sweatshirt all day, rub it under your arm pits then give it to him to sleep with, it works sometimes. Lay off training for a couple of weeks, use the time to read a book on training, then start again from scratch and do it properly. You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

 

 

I've just been having a cup of tea and thinking about this....and I agree with Romany totally. He must think you're his enemy...no wonder he runs off and won't do anything for you. Plus you're tired and stressed with having the baby up through night etc....and we all know what that's like...nightmare.

You need to get close to him again...give up on the intense training for a while...it'll come later. And please, please, please do not get an electric collar for the night howling...you'll ruin the pup by doing that. Hosing him down with cold water and then electric shocking him ....he'll think he's in some sort of hideous concentration camp. You'll end up with a cowed, nervous pup who doesn't like you.

Agree with both of you.I personally think kids & dogs are very similar in thier behaviour & it may be the dog is seeking your attention,but just like kids.Not always in the wright way.

Put the baby in buggy & the three of you go for some good walks together,bonding.

As above,don't shock him or hose him down.Youll never gain his trust or respect.Without those two things you'll never truly train him

[the flump 0]

i know that hosing him is not a good thing but its not just me he'll be waking up,theres the neighbors too,i cant let him loose in the house or he'll destroy everything he can,i cant crate him because he hates it and will just make a lot more noise (ive tried making him tired before-hand and waiting him out,he doesnt stop) which only leaves letting him sleep in the bed which i think the mrs would object to

 

You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

 

i think your right because before he seemed to want to everything i asked of him,now he doesnt,aside from bonding with him more (i do walk him 2x a day without the other dogs and try and spend some time with him each day) there what else is there i could do?

[Guest Buttermilk]

i know that hosing him is not a good thing but its not just me he'll be waking up,theres the neighbors too,i cant let him loose in the house or he'll destroy everything he can,i cant crate him because he hates it and will just make a lot more noise (ive tried making him tired before-hand and waiting him out,he doesnt stop) which only leaves letting him sleep in the bed which i think the mrs would object to

 

You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

 

i think your right because before he seemed to want to everything i asked of him,now he doesnt,aside from bonding with him more (i do walk him 2x a day without the other dogs and try and spend some time with him each day) there what else is there i could do?

Hve you tried letting him sleep indoors? Does he actually wreck everything?

[the flump 0]

yes everything doors skirting boards etc ,he lived in as a pup until he figured out how to open the cupboards and shred everything inside,he's really not suited to living inside if i even leave the door open when he's loose in the garden he'll run straight in and jump onto the kitchen counter and start scrabbling about,i couldnt begin to list the things he's smashed/broken that way when ive been away and the mrs hasnt remembered to put him in his run before she feeds him or changes his water (and no shutting the door behind yourself isnt enough because he can open them if theyre unlocked)

[romany52 313]

i know that hosing him is not a good thing but its not just me he'll be waking up,theres the neighbors too,i cant let him loose in the house or he'll destroy everything he can,i cant crate him because he hates it and will just make a lot more noise (ive tried making him tired before-hand and waiting him out,he doesnt stop) which only leaves letting him sleep in the bed which i think the mrs would object to

 

You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

 

i think your right because before he seemed to want to everything i asked of him,now he doesnt,aside from bonding with him more (i do walk him 2x a day without the other dogs and try and spend some time with him each day) there what else is there i could do?

Is he kennelled alone, or has he got company, company may keep him quiet but then you have the problem of him maybe bonding with one of the other dogs rather than you. If I was you I would go right back to basics. When you first get a pup you give it lots of fuss and attention, you create a bond before you start any training, so give it lots of fuss and attention for a couple of weeks and don't give it any commands at all, make it think the sun shines out of your backside. Next step is withhold fuss and attention ,from now on it has to earn it. At the same time teach it that you are top dog, I do this by pretending to eat first from its bowl at feed times, if it comes to close I'll growl at it ! I also make a point of never walking round the dog, always walk straight through it, I'm the pack leader it feeds after me and it has to move out of my way , pack leader always has right of way. By this stage you should have a dog that respects you and craves your attention. Now you start training, the main principles are , while training never give a command unless your in a position to make the dog comply, the dog must eventually believe by repetition that commands are compulsory and that it has no choice but to comply. If you decide to take this route, when you get to it, if you need help on how to teach any of the commands pm me and I'll explain my method. Mike.

Edited July 27, 2010 by romany52

[Guest Buttermilk]

i know that hosing him is not a good thing but its not just me he'll be waking up,theres the neighbors too,i cant let him loose in the house or he'll destroy everything he can,i cant crate him because he hates it and will just make a lot more noise (ive tried making him tired before-hand and waiting him out,he doesnt stop) which only leaves letting him sleep in the bed which i think the mrs would object to

 

You've made the common mistake of believing he's trained because he does as he's told because he wants to, now he doesn't want to , you find he's not trained at all. Mike.

 

i think your right because before he seemed to want to everything i asked of him,now he doesnt,aside from bonding with him more (i do walk him 2x a day without the other dogs and try and spend some time with him each day) there what else is there i could do?

Is he kennelled alone, or has he got company, company may keep him quiet but then you have the problem of him maybe bonding with one of the other dogs rather than you. If I was you I would go right back to basics. When you first get a pup you give it lots of fuss and attention, you create a bond before you start any training, so give it lots of fuss and attention for a couple of weeks and don't give it any commands at all, make it think the sun shines out of your backside. Next step is withhold fuss and attention ,from now on it has to earn it. At the same time teach it that you are top dog, I do this by pretending to eat first from its bowl at feed times, if it comes to close I'll growl at it ! I also make a point of never walking round the dog, always walk straight through it, I'm the pack leader it feeds after me and it has to move out of my way , pack leader always has right of way. By this stage you should have a dog that respects you and craves your attention. Now you start training, the main principles are , while training never give a command unless your in a position to make the dog comply, the dog must eventually believe by repetition that commands are compulsory and that it has no choice but to comply. If you decide to take this route, when you get to it, if you need help on how to teach any of the commands pm me and I'll explain my method. Mike.

 

Brilliant advice.

[the flump 0]

he's kenneled with 2 others but theyre crated of a night and seperated of a day except for walks

thanks a lot romany,i really appreciate your help, i'll probably pm you in a week or so

[nathgoon 2]

why dont you throw it in a river , because as you say "it has no rights to live"

[Born Hunter 17,832]

poacher and dotty are talking alot of sense!

[Hannah4181 260]

The destructive behaviour you mention would worry me, 9 months is IMO too old for that. Pups trying their luck whilst they cut their teeth maybe, although dogs do have a second teething stage at around 7 months, it sounds like he's doing it more through stress or neurotic behaviour. How much exercise does he get? Some very good advice on here regarding making yourself more dominant and leaving the training until you get him wanting your attention and respecting you as a pack leader. The shock collar is a ridiculous idea, the behaviours you describe, say to me the dog is way to big for his boots, has zero respect for leadership and is either bored or frustrated. Get him in a routine with his exercise and general day to day living, set firm boundaries and stick to them. Follow Romany's advice and totally ignore the dog if it comes to you for attention, ignore him when you come in, when you leave and at any other time other than feeding and exercise. What do you feed him? I would suggest a raw diet with a large amount of raw, meaty bones . . . . could cure his chewing and keep him entertained longer than a bowl of kibble. Does he appear intelligent? If the collie blood is strong in him, you may need to channel his intelligence, perhaps interactive toys, Kongs etc etc.

 

If you do want to try a spray collar to stop the howling, go for a bark collar . . harmless to the dog, and just sprays a cold blast of lemon smelling gas under his nose . . . most dogs hate the small, noise and feeling of it.

 

It sounds like you've got a lot of work ahead of you, but if your dedicated and patient you'll get there . . . . . where are you located?? This is my idea of heaven! I love sorting naughty dogs out!

 

PM if you want to discuss him further. Bets of luck.

[runforyourlife 361]

good advice there romany, spot on... I would say myself that the dog is not getting nowhere near enough exercise.... You walk and run a dog into the ground and he will sleep all night... Chewing will be cut down to..Get with your dog pal. you seem miles away from it. It may not want to be the dominant one, it might need abit of tlc mate...

 

As for it being a worry that a dog chews at 9mths, that is not so. Mine still steels and chews what he can now and he is 2(pieces of wood, etc)

 

Get yourself up early tomorrow morning(saturday) and get out with the dog all day....see what happens on saturday night.

 

p.s. is the dog eating enough. ? is the dog eating to much?

[Hannah4181 260]

good advice there romany, spot on... I would say myself that the dog is not getting nowhere near enough exercise.... You walk and run a dog into the ground and he will sleep all night... Chewing will be cut down to..Get with your dog pal. you seem miles away from it. It may not want to be the dominant one, it might need abit of tlc mate...

 

As for it being a worry that a dog chews at 9mths, that is not so. Mine still steels and chews what he can now and he is 2(pieces of wood, etc)

 

Get yourself up early tomorrow morning(saturday) and get out with the dog all day....see what happens on saturday night.

 

p.s. is the dog eating enough. ? is the dog eating to much?

 

 

I said "destrutive behaviour" . . not chewing. . . Flump stated that he can't let the dog loose in the house because it will destroy everything . . . thats a world away from a dog "chewing" IMO

 

I do however agree with you on the exercise front, i've never come across a noisy, destructive, tired dog.

 

Oh and PM your address i've got your print ready to post. . . . . finally!

[skycat 6,174]

The roots of the teeth don't embed themselves fully in the jaw bone until the dog is 9-10 months old and along with rising hormone levels this can lead to a very destructive stage. So you're crating the other 2 dogs at night which leaves the young one alone outside? Did I understand that correctly? In which case he's howling because he's been separated from his companions at night: can't you crate him too?

 

And make sure that he's well exercised before bed time as the others have said.