I really like her dog so want to help before she *is forced* to have her euthanised. Ok - she adopted a *cute* 4 month old puppy from teh pound. It looks and acts ie howls like a dingo (we are in Australia) but is supposedly Kelpie cross Whippet - who knows? She is a VERY high energy dog and seems pretty smart too. This now 9 month old dog is alone all day every day and has a walk once a week. She never attends dog training classes etc. Now the dog has started fence-running and barking pretty much non-stop. The dog is not allowed in the house as she is *too badly-behaved* SIGH. Still my step-daughter who is 18 loves the dog and is clueless rather than deliberately neglectful Aside from AT LEAST a one hour walk a day and some basic obedience, any one have any suggestions for fast fixes re the barking or else the dog will be pts??

Put down for being annoying? Thats pretty harsh.

How can you love a dog and have them put down for being annoying? Buy her a bunch of Leerburg videos, duct tape her to a chair and make her watch them.

There are no fast fixes, it takes time.

Knuckle bones will buy you a few hours of happy, quiet, entertained dog. Be prepared for "the runs" if the dog is not used to the bones. A bit of canned pumpkin will do wonders for settling the system though.

JMO, it sucks that your step daughter LOVES this dog but is unwilling to put the time in it takes to have a true bond with the dog. (IE: exercise, training, etc). Perhaps you can help her find an appropriate home who *will* give the dog what it needs...no need to PTS.

I don't think she loves the dog at all. She wanted a cute puppy to play with and then put away when she is done with it, just like Bella's previous owner.

You should just be straightforward with her and tell her the truth. Does she really want to put the time and effort into taking care of this dog? Ask her what she wants her pet to be like? Would she like to take it for more walks? Does she want a companion that will be with her throughout the day? If she can imagine her dog as a good pet, perhaps she would be more inclined to try to acheive that. I am trying to imagine what it must be like to be a step-dad telling the 18 year old girl advice! I know sometimes there is a barrier that keeps us from taking really good advice from our parents, and even worse-step parents! (Just ask my steps! )

My advice to her:

1. Read and follow this groundwork for establishing pack structure

I have the same dog, same situation, different breed. I followed the groundwork and the dog had broken most of her bad habits in about two weeks. Now, about five months later, she has very polite house manners. Also, the respect level went way up after groundwork.

2. Train the dog.

Basic Obedience DVD

Bella's house mannors revolve around her obedience. Without that, I guess I wouldn't want the dog in the house either!

3. Excersise the dog.

Lots.

I agree with everyone in here. I really like Rick's advice.

Yes - great advice guys and thanks for ther links Rick - I have forwarded them on to her. Some people just never seem to understand that Love is actually a promise and a contract.

We are taking the dog for a week and maybe the break will give my SD a chance to do some much needed reading and give the puppy some much needed exercise and training! Thanks again!!

Poor puppy! Sounds like the dog is a product of it's environment. Don't understand how people get a dog and not spend time with it. I take my dog to work everyday and I miss him when I haven't had a break to go back in kennel to visit him every hour.

I've taken a lot of rescues in who've had this previous style of lonely life. All of them have totally changed with attention and walks, walks, walks! Tired puppy is a good puppy!

 Quote: BrookeMCowley

Some people just never seem to understand that Love is actually a promise and a contract.

An 18 yr old won't understand something like that on their own. Some people die never understanding that. It's up to parents to train this into a kid, so I'd advise telling her just that. Not that she would do a 180 turn, but words are seeds and grow in time. Unfortunately the dog doesn't have that kind of time.

 Quote: BrookeMCowley

We are taking the dog for a week and maybe the break will give my SD a chance to do some much needed reading and give the puppy some much needed exercise and training! Thanks again!!

What I would do in this situation: tell the 18 yr old that the dog will NOT be put to sleep, period, that it is not disposable, and if she doesn't give the puppy what it needs, YOU will find another home for it.

Dead on, Sandy.

I don't know about y'alls relationship, but for myself, sometimes I have trouble taking advice from a step-parent. This might be a conversation best initiated by a biological parent unless y'all have a really good relationship.

Just a thought since 18 yo tend to be super sensitive about having their level of adulthood criticized. Know a couple of those too...

Also, unless you want another dog you had best be ready to follow through. I have a lot of friends who have dumped their unwanted dogs off on their parents. Poor dogs.

Well said Sandy,
I've been watching this thread now for a couple of days and what I find puzzling is; what is so mysterious about this situation, all of us dog lovers have seen this kind of scenario played out a thousand times, maybe more. Sometime in the future this woman/girl may see how she wronged the animal but she'll have to find that on her own. It is not something to be teached like an algebra equation. That kind of love and caring needs to be seeded early and nutured often to flower at the age of eighteen, otherwise it has to be learned on ones own terms. Meanwhile we have this neglected dog, he's done no wrong, and if left as is, his the best hope is for some lonely exsistence running around an empty yard barking. It would almost be kinder to spare him that with a one way trip to the vets.
I'm not going to tiptoe around some mixed up eighteen year old's feelings. RESCUE THIS DOG NOW! Bet she won't even miss him after three days have passed.
The dog is still young. Give him a chance.
Randy