First off, don't get on me about this, I am asking for the benefit of another. My mom and dad had a great dane they just put down. It stopped eating and MSU determined it was from stress. At 3 days of not eating, I tried to explain to my folks they way they interact in their house could be the cause of their dogs stress and they were not willing to entertain the thought. In the end the school could not determine there was anything medically wrong with the dog but by this time they had spent $4,000 over a period of nearly 2 weeks and the dog was starting to bloat again so they put her down.

I feel they could have done more and were not willing so when they purchased a labradoodle puppy a week later I was less than happy for the dog. Thy picked it up last Friday, 6 days ago, at the 2 month age. My mom wants to train it to sit behind her while she eats so she has started to put it in a rubbermaid container and places the container off to the side when they were eating. This was the first day in it's new home so naturally it's going to bark and want out. My mom started squirting it with a squirt bottle to teach it not to bark and I can't help bu think this is really not right. I don't know much about puppies and am too swamped with homework (back to school at 40) to do research she should be doing for her own puppies sake. For this reason I'm asking you for your inputs. I plan on purchasing a puppy DVD for them but not sure which one. This dog is nothing more than a companion for them because the house was too quite. In my mind I don't feel they should have a dog because they are not willing to educate themselves, however; I know they take much better care of their pets than most and most people aren't as thoughtful as to the feelings of their dogs as ya'll are.

DZ

Hi Eric,

I totally understand where your frustrations are as my parents are similar in dealing with animals. So you will not get any "flack" from me at all.

I would get them the "Your Puppy, 8 Weeks to 8 Months" DVD to start with.

Watch it with them, if you have time, so that you can answer any questions they might have.

Good Luck.

Oh man...

First off, get the puppy a proper crate. A rubbermaid container can be easily chewed on and the pieces injested.

Second, now is not the time to try teaching the dog to sit behind the chair when people are eating. I'm not sure how the puppy could know this is what's expected of her.

Third, get rid of the squirt bottle. Marker training and treats, rewarding the desired behavior, works. Covering the crate with a blanket works. Moving the crate into a quiet room works. Squirting a new puppy for barking is like squirting a baby for crying and I think even your parents would agree it's not fair and it won't work.

Do they have a computer? Would they be willing to register here and read up on puppy trianing? Could you print out LB links for them to read?

Marker training, pack structure and leadership, puppy obedience...there's such a wealth of good info here that would really help them get on track.

Well, your options are limited only by your personality and the size of your cojones.

Are you willing to squirt your mom in the face and ask how she likes it?

It's probably easier to encourage them to properly crate train their dog (dog sleeps, eats, and spends the majority of it's time in the crate until it learns to be calm and quiet in the crate- no exceptions). It's easier to have a crate trained dog, that one can simply send to the crate. Trying to train a puppy to hold a long down or long sit, next to you while you're eating is only going to hamper the pup's personality, confuse the crap out of it, and make every meal miserable for the owner.

Eric,

I agree with Sarah and Carol. I also want to add that I think anyone who would spend $4,000 in less than two weeks probably has their heart in the right place. So I see this as a situation that has been brought about by ignorance.

Here's something else I see. You are the son. I'm a son too. If, when I was 40, one of my uncles told my mom the sky was plaid, she'd accept it and believe it. If I told her the sky was blue she'd either ignore me go outside to see for herself.

You're going to need to be patient and back up everything you say. I think getting the puppy video is a great idea, and if you can show them how to use this website that would be a help. Ed has grey hair and years of experience, I think your parents will respect him if you can find a way to get them looking at this web site.

LOL! I just flashed on an image of me squirting my mom in the face with a squirt bottle. It would not have helped anything

Alyssa, you forgot one of the important parts of training the parent with a squirt bottle.
Eric shouldn't tell the offending parent why they're getting it in the face, just do it every time he's irked about something. It's a real easy way to train parents!

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

If that doesn't work, invest in tin cans filled with pennies, and an air horn.

I feel Eric's pain. My mother tries to train my dog when she comes to MY house. I just put the dog in the crate.
She let the dog OUT of the crate once, and after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I gave Danke her crate command, shut the door, and told my mother, "I have to ask you to never do that again."

Maybe it was the tone, but she never even asked why not. Just nodded, and hasn't done it since. Weird.

Hahaha, she must have seen sgt. stripes flashing!

I've never had to deal on that level with anyone that close myself. Through I can see it coming, but never mind, thats way off topic.
Seems to me Eric missed a good chance for an educational moment at the dinner table. Show them how responsive the dog is to positive enforcement, how quickly they pick up on things, and how happy they are to please. Done with even reasonable competency, the dogs' whole attitude show the wisdom of the method.

Look ma, no hands!
Randy

 Quote: Rich Pallechio

LOL! I just flashed on an image of me squirting my mom in the face with a squirt bottle. It would not have helped anything

I KNOW what would happen to me, and although I can outrun her now, I still shudder when I think about what she would do if I fell asleep over at her house...

In all honesty, most parents are difficult when it comes to animals. Which is why mine are crated when they come visit.

Eric, I feel for ya, and I also commend you for wanting to try to help. It is all you can do. I am pullin for ya.....