I would start putting your BC mix through the groundwork routine here on the Leerburg site. I got my 3 y/o BC when he was 20 m/o. He had not had alot of human interaction and had found his own sources of entertainment. It seemed like he had ADD and zero focus. After about 2months I went back and did the groundwork routine and he went on a strict NILIF schedule. It really helped. And I did not allow him any opportunity to amuse himself. I became the source for everything food - play - drive satisfaction, I made sure it all came from me.

If your dog is kibble fed you can also make her work for each piece of kibble she eats.

Regarding your dog with the ortho problems, I have some insight into this: My second dog has some pretty bad hips and related knee problems that showed up very early in life. After exploring the options with various vets, which always amounted to very complicated (and expensive) surgeries with crazy-long recovery times and high morbidity rates (google TPLO) I found a vet with a hydrotherapy setup - basically underwater treadmill and pool work. After about a year's worth of sessions, the dog's mobility, etc, are doing pretty darn good, IMO, all things considered. A secondary, and no less positive impact of the underwater treadmill work, I found, was that our twice-weekly sessions gave him a "job" and some really good exercise. I trained him to walk in the treadmill with his nose touching the glass for added mental stimulation. The sessions usually go for about 30 minutes and he gets "worked over" really good. My second dog usually comes along to sessions as well so I get some quality time (and "distraction" work) in with her as well.

Obviously, this is something that requires some time (a couple hours per week) and some money (but much less than surgery, so far), but if you can find a vet doing hydrotherapy close to you, I'd encourage you to investigate to see if it might work for you.

Good luck.

 Quote: Kelly At Leerburg

(feeding the horses, dogs, BF and cat)

Kelly,
You would have more time if you stopped feeding the BF.....HAHAHAH Just Kidding......

We went to Rapid City (two hours away) to do some last minute stuff today and Demon Spawn went with us. Short stuff in the parking lots at potty breaks and she did wonderful....get home at 10:30 pm tonight, and went out and each dog got a once over and fed.

It takes a bit to incorporate a schedule, but one you do, it is pretty easy.

Oh, and Embers nickname is Rage now.

Dear Robbin: I understand your concerns and I know you want to do the best you can for your dogs or you wouldn't even ask for help. SOmetimes we want to do so well, we put tons of pressure on ourselves. We set very high goals, goals no one could obtain realisticly. I don't think Cindy meant to hurt you, but I believe she is saying, take a few minutes to the best you can with the time you have, and leave it. I think what she may have meant about fawning over your dogs is just what I was saying, we think we have to spend tons of time caring for them. I do the same things sometimes like you do. And may I comment that with the death of your mom, if it has been recent, their is grief, grief that just manifests itself in feeling overwhelmed. I recently lost my mom and dad both within 6 months and I've noticed I get overwhelmed easily right now. try and not be so hard on yourself. You are doing the best you can, that is enough.
As far as walking in the dark, I have the same problem here in Lake Elsinore, so until the summer comes, which will come soon enough, I just have to do the best I can.
My heart goes out to you, your dogs look beautiful, healthy and well cared for, and I know you are doing all you can to give them the best care.
God bless you

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: kelly at leerburg

The Mals get a short 2 minute training session (I grab a hand full of treats and work on something.

Not to beat this point to death, but that's what I mean about incorporating little training sessions into each day. I'm the type who would put stuff off until I have a mythical half-day to "REALLY do it RIGHT," and I have to work against that mind-set all the time. For one thing, daily short sessions IS doing it "right."

So true, so true! I'm a victim of this mentality as well. And so are most of my clients...that's often a big reason why they come to me. I have hour-long sessions with them, but the real training happens when they work their dogs for five or ten minute sessions scattered throughout the week until they see me again.

But that's one of the COOL things about dog training! There are a lot of people in today's society that can't commit to a solid hour or two of time in their already hectic schedule.

But EVERYONE has five minutes here or ten minutes there. And the great thing is that short and sweet is actually what's best for the dogs! Sigh...if only my Physics course was like that...

Robbin, don't fret. You're a good person who loves her dogs and wants the best for them. That's why you came here to LB, and that's why you posted this thread!

Obviously, you've got specialized training going on with Levi that will take more of your time. But the black dogs can certainly squeek some time in there. Just have a bowl of treats sitting in various spots.

Also, these guys are family pets, right? Is there anyone in your family that can commit to doing a walk or some basic work with them? It doesn't have to be ALL on your shoulders if these guys are family dogs.

My 8 year old has outside exercise time with the family Corgi as part of his daily routine. Good for both of them. And the Corgi is the one he gets to practice his basic training skills on (he's getting really good! )

Or you could hire a dog walker if you're really strapped for time. Again, it's best if you or a family member does it, but it would be good for them to get out and it would ease your mind if they did.

Either way, you can do this! Look at Carol, Jenni and a number of other people here who have lots of dogs and manage to pull it off. You can do it!

And try not to compare your other dog's to Levi. My Corgi doesn't get as much "attention" as the GSD just because he doesn't get the same kind of training, but that doesn't mean he doesn't get a lot.

Pretty healthy looking dogs, btw!

Well, what can I say? This has been a very sensitive issue for me because I do love my dogs and felt as if I were failing them. After reading all the posts that I have received in response to my dilema, as well as some PM's, I have come to realize two things. One, I expect way too much out of myself and not enough out of my family members to help me with OUR dogs. This will be changing, it appears I have this issue with more than just dog training. My family relys way to heavily on me for handling most everything in our lives. Exhausted is hardly stating how I feel most of the time.

Second, as Connie stated earlier, I have felt that if I didn't spend half a day on a dog that I wasn't giving them enough quality time. Had I known that two minutes a day would qualify as 'quality time' I probably never would have posted this thread!

It has been brought to my attention also that my dogs do get alot of attention just being with me. They are usually everywhere I am, in the house and outside, whenever I am home so it's not as if they are totally neglected or kenneled all day and never get any attention. Many other things have been stated to me on this thread that have made me feel much better about myself as a dog owner. It certainly helps to know I'm not alone and that for some of us it is a tad bit more challenging to juggle family, obligations and training.

You have all been so supportive and I want to thank you all not just for your time in responding but for the ideas that you have shared. I actually feel like I have some ideas to go on now! You are a great bunch and I'm glad I have you all to turn to when I'm struggling with things, dog related.

P.S. An apology to Cindy...I guess my guilt over the issue caused me to be a bit more sensitive than neccessary. I will always respect your opinion.

Excellent. ;>

Practical solutions beat guilt every time.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Excellent. ;>

Practical solutions beat guilt every time.

Now if you could just convince my mother of this....

Heh.

Great! Good. You're alright, Robbin. You know? Not half bad. Maybe a quarter bad. A third. Certainly not half. I think you're doing the right thing, and I'm glad that you're going to ease up on yourself a bit. It can be frustrating to be the sole "Doggy care giver". I'm glad you're beating the unpleasant feelings. Keep us updated!

Robbin,

An absolutely astounding number of dogs come into shelters/rescue surrendered by their owners citing the reason "no time for dog". (another of my favourites is "moving").

Your dogs, trust me, would rather have their few minutes a day with their "pack" than turned into rescue or a shelter. It can be very difficult to rehome a dog into a home that has all the time in the world - these homes are just too few and far between. How many people can you think of have tons of free time on their hands to work a dog? But you on the other hand, supply a warm bed, good food, companionship and the odd minute or two for training.

I am glad you have decided to work with your dogs. Even though there may be some days you have NO time to work them at ALL, there will be other days where you do have several hours to spend with them - plus all the wonderful board people who have given you so many ideas!!!

You are maybe only realizing it now, but your dogs have it pretty good.