Quote: steve strom

Why not try making some arrangements to take better care of him?

To be honest, I had hoped to discuss that, which is why I brought the issue of him being crated all day up in the first place. I could have simply lied about it to escape criticism.

It's not my ideal situation, and what I would really like is to have my wife bring the dog to work during the day, but I don't want to do that until the barking issue can be sorted out.

I mentioned the idea of a dog walker to her, and she is simply not comfortable with that.

A) She is uneasy about letting someone into our home when we're not there, period.

B) She isn't totally convinced that a dog walker will be able to keep Roger from hurting himself. We live in a 4th-floor walkup, and if we do not forcefully hold him on a very short leash, he will essentially jump down the stairs with reckless abandon. I'd hate to come home to a distraught dog walker saying "I don't know what happened, he just jumped and never got up!"

I have a walker/sitter who actually comes and stays here when I fly back East.

Both of their team have gone through all phases of walking, feeding, and everything else with me. In detail. I mean, they DID it all, with me watching.

Also, they came with a lot of references, all of which I checked carefully.

True, I paid for this pre-stuff with them. But I KNOW they know how to police the feeding, how to handles the walking and who goes with whom, and everything else.


eta

And they are bonded.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (10/15/2010 03:37 PM)
Edit reason: eta

From my experience,the barking isnt bad at work. There's a lot to observe and keep their little minds occupied.

Im pretty sure you can find a professional who is bonded and experienced. Also what about a dog day care situation whete he would still be in a crate but with several breaks throughout the day? No trainging' just potty amd play breakd?

 Quote: barbara schuler

Ross, sarcasm rarely comes across as humor. You can slink off or stick around, open your mind and let us help you with your dog.

Connie thought the pet store crack was funny. I think she was the only one who understood I wasn't being serious.

My mind is open and if my previous posting history does not suggest that, I don't know what will.

I've been on hobby-related forums for years, and my experience is that "help" is a funny word. People will "help" you as long as you are enjoying the hobby within the limits of their tolerance. As soon as they get a whiff of anything that suggests you may not totally know what you're doing, the bandwagon forms.

Concern for helping the offender through his problem becomes secondary to maintaining the identity of the forum. That is the breaking point at which we have arrived. For every post that may be helpfully intended, there will be at least one that tells me to rehome.

Even knowing how this works, I'm not immune to participating in it. I happily joined in on the Michael Arghnian gang-bang, and when was the last time we heard from him? I feel bad about that.

I've been lying low here so as not to distract the forum with inane questions from someone who hasn't had a puppy in 10 years. Evidently it wasn't low enough. My apologies.

I just went back to the original post and I think that if someone were to work him during the day then again at night - so exercise and OB - then he might be tired enough to sleep through the night.

I can't imagine my Shepherd ever being quiet all night if she hadn't had at least 2 good runs and a couple short OB lessons, she is just approaching 10 months.

I either leave her at my friends house (crated) which is closer to my work or she is crated in my truck. She gets a quick run and OB lesson in the morning, an hour hike, retrieve session, plus some OB EVERYDAY during my lunch. Then afterwork I run her with my other dogs. She eats in her crate while we eat, then everyone comes back out for relaxing time. She also attends training with me 3-5 times a week for 1-2 hours at a time.

I also work full time, have a son and a husband, 3 other dogs AND I am apprenticing as a dog trainer - I chose my lifestyle and knew the work and sacrifice that came with it...and I wouln't change it for the world.

If this pup were tired then he would sleep through the night. The problem is, he sleeps all day, and I am not sure about the after work exercise schedule, but then he gets to come out for 4-5 hours then goes back in his crate - for my pup this would NEVER have been enough to actually keep her tired and content.

Just my 2 cents.

Niomi he definitely needs more exercise. That is obvious now. But it wasn't obvious even one week ago.

The reason I made this thread in the first place (which I now see was a huge mistake) was that it happened suddenly.

Roger went from peacefully sleeping all day and all night, to barking his butt off, literally overnight. As in, starting this Monday his behavior changed abruptly.

Ross, this isn't the only thread that you have made excuses for what you can or can't do for this dog....

If you choose to leave, that's up to you. Many of us here are more interested in what is best for the dogs, rather than if we ruffle feathers of the owners. There are people here with knowledge & experience (some like Will with many, many years of working dogs)that are willing to help you. Be smart enough to learn from the knowledge that they have gained thru trial & error thru their years of dog high drive W/D ownership. But, you will not get anyone here agreeing with something that is not right for the dog. It's is one of the great things about this board & why some of us, no matter how upset we may get with posters, are still here to try to help the dogs & their owners.

The way that you have chosen to live with this pup, is so VERY wrong. Whether you stay or go, all we can hope is that you will can the sarcarm & excuses & do what is right by that pup. You owe him at least that much.

And yes, I did go out & work & run my dogs..for the 6th time today.

ETA....my last pup slept in a crate under my desk & never made a peep. He had a bully stick & frozsen stuffed kong to keep him happy. I even partially covered his crate when I had to leave my desk for a few minutes, so that he didn't see me leave the room. I did this for 6 months under the desk until 4 months old & then out in the truck crate. Like Steve said....much for them to watch & great socialization.

They do go through stages where they need more than the norm and sometimes less - I think though he may have been getting less than the norm for a while and is now getting more frustrated because of this pent up energy.

I found that at first I created a schedule (in your head or on paper whichever works best) and then stick to it, so he has structure.

He will need about 45 mins to an hour of exercise and OB (mixed) in the morning, then let your wife take him to work and crate him. At lunch, she will need to exercise him and do some more OB (I used to even write what I was going to work on that day for OB) with him. Then back in the crate until after work. She could also split his morning meal into two small meals and stuff it in a Kong or Treat Ball. Give him one portion in the morning when she gets to work and one when she gets back from their lunch romp. Even if she works an extra fifteen minutes in the morning and an extra 15 at the end of the day to make sure she has an hour with him at lunch (if she doesn't have a full hour already). OOPS! And don't forget a bathroom break during coffee break (morning and afternoon)if possible. With this schedule you should be able to be a little less restrictive with the water.

Then after work you could work him and then spend the evening just relaxing, grooming, playing games, or just teaching him that there is a time to relax too.

I really think that if he could just be worked a little more, these issues would resolve and you will have a happier more balanced dog in the end.

I would say that concern in helping the offender is secondary only to helping or protecting the dog. Some people recommend rehoming because they know how unfair it is to keep a pup crated all day and night. There are certainly other options but only if you and your wife are willing to do what is best for the pup even if it is outside your comfort level. And btw...many of us caught he sarcasm in your pet store comment..