Help with dealing with new dog, new apartment
So, this is the story: like 8 months ago my fiancè's mother got her a dachshund, because her previous dog died (another dachshund). She did it without my fiancè's consent, and she didn't really want another dog, so she didn't take responsibility for him. He became the family dog then, but because my fiance's brothers are so lazy (and neither them asked for the dog), they didn't help much with it's necessities. So, they were gonna find him another home, but when I finally met Rex, I really liked him, and asked my fiance to take care of him until we moved together, and then I'd take full responsibility for him (I had to bribe her ).
So, next Saturday she's going to move in with me, along with Rex. Unfortunately, Rex has become a very, ummm, hyperactive dog. He constantly destroys stuff, and gets anxious if he's alone (starts to bark a lot). Ruth (my fiancè ) and I have to go to work, and will have to leave him without human supervision for part of the day. I thought of a couple of solutions:
1) get him neutered to make him less prone to urinate on the furniture (and my games).
2) get him a dog companion - I was told of a 6 month female dachshund that needs a home (free of charge), by a friend.
3) get him to a professional trainer.
Are my solutions fine? Can I do something else? Is it possible for me to train Rex myself to be less destructive and anxious?
So, next Saturday she's going to move in with me, along with Rex. Unfortunately, Rex has become a very, ummm, hyperactive dog. He constantly destroys stuff, and gets anxious if he's alone (starts to bark a lot). Ruth (my fiancè ) and I have to go to work, and will have to leave him without human supervision for part of the day. I thought of a couple of solutions:
1) get him neutered to make him less prone to urinate on the furniture (and my games).
2) get him a dog companion - I was told of a 6 month female dachshund that needs a home (free of charge), by a friend.
3) get him to a professional trainer.
Are my solutions fine? Can I do something else? Is it possible for me to train Rex myself to be less destructive and anxious?
Comments
Don't get a female companion. This is just asking for more trouble.
Get him into obedient school asap. The longer you wait, the harder he will be to train.
You havnt stated his age, this is very important because if he's still a pup then he will act like one, and will settle down as he grows.
If he's however a few yrs old, things will be more difficult.
Another thing, I don't know your house environment, but you should separate the inside from the outside as a rule for the dog.
Keep the dog outside and teach him to understand that inside the house is out of bounds.
If worse comes to worse... Buy a cat
Originally posted by: Holy-SNES
Get him the chop and he will calm down a little.
Don't get a female companion. This is just asking for more trouble.
Get him into obedient school asap. The longer you wait, the harder he will be to train.
You havnt stated his age, this is very important because if he's still a pup then he will act like one, and will settle down as he grows.
If he's however a few yrs old, things will be more difficult.
Another thing, I don't know your house environment, but you should separate the inside from the outside as a rule for the dog.
Keep the dog outside and teach him to understand that inside the house is out of bounds.
If worse comes to worse... Buy a cat
Neutering a dog doesn't always help. My freinds dog TJ is a super hyperactive dog. He was neutered last year and he still acts the same. Like humans I think dogs can also develop ADD, people say they can't but I don't believe that.
Also when our dog urinates or defecates where he's not supposed to, we clean it up and then put his food in that place for a few days, that should stop him from urinating/defecating there again.
Good luck.
The dog has to know who is boss. You essentially need to become "leader of the pack" and make the dog obey your every command. Consistency is the trick and it'll work with patience.
Also, you are giving the dog free reign of the house while you are gone?
If that is what is giving the dog access to misbehave, just put him in his crate during the day.
Originally posted by: dra600n
This whole thread could have been avoided with a simple call to your local vet to find out a professionals opinion on the situation....
But where's the fun in that? Seriously though, I bet many people here have dogs, and should be able to give useful opinion.
I agree with the neutering, but I'd advise against getting him a companion this early. It can introduce a whole new set of problems if your dog is dog aggressive, or if the other dog has it's own issues.
I'd get the dog a crate until you are comfortable leaving him in the house alone. If he's in the destructive / chewing stage, he's not ready to be left alone yet.
Originally posted by: qixmaster
snip/crate/excercise/disicpline/reward
^this. Crate training little dogs is one of the best thing you can do. Dogs are den animals by nature. Once they become comfrtable with there crate they'll feel safe and cozy inside. It does wonders in helping to house break them too. Nobody shits/pisses where they live, you know? Also, lot's of excercise is import, escpecially with dachsunds. If he's ever acting up just whip out a laser pointer and let him chase that back and forth across the room for 30 minutes
Originally posted by: jonebone
Yeah it's not like your dog ingested poisonous chemicals. Calling a vet is overkill.
If I'm having issues with my pet, I'll call the vet (a reputable, not some random shady place) for advice on how to train my animal(s) / behavioral issues. Granted, I would only do this after a good google search, especially since every dog won't react/respond the same way (and quite possibly rebel), so would you rather listen to the opinions of a few people, or listen to a professional?
Originally posted by: dra600n
Originally posted by: jonebone
Yeah it's not like your dog ingested poisonous chemicals. Calling a vet is overkill.
If I'm having issues with my pet, I'll call the vet (a reputable, not some random shady place) for advice on how to train my animal(s) / behavioral issues. Granted, I would only do this after a good google search, especially since every dog won't react/respond the same way (and quite possibly rebel), so would you rather listen to the opinions of a few people, or listen to a professional?
So if you want to do an oil change, do you call a dealership or maybe ask a few mechanics on a message board? OP is asking for very basic skills that any dog owner should be able to perform themselves.
He's not asking how to give his insulin shots to his diabetic dog. Just accept that your first post was made pre-coffee and sounded like a dumb troll with no value added. This is a non-argument.
Also, comparing an oil change and calling a garage vs potential behavioral issues with an animal are 2 way completely different things. Garages will be more than helpful with the basic questions (such as what part number for an oil filter or the right weight of oil), but won't give you a step by step instructions on what to do. A vet will give you a good range of options, or even offer to do an eval on your pet if you're still having issues, and recommend the next steps to take. For a potential long term companion, such as a dog or a cat, you'd think that in the beginning stages of owning an animal, you'd want to be a little "over the top" so you can learn what to do and what to expect. Various posts on a forum won't help with that.
Originally posted by: dra600n
Calling it trolling or whatever you'd like. If the suggestions provided here don't work well, much like Acomicbookguy's friends dog who didn't calm down or anything after being fixed, then I guess consulting a vet / professional will still be overkill
Personally I think if you really want to seek "professional" help you should be looking at a trainer of some sort.. At least around here vets are for sick or injured animals, not because you don't like how they act and don't know how to train them.
Also, my fiance worked at a vet for 2 years herself if that makes my opinion any more valid I've also trained numerous dogs, even stubborn ones.
Originally posted by: qixmaster
snip/crate/excercise/disicpline/reward
Yeah this. Also, when you leave turn on a TV or Radio on lower volume. Enough so the dog can hear ot but also sleep if he wants to. The above combo will do wonders for you and your dog.
Kidding aside, Josh and others have nailed it.
Originally posted by: MrMark0673
Have you thought about getting it a prostitute?
Kidding aside, Josh and others have nailed it.
Mmm... do you think that'd help ? I'm willing to try anything.
Originally posted by: MinusWorlds
Can you post some photos of the hellraiser??
I'll do it when I can
Fortunately, he hasn't been so bad. He hasn't destroyed anything, and the neighbors haven't complained of noise (I assume he hasn't been barking a lot when we aren't home). The only problem is that even if I take him out twice a day (in the morning and the evening), he keeps urinating all over the floor before we wake up.
also, you can regulate his liquid intake so that he's not filling up on water before bed time.