lilmisssascha83

That was my other thing I was going to suggest. The Nothing in life is free. Only reward when he is being good and make him earn it. I have been practicing this with Sasha the past few days more often with more and more things. Previously I would only do it for giving her food, going for a walk, she would have to sit and then she use to yank me out the door ( not anymore) she has to sit and wait until I open the door and then I go out first. I have been doing this for months though now. Now I make her sit or lay down before I throw a ball for her as I am trying to use the ball as a reward for her recall. And also so she knows that I wont't play or throw the ball until she does what I ask and does it well. The lay down thing was new for her but the last two days she has really gotten it. I can tell her down and she lays down and then she gets the ball as her reward so I think she's cottoned on to that fact. Also if she brings me a toy to initate play I ignore her. I have to be the one to initate the game not her and while it is cute I thinks she knows if she starts the game and I comply then she's the leader. So I have been changing a few things to make sure she knows I'm the leader and I set the rules. I think it is working but it's a process. I was wondering too if he has been desexed yet? It could be hormonal. If possible try to get a professional in too so they can see what he is doing. I suspect these unwanted behaviours is what got him in the pound to begin with as his previous owners could be bothered to address it.

I"m no expert as I haven't had this issue before with my dogs in the past. But it sounds like he is suffering a bit from separation anxiety. Poor thing, he probably wasn't treated well in the past and now that he is with you who cares for him he might not know this is acceptable behaviour. It could be that he isn't confident yet which is why he is upset when you aren't in sight. Maybe try practicing sit stays very slowly ( but move away)and if he stays then rewards. I practiced this with my girl first in the house, I can now walk around the house and then come back to her and she is in the same position. Also maybe give him a job to do when you aren't there or some kind of distraction. If he is doing this when you just go to the shower I think he is unsure that you are coming back. I have a lab ( who is a rescue dog). I was worried she would become destructive when I was at work so everyday before work, we go for a walk where we incorporate training time, play time etc. I do this to tire her out. When we get back home and before I have to go to work, I scatter her breakfast around the garden so she has to (find it) and sometimes she might get a Kong toy as well. Plus her toys. This may help with the destructive behviour if you give her stuff to do when you aren't there. Its only been a few days so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. Re: the humping behaviour. He may be doing it out of excitment or even anxiety. Or maybe he is bored or seeking your attention. Have you tried clapping your hands and yelling "NO". My dog use to do it but only to his blanket. It was soo not a pretty sight to see when we had company. He did try it on people once or twice but learnt quickly that it wasn't acceptable. I'm assuming he has had his vet check and that turned up ok? I wouldn't let him poop inside. He will get use to that and think it is normal. I remember when I first got Sasha she didn't go to the bathroom for 2 days. I was soo worried but the foster carer just told me to take her out lots as she could be shy. She now goes out on her own except at night after a little incident that scared her but we are working up the courage to get her to go again on her own. Just take him out alot as soon as he does go outside, reward him like anything. It could be that he is just getting use to you and doesn't quite know where to go outside yet. That's just from my experience though. Not sure about the clothes line thing though. Maybe just put it up higher for now. There are probably more people on here that have WAY more experience than I but maybe some of these ideas may help?

I just wanted to say you are amazing. after such a sad loss to take on another dog to foster a dog in need is amazing. He is so lucky to have found you and i hope he finds his forever home soon. I am glad he has brought some smiles to your family. and i cant wait to see pics of him and your new puppy. oh and my rescue dog wants company when going to the bathroom at night too lol

oh I feel for you. Sasha is EXACTLY the same at the moment. Its driving me nuts. I have looked up nothing is free techniques and been practicing that. I also have taken up your suggestion Weasel about practing recall with a ball as Sasha loves to play fetch. The only thing is that if there is a ball in sight she will just hang around me and not going anywhere ( unless she sees another dog) and then when I try to call her back she's too interested in greeting the dog. So frusterating but will try to perfect this technique. Usually she just wants to say hello to a dog and will come but other times she won't. I feel like when I go to school that they think I dont practice yet I do every day . awww well just keep practicing. Maybe she's having an off week

Thanks. I reall do at the moment. She just seems to be going backwards. Took her for an hour walk just now and omg she pulled on the lead like you wouldn't believe. Soo naughty. Hopefully tommorrow will be better

Thanks for your advice. I will try some bacon and ham and I will ask the vet nurse at the vet that I go to if she wouldn't mind doing some work with us in practicing this. The problem is she is fine once she says hello, she doesn't really have an interest afterwards and will listen. Anyway I'm going to contact her to try and set up some practice sessions. *sigh*. I love my dog but feel a little bit of a failure at the moment with this behaviour. This is the dog that got 2nd place in her advance obedience class. Seems I can only make her listen there and not out in the real world. Quite frusterating.

ditto

Thanks for our reply. Yeah I usuall don't let her approach unknown dogs but I thought she had met this one. But I'm just going to keep working on her recall and won't let her approach an other dogs. How did you teach your dog to ignore other dogs on your walks? I always ask an owner if Sasha can say hello but if the dog is reactive I don't let them say hello because sasha becomes reactive. Sometimes she is fine ignoring them and at other times she so desperately wants to say hello ( so I won't let her). I don't want her to greet other dogs when she is in a reactive state

Yep I still to mowed ovals or dog school. Although there is currently a brown snake at dog school so its all onlead unless I know where the snake is and even then I walk around stomping. Was WAY too hot today though for her to have a run. Just took her for a nice onlead walk though. So glad I'm going to the beach for a few days in Dec. My girl loves the beach. How I wished I lived closer to it.

That is so true!! Labs are really easy to train .......... but they have to be trained Am in total agreement. I worked with a guy who wanted a labrador as he saw and heard stories about mine and just thought she came like that. I did set him straight telling him she was from a rescue organisation, I take her to obedience school, once or twice a week, I practice training every day, she has 2 walks a day, and the vet bills, food, toys etc isn't cheap. ( he was thinking he could get one, it would be calm, already trained and would sit outside all day), he thought walking wasn't needed and that if the dog were to come indoors it wouldn't make a mess. oh and yes he wanted a puppy. I don't think Sasha is the best trained dog in the world but she is getting there and while its nice that people comment on how well behaved she is ( sometimes) I have taken the time to continue training her. He just thinks that all labs come trained as "they are guide dogs" so they are calm and placid etc. I really hope he doesn't get one as I know he isn't ready for not only a labrador but any dog at this stage. I am pleased though that you are taking in everyone's words. Ultimately the decision is up to you but its nice to see you asking questions before you get a pup. It is very easy to be swayed into a pup as they are adorable and I understand the need to have it grow up with your kids but you have to ask yourself in all honesty if you have the time to look after essentially another baby. I think the suggestion of contacting a guide dog organisation to see if you could have a pup to raise and then give back is a great idea. I know customs do this as well. Basically you get a pup, you treat it as if it were your own ( gives you a taste of what it's like to have a pup in the house) and then after 12 months you "give" it back to be trained as a custom's dog. While it would be sad I think it would give you a great insight to what it would be like having a pup in the house with kids and it is also a great service to the community. Some rescue organisations like where I got sasha from DO match you with your dog. You meet, you have a 2 week trial to see how it is with the dog in the house for at least 2 weeks and then after that period is up if you chose to adopt you can. Some also will send the dog interstate ( provided that you are a good match). You just need to ask. I initally thought I wanted a pup but after weighing up everything I thought it wouldn't be the right thing for me right now. But I have ended up with the best dog I could ask and yes she was a rescue dog so I don't really know her history but with the right training etc she is turning out to the best dog she can be.

Yep went to school with Sasha and we have warning signs posted about a brown snake that has been sighted. And to first check the offlead areas before taking the dogs off the lead. Today after doing my check I find out 1 hour later that the snake was curled up at the front of school in some box it found. But the signs do tell us to leave it and just tell the office where it was and that it will go away on its own accord. Still scares me a little but its nice that the club is being responsible and even if I look like a goose checking the paddocks before letting my girl out I'll do it. LOL

awww what lovely stories. It is easy to forgot that they are people too. Great news about the ranger helping out those dogs. Sooo nice that there are people who do care.

Thanks, I really think it was an equistive response.She is a curious dog at times and she has been around dogs like this before and there never has been an issue. She just leaves it but the owner did pick up is dog while yelling at me and I do think that made it worse. Kiara&Heidi- no I didn't see my dog do anything. She was standing near the dog and I could see she wanted to say hello and then the dog started barking ( not mine) and the owner started yelling at me. She plays quite regularly with other dogs of all sizes. Currently she is in regularly contact with a little dacshund and they play quite nicely together. I don't know if the dog just got scared or maybe the owner was wary and displayed this to his dog. I don't think I"m an expert at reading dog's behaviour but with my dog I really don't think she did anything. And I have had behaviourists check her out as she was a rescue. But I should have a better recall on her but at the time that is what we were practise. I obviously failed though this time :-(. Thanks for your advice though and I will be mindful from now on. She also has had a health check last week and the vet said she was in perfect health so I know it couldn't be something to do with her health. I love Rotty's. Grew up with them. There is a gorgeous rotty at dog school called Boss.

The poor animals such a sad story

hehehe I love this thread. Dogs and cats. Soo cute. My kitty loves the couch, my bed, my lap LOL. Miss Sash loves by my feet, in my lap if I"m on the floor ( she seems to forget she's a LABrador and not a LAPrador and she's technically not alloud on the couch but I have caught her sneaking onto it at night when I go to bed.

LMFAO OMG so true

I rang lab rescue about a dog on their website. they didnt think we would be a match but thought another dog they had in their care would be perfect. i went to meet her, she winked at me and i just knew she adopted me. so that is how sasha came part of my family. plus she has been brillant with my cat and my nieces and friends kids

Thanks for your replies. I was watching her behaviour but i admittedly wasnt right next to her and she wasnt displaying and aggressive behaviour in her greeting. maybe she got to close to the dog when greeting. Maybe the other dog doesnt like others after being attacked.and displayed some kind or behaviour to her. just seems odd as when we have gone to the beach there are mainly small dogs there and we have never had an issue. she says hi and plays nice or gives her ball to them lol and comes when i call her. but ill keep her on an extra long lead so she can still play ball. thanks everyone i was so worried but your words have made sense

Ok this might be a silly question. But does anyone's medium to large dogs have issues with smaller dogs ( mainly poodles or maltese dogs?). I just can't work this out. Today Sash and I were playing in an offlead area when a man came with his two smaller poodle/maltese dogs. Sasha went over to say hi and then the man started yelling at me saying that Sash was attacking his dog. His dog started making like yelping noises. The owner picked up one of his dogs and was yelling at me. Sasha was jumped by a poodle type dog before so I don't know if she remembered any of it at the time. I went to see if his dog was ok. But he just kept yelling at me saying his dog has been attacked before and to watch my dog. Yet before this happened he was saying how it was ok the dogs can say hi. Before this happened all I heard was his dog barking at Sasha. She was not barking or showing any aggressive signs. She was a rescue dog who I have had over a year. We have been doing obedience training at dog school and came second in the advance exam and now have the title of Good Companion. We now are in the transition class. She has been around poodles and small dogs before with no issues. She even played with a maltese and a toy poodle at the beach. So I just don't know. Is it possible for dogs not to like every dog? Is it possible she reacted to the other dog barking at her when she was being nice in her greeting? Unfortunately her recall isn't the best and we were working on it at the time when he came with his dogs. I have had her behaviour assessed at dog school, and by 2 behaviourists. I have been told she isn't an aggressive dog but just don't know what happened. I feel awful about it all. I did try to see if the other dog was ok and it looked ok and there was no bleeding but it was difficult when when man was yelling abusively at me then running away. I will be talking to school again this weekend about it. I practice her recall every day.

I am just wondering why she would want to rehome her dog if it is alloud in the retirement village?? Heck I'm finding it soo difficult to find a place to live with my cat and dog at the moment but they are staying. I'm not moving anywhere without them and I"ve made that perfectly clear. Housing market to rent is crap though if you have pets. Heck I"ll move to the retirement village and take my pets and her dog LOL if it meant we could be together.

Why does she want to rehome the pup? Don't worry I don't like people very much at the best to times LOL. I'd rather just be surrounded by animals

Mine isn't either but she is pretty easy going and LOVES going to the vet. I have NEVER seen a dog who is sooo overly happy to go. But I can see the benefits of crate training.

OMG I didn't know this. Right Sasha is not to go to any dams

I'd like to do that to but I don't really know how to get started. For now I have donated goods and money. I unfortunately can't foster at the moment in the place i'm in but hoping that maybe I could help with some administration or something. Makes me sad that soo many dogs need homes due to people's irresponsibility

ohhh after all the suggestions on here I have just ordered A Dog's Purpose. I"m sure I will love it.