CBL

Come down! We started with Patch last week and I think Oscar is going to have a go this week too (provided the weather is OK)

Yep I used the food bribe yesterday - it took a bit for him to approach it, but he eventually did. He basically has us wrapped around his little paw, we have had quite a few big things on in the last couple of weeks and have needed some sleep so have been caving more than we should. He is a dog that needs some sort of contact though, whether it is us or Patch but we do need to get a bit more independance into him. We are happy for him to sleep in our room, Patch does. Our concern in the bed is that sometimes Patch decides to join us on the bed too and has come close to squashing Oscar. Definitely going to upgrade the crate to a bigger size and just get back into the tough love. Would just love to work out how to make the crate more attractive than our bed He is a typical ig and so loves to burrow, so I think a sleeping bag might be an option. I am looking forward to puppy school tonight so we can see how far behind he really is

Yep think he is being a brat - he does it well. He is in an airline crate with a hot water bottle, special crate toy and blanket - but there isn't a lot of room in there - it is a bit short for him now so wondering whether that is part of it (as well as the fact that he loves people contact). The coat and collar thing came out of nowhere, I don't think we were doing anything to encourage it, but we may well have. Once they are on, he doesn't care in the slightest. We went for our first walk yesterday evening outside the house and he did really well - head down bum up though as there were so many new things to smell. Going to work on heel now.

Ugh! Feels like we are going backwards with Oscar at the moment! We can finally leave him in his pen (we upgraded from a wire crate to a huge puppy pen) during the day and go out with no fuss. However, in all other aspects we seem to be going backwards! He isn't settling in his little crate at night (in our room) and there have been a few times where we have slept on the couch with him and a couple of times he has slept in the bed (I know we have made things worse by doing this). His crate is really too small for him now so we have to upgrade. I was away last week and hubby only tried 'stand' with him once - on the floor - I have tried since and can't get him to focus. He also now hates getting his coat on, it takes 2 of us to hold him still, and the same with the collar! Hopefully this is just a phase, but what can we do to help him through it? edit - btw - he is 14 weeks and we are starting puppy school this week

Ahh the tuna treats I have never seen my two so nuts as when that packet rustles! About to switch Patch over to Orijen too as he is nearly through his Nutro. Think I will switch Oscar too.

Our vet and breeder advised us to wait till after his second vacc so we are only just getting to go this week (at 14 weeks) later than we wanted but at least we know he is protected.

We are guilty of doing the same thing with Oscar He is fine if we are out (we think), but carries on if he can see us, and has started acting up at night because he knows our bed is so much more comfy and warm. I am going away for 5 days tomorrow and so it will be interesting to see how hubby copes!

Hadn't thought it could be medical. It is definitely something I will investigate. It seems to be only when we are not in the room and not occuring all the time - he will hold it to go outside. Typical, we were at the vets just yesterday!

Thanks Jules - Patch is on Nutro and Oscar is on small breed puppy Purina One

Thought it was vinegar - I will get some when I go to the shops later. I tell you, both boys go ape for those fish treats! I need to buy more soon!

Ugh - Patch has, in the last 2 days - peed in the house, in the same spot 3 times! We are wondering whether it is marking, so dominance, or whether he is attracted to the smell of the clothes in the bags he has been peeing on (they were in storage and had moth balls in them). Either way, I have booked him in for some private training lessons with another obedience instruction so we can get this NILIF thing down pat and I am going back to taking him out to the toilet rather than waiting on him to tell me. Anyone know the best way to get rid of the smell (have been using hot water with floor cleaner and a spray that is supposed to stop the smell) - or how to get the light grey grout on my brand new tiled floor back to its original colour?

Thanks everyone, this is turning into a interesting discussion Patch doesn't have agression issues, seems to be more anxiety - he wants to be with us all the time, licking his lips etc when he is blocked from doing that. We have decided to go with more of a NILIF program (same principles as the trainer, only maybe not as dramatic), and see how we go. I am going to still feed some raw food but reduce it and use more kibble. As for Oscar's crate training, which was the big issue I wanted fixed - just have to keep persevering, putting him in and rewarding quiet behaviour.

I hope so! Not sure that I am going to go with all that she recommended - but think I will focus more on NILIF with both of them - and no more on the furniture

Yep I agree Tony - while I was aware I should have more boundaries I wasn't enforcing it. While I got her in to help Oscar, I didn't realise the level of anxiety that Patch has. We always just thought he was a clingy dog, liked to be with you. Never saw it as anxiety/dominance.

I have some reading to do. Will be interested to hear other opinions. I have a very cranky hubby - I told him what she suggested and he thinks it is all rubbish. I tried to tell him that she watched them both playing and said how great they were together and not to pull them up on the mouthing, oscar biting and playing etc etc. He thinks it is 'not acceptable'. Why pay all that money to get a professional in, and then disregard everything they suggest?

something to do with too much protein? want to research this one a bit more.

I got someone to pay us a house visit in an attempt to deal with Oscar's crate issues. I didn't realise just what problems we have! Patch is actually a very anxious dog, trying to be pack leader. I hadn't picked up on all the dominance displays! The biggest change - no dogs in the bedroom - both of them out in the back room from tonight. No cuddles on the couch either I love cuddle time with both my boys It was also suggested that I stick with dry food for a while (they also get raw) due to high levels of protein leading to anxiety issues. Have a whole list of things to do - I know it is for the best with them but I feel like all 'our' time together has been taken away.

Ssshh can you hear that - silence! Oscar is happily chewing on a big bone in his crate. The bone seems to be the key - keeps him occupied. I have gone out for a few hours in the last couple of days, doesn't cry when I put him in (with his breakfast and a bone) but still cries when he hears me come home. We are making slow progress

Yes I don't wake Oscar - he lets me know when he needs to go.

No worries - believe me, at the moment I know the feeling I am sure we will get there, I just can't wait!

Boy this is hard work. I am perservering though. Had a couple of training sessions throughout the day - he had some great ones where I managed to keep him quiet and reward him after a minute, but then we just had a really bad session where he screamed for 20 mins at a time before I got 15 seconds of silence! Now curled up in my lap like butter wouldn't melt. I do NILIF with him - he has to sit before he gets his dinner or is allowed on my lap, he picked that up within a day. I just hope the crate clicks with him soon. btw setter2, not sure if your post about the cocker was aimed at me - Oscar is an iggy

This is such a great idea, I've been pricing puppy pen prices on Ebay and at Petbarn, then when we were at Bunnings on Saturday I remembered about this - sure enough in the outdoor area they had lots of these compost cages.... we picked up two for substantially less than the cost of the cheapest pen I could find.... Thanks for this suggestion, we may even go back for a 3rd once we get it all set up I rang my local Bunnings and they didn't have any in stock (and didn't think they would again). I may need to do some more hunting around

Yep I am coming up on my second week of getting up around 3 times a night. Usually 11:30, 2:30 and 5:30 (just when he wakes) though sometimes he misses the 5:30 trip. Oscar is so tiny that he is paper trained at the moment. We will work on outside when he gets a bit bigger.

:cool: Well I thought I would start a little session tonight after dinner. OH went out and took Patch so no distractions. I popped him in and hid around the corner. I got about 3 sessions of training, with minimal sooking, then when i went in next he was in his bed and didn't want to come out for his treat! He is now sound asleep :p Think I will start up the training again tomorrow

He's only a teeny tiny iggie and I think still too small for outside. The yard isn't tiny puppy proof yet though we are in the process of fixing it up - it is safe for Patch but there are some small gaps where Oscar could escape. We are going to section off an area of the yard for each of them shortly.