Brownie04 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and was hoping for some advice about how to train our new puppy. We got an 8 month old Bullmastiff X boxer (this was best guess by AWL) a week and a half ago. We have called her Daisy. When we first met her she was nervous but after a while seemed more relaxed. She didnt show any signs of aggression and was very gentle when meeting my almost 2 year old daughter. We dont know much of her history as she was an unclaimed stray. Since we bought Daisy home her behaviour has got steadily worse. At first she was quite scared of my partner particularly when he came home from work. This is slowly improving and she behaves ok for him. It is me Daisy is having issues with, now that she is comfortable with me she jumps on to me and at 29kg it is painful . She takes a run up and jumps pritty much on my head and trys to grab me by the neck with her paws. She does this when shes excited. I am trying to turn my back to her and walk away but sometimes I cant help pushing her off because I cant get her off otherwise and telling her no. This seems to make it worse. I tell her to sit but she doesnt. I also cant get back in the house without her jumping and trying to push her way in. She also does this when I leave to go out the gate and I have to literally drag and wrestle her back in the gate. This is very difficult to do with my daughter there. Daisy is also very restless, inside she will not sit still at all. I have her on the leash but she still trys to leave and I have to tell her what to do the whole time she is indoors. She now has the fur on her back raised when she sees new people and dogs. I am not sure if this is aggression or nerves. I do some basic training with her everyday and she has absolutely no attention span. If she is not over excited she can sit to get pats so she is capable of learning but nothing seems to sink in. She will start training classes soon. She goes on daily walk and is getting better with a halti head collar. I would realy appreciate some advice on our situation. I feel that we have made a mistake with getting her but we are committed to her now. Before Daisy we had a rescue bullmastiff X Great dane who died at 4 1/2 years old from lymphosarcoma (cancer). She was a very calm gentle dog and never aggressive. This is why we chose Daisy as she is similar breeding and when we met her she was so sweet. I now know that we probably should have got a small dog but it is too late now so we will work with what we have. I feel that if we get the current issues sorted Daisy will be a lovely dog. I say that sitting here bruised with a swollen lip and my thumb nail half ripped off and bloody due to being jumped on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal House Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Im sure some more experienced people will come in to help, but you adopted her from AWL and they are very good. I would be ringing them for some advice, it may be you took on too much dog for an inexperienced owner. And if you have, you should be able to take her back and perhaps get a dog more suited to your lifestyle, thats a big dog to have around a 2yo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal House Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 If you have only had her for 10 days, ring them, as Im sure most Welfare Leagues offer a 2 week trial, as some dogs just dont fit into the family lifestyle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brownie04 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 I think I will give AWL a call for some advice tomorrow. We are not the type of people to return a dog because it wasnt easy and I think my partner would be devastated. I am so hopeful we can teach her to behave and even I would be so sad to see her go. I am looking forward to any suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Which state are you in? Perhaps someone can recommend a good behaviourist as I think this is the way to go with a large breed and a 2 yr old in the house. I know many people here will disagree with me, but personally I would re think keeping such a large dog with any fear issues due to your little girl. I took on a dog last year with fear issues, she too died of cancer but also bit my little girl a few times out of fear. Hence why I've now gone down the puppy from a registered breeder route. Food for thought, either way I hope it all works out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravensmyst00 Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi everyone,I am new to the forum and was hoping for some advice about how to train our new puppy. We got an 8 month old Bullmastiff X boxer (this was best guess by AWL) a week and a half ago. We have called her Daisy. When we first met her she was nervous but after a while seemed more relaxed. She didnt show any signs of aggression and was very gentle when meeting my almost 2 year old daughter. We dont know much of her history as she was an unclaimed stray. Since we bought Daisy home her behaviour has got steadily worse. At first she was quite scared of my partner particularly when he came home from work. This is slowly improving and she behaves ok for him. It is me Daisy is having issues with, now that she is comfortable with me she jumps on to me and at 29kg it is painful . She takes a run up and jumps pritty much on my head and trys to grab me by the neck with her paws. She does this when shes excited. I am trying to turn my back to her and walk away but sometimes I cant help pushing her off because I cant get her off otherwise and telling her no. This seems to make it worse. I tell her to sit but she doesnt. I also cant get back in the house without her jumping and trying to push her way in. She also does this when I leave to go out the gate and I have to literally drag and wrestle her back in the gate. This is very difficult to do with my daughter there. Daisy is also very restless, inside she will not sit still at all. I have her on the leash but she still trys to leave and I have to tell her what to do the whole time she is indoors. She now has the fur on her back raised when she sees new people and dogs. I am not sure if this is aggression or nerves. I do some basic training with her everyday and she has absolutely no attention span. If she is not over excited she can sit to get pats so she is capable of learning but nothing seems to sink in. She will start training classes soon. She goes on daily walk and is getting better with a halti head collar. I would realy appreciate some advice on our situation. I feel that we have made a mistake with getting her but we are committed to her now. Before Daisy we had a rescue bullmastiff X Great dane who died at 4 1/2 years old from lymphosarcoma (cancer). She was a very calm gentle dog and never aggressive. This is why we chose Daisy as she is similar breeding and when we met her she was so sweet. I now know that we probably should have got a small dog but it is too late now so we will work with what we have. I feel that if we get the current issues sorted Daisy will be a lovely dog. I say that sitting here bruised with a swollen lip and my thumb nail half ripped off and bloody due to being jumped on. This is a problem with crossbreeds - you never know what you will end up with. Your first cross was calm and gentle - this one is basically nuts. Get her to obedience ASAP. Also if Daisy is putting her hackles up (the fur on the back of her neck and back) that is sometimes the first signs of aggression and should be quickly squashed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Ravens: Also if Daisy is putting her hackles up (the fur on the back of her neck and back) that is sometimes the first signs of aggression and should be quickly squashed. My guess would be that this pup has had very little interaction with other dogs and people. It could just be arousal but I think a call to AWL is the way to go. You've got Daisy in probably the most challenging stage of any dog's life.. adolescence. Obedience training for some basic manners will help with jumping and a large crate would be a good addition to your house so that Daisy can watch goings on while you can't supervise her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I've posted this link elsewhere, but if you have some time do download Dr Ian Dunbar's book 'After You get Your Puppy' and read it. He's an excellent canine behaviourist, and in order to stop unruly pups ending up in shelters, for the month of January you can download this excellent book for free! It deals with the everyday ups and downs of pups and gives sensible and easy to follow suggestions using positive training methods as to how to get back on the right track with your dog or pup. http://www.dogstardaily.com/free-downloads In deed you can also get 'Before you get your puppy' for free too - It sounds like you've a big bouncy girl to whom living in the house is strange and she's all over the place, and doesn't know her own size and weight which isn't helping. If you feel that Daisy isn't the right dog for you, please let the AWL know, and I'm sure they will help you find the right dog, and ensure that Daisy gets into the home that fits her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brownie04 Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Thanks everyone, I am feeling much better today after a call to AWL. They realy are so nice and helpful. I was told that it is very common for dogs to start to test boundaries at the 2 week mark in a new home. I have to establish myself as a pack leader, it is obvious Daisy is trying to be the boss with me as she behaves well with my partner. I got lots of advice on how to do this. We are also starting obedience classes tomorrow so I hope that helps too. We are in brisbane if anyone can recommend a behaviourist if our training does not begin to work. I was also talking to the guy at AWL about Daisy's hesitation with people and dogs and he agreed that she has not had much contact with people and dogs and that we should continue to socialise her in controlled environment. He said they saw no signs of aggression in her and that I may be miss reading the situation and she is reacting to me being nervous. We are obviously going to watch her closely and talk to the trainer about it tomorrow aswell. We are not ready to give her up even though AWL would take her back if it came to that. I think I made it sound like she is never good but we realy do enjoy having her around some of her bahaviour is just a bit nuts. I think it will take longer than two weeks for her to settle so I want to work with her and see how she goes. We didnt expect Daisy to be the same as our old dog, I think we were first drawn to her because she has a similar look but in the end chose her because she was so sweet when we met her. I agree that she probably has not been in a house before as when she is outside on her own she is calm where as indoors she cant relax. I have also downloaded the puupy book and will read that on the weekend. Does anyone have any specific tips on how to get out of the gate without her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Does anyone have any specific tips on how to get out of the gate without her? The easist method is probably to toss a few dog treats or a tasty bone away from the gate as you go to exit. By the time she hoovers them up, you'll be gone. I use this method with a dog I babysit from time to time.. he puts up an incredible amount of barking as you leave. A few treats in the grass and he makes no fuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildatHeart Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 jane harper is in Brisbane. She is excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal House Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Try filling a kong with some treats that she likes. That way she is rewarded when you go out of the gate. Once she knows "Sit" and "Drop", it will be easier, but still reward her with a big juicy marrowbone or similar. You need to get on top of her issues now though, she is a big dog, and still a puppy. Big boisterous pups (with seemingly no brain at times ) and little children are a recipe for many tears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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