Puppy Advice Needed Barking And Feeding And Walking

[warek]

Question one Barking and feeding

I have two 5 month old Australian Shepherds, brother and sister and two old dogs. They sleep outside in a courtyard in two kennels and a dog crate. At 6am the male pup starts barking for his food. He continues to bark unless I feed him or bring him into the kitchen. He has been doing this for months. The pups are allowed into the kitchen when we are up, but it leads into an open lounge room without a door, and if I bring him inside and go back to bed he stops barking but goes into the lounge and chews things. I would like to sleep in to 7.00 am.

I am currently feeding each pup twice a day about 400 gms each, of dried puppy food morning 200gms and night 200 gms. The male will eat his meal in < 1 minute and be looking for more. Am I feeding him enough food?

Question two

When we are in the lounge and the pups are in the kitchen they continue to sneak into the lounge if we are not watching them? I tell them off and if they continue I will put them outside

Question 3

When walking the dogs, if they see another dog or person the male will bark excitedly and pull hard to get to the other dog.

Also when walking with two people if the male is ahead he will stop, drop his back legs to the ground and refuse to go any further until the female has caught up. If the male is behind he will pull hard to catch up to the female. If we separate and go in different directions the male does not want to go.

Question 4

When the dogs are in the back yard which is enclosed, they come when called and generally behave well. When out the front yard, which is not fenced they are attracted to new smells of rabbits and wander off and do not come back when called?

Thanks for any information

Kevin

Edited November 11, 2009 by warek

[Cosmolo]

Beautiful pup

Answer 1- Unfortunately the pup has now learned that barking will get food. I would extinction train/ ignore- only if you are prepared to be 100% consistent and know that it will likely get worse before it gets better.

Answer 2- What have you done to train them not to enter the room so far? Putting them outside is unlikely to help the pups learn what TO do with an exercise like this. Do they have a bed/ mat inside?

Answer 3- I really think that given you have 2 pups, you're best seeing a trainer to help you with this one as the dependence of the pups on each otehr can be tricksy and the wrong advice could make things worse, especially at 5 months of age. Do you ever take them for separate walks? Are the pups together 24/7? have you gone to puppy school? Obedience training?

Answer 4- What have you tried so far to teach them to recall to you when asked?

[Sandra777]

He continues to bark unless I feed him or bring him into the kitchen. He has been doing this for months.

He's got you well trained then

Perhaps have a crate in the kitchen area. Get up early BEFORE he starts barking, put him in that crate.

I am currently feeding each pup twice a day about 400 gms each, of dried puppy food morning 200gms and night 200 gms. The male will eat his meal in < 1 minute and be looking for more. Am I feeding him enough food?

That depends on the brand of food. Is dry food all they get? Is he getting enough food - well is he a good weight for his age, healthy bright and energetic?

the pups are in the kitchen they continue to sneak into the lounge if we are not watching them? I tell them off and if they continue I will put them outside

Not sure what you expect of them. It's perfectly normal for puppies to want to explore their surroundings. Have you taught them not to come in the lounge? From your description they get told off for being there (are they praised when they stay in the kitchen area?) then put somewhere else if they persist (so do they know to stay in the kitchen area?) What's in the kitchen area to make it worth their while staying there - comfy bed?, chews?, toys? company?

When walking the dogs, if they see another dog or person the male will bark excitedly and pull hard to get to the other dog.

Also when walking with two people if the male is ahead he will stop, drop his back legs to the ground and refuse to go any further until the female has caught up. If the male is behind he will pull hard to catch up to the female. If we separate and go in different directions the male does not want to go.

yep - got you very well trained. I would suggest obedience classes for you. Also "he doesn't want to go" - so what? YOU want him to go so this is what happens. He doesn't need to be the one making the choice

When the dogs are in the back yard which is enclosed, they come when called and generally behave well. When out the front yard, which is not fenced they are attracted to new smells of rabbits and wander off and do not come back when called?

Well of course - is what you are offering them as interesting as a rabbit? Have you ACTIVELY trained them to come when called, proofed it against distractions and practiced it? At 5 months old most puppies won't be reliable with a recall, so don't expect the impossible and make sure you don't train them to not come when you ask. Obedience classes again

Edited November 11, 2009 by Sandra777

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

In my experience, don't get puppies if you want a lie in! I'm talking about young dogs generally - it's like having toddlers, they don't like a lie in either. 7.00 am is quite a late start!

If you want to stop them going into a certain room, perhaps consider a baby gate but I don't think it's fair to expect them to stay in one room. Not a good idea to let them anywhere that is unfenced, you say they wander? Wandering dogs get lost.

Do you spend much time with them yourself?

Edited November 11, 2009 by dogmad

[Karelea Aussies]

warek

Come join the Aussie thread here

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=87106

piccies are a must.

[Lucy's mama]

warek

Come join the Aussie thread here

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=87106

piccies are a must.

x2