Burkes Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Staffyluv, Please make sure you talk to your mentor about these issues as well. ARF are here to help you have have lots of equipment and people at our disposal. I can drop a wire crate off to you tomorrow if you want, they are definately helpful. We also have a huge library of books and other stuff like citronella collars. We also have lots of very experienced foster carers who are happy to help and if things don't improve we also have a behaviourist who helps us out. But it sounds like you are getting some improvement so that is fantastic! THe first week of fostering is always the hardest, it is always at that time that I wonder why I do it. BUt with perseverance it will all settle down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted October 31, 2011 Author Share Posted October 31, 2011 Hi Staffyluv, Please make sure you talk to your mentor about these issues as well. ARF are here to help you have have lots of equipment and people at our disposal. I can drop a wire crate off to you tomorrow if you want, they are definately helpful. We also have a huge library of books and other stuff like citronella collars. We also have lots of very experienced foster carers who are happy to help and if things don't improve we also have a behaviourist who helps us out. But it sounds like you are getting some improvement so that is fantastic! THe first week of fostering is always the hardest, it is always at that time that I wonder why I do it. BUt with perseverance it will all settle down. Thanks so much but getting the boys playing this afternoon has been wonderful. They are rumbling in my office right now over a football - the staffy noises are amazing but he just does not have Gussy's stamina and needs a rest every so often. They are getting along really well, playing ball together, drinking from the same bowl (I won't test meals together - I think they should have their own food). I have given them both a treat at the same time and they were happy to eat their treats together. I am not not worried at all about leaving them with Cory while I go away. I will be getting them both desexed on Friday 11th November - so they are both laid up at the same time and I think their soft crates will be fine. They will both be going to training - I got the number from West QBN Vets this afternoon for a good local trainer. I will get Gussy assessed and find out which level he needs to go into but Ziggy will need just a socialisation class for beginners and then further training as he is so shy around people. Is there by any chance a discount for training foster dogs? Does not matter if there isn't, he will still go to training as I really think he has so much potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 great job on the training and congrats on your new puppy. Don't worry about being on the training thread either. I think I go here heaps to learn new things I can improve on with my dog or to get some advice. I hope everything continues to keep improving for you and your boys. Its amazing what a change in environment, setting ground rules and a little love can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I think it would be very hard having the two new dogs at one time, especially if neither has had much in the way of training before. The best thing you can do (I got this advice from an experienced behaviouralist and rescuer) when bringing a new dog home is to let it settle for a couple of weeks. During this time you don't pay too much attention to the dog, you establish a simple routine of walking/feeding etc. Far too many people want to make a big fuss of the dog because it's had no home before or a hard time etc and they want to take the dog everywhere and have everyone they know round to show them off. This is all VERY overwhelming for any dog and although some do manage, some also develop behavioural issues. Just like us settling in to a new job, so dogs need to settle in to a new environment. As for housetraining - I've trained a hundred or so foster dogs and many other people's fosters or new adoptee dogs with this method: HOUSETRAINING TIPS Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days. Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes. The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded. NB: Please note that the smell of urine must be properly removed for any housetraining to be successful. There are products on the market such as “Urine Off” but they are very expensive. A mix of white vinegar and water is a much cheaper alternative and should work for tiles and other surfaces although you should always take care with wood etc. For carpet/rugs, I use either a mixture of Napisan/water or bicarb of soda and water. I completely soak the stain using a dab on technique with a cloth. When it is very wet, I use an old towel to soak up the excess moisture. Again, be careful on any expensive carpet/rug, I have never had any problems but I cannot guarantee any method here. Weeing on clothing is not unusual - my little buggers will do that if I hang it low enough and I've had one for 9 years, desexed the whole way so that's not the issue. He'll also wee in the house if it's raining or if I don't take him with me when he thinks he should be able to come along. I had to stop one of mine with the humping as well, I got advice from another rescuer to squirt him with water in the face and say "aaaaaaahhh" firmly and I only had to do it twice ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 How has Gussy been going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 Gussy is doing really well... He is still jumping up but you only have to say down, firmly, and he gets down. He waits to be invited up onto the bed of a morning. He will be a lovely boy once we get him some decent training because he is really smart and such a cute little man. He goes in for desexing tomorrow (so does the staffy pup, Ziggy)... The two boys love being with each other. Gussy is smarter than Ziggy, so can get toys by being smart, where as Ziggy is so strong he just takes what he wants. They are still happy to eat and drink out of the same bowl with no sharing issues at all. Ziggy is still really shy around people - he stands off (where as Gussy is happy to say hello to anyone). I know the few issues we have will be sorted once they get into training and a more regular routine (we are working on the routine, with meals as the same time and place, walking at the same time, play at the same time). Together they can be destructive, chewing up anything and everything (I think it is much more Ziggy than Gussy though). When it is time to go to bed, they are pretty good but around 2am they think it is time to play (I just ignore this and hope they get sick of it). But all in all, they are doing really well and Gussy is an amazing boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Well done! Yay keep up the good work. I'm happy to hear he is going so well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 The boys were both desexed today. Ziggy has bounced back as if nothing has happened and is not even trying to lick the wound. Gussy is. It so bouncy poor baby. He is being very tolerant of our little staffy bless him but you can see he is very tired and he wants to lick the wound all the time. It stops when asked. I am going to keel the boys with me tonight, so I can keep a close eye on both of them. Gussy is off to the local show tomorrow (if he is up tk it) to hang out at the ACT Rescue and Foster display tent. I am pretty sure he will be fine but if he is not, I will keep him home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 awww poor Gussy. Where is the show? Do you know what times? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 The show was last weekend and I took Gusta guts over to meet the ACT Rescue and Foster people there and to say hello to some passers by. It was very hot though and he really only wanted to lay down in the cool... Gus won't stop humping Ziggy since he was desexed - he is driving me nuts the last couple of days. I am constantly telling him to get off Ziggy and if I separate them, Gus gets really upset (Ziggy does not seem to respond or care - he is so laid back for a staffy)... Not sure how to handle this one - any suggestions? All my previous male dogs were desexed at a young age, so never really got a chance to do the humping thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 How old is he again? it could be a dominance thing. hes trying to show ziggy he is the boss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 He is 18 months and Ziggy is about 7 months Ziggy is not at all dominant and rolls over for anything. I don't think the little lad had a very good start in life. They play together so well and eat out of the same bowl so there are no other issues between them that I have noticed. I am going to contact a trainer next week to come out and see the. Jus together and assess them both to see what training we should be doing for each of them. We have just been doing the very basics like sit etc. hopefully he will have some ideas for us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 (edited) "Yes he sits when HE wants to." Great! Get your clicker out and start rewarding that sit whenever he does it! Once he works that game out, you'll have a great sitter on your hands, and you can attach the sit command. Then you're ready for his next trick! I agree with others - I would be placing a very high emphasis on exercise. Which means serious running every day, and possibly twice a day. If I ignore bad behaviour like the jumping - when he tires of it, he will sit and look at me (so after he has been sitting a few seconds, I say 'sit' and pat him - not much, just a nice soft pat on the head). The way he runs and jumps on really high furniture (the table for example), I don't think he has any back problems and he often lays like a staffy (frog style)... Edited November 22, 2011 by Zug Zug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Ignore last few paras in my post above. Having trouble editing quote from my mobile - those words are from your previous post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 We are improving... I say we because it has been a very long time since I had to teach a dog - my old staffy had lovely manners and his basic commands were also hand signals, so when he went deaf (with old age), I could still get him to sit, come and stop... I have even got to the point where I can get both the boys (the foster and our pup) to stop and sit at the same time in front of me. I can get them to come and stop, then sit... So we are making progress, slow but progress. Gussy still has some manners to learn - the excited jumping is really testing. But getting better also. The two of them have been rumbling around the house all day as it has not stopped raining but they will be going for a big walk tomorrow (rain, hail or shine) - as they are both way to active to miss two days walking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmisssascha83 Posted November 25, 2011 Share Posted November 25, 2011 I"m glad to hear how well you are doing with him. Its just amazing what you have achieved with him. How did you go with the trainer?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 I left a message a few days ago and have not heard back so I will call the one the vet recommended next week and hopefully get some help. I think I could train them myself but I just know gussy has great potential. He would be totally amazing at fly ball. He is so quick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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