yasimum Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 We recently got two rescue dogs. One is a four month old BC/Shnauzer cross and the other is a five month old Cattle/Mastiff cross. The problem is with the Cattle/Mastiff. He will not walk for more than a few metres without laying down. He won't listen when we tell him to get up and just seems so stubborn. He has a lovely nature but will bark and lunge at other dogs when we are out because he wants to play. At home he just lays around all day interspersed by bouts of playing with the other dog. It is getting to the point where we are reluctant to take him out for walks as the other night we had to carry him back home. Also the barking at other dogs is very stressful. Our sixteen year old dog passed away last September so we are unused to puppies after having had our dog for so long. Please can anyone give us some advice about how to get him to behave? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Congratulations on your new babies. Are you taking them to obedience classes? At that age, i would be looking to try and do some training and socialisation with them, even if its one on one so its not too stressful for everyone. In the meantime, i wouldn't pick him up- have you tried encouraging him along with something he really likes? What would he do if the other pup kept walking without him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 We had the same problem for a while with our boy, in fact I've carried him home on more than one occasion, food and other incentives just didn't work. For about 12 months we drove to the park, played and then drove home. Then all of a sudden he wanted to walk, now he walks to the park and back no problem. Obedience classes are a must, we always fail but apparently I'm rubbish with the lead so I let them down (something to do with coordination) The dogs love it and learn how to start interacting with other dogs. Can be embarrassing and stressful at times but well worth it in the end. I assume he walks with your other dog, do they both stop? Be patient (easy to say) and perceive, being walked by our dogs is one of the highlights of our day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Thanks so much for your fast replies. We take the toy he likes with us and also some doggy treats and this is why I'm getting so desperate-nothing seems to motivate him. I took him to the vet last week and the vet said he seems healthy and has good hips and knees. He even had him stretched out on his back with his hind legs fully extended. He said that usually to get a dog in a position like that you would need to anaesthetize them; that is what a sweetie he is. Obedience classes start this Sunday but we can't take him yet as he still needs his last vaccination. As far as the other dog is concerned, he doesn't really care whether she is walking on or not. We do try to take them out separately at least once a day as the vet said they need to develop some independence from each other. I guess it will just take time and patience which we have plenty of. I'm just concerned that they have both had such a rough start in life and I don't want to muck things up. Thanks again, I appreciate your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny123 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Congratulations on your to rescue puppies ...they look like Rory( formerly Bindi) and Carter to me, from the lovely Lynne at Sydney Animal Rescue. We also have two pups from SAR, we got ours at 8 weeks. I think patience is the key here. I think poor little Carter was rescued at a somewhat older age than Rory and doesn't yet have the social graces or confidence that she acquired from an early age by being with the other pups and dogs in rescue. One of ours was pretty gung-ho and was up for anything whereas the other was frightened of her own shadow for a while and was terrified of a collar and lead and refused to walk. We started with lots of treats and just walking around the house where she felt safe. Then we went out to the garden on the lead and she was terrified again and refused to walk. In our case we knew shw loved things like leaves & sticks and fallen bark. So we let the lead loose and waggled a piece of bark at her. She came running for that so we did that a few times and then one of us would hold the lead while we ran for the bark or stick. She soon felt comfortable with that so then it was the big day out the front gate...only a short one and we had some bark with us (plus her brother). She was a bit spooked, but we kept it short and came back home. We increased the distance every day and initially kept to the same street area. Now she'll go anywhere...and loves it. They are now 5 months old and love their walks and meeting people and other dogs, they still find some car noises a bit spooky, but then so do I. I did, however, ensure that they met heaps of people and other fully vaccinated dogs in our home prior to their final vaccs. I do think that training school would be good for them, they are young and will learn. Again, well done for saving two pupies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Yes, it is indeed Rori and Carter from SAR! They have settled in well and are now doing normal puppy things like digging and chewing! That makes us feel relieved because they must now feel secure enough with us to do so. With Carter, I don't think it is fear of walking on a lead; that doesn't seem to bother him at all, it is just a reluctance to actually walk very far at all. I have just spent the last hour or so reading up on the mastiff breed as it is a breed I am unfamiliar with. Apparently, and please correct me if I'm wrong here, they don't require or desire the level of exercise that our old dog (BC/Cattle X) did. This makes me feel better as I was stressing out about him not getting enough exercise. I am looking forward to being able to take him to obedience classes where he can socialise with other dogs. I know he just wants to play with the other dogs as he doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body but I can imagine what they think when they see him barking and straining on the leash at their dogs. Our cousin brings his boxer down to ours to play and we took the dogs up to their place on the weekend and the three dogs all got on well although Carter's favourite activity was sleeping on Bruno's trampoline bed! On the weekend we are going to take the three of them swimming and see how they like that. It is lovely having dogs around and Carter and my eight year old daughter have already decided that it is love at first sight. Thanks again for your replies to a stress head, I do feel better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonymc Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Yasimum, how far are you walking this Pup? Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share Posted February 1, 2007 Not very far Tony. This morning my nephew took him down to the park and back so maybe 500m or so and then tonight I took him round the block which takes about ten minutes. Is it too far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonymc Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 how far into a Walk before he decides to lay down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share Posted February 1, 2007 It varies. Tonight he was fine around the block but the other night I took him across to the shop with me, I can see the shop from my front door, and he laid down at least ten times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonymc Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 How long does he lay down for at a time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share Posted February 1, 2007 He would lay there for ages except we pick him up and try to keep moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonymc Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Yasimum, theres the Key to the whole matter.Without realising it you are reinfocing this Behaviour in the Pup.He lays down and you try to get him up or even carry him.He has learnt this will be your response to his Behaviour of laying down.I would be breaking this Conditioning down right now before it becomes more ingrained. You mentioned his Health is fine so we will rule that out of the Equation.This would be my response to his antics.You will need Patience and need to change your own Behaviour.When he decides to lay down, do not try to get him up and do not carry him!!!!!Stand there and ignore him altogether, do not even make Eye Contact.It will take Patience but sooner or later he will get sick of laying down and will get up.When he gets up then praise him and move off.if he lays down again repeat the same Treatment. Might be easier if the walks are kept short till he is older too. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share Posted February 1, 2007 Will give your suggestion a try Tony thanks. Keep you all posted as to our little miscreant's progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Just to let you all know that he is walking a lot better now. I think he just didn't have any level of fitness and now enjoys his daily walk and paddle in the bay. He is just the most delightful dog. Thanks for your advice everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Carter is now doing very well. He loves his walks and paddles and is just the most delightful dog ever. Thanks for all your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Our mastiff's can be lazy SOB's on the farm, when OH arrived there a year ago the Neo, Douge, English & the cross mutt would barely walk from their kennells to the back door of the house. Now they follow the quad bike wherever he goes, and the Douge goes on 10km runs with OH and looks amazing... Oh dear sometimes she looks frightening she is that fit, muscles rippling and that big head, something like a lion... she would lick you to death, that or sing you some opera !!! Now when we start the quad up they get excited because they have something to do.. There have been times in the early days when they have gone down to the front gate (approx 2kms) and just sat there for hours, waiting for the car to come in so they could get a lift.. Hang in there.. just be grateful that dogs cant get addicted to the xbox !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yasimum Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Is there an echo! Didn't think the first post went through as I got an error message. Thanks for your reply Doghouse. It is lovely to find such a great group of encouraging people. Your dogs are just lovely. I was sitting with the dogs a little while ago just thinking how wonderful it is to have dogs around. Certainly eases my stress levels. Dogsonline.doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Yep know how you feel, both the girls I have here on the coast (as opposed to the farm) are fast asleep on either side of me here in the office.;) I have gone from a cat person to a dog person nearly overnight. I would be lost without them, but not thier land mines or puddles of love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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