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RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 205 days ago

HI Bubbles: About your Labrador- at less than a year old, she is still very much a baby- We just lost our old girl at 16-Having raised her AND her puppies,I can tell you about Labs. They need a lot of exercise the first two years especially- they are still"puppy brained"- at two, they will calm down considerably- all the chewing,etc.will be over- she may have been teething- ours ate an entire box of music tapes at about the same age.My suggestion is,don't give up on her-find some time to do things with her and the children[frisbee at the park,swimming,etc.] that burn up some of that excess puppy energy,socialize her with other dogs,and establish interactions with you and the kids. .She will become their best friend and protector.Labs are really pretty ideal for a young family- I don't think this is a temperament issue. I can vouch for my Ginger- she was my son's best friend - he is a high- functioning autistic,and the dog was a life-saver. We got her a companion dog,who we still have]from the pound-he is a 150lb. Newfie mix-and the two dogs were inseparable as well,in spite of him entering the house as a "stranger" from the pound, and being a lot younger. Labs are generally friendly, sociable fun-loving animals,and easy to train.I think you have the right dog,just need adjustments.
Best of luck,
Nancy

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 190 days ago

Hi Bubbles,

Try using clove oil (from the chemist) as a deterrent to chewing. Clove oil used to be used as a topical anasthetic in dentristry in years gone by - pop a drop on your own tongue or gum and you will understand why. Anyway, dogs hate the stuff.
If your dog chews shoes, boots etc - use a cotton bud to smear some clove oil on the laces. You could try it on the cushions of outdoor furniture or anything else she habitually chews, although a spot test for staining would propably be wise.
I have used clove oil with 2 dogs and it works well.
We had a labrador x great dane, who grew to be an excellent dog, but he was a monster for chewing as a pup - clothes and bedding off the line, hoses, extension leads.....but he grew out of it at about 2 years old.
Tobasco sauce is also pretty effective, but would propably leave red stains.

Regards,
Jill

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 187 days ago

It sounds like the dog has put itself above your children in the pack. We had a beagle with a similar temprement. I agree with a earlier post that things will get better and you do have an obligation to persevere. If possible ( dependent on the childrens ages ) you need to show the dog it's position in the house and perhaps the children should try an inforce this as well. Plenty of exersize and chewing alternatives may also help. Believe me the dogs behaviour will settle down !

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 171 days ago

I have a retriever x and she had a similar bad habit of chewing everything in sight. Its in their nature to chew so you have to give them things they are allowed to chew on. I use various kong toys and treat balls around the house so she can always seek out one if she wants to (they are retrievers after all, they need to sniff out things). Citrus sprays around the house will stop her picking up what she isn't allowed to as well because they can't stand the smell. Just an orange oil in water in a spray bottle will do it.
With the kids, she really does sound like she established the pack with them. Have you thought of a training school that you could all go to together? This could weed out a large amount of the problem and teaching the kids to command her could help, and also be fun family activity by teaching her to do tricks. This breed will learn very quickly.
Age wise at 1, she's still a baby. I didn't get adult behaviour from mine until 3-4 years old. Thats pretty much the standard for dogs that size. Training assists the puppy's behaviour to be controlled better.
Rehousing her may not work out so well for her. She could end up in a shelter with a death sentence. Not very many of these situations can end happily, although the fact that she's a lab could be her saving grace. I volunteered for a long time at a shelter and spent more time saying goodbye to unhoused dogs than I did sending them to a happy home.
Also exercise. Its important to give lab retrievers mental stimulation and let them see more than the confines of their yard. I walk my girl an hour a day and she's pretty mellow and content, if I miss a day, she will generally do something naughty, so I keep it up. Besides, its great for both of us!!
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RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 167 days ago

I have just bought a maltese Puppy. Do I have to clean his eyes everyday somebody told me to. Are they easy to train and can they stay outdoors.

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 167 days ago

Have you tried the Maltese website?

This is the Australian one
http://www.maltese.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=3
3940

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RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 165 days ago

Good on you Bubbles69,

The honesty in your post and your quest for the ethical thing to do in this situation is inspirational!

To me, there don't seem to be any easy answers to these questions. I bought a red heeler 12 years ago not knowing what I was in for. At about 1 year old she devoured the neighbour’s shoes. They weren’t just any shoes they were her wedding shoes. I could've killed the dog, that day, but I didn't. She did mellow with age, but there were some aggressive and bothering traits that I have never trained out of her. This is probably as much to do with my inability and lack of commitment and perseverance as it is to do with the breed and nature of my dog. I love the bitch very much and she has taught me allot about myself. I wouldn't change the experience if I could but I certainly won't rush into buying a dog next time!

I reckon if you need to have the dog rehoused you have an ethical responsibility to find a good home for the dog. I'm no dog expert but I'd guess that the dog will adjust fairly quickly to a new loving home.

It may, in fact, be more ethical to give the dog to someone else if you truly believe that they can care for it better than you and your family?

The people at the St James Ethics Centre are ethics experts;
http://www.ethics.org.au/about-us/ethics-serv
ices/ethics-counselling/index.html
They
provide a free hotline for such dilemmas as yours; 1800 672 303.

I hope you find the right solution to your problem and please let us know how you go. Thanks again for your honesty and openness, it's truly refreshing!
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from little things, big things grow!

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 157 days ago

no such thing as a bad dog....only clueless owners...lol.

I presume your kids are very young and have no idea how to train or interact with a dog....and it also sounds like you have very little idea either.
Your dog is exactly what you have all trained her to be...so if you decide to keep her..you need to get training....for yourselves. While the dog is being trained you also learn what you need to know about how to relate to your dog and how to understand her needs and body language.

Seriously....what sort of an example is it for your kids to get rid of a family member because she damages material objects. Perhaps it's time to do the hard yards...work with your dog and give your kids a valuable life lesson in loyalty.

If you do let this dog go..then please don't get another one. It's not the dog who has a problem..it's you and your family having not enough info or time in raising a dog to be a happy, well balanced pack member. The same thing will happen with another dog. At the very least..wait till your children are older. Dogs aren't toys..they've large canivores with a heart and soul and they need to be with their pack and learn their role within their pack...they need so much more than food/water and a yard.

I'm not saying this to be mean...I'm just honest. I work in animal welfare and we see this all the time.

Any dog can be the dog you want but you really have to put in alot of work, love, time and most of all patience.
You sound like you love your dog...you can work with her...she's just a big baby and she sounds confused and bored.

As for how dogs feel when being rehomed. If they come from abusive homes they recover quickly. But if they come from a nice family (as you sound)..the dog would be lost and sad and not understand where her family have gone or why. Personally..I believe they never forget the people who raise them.

When i seperated from my wildchilds father my healer missed him alot. He visited a few times and she was always so happy to see him. He got married and stopped visiting. About 3 years later he dropped by and my then,very old healer was overjoyed to see him. He had totally different clothes and hair..nothing about him the same...but she took one look at him and fell into his arms......she just about cried with happiness. (man, it hurt my heart).
She died peacefully a few weeks later...I'll always be so grateful that he came and saw her for the last time.

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 157 days ago

Benh....I enjoyed your post. Can relate..after having my rescue red healer for many many years. She came with a complete set of issues..but we loved her anyway and she guarded us with her life....she kept my child safe and I loved her so much for that.
She died NYE just gone....I miss her so much. Healers are a force of nature...life is very different without her with us.

We have another rescue dog now tho...a black german shepherd..she's got her issues too...after a very rough start to life...but I've worked with her full time for 2 mnths and she's come round to being a precious new pack member. ANd it IS a lot of work..alot of patience and heaps of time and focus...but the changes do happen and it's well worth it.



Blessed Be all dogs....they are a gift to humans...we should all strive to be worthy of their unconditional love and loyalty.

RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 155 days ago

It sounds to me like your dog is bored.
That would be why she is chewing everything, before you got a lab, did you do any research on the breed?
They are a very active breed and require lots of exersise.
Maybe you should rehome it and get a dog that you can handle, this time do some research! Get a small breed, so it cant hurt the kids. Give your lab to a good home that can handle her and give her the exersise that she deserves.
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RE: Decision About Dog

Posted 137 days ago

Dont neccessarily get a small breed because you think it will be less aggessive - chihauhas maul children easily, as do dachshunds and often they need just as much exercise as a large breed- Jack Russells for example.

It sounds like to me that your Lab uses 'pushy' to get what it wants. Like children, they LEARN their behaviours. If your child throws a tantrum and you give them a lolly, you teach them thats how to get a lolly. Dogs are the same.

Your Lab is still very much a puppy in a big body, and he needs to be shown the right way to behave. You may find that the only way your lab gets attention is when they misbehave. Like a child, when it craves attention, your Lab will be 'naughty'. Remember to give your lab attention when it is doing the right thing - positive enforcement is a powerful thing.

Please do persevere, as you will be rewarded with your hardwork. However, if you do decide your lab will be better in a new home, please consider that your home is probably unsuitable for a dog. Its much more than a yard and food/water for your pet - they are a pack animal and need to be included, and that means time. Time with training, exercise, and affection - as much as you would give a child.

I wish you all the Luck with you Lab.

PS Depending on how desperate you are, you can try a dog training boarding school. These can be pricey too though. Basically they take your dog and train it for approx 10 days (depending on the school) and then bring it back to you - then they train YOU on how to maintain the dogs lessons. Its all positive enforcement and comes highly recommended. Check your area - www.alphadogtraining.com.au or www.dogtraining.com.au are widely acclaimed