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Question:

Chris, Sign up for a good obed class!   It will help both of you understand each  other, put some structure in her life, burn up some energy, and make her feel  good about herself. And try a Buster Cube for her to play with during the day!  Or the old standby  - a Kong toy with peanut butter rubbed inside it! Mary Alice

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>Monday, my dog jumped out my 2nd floor window and broke two bones in her >foot.  I only had the window open a few inches and there is a screen but >she must have worked on it until she could jump out. (snip)  I can’t >leave any windows open so she doesn’t get any fresh air when I am gone.

What about getting baby gates on a couple of windows so you can get air?  Screens just aren’t strong enough to hold a large dog or child inside. Lisa

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Hi Chris, For now I’d leave the window closed and never let her stay outside alone (Like you already are doing), but eventully you should be able to train her to stay in the yard. It doesn’t sound like she’s been with you for a long time?) About keeping her busy while you’re gone: The way it works in the dog world is that the leader of the pack (YOU) ideally initiates all activities. Most dogs just sleep or are inactive while their owners are gone. Most dogs have toys etc. but how often do you see them start playing by themselves? My *never* does, however, if I bring out a toy she like, she’ll want to play at once. So, In my opinion you should focus on activating when you’re with her. That will give her more confidence, you leadership and a companionship with your dog, not to mention exhaust her brain:) Now I’m NOT talking about physical exercise, but MENTAL EXERCISE. Dogs need work, herding dogs need even more work they were bred to work and it will wear her out! Stress is often a sign of lack of mental exercise. Activities such as obedience training, agility, teaching tricks on the livingroom floor or wherever, nosework, etc etc are great activities to wear out your dogs mind and secure your leadership. Stressful games like throwing balls, frisbees, sticks etc. tend to stress the mind more than work it, except if you do it in a controlled way (Ask her to sit, wait untill you allow her to retrieve, and make sure she returns with the item you threw.) Hopefully this will help you get a more confident and relaxed dog Though I stressed the fact that MENTAL EXERCISE is the most important, of course physical exercise is necessary as well. But it’s overrated as a way to wear out a dog. The more P.E. a dog gets, the more it will need to be worn out. Best of luck:) Helle – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Monday, my dog jumped out my 2nd floor window and broke two bones in her >foot.  I only had the window open a few inches and there is a screen but >she must have worked on it until she could jump out. >I just got this dog from a shelter and she was loose running with two >other dogs for about a year before she was finally caught.  She is a >little over two years now, she is a chow/shep mix.  She is very social >with dogs and humans and she is completely housetrained.   >She really freaks out when she sees squirrels and she must have seen one >the other day and gotten focused on getting it.  She also is petrified >of the vacuum and hair dryer.  She is a major escape artist and I can >never leave her in a yard and leave for any time period.  She would >escape any yard, but not to get away, she wants to come inside and be >with people.  Needless to say, she stays inside while I am at work and I >come home during lunch when I can. >Does anyone have suggestions on things to keep her busy while I am >gone.  She has tons of squeeky toys and I have been leaving the TV on >when I go.  I am thinking about getting a dog walker in the afternoon to >check on her (now she can’t go on walks because of the foot).  I can’t >leave any windows open so she doesn’t get any fresh air when I am gone. >I also have a cat that is some companionship when I leave.   >Do you think she may have fear of abandonement?  She won’t let me out of >her sight if we go out (unless a critter walks by).  How do I help her >feel more secure? >Thanks for any help, >Chris

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> The point with my post was to hopefully help someone to get a more > confident, obedient and relaxed dog as I believe that many dogs suffer > from lack of activities and mental work which often results in > behavioural problems.

I found your comment interesting that dogs need just as much mental stimulation as physical activity.  Since I got Scarlett, I have been really caught up in walking, running and other physical activity.  I have been going to obedience classes but was never committed outside the class to practice with her.  She never seemed to enjoy training either (just the treats) but I figured that may be because she just wanted to walk around and smell things on walks. Now that she is injured (the vet thinks surgery is unnecessary and the leg will take 2-3 months to heal)  I cannot even exercise her.  My vet wants me to sedate her if she gets too active.  I cannot do this for 3 months (I have not given her any pills yet).  I bought her a Buster cube and a Kong but I doubt she uses them while I am gone.   I am thinking it would help her to continue with training some of the less active commands so she does not get bored. I spoke with a behaviorist about the future and she suggested I sedate her.  Am I crazy, or does it seem mean to sedate my dog because she has this problem….I would rather pay to have someone walk her in the afternoons. Thanks for all the help, Chris

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Well, I won’t deny that I am busy, but I do take my dog for a long walk to the park daily and she also gets lots of attention when we are home. If I could just go outside with her everytime she wants to play I would, but I can’t so I am just glad that she has her cat (we got her a kitten when she was 1) and her toys to keep her occupied. By the way, she plays even when we are not home–I am able to sneak inside and peek out the back window and see what she is up to sometimes. Monica

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Hello Chris, Your dog is very lucky to have you as her owner! It really seems like you want the best for her. I will reply as I read your letter: >I found your comment interesting that dogs need just as much mental >stimulation as physical activity.  

Most people unfortunately don’t realize this. I didn’t either until I got my first (and potential problem) dog. Actually I was devestated when I realized that everything I had done was the opposite of what I should have done. I thought I was nice to let my work run and play as she wanted, and nice for not forcing her to learn too much. *duh* >Since I got Scarlett, I have been >really caught up in walking, running and other physical activity.  I >have been going to obedience classes but was never committed outside the >class to practice with her.  

The kinds of activities you mention is great, but she needs work too. The good thing about that, is that it takes a lot less time of brain work than for example running. 5 to 10 minutes at a time is usually enough. >She never seemed to enjoy training either >(just the treats)

I can relate to that:) There are different reasons why dogs might not enjoy obedience training: They think it’s boring, the owner think it’s boring. They don’t know what to do. Or the owner is inconsistent in making demands. etc. You mention that your dog is insecure. Obedience training might make her unsure of what exactly you want from her and this might cause her to avoid the situation instead of enjoying it. To say something I have been told and been frustrated with a million times: If Scarlett thinks obedience training is boring, you’re doing it wrong. *grin* You need to make it fun to make her think it’s fun. Scarlett has been used to running around being her own boss. Now she is with you who want the best for her. Do you think it’s a leadership problem? What is she like when you give her commands? Does she initiate play, feeding, walks etc. a lot? >but I figured that may be because she just wanted to >walk around and smell things on walks.

She probably wants to, but as you are her leader it is not for her to decide what to like:) I know that sounds awful, but being a pack member means fitting in. Naturally she can’t be the leader, so you will have to do that job. This means that *you* decide! Where, when and how. When to play, how to play (by play I mean any activity), when to go outside, when to eat, when to walk through doors, who to walk first through doors, which dogs and people to meet. All this is leadership training. This will make her secure about her role, about you and about herself, and when all this is clear, she’ll be exited when you invent a new game, kind of work and training. It might mean an awful lot of work and consistency from your part, but it will be worth it. When you have achieved your goal, you will be able to give her some slack. As you know she doesn’t like typical obedience training, you might focus on other things first. The important thing about training is that you both think it’s fun. For me and my dog obedience training other than necessary day to day commands were something we both found boring. Different kinds of "scent work", agility, herding was a lot more fun, so we focused an that. These days herding pidgeons in the park is the hot thing:) Xeni, my dog gets to do what she likes the most and I give her commands while she’s doing it. >Now that she is injured (the vet thinks surgery is unnecessary and the >leg will take 2-3 months to heal)  I cannot even exercise her.  My vet >wants me to sedate her if she gets too active.  I cannot do this for 3 >months (I have not given her any pills yet).  I bought her a Buster cube >and a Kong but I doubt she uses them while I am gone.  

Hm..sedate a dog for 2-3 months? I agree with you completely. That sounds like something you’d want to avoid unless it’s absolutely necessary. Buster Cube is great, but you might have to work with her to get her interested. What is a Kong? How about a crate to keep her calm when she gets too active? >I am thinking it would help her to continue with training some of the >less active commands so she does not get bored.

Definately! Have a brainstorm and write down some things you can do even when she’s injured. Make sure you always have something new to teach her as she learns what you teach her. >I spoke with a behaviorist about the future and she suggested I sedate >her.  Am I crazy, or does it seem mean to sedate my dog because she has >this problem….I would rather pay to have someone walk her in the >afternoons.

I do not think you’re crazy at all! Did the behaviourist suggest that you sedate her to keep her from jumping out the window etc? My jaw dropped to my hip now! Other than being a little ‘wild’, your dog sounds like a normal and social dog. I am sure training and activities will let you achieve more than sedatives! To be on the safe side; I am not a behaviourist and have not met you and your dog, so you will have to choose which of, if any, my advises you want to take. But I do feel that a lot of what I have said is makes sense, and if it doesn’t help, it will at least not do any harm. Lots of good luck with your training! I’d really like to hear how things are going with the two of you:) Helle

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