advice for a friend

fankino04

fankino04

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So by their own admission my friends have been bad parents to their puppy and now have a needy spoilt brat, the main problem is that they work full time and therefore spoil the dog when they are in as they feel guilty about him spending so much time on his own, obviously they need to be stronger and set boundaries and follow through with that but is there anything in particular that they should do to to get some respect, they are talking to their vet about diet and will deduct any treats used for training from his daily food allowance, they are also talking about getting an older dog when his manners improve so he has company when they are out.
 
If people must work full time and have a pup (why oh why?) then I would put up a good kennel and run and he can go in that during the day, at least he will have some fresh air and see and hear things. Also a dog walker to take him out in the day.
 
When a dog, especially a puppy, is kept within a house, and alone, then generally they can't see through walls! I wondered what life was like for a dog, once, and sat on the kitchen floor for half an hour. It was incredibly restrictive. I agree with Clodagh, an outside kennel at least allows the dog to take an interest in the world around it.

Alec.
 
totally agree with kennel/ dog walker but will only work if the puppy learns not to bark all the time at everything, unless of course you don't have neighbours, depending how old it is is relative to how much exercise it can have ,too much walking too young and joint problems can appear, i also don't understand why people who work full time get a puppy , the result is often as you describe OP. SpringArising makes sense, i did this alot with mine plus never let him go out a door first, fed him last after the cats and us and made him submit on his side when he started to dominate, don't know what breed your friend has but mine grew into the biggest Weimaraner anyone has ever seen and a dog his size not properly trained is a danger to everybody . i used Ceasar Milan books alot, they helped me, but i don't know how others view them. the one thing i would not do is get another dog unless this one improves or the one they get is perfect as one naughty and one good does not make two good dogs!
 
Goldenstar said:
They Need to take him to dog day care or get a dog walker daily when they work.
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I agree.

I've always thought that life must be very tough for a dog owned by someone who works full time (basically solitary confinement, except for a few hours a day).

Now owning our own 'low maintenance' dog I feel even more so that it must be tough (we don't work). I say 'low maintenance' - she's on the go all day, except for maybe an hour or so.

I can't imagine leaving her for 8 hours a day - and if that were ever to have to happen we'd have to get a walker for her, or preferably day care.
 
Thanks, they work split shifts so he does get walked 3 times a day, have told them as hard as it is he has to be ignored when he is hyper and vying for attention and have advised if they really want a second dog for company they have to sort his issues first
 
A second dog could help burn some energy but it could also set them into crazy and then they would have double the problem. They're not like horses - and an older wiser dog won't put manners in him they will just fight and year each other apart.
 
fankino04 said:
Thanks, they work split shifts so he does get walked 3 times a day, have told them as hard as it is he has to be ignored when he is hyper and vying for attention and have advised if they really want a second dog for company they have to sort his issues first
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Why type of dog is it?

Surely if they have time to walk it three times a day they have time to train it?
 
Doggy day care is great, poppy goes in one day a week most weeks and it only costs £13.50 per day. She runs in and is shattered when she comes out as there is so much going on
 
Spring feather they have had trainers before but even the trainers have given up, they realise that the issues are that they have spoilt the dog and in effect allowed him to train them, he is a very big bulldog and weighs 6 stone which means when he drops to the floor to avoid any timeout or being moved from the sitting room he is difficult to move, they just asked for my advice as both my dogs were older rescues who the rescue said were difficult but actually have been really simple. I said that they needed to make a consistent routine and stick to it and really just be clear with the dog that he gets attention when he is quiet and well behaved and any time he gets too boisterous the attention stops and if he continues being a pain he gets removed from the room but that can't be half hour of them trying to pick him up or push him and encourage him with treats, if he drops to the floor and won't go then put a blanket next to him roll him over onto it and use that to drag him from the room, essentially everyone has given in to his demand for attention and I think they just need to stick to their guns more but wondered if anyone had any other tips.
 
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