anyone want a ginger dog?

lexiedhb

lexiedhb

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Dear lord, dex came to live with me last Saturday and erm has developed severe SA - left him for an hour today - barked no stop- ruined a door scratching it- has resorted to humping/ arm grabbing as he did when I first got him 30 months ago, and has developed a serious barking habit. Grrrrrrrrr just shows the ex has done naff all training with him. Also proper gobbing off with anyone coming into the house- thank god the dog walker is a proper dog man unphased by his display of barking/ growling- but happily trotted off for a walk with him!!!! Wondering if I've done the wrong thing moving him from what/ who he knows.
Advise, tips, help welcome!!!!
 
Back to bootcamp for him....you need to be very clear with him what is and isn't allowed, I know you are pleased to have him back and probably want to spoil him rotten but you need to be very consistent.

What worked before, I think it was isolation, so, humping or grabbing, out you go, you can utilise a hand strap/line on his collar also.
This may take longer to fix if he knows that he was not able to get away with it before, then he was, now he isn't again....so now he knows the rules are not always solid. So you have to help him learn that this behaviour will not result in anything good.

Crating and door gates for the SA, start from scratch if you have to.

The fact that he allowed the dog walker to march on in shows it is probably an 'all mouth and no trousers barking', just nonsense that he has been allowed to get away with, and the dog walker has maybe taught him a good lesson in that, bark all you like, still coming in! and should just keep doing so.

I know it's frustrating, I've been working on something for two months on my own dog and after a week in kennels he came straight home like he'd forgotten it all, but have to put on the big girl pants and get back to porridge!!

It could be that these are the sorts of behaviours he resorts to when he is unsure, unclear, stressed...it sounds like there were no boundaries with your ex which can be very stressful for some dogs and then the additional upheaval of him living in different situations and then coming back to you has unsettled him and this is how he expresses it...so try and make everything very safe and secure and clear and black and white.

You have done the right thing in having him back.
 
He has been removed from rooms more times than I care to remember- but barks incessantly :( he's never had sa before so this is new to me but not allowing him to follow me around etc. Sleeping alone now - first two nights not a hope in hell unless I wanted the council on my back.
He has always been an all mouth no trousers kind - guess we shall see how dog walker gets on letting himself in tomorrow when dex is alone!;!!!!
If he won't accept a walker he can't stay with me :(
 
Has he got a crate or a mat he can lie on so it is clear that, this is the place where good stuff happens and I sit here and be quiet and chill out with my Kong or my bone or whatever. Also, don't let him do wall of death around the house stuff or charging through doorways in front of you, I know it sounds old school but it's one more thing for him to be clear about.

I'm sure he'll be fine tomorrow x
 
Massive consistency, stern voice when barking (am I am bad person to mention water pistols? :eek3:)

I dunno, hun, I think back to absolute basics :( You know he's worth it!
 
Yep we have a mat, a very stern voice etc lol just every tiny noise sets him off- neighbour upstairs leaving at 6.30am today - oh is less than impressed .
He's always been on raw cc I used to take it to the ex......
 
He sounds stressed. I don't know your situation as didn't know he wasn't with you anyway. He just sounds upset by the move and has new sounds etc to get used to.

I think continue to be firm and just try act normal and, as hard as it may be, don't get angry/stressed by him. He will get used to the new sounds around him. I guess it's almost like having a new dog. Mine was set off by any noises that worried her. She now barely stirs at all (a little worrying but I am hoping if something was actually trying to break in she may wake up!).
 
I agree that the dog is probably stressed by all the changes, and must surely be picking up on any bad feelings going around. Why did you take him back, wasn't he being looked after properly where he was? Are you doing the usual leaving a radio on, a stuffed Kong etc?? Maybe try using Bach Rescue Remedy or DAP spray/collar.
What breed of dog his he?
 
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