The dog musing/vent thread
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
Hugs!
Have you tried baby gates? Our Husky wanted to eat the cats at first, at first it seemed like they would just have to always be separated. I would be on the couch HOLDING a cat and the brat would walk right up with me RIGHT THERE and try to Nom the kitty lol, it was slow and calm but he'd get close... clossssser and then open his mouth to bite. I figured if he was that brave with me right there holding the cat... then how brave would he be if I wasn't there.
So we kept the cats in their own room for a month or so, then we would try for about a hour a day with the door open (put up a baby gate so the cats could go back to their safe haven if needed) and it was terrible at first. Nikko would chase them back in the room, we would tell him no and at times leash/crate him. They were pretty mean to him too. I found out quick that the baby gate works best if I put it several inches off of the ground, it makes it harder for the dog to jump and easier for a cat to crawl under. Occupying the dog with chew treats helped, after he wasn't so obsessed with them lol.
It took a TON of patience and work, for a while it didn't seem like it was going to work... at all. But several months of trying and everyone gets along. All three dogs and five cats. Nikko eventually figured out that chasing cats wasn't going to fly, and the cats got calmer about having him around. One particular cat will pop him on the face once in a while (it's not allowed but happens) and Nikko just walks away wagging his tail. If that happened in the beginning, I'd have one less cat lol.
I highly recommend making a safe room for the cats, where they can come and go as they please. If you are at that point yet.
Have you tried baby gates? Our Husky wanted to eat the cats at first, at first it seemed like they would just have to always be separated. I would be on the couch HOLDING a cat and the brat would walk right up with me RIGHT THERE and try to Nom the kitty lol, it was slow and calm but he'd get close... clossssser and then open his mouth to bite. I figured if he was that brave with me right there holding the cat... then how brave would he be if I wasn't there.
So we kept the cats in their own room for a month or so, then we would try for about a hour a day with the door open (put up a baby gate so the cats could go back to their safe haven if needed) and it was terrible at first. Nikko would chase them back in the room, we would tell him no and at times leash/crate him. They were pretty mean to him too. I found out quick that the baby gate works best if I put it several inches off of the ground, it makes it harder for the dog to jump and easier for a cat to crawl under. Occupying the dog with chew treats helped, after he wasn't so obsessed with them lol.
It took a TON of patience and work, for a while it didn't seem like it was going to work... at all. But several months of trying and everyone gets along. All three dogs and five cats. Nikko eventually figured out that chasing cats wasn't going to fly, and the cats got calmer about having him around. One particular cat will pop him on the face once in a while (it's not allowed but happens) and Nikko just walks away wagging his tail. If that happened in the beginning, I'd have one less cat lol.
I highly recommend making a safe room for the cats, where they can come and go as they please. If you are at that point yet.
My friend tried what you suggested. She tried if Lotta would touch her fist without licking it. She also tried to pull her hand away. It didn't work. 
My friend tried it with some object. We can tell later if it works better that way.
By the way, my friend has tried what you once suggested in another thread about shake...
My friend tried it with some object. We can tell later if it works better that way.
By the way, my friend has tried what you once suggested in another thread about shake...
Leo would like to have a new owner, please and thank you!
I was reading a book in my bed, and he kept coming right up to me, staring and whining. I would absendmindedly pet him for a bit, and then continue with my reading. But he just kept coming back for more, even after I started getting annoyed and putting him in a down stay.
Then, ten minutes later, it dawned on me. "Do you need to pee?"
I let him out, and he immediately peed for over a minute straight. Maybe two minutes.
Worst owner ever
I was reading a book in my bed, and he kept coming right up to me, staring and whining. I would absendmindedly pet him for a bit, and then continue with my reading. But he just kept coming back for more, even after I started getting annoyed and putting him in a down stay.
Then, ten minutes later, it dawned on me. "Do you need to pee?"
I let him out, and he immediately peed for over a minute straight. Maybe two minutes.
Worst owner ever
Brisbane occasionally stares at me and whines, and/or rings his potty bells repeatedly and then refuses to go out. Sometimes the problem is that I put the leftover pizza far enough back on the stove that he couldn't reach it while countersurfing. Sometimes the problem is that I've left a candle burning, or the oven on, or there is a gas leak. He knows I can't ignore him because it might be important. He's like Lassie only...not.
Leo would like to have a new owner, please and thank you!
I was reading a book in my bed, and he kept coming right up to me, staring and whining. I would absendmindedly pet him for a bit, and then continue with my reading. But he just kept coming back for more, even after I started getting annoyed and putting him in a down stay.
Then, ten minutes later, it dawned on me. "Do you need to pee?"
I let him out, and he immediately peed for over a minute straight. Maybe two minutes.
Worst owner ever
I was reading a book in my bed, and he kept coming right up to me, staring and whining. I would absendmindedly pet him for a bit, and then continue with my reading. But he just kept coming back for more, even after I started getting annoyed and putting him in a down stay.
Then, ten minutes later, it dawned on me. "Do you need to pee?"
I let him out, and he immediately peed for over a minute straight. Maybe two minutes.
Worst owner ever
I did a demo with Cohen yesterday and I just have to gush about how well it went.
It wasn't our normal sort of demo. It was just me, Cohen and one of the team owners at a trade show. It was a reptile show, and we were there to help launch Canadian Pet Expo in April 2015 (reptiles, birds and furry animals!).
It was pretty disorganized. Eventually I'm told just to do about 10 minutes of tricks, etc. 10 minutes ended up becoming about 30-40 minutes. By the end of it Cohen was exhausted. But she was perfect. She heeled beautifully while we moved from place to place, performed everything I asked, greeted the crowds and settled well when I told her to. She couldn't have been on better behaviour. The organizer (and his wife!) seemed impressed. The security guards and other staff loved her.
Then when we were packing up I got to meet some macaws! I got to chill with them on my shoulders for a while, and Cohen got to meet them too. Too neat.
And, since it's topical to some of the posts above... when I got outside Cohen ran to the nearest grassy area and, uhm, released her insides. Poor thing's stomach was upset from the other demo the day prior. So, so glad she was able to hold it until we got outside.
It wasn't our normal sort of demo. It was just me, Cohen and one of the team owners at a trade show. It was a reptile show, and we were there to help launch Canadian Pet Expo in April 2015 (reptiles, birds and furry animals!).
It was pretty disorganized. Eventually I'm told just to do about 10 minutes of tricks, etc. 10 minutes ended up becoming about 30-40 minutes. By the end of it Cohen was exhausted. But she was perfect. She heeled beautifully while we moved from place to place, performed everything I asked, greeted the crowds and settled well when I told her to. She couldn't have been on better behaviour. The organizer (and his wife!) seemed impressed. The security guards and other staff loved her.
Then when we were packing up I got to meet some macaws! I got to chill with them on my shoulders for a while, and Cohen got to meet them too. Too neat.
And, since it's topical to some of the posts above... when I got outside Cohen ran to the nearest grassy area and, uhm, released her insides. Poor thing's stomach was upset from the other demo the day prior. So, so glad she was able to hold it until we got outside.
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Because I feel like I don't do it enough, I need to brag on Quid. We started intermediate classes last week (Petsmart, but I really like the trainer and he was awesome with Quid in beginner), and I could tell that it was going to be much harder on Quid then beginner. We have two weeks (only one other dog in class and she couldn't make it today so we just cancelled rather then have Quid be the only) to work on walking at heel and stay with distractions.
Walking at heel as a work in progress, but I'm pleased with how well he's getting it. Stay with distractions is hard, because I'm pretty sure he's ADHD. We've worked hard every day with both of them.
Quid his progressed from losing it the minute I turned my back and walked a few feet away to holding his stay while I bounce around like an idiot waving and squeaking his beloved toys. He's not perfect yet, but I'm so happy with him. He even held a stay while the kitten walked by. A week ago he wanted to bounce on top of her and grab her.
Speaking of the kitten, I'm about to register her. Her name is Felony. Which do you guys like better:
25 to Life or
Getting Away With Murder
Or other suggestions?
Walking at heel as a work in progress, but I'm pleased with how well he's getting it. Stay with distractions is hard, because I'm pretty sure he's ADHD. We've worked hard every day with both of them.
Quid his progressed from losing it the minute I turned my back and walked a few feet away to holding his stay while I bounce around like an idiot waving and squeaking his beloved toys. He's not perfect yet, but I'm so happy with him. He even held a stay while the kitten walked by. A week ago he wanted to bounce on top of her and grab her.
Speaking of the kitten, I'm about to register her. Her name is Felony. Which do you guys like better:
25 to Life or
Getting Away With Murder
Or other suggestions?
