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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
i can't take ava's chewing anymore; she destroyed a 2nd couch today... will going to a professional trainer help me at all?
we have other issues with our dogs that we want them trained as well, but this is setting me over my limit.
anywhere i can drop her off for a week and when i get her back, she's all good - i can't afford to replace anymore furniture
we live in the port jeff area, so i'd be looking for classes in the area. thanks!
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Posted 5/18/08 8:00 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
How old is she?
I don't have a rec, but just wondering if there is a solution, that's why I ask her age.
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| Posted 5/18/08 11:13 PM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by Goobster
How old is she?
I don't have a rec, but just wondering if there is a solution, that's why I ask her age.
she's 7 1/2 months...
i posted about her chewing before and feel like i'm at a loss because she NEVER does it in front of us, and they say punishing her after the fact - that she can't associate the punishment, with what they did wrong. she is chewing my entire house apart - down comforter, 2 different couches, steps, weather stripping around the door - she chews her toys apart too, but couches are her new thing. dh is ready to get rid of her 
i also want both dogs trained (our other dog is 3 and doesn't chew anything, never has) because of how they pull on the leash, and some of their listening skills are to be desired. plus the older dog, i don't like how he gets when people come to the house. jumping, nipping, growling. between the 2 of them, i feel like i'm losing control of their manners. help!
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| Posted 5/19/08 4:53 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
ok 7.5 mths...that's why I ask. I don't think a trainer will help, she is a puppy who is teething! That could go up until at least a year old.
This is exactly the reason crate training is what you need to do, as much as you may not want to do.
Our pups were NEVER alone around anything they could destroy, until all their teeth come in. When we were home, when we could watch them, they had freedom. They would have ruined our furniture, rugs too. In fact, a few times I started limiting my dog to one room instead of the crate, he ruined my rug and I said, ok, he's not ready, time for the crate! And back in he went. Crate training is great in that the house stays safe, doggier stays safe, and owners stay happy. Just last year, even though my dogs are older, they chewed my cabinets, so I stopped letting them go in the kitchen. I bought doggie petitions to block off my valuable furniture and it has worked out since. I was limiting them to one protected room, but now I have given the run of the downstairs again, minus kitchen (with valuable items protected still). It's all about trying different things, taking baby steps, taking a step backwards, then forwards again, etc...a pup is a lot of work for this reason! Your dog is just too young to have the freedom to be allowed to destroy anything! That is where the problem lies. My dogs were crated while we were out from 10 weeks old, until they were about 1.3 years old each.
Your dog is literally a baby who is teething. I found my dog's teeth on the floor, well throughout the first year. Your dog just needs to be crated so that your home stays safe. If you have other dogs, you may have to seperate them if it will upset them that the older one is loose and puppy is crated.
I would not waste my money on a trainer right now personally, spend that money on some baby gates and a crate. And also provide your dog with age appropriate SAFE teething items (such as kongs, etc). You have to puppy proof your home! The dog just can't control what she is doing, she is teething. Also sounds like your dog has puppy energy that needs to be worked on, long walks, runs, etc. Some dogs take longer to learn how to stop pulling, that WILL take training. But one step at a time.
Crate training means the dog goes in the crate until it can be trusted in the house alone. Ideally a puppy should not be in a crate more than 5 hours without being let out to exercize, and go to the bathroom. Expecting this puppy to behave like your older dog is an unreasonable wish. It is just a baby, who needs boundaries and rules right now! And every dog has different needs and moves at a different pace milestone wise.
JMO, HTH
Message edited 5/19/2008 10:24:00 AM.
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| Posted 5/19/08 6:09 AM |
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Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
His name is Pro - at C&G K-9 516.489.6582
Your dog(s) will be amazing when he is done.. I wish you the best of luck in what ever you decide 
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| Posted 5/19/08 6:59 AM |
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Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
You might want to try what Goobster is saying also I read that after I posted. She really makes sense.. This kind of a trainer takes the dog for a specific amount of time.. When he comes back he guarantees he will be fully trained. You should call him and speak to him. tell him what your issues are. He comes highly recommended as has been in business for over 20 yrs.. Look up his credentials and see for yourself. it doesn't hurt to talk to him. G/L
Message edited 5/19/2008 7:06:29 AM.
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| Posted 5/19/08 7:05 AM |
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DeniseMarie
<3
Member since 8/07 10682 total posts
Name:
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
We use mutt manners.
they will come do a free evaluation
MuttManners
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| Posted 5/19/08 10:14 AM |
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by Goobster
ok 7.5 mths...that's why I ask. I don't think a trainer will help, she is a puppy who is teething! That could go up until at least a year old.
This is exactly the reason crate training is what you need to do, as much as you may not want to do.
Our pups were NEVER alone around anything they could destroy, until all their teeth come in. When we were home, when we could watch them, they had freedom. They would have ruined our furniture, rugs too. In fact, a few times I started limiting my dog to one room instead of the crate, he ruined my rug and I said, ok, he's not ready, time for the crate! And back in he went. Crate training is great in that the house stays safe, doggier stays safe, and owners stay happy. Just last year, even though my dogs are older, they chewed my cabinets, so I stopped letting them go in the kitchen. I bought doggie petitions to block off my valuable furniture and it has worked out since. I was limiting them to one protected room, but now I have given the run of the downstairs again, minus kitchen (with valuable items protected still). It's all about trying different things, taking baby steps, taking a step backwards, then forwards again, etc...a pup is a lot of work for this reason! Your dog is just too young to have the freedom to be allowed to destroy anything! That is where the problem lies. My dogs were crated while we were out from 10 weeks old, until they were about 1.3 years old each.
Your dog is literally a baby who is teething. I found my dog's teeth on the floor, well throughout the first year. Your dog just needs to be crated so that your home stays safe. If you have other dogs, you may have to seperate them if it will upset them that the older one is loose and puppy is crated.
I would not waste my money on a trainer right now personally, spend that money on some baby gates and a crate. And also provide your dog with age appropriate SAFE teething items (such as kongs, etc). You have to puppy proof your home! The dog just can't control what she is doing, she is teething. Also sounds like your dog has puppy energy that needs to be worked on, long walks, runs, etc. Some dogs take longer to learn how to stop pulling, that WILL take training. But one step at a time.
Crate training means the dog goes in the crate until it can be trusted in the house alone. Ideally a puppy should not be in a crate more than 5 hours without being let out to exercize, and go to the bathroom. Expecting this puppy to behave like your older dog is an unreasonable wish. It is just a baby, who needs boundaries and rules right now! And every dog has different needs and moves at a different pace milestone wise.
JMO, HTH
I agree 100% Make sure there are always Teething toys around bones ropes chew toys this may help alot..just stay away from Greenies that are really bad and cause severe problems... try Ringo Dingo bones they are pressed rawhide~ they are the best my 10 lbs loves them and they got us through the chewing stage!
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| Posted 5/19/08 10:50 AM |
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lucyloo
nope
Member since 1/06 9758 total posts
Name:
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
I don't know a trainer but Katie was at her worst at that age.
I would really reccomend a crate or gating her off.
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| Posted 5/19/08 1:24 PM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
We used and liked Bark Busters:
www.barkbusters.com
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| Posted 5/19/08 5:06 PM |
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Babe49
M...
Member since 4/08 1880 total posts
Name:
Maria
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by DeniseMarie
We use mutt manners.
they will come do a free evaluation
MuttManners
We used them also, but I do not think chewing is something a trainer can solve. My Bullmastiff chews and we had to start crating him again. He will not chew when we are home. When he was younger he would, he just had to be watched. He is 18 months tomorrow.
Also, agree with Goobster. Remove anything the pup can cary around and chew, as for furniture, try the bitter apple spray. But mostly just watch the dog and if you catch it chewing, say NO! and try offering a treat or doggy chew.
Look at my BRODY photo album, in ine pic you can see DH and Brody sleeping on the sofa and you can see the chewed up cushion! I feel your pain!!
Message edited 5/20/2008 6:02:17 PM.
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| Posted 5/20/08 5:57 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by Babe49
Posted by DeniseMarie
We use mutt manners.
they will come do a free evaluation
MuttManners
We used them also, but I do not think chewing is something a trainer can solve. My Bullmastiff chews and we had to start crating him again. He will not chew when we are home. When he was younger he would, he just had to be watched. He is 18 months tomorrow.
Also, agree with Goobster. Remove anything the pup can cary around and chew, as for furniture, try the bitter apple spray. But mostly just watch the dog and if you catch it chewing, say NO! and try offering a treat or doggy chew.
Look at my BRODY photo album, in ine pic you can see DH and Brody sleeping on the sofa and you can see the chewed up cushion! I feel your pain!!
I agree, chewing comes from teething and boredom, two things a trainer likely can't help with. Exercise and just plain growing up will help the most, that's why crating is the main solution to chewing when not home unfortunately.
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| Posted 5/20/08 6:07 PM |
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Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Call the guy I recommended.. He said he could not help me with my issues.. Eating.. He was up front and honest. he is not hard up looking to take your money.. JMO
He definately gave me pointers. Free of charge..
Message edited 5/20/2008 6:31:00 PM.
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| Posted 5/20/08 6:29 PM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
thanks for the pointers, goobster... my vet made it sound like she was past her teething stage and with the first dog he didn't chew ANYTHING so this is all new for me and caught me off guard. she is very well exercised... gets hours in the yard (she's only 11 pounds and we have 1/3 acre) and i take a looong walk with the both of them every day when i get home. my fear with caging her is that she shouldn't be in it for more than a certain amount of time without being let out... but if i get stuck at work (i'm a cop) i have no control over it and can't get home to get to her, then what? the other night i had to do a 2nd 8 hour shift with no warning; she would have been caged for a taotal of 13 hours! we keep a pee pad down and that's where she goes if she has to, and we aren't home. but if she's caged, obviously that could be way too long and she'll be sitting in her pee. on a normal day, she's only alone for 4 hours or so... i just fear for the out of the ordinary days. any suggestions?
p.s. she HAS all the teething toys and bones; trust me. she isn't chewing the furntiture because she isn't well stocked with her own things... she is... regular toys as well as teething toys, bones, kongs etc.
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| Posted 5/20/08 9:09 PM |
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Babe49
M...
Member since 4/08 1880 total posts
Name:
Maria
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
I also left my dog with plenty of toys, but he preferred to destroy our stuff. There really is no easy answer. Chewing is the only bad thing my dog does. Crating is the easiest answer, and I see your point re: working overtime. We sometimes had a friend or my BIL come and let GBrody out when we were stuck and coulnd't get home. We feel horribly that we still have to crate him, but we have no choice. He used to go in his cage also, but he did grow out of that. I wish I could be of more help! 
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| Posted 5/20/08 9:17 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by MrsKelly
thanks for the pointers, goobster... my vet made it sound like she was past her teething stage and with the first dog he didn't chew ANYTHING so this is all new for me and caught me off guard. she is very well exercised... gets hours in the yard (she's only 11 pounds and we have 1/3 acre) and i take a looong walk with the both of them every day when i get home. my fear with caging her is that she shouldn't be in it for more than a certain amount of time without being let out... but if i get stuck at work (i'm a cop) i have no control over it and can't get home to get to her, then what? the other night i had to do a 2nd 8 hour shift with no warning; she would have been caged for a taotal of 13 hours! we keep a pee pad down and that's where she goes if she has to, and we aren't home. but if she's caged, obviously that could be way too long and she'll be sitting in her pee. on a normal day, she's only alone for 4 hours or so... i just fear for the out of the ordinary days. any suggestions?
.
I am glad my post helped you. I have the perfect suggestion! This is an easy easy fix! I see your point about the crate and you having to work OT. That would be really bad for the pup to be in a crate for all those hours, so that's out. Forget the crate, def could be a bad senario if you get stuck doing OT.
But this will work out perfectly! You can buy a corral, where you can put a bed, a wee wee pad, toys, etc. That way, the pup has room to move in case you get stuck doing a longer shift. This is the best of both worlds. The dog can move, play, drink, sleep, pee, all in the corral. It's just a larger, more open version of a crate.
Corral/pen
I have this gray plastic one below, I open it up and use it to block my furniture so they can't chew my dining room furniture (my house looks like a maze but I love my dogs so it's worth it!). This one, you can also add/take away panels if you want to increase or decrease the size.
Plastic Corral/Pen
About your dogs and their differences....My male dog was a chewer. My second (girl) was not. They are the same breed, so all dogs must differ on that note. My dog did chew even last year at 2+ years old (my kitchen cabinets, first time ever!) but I know that was from boredom. He still likes to chew hard items, such as toys, frisbees, etc. So we don't leave any hard toys alone with him and we have major items protected in case he acts up again. So far so good! I really think the corral/pen can work perfectly for you!
HTH!
Message edited 5/21/2008 7:02:29 AM.
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| Posted 5/20/08 11:22 PM |
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MrsRJP
Happy Spring!!!
Member since 12/07 2151 total posts
Name:
Rena Marie
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by Goobster
IMAGE
About your dogs and their differences....My male dog was a chewer. My second (girl) was not. They are the same breed, so all dogs must differ on that note. My dog did chew even last year at 2+ years old (my kitchen cabinets, first time ever!) but I know that was from boredom. He still likes to chew hard items, such as toys, frisbees, etc. So we don't leave any hard toys alone with him and we have major items protected in case he acts up again. So far so good! I really think the corral/pen can work perfectly for you!
HTH!
I agree with Goobster. i have the above playpen and it works wonders for our lil pup who is going to be 2 years old and only 20 pounds. We use this when we are not home and it gives her room to move and play with her toys. Also you can leave a blanket in there too for them to cuddle. You can also leave a pee pad in the corner of the pen so she does not have to be sitting in it. We found crating not to be the way to go for us so someone suggested this and we love it and of course puppy loves it too.
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| Posted 5/21/08 8:38 AM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by Goobster
IMAGE
About your dogs and their differences....My male dog was a chewer. My second (girl) was not. They are the same breed, so all dogs must differ on that note. My dog did chew even last year at 2+ years old (my kitchen cabinets, first time ever!) but I know that was from boredom. He still likes to chew hard items, such as toys, frisbees, etc. So we don't leave any hard toys alone with him and we have major items protected in case he acts up again. So far so good! I really think the corral/pen can work perfectly for you!
HTH!
i just ordered it! thank you, thank everyone!
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| Posted 5/22/08 9:59 AM |
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MrsKelly
just hangin' around...
Member since 11/06 6305 total posts
Name:
Krista
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
when she is a little older... and i am past the chewing problems, do you think investing in a trainer can help with
-both dogs pulling when we walk
-their lack of listening skills
-the older dog jumping on people, growling and starting to nip
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| Posted 5/22/08 10:01 AM |
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Diana712
RIP my beloved Brother Richard
Member since 5/07 6710 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
GOOD FOR YOU!!! great choice!! Best of luck! Keep us posted! PLEASE!!!
Message edited 5/22/2008 10:02:18 AM.
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| Posted 5/22/08 10:01 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by MrsKelly
when she is a little older... and i am past the chewing problems, do you think investing in a trainer can help with
-both dogs pulling when we walk
-their lack of listening skills
-the older dog jumping on people, growling and starting to nip
For these issues, yes. No doubt. Will be totally worth it. I say right now, solve your chewing problem then handle the others in time. Don't try to fix it all at once...I know how crazy it can make you! It will work out, I promise!!!
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| Posted 5/22/08 10:14 AM |
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Shanti
True love
Member since 6/05 12653 total posts
Name:
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Posted by MrsKelly
when she is a little older... and i am past the chewing problems, do you think investing in a trainer can help with
-both dogs pulling when we walk
-their lack of listening skills
-the older dog jumping on people, growling and starting to nip
A trainer can def help!
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| Posted 5/23/08 4:47 PM |
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mrsdaly
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 140 total posts
Name:
Michele
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Krista-
Try bitter apple spray....my ariel LOVES to chew everything...when we sprayed the bitter apple on things she had a habit of chewing she stopped...the bark busters guy recommended it...you could also "BAH" away like we do lol...a trainer helps but it is very expensive!!
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| Posted 5/25/08 8:12 AM |
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LittleBlueBug
Happy Mommy
Member since 9/06 4074 total posts
Name:
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
I agree crate training would be best, but I understand what you are saying about the time limits. What I do is when DH and I have to be out of the house for longer periods of time, we confine our pup in our kitchen (he is 4 months old) using baby gates. He has his crate, a wee wee pad, and access to his food and water. We also have his chew toys and nylabone in there too. Other than that, there is nothing else he can get his mouth on. He is actually very good w/ it.
A trainer would be really good for your pup now IMO. If anything you can teach him more obedience and socialize him w/ other people/animals.
Also, when you leave your pup, do not make a big deal about it. Just give him a simple pat of the head and say "see you later". It sounds like he may have some seperation anxiety.
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| Posted 5/25/08 7:07 PM |
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RadioLau
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2179 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: i am at my wits end... trainer recs PLEASE
Does she get enough exercise? Sometimes that is the main culprit. A tired dog is a good dog. 
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| Posted 5/25/08 8:18 PM |
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