Canine Behaviour

Re: Canine Behaviour

Vicky RVN — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:47:27 GMT

I'm pleased to hear about his progression in training classes I felt SO proud when Jack passed his test in class so we could move on, so i know how you feel!

Re the barking, Jack used to whine and make a lot of noise in class, but over time he's got over that, just through socialisation and distracting him with his treats and getting him to work. So i'm sure your little man will stop over time.

Have a lovely christmas with him and his pals!

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:39:26 GMT

I hear what your saying with the water trick, I would use this technique if he was barking in the house, the only time he ever barks is when he is on the lead at other dogs, its a little difficult to take the water out with me only as my hands are so full with him, dog treats etc don't think I have a spare pocket.

I'm trying very hard just to socialise him more with other dogs and he loves playing with them just not when he is attached to the lead.

He has 2 Dobermans for company this week over christmas so hopefully he will have fun, he is very submissive so don't think we will have any fights.

Merry Christmas

Re: Canine Behaviour

Susannah Carrigan SVN — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:46:12 GMT

A spray of water when you see him doing it - works wonders for yapping dogs at work!!

Re: Canine Behaviour

Jenny T — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:43:32 GMT

Hiya,

That is wonderful news!

Well done you, sounds like you are making great progress. He sounds much happier.

Thanks for the update and have a fab Christmas.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:57:15 GMT

Hi,

Just thought I would update you on my progress with the obsessive wire chewer!

Touch wood it has been weeks now since anything has been destroyed, he is much more playfull and brings his toys into us now to play with. I think he was a stressed boy and didn't really know how he was supposed to behave. So fingers crossed we will continue the way we are.

He has also progessed into class 2 at dog training and I am very proud although hopefully he will stop barking at the other dogs one day! Always a challenge but such a reward when you overcome it.

Merry christmas everyone

Re: Canine Behaviour

Saskia Quinn — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:39:04 GMT

I am quite late to read this thread, but was wondering how your dog is coping now?

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:20:19 GMT

Thank you for your encouragement Jenny, we have had a good day today, keeping my fingers crossed, the problem we have now is that I'm not able to exercise him at night because of the fireworks we were out the other night when a few went of and he was very scared and was pulling on the lead so hard he was cutting off his air supply, so to keep him entertained i'm doing more in house training with him.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Jenny T — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Sorry you have had this set-back, but you have both been doing really well. Nearly a week with no chewing was a great start. This is a habit the dog has and you can't just stop a habit overnight.

Who knows what set him off- stress, anxiety, boredom, curiosity, attention-seeking, playfulness or something else completely? Maybe keep a diary of the incidents. You may be able to determine the dog's triggers from this, but more importantly hopefully you will see a reduction in the frequency of the behaviour. This will help keep you going through the difficult times.

I'm afraid these things are rarely a totally cured quick-fix, but don't lose heart, there will be set-backs. This does not mean you wont get there in the end.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:22:07 GMT

Well I thought to my self this morning that I was going to be coming on hear to say tha it was nearly a week and we had no problems unfortunately we have had an incident again today this time there was someone in the house but not in the same room as the dog and he decided he would chew the blinds and several other things. I have the patiennce to get throught this and know that it is a long road we have to get down. The problem I have is that at the moment we are not living in our own house (this is where the dog has always been since we had him, ) so the person whose house it is is not really amused.

I don't really have any history of the dog only know he was picked up as a stry in Ireland due to the breed (collie type) and his behaviour when outdoor I think he may have started life on a farm so I'm looking for any more advice that might help me with this in mind. I know its only a minor step back but it might help if I can explain to the others why he may be doing this.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:06:32 GMT

DAP collar now on, lots of new toys bought so I can rotate and my legs constantly feel like they are going to drop of from all the walking we are doing. Will keep you posted on how I get on.

Thanks again

Re: Canine Behaviour

Jenny T — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:49:40 GMT

Hiya,

I like the DAP products, so long as people understand they can take the edge off anxiety but they wont fix a problem on their own.

A DAP collar may well help in this case so its certainly worth buying a replacement.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:02:13 GMT

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts.

Thank you Jenny for taking the time for your in depth reply.

The crate training would really be a last resort for me as like you say its not getting to the bottom of the problem and I would really like him to have the freedom to move about the large room he is kept in when alone rather that being confined to a crate.

We exercise as much as possible he has 2 hours intotal a day, I know he would do a lot more if he could but its fitting it in for me I am going to try and increase it more. We are going to training classes to stimulate his mind and socialise him.

I will go out and get more toys as I do change the toys he gets from day to day but they are the same set so I will go out and get lots more so I can change them daily, and will try to find rubber type ones to mimic the wire texture.

What is your opinion on the Dap collars? I have got him another one as he did have one on initially but I didn't replace it as he seemed so settled, I thought this might help along side re-training therapy.

Many thanks.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Jenny T — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:14:16 GMT

Putting the dog in a crate would certainly physically stop the dog getting to wires, but remember that this would not in any way address why the dog feels the need to do this. If he really wants to chew he may just start to chew the cage bars, or worse himself. Maybe consider using this as an occasional last resort- top priority does need to be to keep him safe.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Freckle — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:32:14 GMT

i'm hearing where jenny t is coming from, but would crate training be an option?

Re: Canine Behaviour

Caro Laithwaite VN — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:16:48 GMT

l always say bitter first due to possible staining of whatever it goes on if no luck then chillie

Re: Canine Behaviour

Heather Christie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:56:15 GMT

I hear some people use chilli sauce. Bitter apple spray prob more humane tho.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Jenny T — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:19:08 GMT

Hi Charlotte,

Got your message, replying here so others following the thread can read also.

When dealing with behaviour problems it is important to try and work out WHY the animal is performing the behaviour, rather than just trying to deal with the consequences of that behaviour.

So why could your dog be doing this? Consider the following-

The dog may be finding it difficult to adjust to the more structured routine of a home after possibly straying and doing what he wanted all day before being rescued. This may be causing him anxiety.
You describe the dog as nervous, so therefore he is also anxious.
By removing the items the dog was stealing from the work-surfaces, you may have inadvertently reduced his options for things he likes to chew, so concentrating the chewing behaviour onto the wires.
By chewing the wrong things the dog is regularly in trouble, likely leading to more anxiety.
Many dogs obtain a huge reward from chewing or holding items in the mouth, and so can use this behaviour to comfort themselves. This would tie in with the dog stealing items and taking them to his bed.

I think the assumption that the dog is using the chewing as a self-comforting behaviour is a good place to start with this one. I would therefore advise you do the following-

Increase the dog's exercise. The dog may be under-exercised, under-stimulated or bored. More exercise is always beneficial, and a tired dog is much more likely to be a well-behaved dog!
Buy enough different types of toys that you can have 4 or 5 sets of toys so that you can rotate them every day. The dog then effectively gets new toys each day to maintain interest. Take them away while you are home, although I would let him keep any he takes to his bed. "Hide" the toys around the house when you go out for him to find and play with.
Don't tell the dog off if he chews the wrong things when you are out. This just teaches him to associate your home coming with being in trouble, leading to anxiety and so probably more chewing to cope.
Remove any wires you can when you leave the dog. Use bitter-spray or armoured cables for the remaining. Use a residual current circuit breaker to ensure the electricity switches off if the dog chews through a live wire.

The trick is to try and engineer the situation so that the dog has the best chance of getting things right. This means he is in trouble less, so becomes generally less anxious. A happier dog will have less reliance on comfort chewing.

Give it 10 days and see if you have an improvement. This will tell you if you are on the right track.

Good luck.

Re: Canine Behaviour

Sian Pasquale — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:28:34 GMT

Maybe he likes the texture, has he got any toys that are rubbery/plastic texture..obviously needs to be indestructable, hopefully it wont encourage him to do it more but rather prefer to chew his toy than go find wires? How about hiding toys for him to find in places there used to be wires?

Good luck!

Re: Canine Behaviour

wobbliebob — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:08 GMT

put bitter apple spray on them, scary thought lucky they were turned off

Re: Canine Behaviour

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:50:38 GMT

fortunately for him most things that he has chewed have not been switched on at the wall so he has saved him self the death wish so far!

Re: Canine Behaviour

Kim Buckley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:37:52 GMT

My terrier went through my computer wires 3 times when she was a puppy! Very bad dog! Don't know why she did it though but I became very good at rewiring!

Re: Canine Behaviour

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:34:29 GMT

Death wish springs to mind!!