Posted by Racer on April 4, 2006, at 0:08:33
In reply to My Dog is Driving Me Crazy! Please Help!!!!, posted by Outsider on April 3, 2006, at 23:04:08
The only thing I can suggest is to make sure he has acceptable ways to entertain himself on his own. I have no idea what those might be.
One idea is those toys that allow you to put a doggie cookie inside and the dog can play with it while trying to get at the treat. Another idea, that's harder, is crate training. I know, a lot of people think it's "cruel" to crate train a dog, but I've only ever seen good results from it. The dogs will go into their crates to express displeasure with their owners, for instance, or climb in when they're anxious to calm themselves down. The crate is the dog's private place, where they can get away from everyone else.
And frankly, although the more attention the better for most animals, including humans, I'd say that two good play sessions per day is perfectly acceptable. Even one if need be. As long as there's a bit of interaction in between.
And the growling is just NOT OK. That's something crate training might help with, but training about it is definitely in order. Maybe get yourself a little water pistol, and a quick squirt in the kisser when that growl starts.
(Oh, and the crate training? I did have my cats semi-crate trained, although it's different with cats, and my big cat used to get locked into the bathroom as a "time out." The time outs really worked, too. He'd go in for attacking me, and come out purring and ready for a lap-sitting-fest.)
Hope that helps...
poster:Racer
thread:628538
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060331/msgs/628554.html