A vent about the "family " dog

[bkreugar]

When you say "Local Kennel Club" what does that mean? I thought a kennell club was breed specific. To be able to just rent one with guidance would be AWESOME.

I am going to google and see if there is a "my county" kennel club.

 

[bkreugar]

Okay just googled it and got no results for my county but found several that were somewhat nearby all were breed specific.I get a pug kennel club,hound kennel club and a King Charles Spaniel kennel club.

So how crazy will they think I am to ask about "renting a shock collar" any insight as to which might be the best to try?

 

[bkreugar]

Just googled them at fosters and smith and they ALL say Bark collar.I guess that is what I am looking for right?

 

[babylady4]

We have a 70lb Boxer/Lab cross and the crate for her is fairly large and I 'think' it was in the 40-60 range at Fleet Farm.

Either train the dog or get rid of her so she can have a happy life. I think I would contact rescue groups and see how they deal with the issues that GS have. Every breed is different and there are little tricks on training for each. If you want her to leave the house bird alone, I think I would muzzle her and then introduce her to the bird (this would have been much easier when she was a baby)and get it through her skull (the way Ceasar does) that the bird is OFF LIMITS! Just like your kids, furniture, etc.... I would do the same with the chickens. Right now with her energy level she needs a 'job'. Since she is a shepard and guard type dog, could you train her to herd and guard the chickens? I can't see how it would be any different than her guarding sheep (ie. prey animals)..... I'm just throwing things out here at this point. I hate to see dogs tied or put in runs.... they are pack animals and need to be with their pack.....

Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

 

[vicki2x2]

This is what I would do, I have always had dogs, mostly indoors, a few outdoors and also done rescue, so I have dealt with many problem dogs with behaviors similar to what you are describing.

I would bring the dog in, let it share time with the family, and like someone else suggested, cockatiel goes in a cage or bedroom when dog is out, or dog is crated or gated into another room when bird is out.

Another idea, not as good as the first, I would have a pen for the chickens and let the dog and chickens take turns. Why does the dog get the short end of every stick? The cockatiel is a family member, so she gets to stay in the house, the chickens get to free range and the dog lives under the porch on a chain or run.

If you don't want the dog to smell and shed so much, DONT make her a inside/outside dog. People always do that and then end up kicking the dog out because it smells and sheds so much, when it is their own fault. If the dog is outside half the time, it is naturally going to smell more, it is laying in the dirt, etc. Also, it will grow the appropriate coat and shed more in the heat, then if it was indoors most of the time.

If she is inside, she will get more attention, more reminders on manners and will be much easier to live with. Much less likely to chase chickens when she is out. When she goes out, she could still go out on her run, but it would just be for short periods, to go potty, lay in the sun, etc.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Our Kennel Club is an AKC club not breed specific. I was sure that Foster and Smith had them, let me look and see if I can find you an item number for them

here is the item number to one that I found: SD-1200 Trainer, 9N-13010

that is at Foster and Smith, its a lil over $100.00 to purchase plus shipping. Good Luck with her

 

[bkreugar]

Well I got up at daybreak and went back to Walmart and got a harness.SO she is back on the overhead tie line for the moment.Walmart had the shock collar for 99.95.

On the upside my missing barred rock came out from UNDER my coop when I went to feed.And when I counted this morning in the daylight I had EVERYONE thank god!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

i worry that she can maybe chew through the harness as I know that my dogs could bend enough to get to theirs (Pugs we had as fosters) Keep a close eye on the harness and if you see any chew marks you know she is like the Pugs and can bend really good lol

I know that our money is SUPER tight and we couldnt afford to build a kennel right now, but watch Craigslist and see if you can get a used one for cheap (that is what I am looking for here) lol

 

[bkreugar]

Thank you mom to Syd and Emma. I was feeling VERY comfortanle with her in the harness.She also leads better now. So I will be on the lookout for that.

Dh was already looking on CL for old chanl link or a run. Money IS tight right now.But I am a school crossing guard (FANTASTIC part time job). So in less than 30 days money will not be as tight.

But my first priority once recieving a check is spending some $$$ on my 21yr old Arthritic mare who needs injections of adequan for some more permanent pain relief.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I would get a large varikennel for the dog and let it sleep in DD room at night, crated. If it howls at night tell DD too bad she wanted to keep the dog and it will stop once it gets used to it. Feed it in the kennel so it associates it with food and it will learn to love the kennel as it's den even though it may not like the kennel initially. You can pick up used kennels on craigslist or classified. Gonna have to be a big one, it sounds like.

I would make DD bathe the dog weekly and groom it with an undercoat comb and shedding blade or a 'Furminator' to keep down the hair in the house. Sheperds can produce a mighty amount of hair. Make this a condition of keeping the dog.

Tell your DD she has to start putting a great deal of effort into that dog if she wants to keep it. We are picking on DD here because (in my house anyway) it is more likely you can get DD to do these things than DH.

It needs to go to an obedience class and learn sit, down, stay and come. This will take care of some of the hyperness and give more control. This would also be a good project for DD or DH, or even you (if you can stand it) as it will reinforce your alpha status. The DD has to practice EVERY night with it on its obedience. This will be best done on a pinch collar. If there are no local classes there are a lot of great books you can get used, too. Make SURE the pinch collar is fitted properly with though all that hair.

Bring it into the house and practice a down at your feet EVERY night on leash for 30 min. for one month. The first few times its gonna be ugly, but every time the dog gets up you say down and firmly put it back in a down. The dog doesn't have to be down for 30 consecutive min., you just have to practice this for 30 min every night. Practice this until the dog can lay quietly at your feet for 30 min.. This will teach the dog it needs quieter in the the house and reinforce your alpha status. You will have to be determinedly consistent and persistent. Practice once a week thereafter.

Get a shock collar and have it on the dog when you are out with it and shock it every time it tries to hassle a chicken. Say "LEAVE IT" immediately before you zap the dog. You will then have trained a command to leave the chickens alone. You can have liberal parameters on the hassle definition part because she has already killed several. Basically if she is thinking bad chicken thoughts she gets zapped. You may have to do this for months, but she will come around. However, never leave her unattended w/ the chickens (i know you know that).

When you cannot directly supervise the dog she goes on her run line. But you aleady know that, too. And you are right, of course, when you are gone any length of time the dog goes on the run line. If you can get an outdoor run, great!

If ya'll put consistent effort into this dog for 1 year you will have a wonderful companion for the next 15 years.

Bossy me. But I have trained multiple breeds in obedience for over 20 years and if you do this you will have a great dog.