Undaunted
12 month old golden reteiver & huskey mix (60 pounds) Has been raised in the house, has destroyed house, MUST learn to live part of the day outside, Neighbors have called police once already about the barking.
Answer
With few exceptions, all dogs bark. Barking is a natural behaviour and it is a way of communicating. While the messages can range from loneliness to hunger or playfulness, most often barking is used as an alarm or alert signal that indicates to the other pack members that a stranger or intruder is approaching
Most people have a feeling of security and comfort knowing their dogs are âon the jobâ. Some people even encourage their dogs to bark and growl when the doorbell rings or someone knocks. They feel this is acceptable behaviour, however, when the dogs become uncontrollable, with barking that is excessive, they become a nuisance. Life is miserable for neighbours who must listen day after day to barking dogs.
Excessive barking often begins in puppy-hood, when the pup who is not yet house-trained is unwisely shut behind closed doors. Improper confinement will definitely cause a barking problem, and dogs that are tied or tethered will eventually become frustrated and begin to bark to communicate their displeasure. We must always remember that dogs are pack animals. It is not natural or normal for them to be alone, however, millions of dogs must learn to cope confidently while members of the family go out daily to work.
Chewing, uncontrolled barking, house-training problems and destructive behaviour have put many dogs out of their homes, and all of this could be avoided if we simply communicated more effectively with our canine companions. They are part of a pack or family, similar in behaviour to their ancestors, the wolves. Wolves travel, hunt, sleep and eat in a group environment, therefore, we must modify this instinct. We must, in our human packs, make our dogs feel comfortable and secure about being alone in the âdenâ while the other pack members are away.
Because most barking takes place when you are away from home, you have no choice but to believe your neighbours when they complain.
Barking is actually quite common and not that difficult to rectify. Let us consider the encouraging owner who inadvertently praises and teaches his or her dog that its barking is the greatest thing, which makes the dog feel its owner is happy and pleased when he barks.
The easiest way to teach the dog to bark is command him to âspeakâ. So while the dog is barking at the door, the owner may use the command word âspeakâ. The dog will associate barking behaviour with this word. Now, your golden moment has arrived. You are going to teach your dog the word âquietâ, or âenoughâ or âshushâ (your choice!). We do not teach the word âNoâ, because âNoâ means âNever, ever do that - ever".
When you command your dog to be âQuietâ and he keeps barking, you will have to teach him the meaning of the word âQuietâ. Hitting your dog or using other physical measure or mechanical or electronic aids are unkind and unnecessary. You may hold your dogâs muzzle closed (gently and kindly), or you may have to use a water pistol. Another method is to make a sudden sharp sound (rattle a pop can with some coins in it, or bang on a pot) to divert your dogâs attention from barking. When your dog has ceased to bark for at least three to five seconds, praise him in a quiet, calm voice, perhaps saying, âGood, quiet. Good!â. Avoid stroking, patting and hugging your dog at this point, as you may over-excite him again, and he may miss the point of the whole exercise.
Before you leave your dog alone, remember the following points:
Provide adequate exercise.
Leave the radio or television on.
Provide your dog with proper chewing material - rawhide, nylabones and Kong toys stuffed with yummy stuff are good (beware of using real animal bones - they can splinter).
Crate train your dog.
Unplug your phone.
Place a âDo Not Disturbâ sign on your door. This may prevent trades people from knocking or ringing the bell, which would set your dog off on a barking cycle.
Shut the shades or drapes so your dog cannot see outside.
Make your departures calm. Tone things down and be matter of fact. Over-emotional, guilt-ridden departures (and entrances) put your dog in a state of anxiety.
Dogs are highly social animals who are historically
used to being part of a pack. This social interaction insured that a dog would be mentally healthy and secure. When the dog was domesticated, nearly 10,000 years ago, their wild "pack" was replaced by his owner's family.
Sadly, today's backyard dog, will seldom see the inside of a house and will eat, sleep and wait outside for any kind of attention from its owners. If a dog is chained and isolated outside, chances are he is an under-cared-for and under-stimulated-pet.
Some dog owners keep their animals outside in the mistaken belief that they will act as a deterrent to potential intruders. Intruders will quickly learn that the dog is in the yard and not in the house. Police statistics show that indoor dogs deter more than 90 per cent of all break-ins.
If you intend to keep your dog in your backyard, you can expect:
A dog that barks excessively due to boredom and loneliness.
Repetitive digging and chewing due to lack of exercise.
Injuries to your dog stemming from his inability to escape or protect itself from attacks by other animals.
Unwanted pregnancies if your dog is not spayed or neutered. Male dogs will seek out a female in heat any way they can; gates and fences are unlikely to stop them. The resulting litters of puppies will be an unwelcome and inconvenient addition for you and will add to the already critical problem of pet overpopulation.
A dog that is overly aggressive will most likely direct his frustration at small children, neighbours, other neighbourhood animals and any strangers who approach him.
Your dog will run a much higher risk of contracting diseases carried by urban wildlife than a dog that is sheltered inside.
Your dog will be susceptible to fly-bites on its ears. This can result in open wounds on the area, which will eventually lead to maggots.
If the outside temperature is too hot or too cold for you to feel comfortable, you can be sure that your dog feels the same discomfort.
Being confined outdoors is unhealthy and lonely for your dog. Remember, your dog needs to feel that he is a valuable member of your "pack" and, as such, he should be welcome to share your home at all times.
A backyard is not a home. Don't turn a cold shoulder to your dog.
There are two major causes of destructive behaviour: boredom and separation anxiety. Separation anxiety
is a term used to describe the insecure behaviour of a dog who is too dependent on his owner and thus becomes destructive in his owner's absence.
Separation anxiety is also common in dogs who have been abandoned or mistreated
Too many dogs are given up for adoption because of destructive behaviour, usually without any effort by their owners to change or improve their pet's behaviour. Accepting the responsibility of owning a dog means being prepared to deal with such situations.
The suggestions listed below will help you and your dog get right back on the good behaviour "track":
Have your dog spayed or neutered.
Give your dog rigorous, tiring exercise before you leave your home. This will require more time and effort on your part, but it is necessary to help your dog.
Make all home departures and arrivals uneventful. Avoid exciting your dog at these times.
Most destructive behaviour occurs within the first and last half hours a dog is alone. This is due usually to anxiety brought on by the excitement that often surrounds this time.
Plan a play session for your dog half an hour after you arrive home.
Never reprimand unless you have caught your dog in the act of being destructive.
Punishing your dog on your return for something done in your absence will serve only to increase its anxiety and confusion, and will hinder any progress you have already made.
Purchase a crate for your dog to stay in while you are away from home or are unable to keep an eye on your dog (this is comparable to placing a toddler in a playpen). Line the crate with a blanket and provide a variety of safe and suitable chew toys for your dog.
Never use the crate as a form of reprimand. Make the act of entering the crate enjoyable.
This method is commonly referred to as "cage" or "crate training", and emulates a natural habit of dogs, which is to go into a den for a safe and secure place to rest. Once you feel your dog can be left on his own, you can practice leaving him alone for short periods of time.
Allow your dog access only to certain areas of the house and, as with children, make sure breakables and dangerous items are well out of reach (also keep in mind that your dog may just prefer to stay in its "den").
Before leaving, switch on a radio tuned to a soft music/talk station. The sound of soft human voices and music has a calming effect on dogs.
Consult a veterinarian about your dog's diet. Foods that are too high in protein and/or lack other necessary nutrients may have an effect on your dog's behaviour.
Make use of the experience of others. Many excellent books are available.
Most behavioural problems can be solved with the right amount of love, time and patience. Don't give up! The love and devotion your dog has for you will make it all worthwhile.
With few exceptions, all dogs bark. Barking is a natural behaviour and it is a way of communicating. While the messages can range from loneliness to hunger or playfulness, most often barking is used as an alarm or alert signal that indicates to the other pack members that a stranger or intruder is approaching
Most people have a feeling of security and comfort knowing their dogs are âon the jobâ. Some people even encourage their dogs to bark and growl when the doorbell rings or someone knocks. They feel this is acceptable behaviour, however, when the dogs become uncontrollable, with barking that is excessive, they become a nuisance. Life is miserable for neighbours who must listen day after day to barking dogs.
Excessive barking often begins in puppy-hood, when the pup who is not yet house-trained is unwisely shut behind closed doors. Improper confinement will definitely cause a barking problem, and dogs that are tied or tethered will eventually become frustrated and begin to bark to communicate their displeasure. We must always remember that dogs are pack animals. It is not natural or normal for them to be alone, however, millions of dogs must learn to cope confidently while members of the family go out daily to work.
Chewing, uncontrolled barking, house-training problems and destructive behaviour have put many dogs out of their homes, and all of this could be avoided if we simply communicated more effectively with our canine companions. They are part of a pack or family, similar in behaviour to their ancestors, the wolves. Wolves travel, hunt, sleep and eat in a group environment, therefore, we must modify this instinct. We must, in our human packs, make our dogs feel comfortable and secure about being alone in the âdenâ while the other pack members are away.
Because most barking takes place when you are away from home, you have no choice but to believe your neighbours when they complain.
Barking is actually quite common and not that difficult to rectify. Let us consider the encouraging owner who inadvertently praises and teaches his or her dog that its barking is the greatest thing, which makes the dog feel its owner is happy and pleased when he barks.
The easiest way to teach the dog to bark is command him to âspeakâ. So while the dog is barking at the door, the owner may use the command word âspeakâ. The dog will associate barking behaviour with this word. Now, your golden moment has arrived. You are going to teach your dog the word âquietâ, or âenoughâ or âshushâ (your choice!). We do not teach the word âNoâ, because âNoâ means âNever, ever do that - ever".
When you command your dog to be âQuietâ and he keeps barking, you will have to teach him the meaning of the word âQuietâ. Hitting your dog or using other physical measure or mechanical or electronic aids are unkind and unnecessary. You may hold your dogâs muzzle closed (gently and kindly), or you may have to use a water pistol. Another method is to make a sudden sharp sound (rattle a pop can with some coins in it, or bang on a pot) to divert your dogâs attention from barking. When your dog has ceased to bark for at least three to five seconds, praise him in a quiet, calm voice, perhaps saying, âGood, quiet. Good!â. Avoid stroking, patting and hugging your dog at this point, as you may over-excite him again, and he may miss the point of the whole exercise.
Before you leave your dog alone, remember the following points:
Provide adequate exercise.
Leave the radio or television on.
Provide your dog with proper chewing material - rawhide, nylabones and Kong toys stuffed with yummy stuff are good (beware of using real animal bones - they can splinter).
Crate train your dog.
Unplug your phone.
Place a âDo Not Disturbâ sign on your door. This may prevent trades people from knocking or ringing the bell, which would set your dog off on a barking cycle.
Shut the shades or drapes so your dog cannot see outside.
Make your departures calm. Tone things down and be matter of fact. Over-emotional, guilt-ridden departures (and entrances) put your dog in a state of anxiety.
Dogs are highly social animals who are historically
used to being part of a pack. This social interaction insured that a dog would be mentally healthy and secure. When the dog was domesticated, nearly 10,000 years ago, their wild "pack" was replaced by his owner's family.
Sadly, today's backyard dog, will seldom see the inside of a house and will eat, sleep and wait outside for any kind of attention from its owners. If a dog is chained and isolated outside, chances are he is an under-cared-for and under-stimulated-pet.
Some dog owners keep their animals outside in the mistaken belief that they will act as a deterrent to potential intruders. Intruders will quickly learn that the dog is in the yard and not in the house. Police statistics show that indoor dogs deter more than 90 per cent of all break-ins.
If you intend to keep your dog in your backyard, you can expect:
A dog that barks excessively due to boredom and loneliness.
Repetitive digging and chewing due to lack of exercise.
Injuries to your dog stemming from his inability to escape or protect itself from attacks by other animals.
Unwanted pregnancies if your dog is not spayed or neutered. Male dogs will seek out a female in heat any way they can; gates and fences are unlikely to stop them. The resulting litters of puppies will be an unwelcome and inconvenient addition for you and will add to the already critical problem of pet overpopulation.
A dog that is overly aggressive will most likely direct his frustration at small children, neighbours, other neighbourhood animals and any strangers who approach him.
Your dog will run a much higher risk of contracting diseases carried by urban wildlife than a dog that is sheltered inside.
Your dog will be susceptible to fly-bites on its ears. This can result in open wounds on the area, which will eventually lead to maggots.
If the outside temperature is too hot or too cold for you to feel comfortable, you can be sure that your dog feels the same discomfort.
Being confined outdoors is unhealthy and lonely for your dog. Remember, your dog needs to feel that he is a valuable member of your "pack" and, as such, he should be welcome to share your home at all times.
A backyard is not a home. Don't turn a cold shoulder to your dog.
There are two major causes of destructive behaviour: boredom and separation anxiety. Separation anxiety
is a term used to describe the insecure behaviour of a dog who is too dependent on his owner and thus becomes destructive in his owner's absence.
Separation anxiety is also common in dogs who have been abandoned or mistreated
Too many dogs are given up for adoption because of destructive behaviour, usually without any effort by their owners to change or improve their pet's behaviour. Accepting the responsibility of owning a dog means being prepared to deal with such situations.
The suggestions listed below will help you and your dog get right back on the good behaviour "track":
Have your dog spayed or neutered.
Give your dog rigorous, tiring exercise before you leave your home. This will require more time and effort on your part, but it is necessary to help your dog.
Make all home departures and arrivals uneventful. Avoid exciting your dog at these times.
Most destructive behaviour occurs within the first and last half hours a dog is alone. This is due usually to anxiety brought on by the excitement that often surrounds this time.
Plan a play session for your dog half an hour after you arrive home.
Never reprimand unless you have caught your dog in the act of being destructive.
Punishing your dog on your return for something done in your absence will serve only to increase its anxiety and confusion, and will hinder any progress you have already made.
Purchase a crate for your dog to stay in while you are away from home or are unable to keep an eye on your dog (this is comparable to placing a toddler in a playpen). Line the crate with a blanket and provide a variety of safe and suitable chew toys for your dog.
Never use the crate as a form of reprimand. Make the act of entering the crate enjoyable.
This method is commonly referred to as "cage" or "crate training", and emulates a natural habit of dogs, which is to go into a den for a safe and secure place to rest. Once you feel your dog can be left on his own, you can practice leaving him alone for short periods of time.
Allow your dog access only to certain areas of the house and, as with children, make sure breakables and dangerous items are well out of reach (also keep in mind that your dog may just prefer to stay in its "den").
Before leaving, switch on a radio tuned to a soft music/talk station. The sound of soft human voices and music has a calming effect on dogs.
Consult a veterinarian about your dog's diet. Foods that are too high in protein and/or lack other necessary nutrients may have an effect on your dog's behaviour.
Make use of the experience of others. Many excellent books are available.
Most behavioural problems can be solved with the right amount of love, time and patience. Don't give up! The love and devotion your dog has for you will make it all worthwhile.
What should I expect when I bring my baby home from the hospital?
Amber
I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant.
Its really starting to sink in on what life will be like when I bring the baby home. I think of course majority of first time moms think about breaking in all the baby stuff and showing off the cute new baby. BUT.... What should I really expect?
-I have loads of diapers, wipes, and bottles.
-I'm paying my rent up for 4 months in advance to ease my mind although my boyfriend is not taking off of work.
-I will have loads of baby clothes ranging from 0-12 months.
-I have a $250 walmart gift card for any last minute needs.
- I'll have a swing, bouncer, crib, pack and play, changing table, travel system etc...
AHHHH! No where sells extra hands. Lol.
So, is there any tips you have? How you coped with sleep, finances, baby etc...
How long can I expect to be sore? Did getting out of the house help you any?
Thanks so much in advance! :)
Answer
From a male point of view, you can expect a lot of sleepless nights until your baby starts sleeping all night. You will be tired and you will find yourself napping when your baby does. You may want to hold off on the bouncer and swing until he gets a little older and can actually sit up by himself/herself. You may want to consider disposable diapers. baby shampoo, etc. For the first couple days, you will spend a lot of time treating your baby like he is a new toy. you will hold him and just watch him sleep. You will smile a lot for about 3 weeks and then you will feel tired.
Now, the boyfriend: he may be a great guy and all excited about the baby, but he is going to take on a new role when the baby comes home. He is going to feel totally left out of everything. and thats perfectly natural because he will be left out. Your number one concern is your baby. You will do everything for your child for a while. He may find himself making meals for you because you will be too tired. The father takes on a whole new role when the baby comes home. Its almost like he becomes the sole provider and less of a boyfriend. Oh, and you might want to consider getting married.
From a male point of view, you can expect a lot of sleepless nights until your baby starts sleeping all night. You will be tired and you will find yourself napping when your baby does. You may want to hold off on the bouncer and swing until he gets a little older and can actually sit up by himself/herself. You may want to consider disposable diapers. baby shampoo, etc. For the first couple days, you will spend a lot of time treating your baby like he is a new toy. you will hold him and just watch him sleep. You will smile a lot for about 3 weeks and then you will feel tired.
Now, the boyfriend: he may be a great guy and all excited about the baby, but he is going to take on a new role when the baby comes home. He is going to feel totally left out of everything. and thats perfectly natural because he will be left out. Your number one concern is your baby. You will do everything for your child for a while. He may find himself making meals for you because you will be too tired. The father takes on a whole new role when the baby comes home. Its almost like he becomes the sole provider and less of a boyfriend. Oh, and you might want to consider getting married.
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