Dog-sitting a hyperactive adolescent puppy... HELP!!!

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   Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

   I've had this dog for about an hour now and I'm already to the point where I want to throw him in front of a bus. I'm supposed to have him for the next week while my family is away on vacation. He's my dad's dog.. and has very little obedience training (he can sit.. thats about it).
   
   Anybody have any advice on how to keep this psycho dog busy for a week?? He's a holy terror.. he gets into everything, runs around the house biting, knocking things, jumping on us, and when I try to work he barks and growls at me for not paying attention to him. If I go into a room and close the door I get to hear loud, horrific whining until I'm back within his sight.
   
   I'm losing my head already! Does anyone have any suggestions of how to keep this thing busy? I have work to do and can't throw the stupid ball 24 hours a day for a week. He's eating my christmas tree.

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      PrettyPantherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would start by taking him for a very long walk to tire him out.  Then, send him to bed.  Worked when I had kids.  :-)

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         Katelyn Weelposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I tried that last time I had him, after a three hour walk around town and another half hour of playing with a ball in the backyard... he was STILL crazy.. I actually don't believe any earthly creature could be this wild!! I tried putting him to bed too (the crate) and then I get to hear howling

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            PrettyPantherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, man, I feel for you.  There is an herb that is used to calm animals, but I can't remember the name right now.  I believe its main ingredient is Passion Flower.  Maybe someone else is familiar with it?

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      manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If your not careful...this lil' pups character might just grow on you. Along with everyone's great suggestions...here's one that worked great for me on a male lab pup...just about as hyper...as the one your "pup-sitting":
      
      It will take a little training and patience...but when it finally works...it works like a charm! Roll the pup on to his back and scratch its' chest. This is a very submissive posture for the animal to have to take...and teaches it that you are the Master...and it is the pet...and that is cared for...by the much bigger you! (It will like having its' chest scratched!) Start doing it for longer periods...every time it starts acting up...and it will calm him down!

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   pylos26posted 14 years ago

   Yeah...you may want to check the medicine cabinet for valium...one half of a five milligram should do it. ha ha

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   Arthur Fontesposted 14 years ago

   It sounds like he is missing your dad.  Does he act like this for your father?  If not then he is probably just anxious try and get him comfortable sitting with you while you work.

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   habeeposted 14 years ago

   Do you have a treadmill??

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      Katelyn Weelposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's an excellent idea, habee! I wish I had one! Unfortunately I dont

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   Mitch Rappposted 14 years ago

   I usually shoot dogs like that, not a lot of buses running where I live.

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      habeeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Mitch, I hope you're joking.

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         Mitch Rappposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         There are no buses out here! Why would I joke about that?

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   habeeposted 14 years ago

   Borrow another dog from someone. They'll keep each other entertained and worn out from playing.

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   Lady Guinevereposted 14 years ago

   Rescue Remedy
   http://www.bachflower.com/

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      PrettyPantherposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's it!  I knew someone would know it.

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   Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

   hmm theres a thought. I think I may just go out and see if I can find any kind of calming herbal remedy for dogs, thanks Pretty Panther, I'll let u know if I find the name of it

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   Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

   Bach Flower, hmm i wonder if the Wal carries it hahaha probably not.. but my budget is pretty slim after xmas

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10. 68

    Lady Guinevereposted 14 years ago

    I think my bottle cost something like $6.00.  It is small but you only need a few drops.

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    Lady Guinevereposted 14 years ago

    Oh and it also works on cats!

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    Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

    does it work on people? haha

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       Lady Guinevereposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Here's another sie for you.  They may be a bit cheaper than the other one:
       http://www.rescueremedy.com/pets/

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    Lady Guinevereposted 14 years ago

    Hhahah, go to the website I just listed and yes I think they have some for people

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    jellydonut25posted 14 years ago

    The dog probably gets coddled too much at home.
    
    People project human emotions on dogs FAR too often. They don't think they same way we do. They are instinctual animals and their lives are VERY 'pack' oriented. The best way to have a happy dog with the right energy level is to always let it know who's in charge.
    
    The following things have helped me calm my dog down over the nine months I've had her:
    1 - Obedience training with treats: I just do it by myself, nothing fancy, no classes...but 20 minutes of mental exercise for a dog will wear them out a little bit. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical.
    2 - Dog park. I don't know if you have one in your area, but going to a dog park where the dogs can run around leash free is fantastic for them. It teaches them how to socialize and ultimately, they WILL get dominated (not humped, just put in their place) at least once or twice and it will give them a little humility.
    3 - NEVER ever lose in a game of tug-of-war. The fun game you play with a dog is actually a fight for dominance. Puppies play tug of war with each other naturally to establish dominance, you need to show a dog that YOU are the master, not the other way around.
    4 - Stare-downs. It's another dominance thing. If your dog stares you in the eyes, stare back until it looks away. This reinforces your position as the alpha.
    5 - ALWAYS "winning" in horse-play. Don't let the dog get on top of you, always maintain a dominant position over it.
    
    It sounds kind of like your dad's dog thinks that it is the leader of its pack and without your dad around, it goes bonkers because it's suffering from separation anxiety. In a pack system, the leader is allowed to leave (to go for food, etc) the lower members for a while but the lower members do NOT abandon the leader...

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    Wayne Orvisburgposted 14 years ago

    You jab him in the neck with your fingers and go TSST when he does something you dont want him to. Then, take him on walks. Lots of walks!

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    blue dogposted 14 years ago

    jellydonut's got it right. 
    
    establish your role as the alpha.  buy a short leash, not one of those extendable ones.  make him walk by your side, again establishing your alpha role
    
    several good books out there (put 'em on your dad's bill):
    
    - cesar's way comes to mind (his first one, all of his others are duplicate content)
    
    - find a good book on clicker training.
    
    - patience.

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       jellydonut25posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Kate, I'm not going to say I never hit my dog...in fact, the 'smack on the nose' thing has worked quite well for me...maybe it's just MY dog, but it does seem to work better than the pinch on the neck...when I raise my pointer finger at her quickly, she immediately drops her ears back and lays on the ground, knowing she's done something wrong (usually it's some form of jumping, either on a person or piece of furniture...she's slow to learn that she does not belong in those places because my friends and parents allow it despite me URGING them not to...so it just happens whenever I am not around)
       
       That said, I'd agree that BEATING a dog is not the way to go. Positive reinforcement of GOOD behavior works much better than the smack for bad behavior...in general, I ignore my dog whenever I get home until she calms down and sits next to me patiently (then I go a little bananas, i get excited to see her!)
       
       
       ive never tried clicker training, i've heard some good things but i've just always used some other sound...a snap of the fingers, a click in the back of my own throat, a whistle, just a simply "good dog" and short, simple commands with hand gestures to make it easier to recognize...

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17. 91

    Katelyn Weelposted 14 years ago

    jellydonut you make a lot of sense!
    
    I've been working on ways to keep him busy, I've got a couple of those hide-a-treat toys and they are good for a few minutes but he's pretty good at them so they don't last too long.
    
    Dad has a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to owning a dog.. he thinks shouting and hitting is how you establish dominance, but when that doesnt work he just does it worse until the dog is afraid of him, and listens only after he is physically forced to. That's not obedience!
    
    The problem is he doesn't want to learn how to do it properly, even though he's been told by multiple people. He also won't take the pup to obedience classes because he "has no time". I dunno I guess it's out of my hands after a week but I really wish he had thought a little harder about getting a dog in the first place, especially a puppy!
    
    The dog is easier to train than my dad

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    neoyyfposted 14 years ago

    Better hire a professional petsitter. I could help, but only with small dogs.

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    lady_assassinposted 14 years ago

    my friends have used valium for my medication . it is effective. visit medsheaven for more detail..

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