View Full Version : Training my dumbass dog
Goodburbon
08-13-2012, 15:42
You talking about the pit bull on the left?
hghclsswhitetrsh
08-13-2012, 15:45
You talking about the pit bull on the left?
He said lab husky mix.
You talking about the pit bull on the left?
+1
He said lab husky mix.
That is not a husky mix.. lab/pit maybe.. but NOT husky.
Check w/ your vet and some doggie day care/boarding facilities, they sometimes offer training.
It doesn't sound like it's a training issue however, and sounds more like seperation issues. Do they happen when he's not near you? Or is it non-stop even when you're there?
It could be that he's not getting exercised enough, pits need to burn off steam daily. Hang a small tire in the yard from something sturdy.. Pit's LOVE that..
How far have you gone w/ obedience training and are you STICKING with it? Meaning are you being consistent in what you do?
You have to work with dogs. Avoid petsmart/petco for anything beyond basic training.
I have a puppy and he has YET to destroy anything, although he has made attempts. When he gets something he's not supposed to he knows he's done wrong and he's given one of his toys instead. House breaking is worse than his chewing.
It could also be that as it is his 3rd home he was shown it was acceptable, and played with all kinds things he shouldn't as a puppy. Stuffed toys as a puppy are bad from what I understand.
All else fails.. take him back. As much as I hate to say it.
newracer
08-13-2012, 15:46
Shock collar. Give him durable toys that he can chew and zap the shit out of him when he chews anything else.
SuperiorDG
08-13-2012, 15:48
Put him in a crate when you are not around, at least until he grows up a little. Put out of his reach anything he can chew on. And lastly, get a remote controlled shock collar and follow him around and when he tries to chew on something shock the shit out of him, same with the biting.
10mm-man
08-13-2012, 15:48
How many times you put a foot in his ass and cage him? Try that!! next 00 buck outta cure it.....
Goodburbon
08-13-2012, 15:49
We have a wonderful dog as well, but she can not be trusted alone. If left alone with access to trash she will scatter it throughout the house, then when you return she will bolt out of the door when you open it because she KNOWS she did something wrong. Just couldn't help it. I had a Golden/lab mix and it was an absolute destroyer of anything cotton filled, or any bedding. I'd buy a nice bed for her only to come home to a yard full of ghetto snow.
In other words, dogs are dogs. They lack impulse control, despite being otherwise well trained. What is needed here is human training. Don't give the dog the opportunity to destroy these things. Crate train, keep the dog locked away from the laundry and the furniture, only give non-destructible toys etc. The dog's behavior isn't changing, time to change yours.
Also, don't play with your hands. use toys, not your hands when playing. Hands are for petting and feeding, not playing if you don't want to get bit.
Scanker19
08-13-2012, 15:50
I took mine to the training facility over by the 8th street walmart in Colorado Springs. Haven't had an issue since.......[Flower]
sellersm
08-13-2012, 15:51
I don't know if there's an All Breed Dog rescue branch near you, but they offer good training. My buddy runs Cool K9s Training and he & his wife are excellent trainers. Google for their website & give them a call to see if they can offer any help.
Goodburbon
08-13-2012, 15:52
We've actually done the shock collar/security camera bit. We had one that loved to jump on the sofa when we werent' around. She'd never do it in front of us, but we'd always come home to a furry sofa. We put on the shock collar and "left" a few times, watching the camera and zapping the dog when she'd jump on the sofa. That cured it.
One Shot
08-13-2012, 15:58
Crate him when you are not home
Exercise the crap out of him
Neuter him
Get him some chew toys like a KONG. I have a doberman and the KONG is the ONLY thing that has lasted out of everything. If he starts to chew on fabric then take it away and correct him on it.
You can try using a correction with a choke collar in the house when he starts to chew on fabric.
If he's not fixed then I think that will help alot. If he is.. then exercise and discipline and stick to your guns on what he can/cant do. Reward for good behavior and exercise the mind not just physical exercise.
Crate him when you are not home
Exercise the crap out of him
Neuter him
Get him some chew toys like a KONG.
Those four. But not in that order:
* First, get him snipped.
* Second, daily VIGOROUS exercise: Get a bicycle, put dog on a leash, ride bicycle, let dog run beside you.
* Third, once home from the run, let him drink water and then into the crate.
* Fourth, once he goes into the crate, toss in a Kong ball that you stuffed with some ground beef and placed in the freezer. Let him gnaw on that for a while. Raw meat makes the crate a MUCH better place to be. :o)
And finally: He's a puppy. They do this. YOUR job, as their master, is to NOT allow him access to things to destroy. If you come home to a dog that destroyed a given thing, then it's YOUR fault for leaving that thing where the dog could get to it.
ChunkyMonkey
08-13-2012, 16:13
Alpha issue from the sound of it. Yell at them... bite their ears!!!! [Coffee] Dont let them walk in front of you..etc.
10mm-man
08-13-2012, 16:14
Believe me crate training was the first thing we did, and with horrible results. The dog freaks out and chews so hard that he pulls his teeth out. I will take some picks, but we tried three different kennels. We tried with food, without food, with toys without toys, everything. We did this for three weeks and came to a urine soaked panic dog that was bleeding from the mouth. It was terrible.
You know man some dogs are bread "wrong" as in you just can't cure there in ability to behave or act right. Gotta put them down! Sucks but that's the way it goes sometimes...
My mom had a dog like that, no matter what you did he wouldn't act right. I think it's a bad cross in breading or something! Worthless dog..... Kinda like the gene pull we sometimes complain about on here .....[Beer] 00buck
Great-Kazoo
08-13-2012, 16:21
I have tried four different kennels, but I threw two of them away because they were completely ruined.
Here is where kennel training got us:
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/DSCN4378.jpg
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/DSCN4379.jpg
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/DSCN4382.jpg
He knows you are going to let him out once the wrecking begins. Use bitter apple and or pepper spray on anything that is chewable. YOU are IN COMMAND NOT the DOG. You take charge and make sure he knows this.
We had issues with a mixed breed years ago, males are a PITA. However aggressive training on your part, with you and the wife and not some outsourced person. The training only got him comfortable with..........the trainer.
They have these things called muzzles, buy one, use it until the issues stop. the only time out of muzzle is to eat. Does not matter how much whining, crying etc he does. If he was muzzled and kept in a kennel a few of these issues would disappear sooner than later.We see all breeds of dogs with muzzles from those little shitters to st bernards. No dog is perfect, work, train, work, just like shooting, Practice, practice, practice.
10mm-man
08-13-2012, 16:35
I was always told that muzzles are for short term only and should be removed when you are not actively training or walking the dog. I think that I will get one and see what I can do. If he can realize that the chewing is what we get mad about, then he might stop if he knows that the muzzle is coming.
Sometimes you gotta break the rules! I like this suggestion, give the mutt a chance! then 00 buck! [ROFL1][ROFL2]
Great-Kazoo
08-13-2012, 16:44
I was always told that muzzles are for short term only and should be removed when you are not actively training or walking the dog. I think that I will get one and see what I can do. If he can realize that the chewing is what we get mad about, then he might stop if he knows that the muzzle is coming.
I know a few folks, including another board member who muzzled their dog.
Question: What is the purpose of a muzzle?
ANS: To keep a dog from biting, CHEWING or just break them of being to mouthy. Some dogs just feel they can clamp on to someone, very gently as most do.
The muzzle prevents this. YOU are in CHARGE, You're the ALPHA.
Who da man. You Da Man.[Alrigh]
Teufelhund
08-13-2012, 17:00
I think I'd take that one out and shoot him. [UZI]
Short of that, this book will cure all your dog-caused ills. The Koehler Method of Dog Training (http://www.amazon.com/Koehler-Method-Dog-Training/dp/0876055773/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344896986&sr=1-1&keywords=kohler+method). I read and used an older version of this book with several dogs when I was a teenager. Everything in here works like a charm without resorting to abuse, clickers, or treats.
Dogs chew for a variety of reasons; it is coded in their DNA. Breaking them of this habit is not as difficult as some may think but, it all begins by recognizing what leads to the pet's behavior. The most common reasons for chewing are teething and boredom.
Reprimanding an animal in the form of yelling and hitting are not only unnecessary but can also lead to negative traits such as increased aggressiveness and "disconnection" from the family nucleus. Along those same lines, I HIGHLY discourage the use of shock collars for training purposes; especially because, at some point, the animal will learn to associate you (its master) with an uncomfortable situation. The bond between a master and his dog should be one of mutual respect and love and not based on pain and fear.
Training a dog takes patience but, more importantly, it requires that both you and your lady are very consistent on the instruction you are giving the animal. Training facilities can be hit or miss. Many of them are not even properly accredited. Those that are, can give you the tools needed to shape your animal into a great companion but it is ultimately up to you to do the work. Remember, training facilities train the owner just as much as they train the dog!
Send him to me for a week. My dogs will get him used to the pack concept and show him what is acceptable and what isn't.
99% of the time its the humans `fault`, not the dogs. You are in charge, not the dog. You are the product of 400 million years of successful evolution - fricken act like it.
This is where I am at. I want to just look for one more option before I send him on the big ride. The problem is that he is the most loving and sweet dog that you can imagine when you are paying attention to him. It would devastate my wife to get rid of him. He is a great guard dog and a great companion for our other dog. But the second you stop petting him he bites onto something and chews it until it is dead. KONG's only last a couple days after he decides he wants to chew it. I wish that I could find a muzzle or something that was made for long term use until he get out of the habit of chewing stuff. Something that I could put on him for an hour or so after he destroys something that he was not supposed to.
OK... what are you doing this Sunday, Aug 19?
I'll come train you how to handle him, train him to behave right, and do it all for a case of Sawtooth Ale from Left Hand Brewery.
10mm-man
08-13-2012, 18:14
OK... what are you doing this Sunday, Aug 19?
I'll come train you how to handle him, train him to behave right, and do it all for a case of Sawtooth Ale from Left Hand Brewery.
Yea, me two! i'll bring the shotty just in case... So have two cases of Sawtooth ale available....[Beer]
10mm-man
08-13-2012, 18:17
Ahhh yes Hannibal looks like he likes that new muzzle!! [Beer]
good luck man!
Thanks for the offer, but I work on the 19th. I think that I am training him right, because everything else that he has been taught is working. He still needs a lot of work, and there are a lot of things that my wife and I need to be more consistent on, but if it was not for the chewing he would be a great dog.
Yeah, I understand. For what it's worth, my Casey (pic HERE: http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn27/hillarysdavis2/Animalz/Reno%20Dawgz/casey7.jpg) was a chewing MACHINE when she was young. Once she got past 2 years or so, it calmed down a LOT... then it just went away. But I did have to buy my wife a LOT of new shoes during those first couple years.
Something to consider: While folks suggest Bitter Apple and the like, I had a great deal of success with Tabasco. Casey turned one Jimmy Choo shoe into a heap of saliva-ridden leather. A generous dose of Tabasco on the other, and leaving it laying in her crate, solved that problem right damn quick.
My offer stands, any weekend day for the next three weeks. After that, I'm moving to Indiana, at which point my offer stands with the addition of "You pay airfare." [Beer]
Seriously, good luck. These things generally go away with time... it's just tolerating and surviving that time frame that can be tough. My guess? Two years from now, you're going to be sitting around a campfire, dog laying at your side, and thanking the heavens that you didn't put the dog down at 1.8 years age....
"We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment." ~George Eliot
Great-Kazoo
08-13-2012, 18:53
Yeah, I understand. For what it's worth, my Casey (pic HERE: http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn27/hillarysdavis2/Animalz/Reno%20Dawgz/casey7.jpg) was a chewing MACHINE when she was young. Once she got past 2 years or so, it calmed down a LOT... then it just went away. But I did have to buy my wife a LOT of new shoes during those first couple years.
Something to consider: While folks suggest Bitter Apple and the like, I had a great deal of success with Tabasco. Casey turned one Jimmy Choo shoe into a heap of saliva-ridden leather. A generous dose of Tabasco on the other, and leaving it laying in her crate, solved that problem right damn quick.
My offer stands, any weekend day for the next three weeks. After that, I'm moving to Indiana, at which point my offer stands with the addition of "You pay airfare." [Beer]
Seriously, good luck. These things generally go away with time... it's just tolerating and surviving that time frame that can be tough. My guess? Two years from now, you're going to be sitting around a campfire, dog laying at your side, and thanking the heavens that you didn't put the dog down at 1.8 years age....
"We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment." ~George Eliot
We had a terrier Shepard mix, with floppy ears. Tabasco, no way, she chowed down anything spicy like it was a prime rib. We once tried growing some chili peppers. Could never figure out why one day on the plant, next one gone. First we thought squirrels, until i noticed she was wandering around the garden perimeter. Next thing, BAM, shes pulling peppers off and slamming them down like shots of tequila at a sorority house.
Some dogs have weird taste buds.
DangerLee_Industries
08-13-2012, 19:53
That is a sticky situation and sucks big time I've been in the exact spot before. I picked up a lab mix to keep my Chocolate lab busy while I was working 12 hour days. I had a place outside of Kremmling on 2 acres so plenty of room for the pups to run and play all day.
My boy is a Rockstar and doesn't mess with anything at all. The new pup I brought home did the same thing your pup is and chewed the crap out of everything. She had a whole acre that was fenced to play in and what does she do??? Chews on the damn house and anything that wasn't nailed down.
Fell asleep on the couch with her out one day and woke up to see that she had just destroyed a near new pair of Asolo 350.00 hiking boots. She wasn't 3 feet away from me the whole time. I tried everything to curb her bad habits and I too put up with it for just under a year. I was fortunate and found someone that took her off my hands so she wouldn't have to go back and be put down.
I love my dog, I've had him since he was 3 months old and he's almost 10 now but at the end of the day he's still a dog. It's not worth feeling like a hostage in your own home and the stress of him possibly biting someone.
As much as it sucks I would take him back......:(
DSB OUTDOORS
08-13-2012, 20:13
[quote=Danimal;581484]
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/DSCN4384-1.jpg
[quote]
http://imageplay.net/img/tya22279880/hannible.jpg
Sorry, That SHIT aint right. Not even close!! [Tooth]
patrick0685
08-13-2012, 20:27
i think that the biggest thing and one thing that sucks about getting them at the pound is having them since they are a pup (6-8 weeks) both of my dogs are high energy breads and they can both be left around the house all day and not damage anything...good luck
p.s. ive heard decent things about sit means sit
buckshotbarlow
08-13-2012, 20:36
i grew up on a farm, here's one of the ways we dealt with dogs...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HbBL62IiRE
or
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/308_Winchester.jpg/250px-308_Winchester.jpg
My dad always said put em a potato sack, tie it off and through em in the river. If they get out, then you have a good dog.
hammer03
08-13-2012, 20:47
Find a neighbor kid to take him on a few mile run every day? For a few bucks, some aspiring young athlete might take you up on it.
spongejosh
08-13-2012, 23:37
My friend has a Husky mix that would destroy anything he could get a hold of. After the first year or so he calmed down and stopped destroying stuff.
Keep working on crate training. Make sure you're not making the crate a punishment. The crate needs to be a happy place.
Put him in a crate when you are not around, at least until he grows up a little. Put out of his reach anything he can chew on. And lastly, get a remote controlled shock collar and follow him around and when he tries to chew on something shock the shit out of him, same with the biting.
Crating is a good start, the shock color is not. I know members will argue the fact but I dealt with my dog having lymphoid cancer and would not wish it on anyone.
It does just sound like separation issues and the fact that he has been jumped from place to place in his what 3 years he has been alive? 8 months is not enough time to work some of his fear's / issues out. Crate him when your not home, it also provides him with "his own home" which will lead into more of a sense of security for him (less anxiety). Just make sure you never ever discipline him while he is in his kennel (I.E. yelling or trying to pull him out) if he runs into it after doing something wrong just shut the door and wait a while.
I commend you for the steps you have taken so far just keep at it and rememeber dogs are like kids, they are both wild animals that need training [Coffee]
Btw A harder bite while playing is a sign of frustration, try a different game or when playing a fetch like game make him drop the toy at your feet before you will take it.
Just my $.2
bigshane
08-14-2012, 08:11
... if he is running it is because I am running with him. His energy surpasses mine on the average day after work.
We have one of these (http://www.amazon.com/Springer-Bicycle-Jogger/dp/B0017NM4OE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1344953279&sr=1-1) attached to a bike. If you'd like to borrow it for a couple of weeks you are welcome to.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K7yU7p1ZL.jpg
HoneyBadger
08-14-2012, 11:20
Crate him when you are not home
Exercise the crap out of him
Neuter him
Get him some chew toys like a KONG. I have a doberman and the KONG is the ONLY thing that has lasted out of everything. If he starts to chew on fabric then take it away and correct him on it.
Good advice here.
The most important factor when training anyone or anything is consistency. It doesn't matter if it is your child, a new employee, or a 6 month old puppy. you MUST have consistent expectations and consistent enforcement of those expectations.
bigshane
08-19-2012, 13:26
Any progress?
http://www.fookin.net/images/funny_images/dog_training_for_dummies.jpg
Its simple. When you're not home keep in him a crate until he is trained.
When you are home make sure things are picked up and he wont have the ability to destroy anything.
He is a pup and he is oreney. He will grow out of it.
10mm-man
08-19-2012, 21:02
Update:
My wife and I really stepped up the crate training, and with the addition of the muzzle he is night and day better. The last two days I have not even needed the muzzle. I caught him looking in the trash yesterday and I happened to be within reach of the muzzle on the counter. I picked it up and the look on his face was priceless. He gets it now, he did this little smile thing he does when he knows he is in trouble and backed away from the trash without me saying a word. Awesome.
Putting the 00 buck away... I am here if you need me![ROFL1][Beer]
Update:
My wife and I really stepped up the crate training, and with the addition of the muzzle he is night and day better. The last two days I have not even needed the muzzle. I caught him looking in the trash yesterday and I happened to be within reach of the muzzle on the counter. I picked it up and the look on his face was priceless. He gets it now, he did this little smile thing he does when he knows he is in trouble and backed away from the trash without me saying a word. Awesome.
Very cool! [Beer]
One Shot
08-19-2012, 23:55
Good deal, glad to hear you are making some progress. Keep us posted
Update:
My wife and I really stepped up the crate training, and with the addition of the muzzle he is night and day better. The last two days I have not even needed the muzzle. I caught him looking in the trash yesterday and I happened to be within reach of the muzzle on the counter. I picked it up and the look on his face was priceless. He gets it now, he did this little smile thing he does when he knows he is in trouble and backed away from the trash without me saying a word. Awesome.
Excellent! Now keep at it... dogs learn by doing the same thing over and over and over and over. People want to know why Casey always sits when she comes to the crosswalk at an intersection, leash or no leash. The answer is simple: Because every single time we've gone for a walk in the past 6 years, she was made to sit at the crosswalk of an intersection.
alan0269
08-20-2012, 09:24
Glad he's doing better!!! It can be a pain when they do this type of stuff. I had a Staffordshire/Lab mix that actually ate a hole in the side of my house years ago - came home to a weird noise coming from the backyard, and sure enough he was doing his best beaver impression.
spongejosh
08-21-2012, 19:57
If he starts slipping try shaming him.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191541/Bad-boy-Craze-dogshaming-sweeps-internet--cats-arent-safe-owners-scorn-either.html?ICO=most_read_module
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/21/article-2191541-14A33E55000005DC-979_634x472.jpg
[ROFL1][ROFL2][ROFL3][LOL]
alan0269
08-22-2012, 09:45
If he starts slipping try shaming him.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191541/Bad-boy-Craze-dogshaming-sweeps-internet--cats-arent-safe-owners-scorn-either.html?ICO=most_read_module
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/21/article-2191541-14A33E55000005DC-979_634x472.jpg
That only works if you make him stand on the corner of a busy intersection with the sign.
bigshane
08-22-2012, 11:48
That only works if you make him stand on the corner of a busy intersection with the sign.
I'm pretty sure that's a hate crime in Boulder.
Chad4000
08-22-2012, 14:09
Shock collar. Give him durable toys that he can chew and zap the shit out of him when he chews anything else.
exactly what I was going to say...
Shock collar works wonders. I have one for my labs and if they start acting up I literally just put the collar on, and I dont have to zap em anymore.
on a weird side note, i *may* have found it slightly theraputic to zap the shit out of them when they deserved it.... just saying ;)
(I have tried all 10 settings on myself... not trying to sound inhuman lol)
DD977GM2
08-22-2012, 14:25
The fact you have a Husky/lab mix is the toughpart. Huskys are very tough to train to be a "house" dog.
I would start by when you or your wife are home, have them on a leash and you both handling him. This will help with obediance
and also allow for only movement you want to have happen.
Reduce your commands to single words that you both agree upon. Stick with the simple commands and use themn often.
Some dogs honestly need a good beating with a switch to get it throught heir heads.
Im not advocating hurting them, but a good spanking may be in order to get
his mind to think obedience.
Also offer tons a treats when he does something good or posative. This will reinforce posative behavior.
I have a pitbull and he is very well behaved due to the fact I have been
training him since I got him at 8 weeks old and I use 1 words for his commands
and he understands them very well.
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