Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:44 am Post subject: fed up lots of questions
Hi i am really fed up today and have been thinking that i cant cope with Bailey for a while now, but kids and hubby really want Bailey to stay but i don't feel i can cope...
firstly if i sit down he barks at me and pounces on the floor as if he is gonna attack... this really makes me nervous
if i say no!!!! when he is attacking my daughters feet/slippers etc he barks at me and jumps up to try and nip me and continues to do so until i give him time out, but comes back and continues to bite slippers.
how much time should i spend playing with him per day? he has his 15 minute walk but my husband thinks i should let him learn to play by himself but if i do he just ends up chewing furniture or barking at me
i really want to teach him the right things but he just doesn't seem interested, when i walk him he dawdles and then lies on the floor, he won't cross roads without sitting or lying half way across so i end up picking him up but he is getting a handful to hold now.
I want to take him to training classes but as he has stitches in his face for entropion i cannot risk dogs pawing at his eyes, so i am on my own really and don't have a clue how to get the good behavior and how to deal with the bad behavior, therefore i am always anxious and stressed and really feel i cannot cope with him.
lastly... for those of you that haven't given up yet
his eyes seems to be running (just one eye) so i feel his stitches have been pulled but cannot take him to the vet yet but he has got an appointment for next week, as the insurance are still deciding if they are gonna pay the £200 for the op he has just had, and we cannot afford for him to go and have the eye re done if thats what he needs ( but he might not it might just be me worrying too much)
I would love to meet up with another dog owner who can teach me the training as 1 to 1 training is too expensive.
Thanks and sorry for wwafflingon but i just wanna give up.
Sarah
It sounds to me like typical lab puppy behaviour, they can be very excitable! When you are shouting no at him, this can often make them think you're playing a fun game with them, hence the jumping and excitable nipping. If I were in that position, I'd say nothing and just pick him up and put him in his "time out" place for a few minutes until he's calmed down.
I can understand your problem with his stitches/training classes - have the vets given any indication as to how long he'll have his stitches for?
Are you doing any training with him at home (i.e sit, lie down etc.)? There are plenty of tips in the section training on the forum, even down to getting them walking nicely on the lead, just make sure you're armed with lots of treats!!
I know it feels like it's neverending when they're so young, and all you seem to be saying is no, leave it, and slipping them into a "time out" but it really does get better! Try to make sure you always do have a few treats in your pocket, so you can reward them for those (what seem like) odd moments of good behaviour!
Don't give up on the little man just yet, you will end up with a wonderful dog, because just by writing this post you prove you care about his wellbeing!
Chin up lady!!
Last edited by Kimbley on Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:56 am; edited 1 time in total
Oh Sarah I really feel for you and want to stretch out a helping hand.
Firstly I think that Bailey might be showing off a bit and wants to get your attention all the time. I know that you want to stop the biting feet/slippers and the only way I think that you might be able to stop this is to have a spray bottle containing water in it and every time he goes for the feet or slippers say the word NO and spray some water on him, the fine mist setting not the directions jet as this might go in his eys. We did this with Kimmy when he used to chew his lead and also when he would sit infront of you when you are eating now all we have to do is show him the bottle and he knows to go and sit down.
You dont say how old Bailey is. Please dont give up the early days can be a struggle and I think we've all been there. I remember with Kimmy that when we first had him and he was sitting next to me he would always go to bite my fingers so in the end I ended up always having a chew toy by myside.
If only I lived closers and I would come over and make you a great big mug of tea.
Hang on in there - maybe have a word with the Vet about his behaviour he might be able to help.
Hope Ive helped.
All the best.
Ann and Kimmy
____________ Kimmy you will always be our superstar, we love you
ohhh Sarah , puppies are very hard work, but try and stick with it.
Firstly, if you can please get Bailey's eye checke at the vets, i understand about money being tight but if left un looked at it could end up costing you alot more money... have a word with you vet amybe he can defere payment untill the insurance sorts them self out.
When you do time do you put Bailey out the room, you need to continue this, for instance if he jumps up and nip do time out put him out the room, if he comes back in and does the same do repeat the same action.
Do you have a crate for bailey, sometimes when you are feeling you have had enough pop him in his crate for a little while, but dont make it a punishment, give him a nice tasty chew to take in with him.
As for the roads, the littl eman knows how to wind you up doesnt he, i really dont know how to deal with this one, except try to get him across the road without picking him up, when you get to the other side remeber lots of praise and maybe a treat.
Hi and thanks you seem to help with your kind words and support,
Bailey is 3 months and he sleeps in the utility room, he does seem to think me saying no!!! is a game and i would love to keep going but i feel lost with training him he will sit but when i try and do stay... he just jumps up at me everytime but i will take a look at the training section on the board, his stitches have to stay in for as long as possible and then at 7 months old he maybe need a half moon of skin taken out from each eye to pull his lower lids down. Thanks Sarah
3 months is still very young sarah, but you are not alone feeling like this, we have all been thereand if you search the forum you will find lots of post from people feeling the cant cope, and hey presto with a few months all the bad days are behind them and the have a lovely labrador
Oh poor you Sarah. Others have written some very sound advice so I'll not give any more. This is just to say that I have a lot of sympathy for you, its not easy.
If I had a pound for every time I thought I would have to give up on BJ when he was a puppy, I'd be a wealthy old lady now. He is now though the most fantastic and loyal companion you could wish for.
I'm sure if you can find the strength to stick with him you will be very glad in years to come.
Sarah, please dont give up on him There is loads of fab advice above and on the forum in general. I too felt like you when Maggie was around 12 weeks and often asked myself what I had done in getting her.
She will be a year old this week and I can honestly say that I cant imagine life without her and it is hard to believe how bad things were. She is not perfect but who is but has calmed down so much and is a wonderful girl. Try (if you can) to set aside some time every day to go through basic training commands and reward all positive behaviour.
I hope everything is ok with Bailey's eyes and dont forget you have tons of support on here.
Sarah .. it is really tough sometimes isn't it and it must be harder for you with Bailey's eye problems to cope with.
Patience and perserverence are really the key I have found. With Rolo for example on slipper/ feet biting .. she will get a sharp no and her mouth removed, I then replace the slipper with a toy or chew. Then if she does it again a time out, ignoring all her protests as she is removed from the room .. if she comes back after 5 minutes and does it again .. she will go straight back into time out. Some nights I have done this over and over and you do wonder if it will ever end but it does get better. Yes she does lunge at me and try to nip or mouth .. then it is a fiirm 'no biting'. When I put her out of the room I say time out .. and now when she is on the verge of misbehaving I can sometimes just give her a look and say Time Out and she will stop. But it is a long process. I have found also that doing lots of good training with Rolo helps. The sit, down, stay sort .. that she is rewarded for. I find that the more we do the more we bond and she listens to me much more.
It is important that Bailey learns to be comfortable playing on his own too. Put him in his crate or puppy proof place every so often with some toys and a chew. If he isn't used to this, you can build the time up gradually.
Another thing Ive found is that Rolo is more trying when she is tired .. like a tired toddler having a tantrum .. i.e. in the evenings when you want everything to be nice and calm .. often if I put her to bed, even under protest, she has flaked out five minutes later.
I know you care about Bailey very much and want to be the perfect Mum to him. Please don't give up, he is still very much a baby. There is always somewhere here to talk to when things get on top of you. It will be worth it in the long haul.
I just wish I was closer to you so I could be on hand if you needed more support.
Hi thanks for your kind words it means alot and yea i think the world of him and he is lovely and a bit of a mardy pants i will keep up with what im doing and do my best for him... Ive brought up 4 lovely children so im sure i can cope with a pup its just all come at once. toilet training sleep deprivation and biting but at least with kids it is all a gradual process, but with a pup its all from day one. i just wish some one lived closer to me.
thanks Sarah
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his eyes seems to be running (just one eye) so i feel his stitches have been pulled but cannot take him to the vet yet but he has got an appointment for next week, as the insurance are still deciding if they are gonna pay the £200 for the op he has just had, and we cannot afford for him to go and have the eye re done if thats what he needs ( but he might not it might just be me worrying too much)
There is loads of fab advice above and on the forum in general. I too felt like you when Maggie was around 12 weeks and often asked myself what I had done in getting her.
.. often if I put her to bed, even under protest, she has flaked out five minutes later.
