Monday, May 24, 2010

Any training tips for my 2 year old dog? (see details)?

My dog has some annoying habits. But since she is our family鈥檚 first dog we are unsure if these problems are helpable or if she just acting like a dog. Can any of you dog experts out there help [w/o sending us to a professional trainer]? Here are the problems:
1) Ok she loves walks. We taught her that walks were meant to relieve yourself and she goes. But even after one (even long ones) she might go #2 (sometimes #1 too) on the rug 鈥?sometimes even if she just had a walk 30 minutes ago. This isn鈥檛 everyday but it is a problem. But she isn鈥檛 sick. We also tried to put her on a daily bathroom schedule. But it turned out impossible because of our family's routine is different everyday.
2) Our dog automatically shreds/chews on anything and will destroy it! Luckily she never got hurt from doing this but we are tired of worrying that she swallowed something and sick of our stuff getting ruined. She chews on those chewable rawhides thingys but likes shredding things she shouldnt too.
Answers:
Feed your dog her meals at the same time every day, which will help regulate her schedule. She may be trying to tell you that she is not getting enough exercise, so try walking her a little longer or take her to a dog park where she can get some good fun/play time and good exercise. Also monitor the amount of water she drinks and take her out when you seen she's had some water. If you're walking her only long enough for her to do "her business" and then bringing her right back home, she is telling you that she needs more time outside and more exercise. Because YOUR schedule is different every day doesn't mean that HER schedule has to be different every day. Try taking her out at the same times every day and if all else fails, crate train her. If she is shredding things she shouldn't, she is telling you that she is bored, so get her some good interactive toys to play with like the Buster Cube, a Kong toy which has been stuffed and frozen, or a large marrow bone, or a treat/kibble dispensing toy. Those toys will entertain and amuse her and keep her occupied with good things, rather than ruining things she shouldn't be. Some consistency with her meal times and good long walks, good exercise and play times, and interactive toys should all greatly help. Good luck!
get a dog crate for her to stay in. then take her out to do her business, she want do it in where she sleeps and stays. in the dog crate.then she will learn to do it all.when she goes out then she will be OK probably after a couple of months in that crate
The best thing you can do is to crate train her. This will help with the potty training and chewing. Also let her know when she goes to the bathroom outside that you are really happy and startle her to teach her she is bad when she does it inside.
Now on the chewing, give her hard plastic toys or natural bones not raw hid as it can make her sick. These toys are harder to break and are less likely to be shredded. Rubber Cong toys work good too and you can put treats in them. Let her know your disappointment when you catch her chewing on something she shouldn't. Startle her and then redirect her to something acceptable. She is still a baby and is teething. Like a baby she doesn't always know what is good to teethe on.
You have to understand the breed mix. Poodles are very active dogs %26 need long walks %26 playtime. Schnauzers tend to be nervous %26 stressed easily. The stress will cause the chewing %26 tearing up stuff just because that's what they do to get the stress out. If poodles don't get enough exercise, they will also be destructive.
I share my home with 3 poodles %26 a yorkie/schnauzer mix. We take 3 mile walks a day plus playtime %26 a doggy door with a fenced in yard. They get enough exercise %26 I personally believe that dogs should be in pairs. They need someone that can play on their level %26 rough house with them. I know when we added a 2nd dog, many of our problems went away. And since your schedule fluctuates daily, that may be just what you need to do.
Many people will say put the dog in a crate when you aren't home. Personally, if I wanted animals in a cage, I'll go to the zoo. My dogs, all 6 ages 2 yrs to 13 yrs, are housetrained, do not tear up anything when they are left alone, do not fight %26 are happy, healthy dogs. That's what works for us.

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