Help please

Baby gates will not be strong enough to hold her should she start charging them, but for most intents and purposes they are strong enough.  Make sure you use positive reinforcement and discipline when necessary.  Good luck and keep us posted.

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I will thanks everyone for the advice.

What in the world are you talking about me not controlling my anger when I stated I didn't even HIT or touched the dog. YOU need to be more mature and read what I wrote rather than jumping to conclusions and nonsense.

I'm not jumping to anything.  Being so angry over a replaceable item that you stick it in the dogs face and scare the dog and then think "it's worth more than you" and it takes everything in you to not beat the dog is having a problem with anger.  The fact that you didn't hit the dog THIS TIME, doesn't mean that continuing with this level of being angry is right. 

No, I can't comprehend it as like I said there is nothing my dog could do that would make me feel that way.  And, if there was, it would be way more serious than she chewed something. 

Anyway, I'm done with this discussion.  Hopefully, you'll get all the information you need.  The dog is adorable.

[sm=banghead002.gif] If you read the other posts CLEARLY I'm not the only one that felt that way so maybe you're just weird .Thank you for being done.

I never believed in crating either - then came Molly, almost 11 months old GSD. I got a crate. My DH wasn't happy about it but I didn't consult him. Molly was tearing my house apart when alone. Tried confining her to one room but within a day she'd sufficiently managed to demolish it.
Crating her was the wisest thing I've done...she is not only unable to finish her demolish job but I know she's safe, not chewing stuff I don't want her to chew, and not swallowing things that might end up requiring surgery to go after the object.
I'm a crate convert and proud of it LOL personally I think there are some dogs that don't need it (my previous dog was wonderful even as a pup) but then there are some dogs that need it. Sounds like your pup might benefit from being crated especially since she wouldn't require it all that many hours.

If it was me I would buy a large crate for your pup to grow into, they make dividers to make the crate smaller for the size your pup would need for now. Really crating is the way to go if you ever travel or anything or if your dog needs to stay at the vet less stressful for the dog.

I really don't feel that I was wrong here

 
Once you get past being defensive, and learn how to understand the world from a pup's perspective, then you will "get" the responses that have been posted here.  If this is your pup, she's your responsibility, not your roomie's, so take some responsibility for having left your bluetooth gizmo where an innocent puppy could find it and use it as a chew toy. 
You are right that none of us is born with all the knowledge of how to raise dogs.  But, that's why we put our own egos aside, and try to learn from those who have gone before us and been successful at it.
Your dog does NOT know that she did something you told her not to do.  For heaven's sake, put Culture Clash on your summer reading list, and stop relying on your external locus of control.

Jennie, no he was being a bully yesterday and that's not tolerated.
 
Keef, Anne is right.  As you become more intuned to your pup you'll understand the reaction.  And yep, my eyebrows were raised when I read your post and the old BP was heading straight up.  The ONLY reason you didn't get MY best shot is that I'm busy with this moving stuff.
 
Too late for regrets, but I would say you really picked a BAD time to get a pup with the end of the school year and with all the projects being due at once.  But, what's done is done and now you need to focus on  not only completing the school year, but also taking care of this pup and teaching her in a safe and loving manner.
 
Culture Clash is a great book.  Really needs to be on your reading list.

I'm not going to get into anything thats already been said, so as far as crate-training, do it. If the dog is already showing this type of den response as stated earlier by Forpaws then she may very well be a breeze to crate-train. You have to remember this is for her own good you are doing this as well as yours. If you do decide to do this soon just remember Never scold her and put her in her crate, you don't want this to become a punishment. You want this to become her own little safe retreat. I would definitely suggest a large crate to an xl crate and get the dividers as suggested in a previous response. I have an 85LB. 11Mth. old Dobe and a 60LB. 2Yr. old Blk. Lab that are crate trained, and not so much my dobe but my lab. every once in a while she will go down and lay in her crate just to get away, they really do appreciate this. This forum is awesome to have so many experienced handlers to have at your disposal for asking questions and aiding in behavior problems. My only suggestion would be to cool down before posting because we've all been angry with our dogs at one time or another but the mention of " Beating" just gets everyones back up. After all these dogs rely on us to keep them safe and teach them the rights and wrongs in the world. Anyways Good Luck, I really hope you decide to do the crate training and if you do be sure to ask any questions about it that you are unsure of.
 
 
Scott 

i dont' know if anyone has mentioned short term memory with dogs but i figured i would put my 2 cents in. a dog has a very short term memory so if your doggy has done something bad and you can't catch her in the act, then you need to let it go b/c she will forget what she has done very quickly. all she will know when you come home, is that you are mad at her and she does not know why. she will tuck her ears and tail b/c she knows your tone of voice is one of anger.

i know many have mention crate training as well. it will help keep her safe and she will most likely sleep through the day or chew on any treats that you give her while you are gone. not to mention that you won't have to worry about your furniture, etc being damaged while you are gone. you can buy a crate with a divider in it that you can move as your dog grows. lots of large breed dog owners buy the XL crate while their dog is still a puppy and expand it as the dog grows.

My dog is 86 pounds and fits well in an XL crate. 

Haven't been here sooner but I wanted to say that I do understand the "beating" comment.  I have felt the same way at times, and although I would NEVER EVER IN A MILLION YEARS do it, I have felt the shaking arms that come with it.  I don't anymore, and havent since Crusher ate my son's custom made sleigh that my dad made for him.  You can't control what you feel, just how you handle it.  Some of us here have experienced what beating a dog can do to the dog, others have not.  For those of us that experience it first hand on a day to day basis, those feelings probably never surface.  Personally I have never dealt with a dog that has been through what Willow has been through so I would probably not have the exact same feelings as Lori.  I doubt she would have the same feelings as I do either.  For those of us that are on our 3rd or 4th dogs, we are probably in tune with our dogs before they even come home.  Personally  I think it is what you do after the feelings have surfaced  that counts.  And I give you Kudos first for not acting on those feelings and second for looking for advice from people who know.

I would just check with your vet on the bathing thing, they might want you to wait till the stalples are out and make sure there is no sign of infection.  I would try crate training, we started our puppy (well, dog now I guess) in a crate right away, just an inexpensive small one from Walmart, and then once he was getting bigger, spent the money for the bigger, more expensive crate.  And I absolutely, 100%, get your anger thing!  Our dog literally ate/dug pieces out our bed, twice!  He's always crated when alone, but when you are just taking a shower, you think the dog can behave for that long by themselves, but not always!  I love my dog, but there were times I wondered why did we get this puppy?  Now that puppyhood has passed (well, almost, he has his moments), I don't regret it at all, but that is certainly a trying time!  Your puppy is beatiful by the way!  Good luck

Time to jump on the crate training bandwagon. When we got Keilidh (kaylee) from the SPCA she was 6 months old. We bought a crate and started training her soon after she got home. She did not like it in the beginning, especially when we were home, but with treats and practice she was voluntarily going into her 'house' in a few days, and staying there at night and when we were at work. We started out with a travel crate which was not big enough but traded it in for a larger, more open one with a removable devider. (Petsmart actually took it back, we were amazed)

It came with a divider that essentially made the crate smaller (good for potty training) then was removed when she got bigger. Do a little searching on this site and around the net for crate training, or I would imagine someone here could point you towards a good book on the subject. It is easy and will keep your baby and your possessions safe.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

pete

Keith -

I don't know where you are located geographically, but when I first was getting ready for our puppy, we bought a 36" crate - I have a 10 lb dog who will only get up to 12 lbs max.  I have no idea what I was thinking.  It's brand new, and you can have it for free.  If you are in the NJ/NY area, you can pick it up, or if you want to pay the shipping charges, I'll send it UPS.  Brand new, never opened the box - when it arrived, I already knew I made a mistake.  I bought it on ebay, can't return it.  Kept it in storage.  If you want it, PM me, but do it soon, or I will be donating it to a rescue at the end of July.  Crate training is wonderful thing - trust me.  Especially since it seems like your dog wants a "den" since he hides under the desk, etc.  You can put a soft pad in there, make it like his "dog house" and he'll love it.  The thing is huge, I think it's like 36" by 30, something like that.  Metal crate.  Good luck!