Dog Community

A couple questions about Lion.... I need help!

Posted : 10/22/2009 4:36:26 PM

Ok, things at my house have been going great with Lion but I do have a few concerns.

First things first, he is the sweetest dog ever. Definetly a good choice to give him a home. I have just been so happy I cant even describe it. And, he is settling in to my house perfectly. I have a vet appointment set up for him tommorow morning at 9 am. He is going to get a pyhsical, get new licenses, get his parvo and rabies shots, and have the lion cut clipped off. His hair will be a little shorter now, so not so much shedding and a much cuter look. Oh, and his nails will be clipped.

Ok well the first concern really isnt about Lion. Its about Brownie. He is still somewhat scared of Lion and he still doesnt really like being in the same room with him. Its not because he dislikes him, its just because hes scared. But, Lion hasnt done anything to Brownie to get this response. Cuddles is absolutely fine with Lion. When we met him at a nuetral place Brownie wasnt scared at all but now that he's in the house it has all changed. Lion isnt agressive at all and would never even show him teeth. So what can I do to help Brownie be less scared?

And we have a chain link fence. A regualr one and honestly its pretty strong. This morning I was walking down the block and Lion was in the fenced in yard. He saw me go and he just got down on his stomach and pushed as hard as he could and just muscled his way out under the fence. I honestly dont think he would do that unless there was someone he knew outside of the fence. Its just the fact that he can that scares me. He is a very good dog off leash, and honestly if he did get out when no one was around he would most likely just stick around. I'm thinking about getting fence anchors from the store so I can anchor the fence down. Do you guys think this a good idea? And how can I discourage him from doing this?

And, the last thing is Brownie and Cuddles are allowed up on the loveseat in the living room. Lion isnt. He has gotten up there a couple of times. How can I teach him not to?

Sorry for the long post, I just want to fix these before they get worse :)

jennie_c_d

Posted : 10/22/2009 7:10:11 PM

As far as the fence, ALL of my dogs (including the foster) know that they're smarter than our fence. We have a 4' chain link, with a tension wire around the bottom. Jewel, the foster IG, can leap about 6', straight up, without even looking like she's going to jump. Emma can dig a hole bigger than the house in about 1/2 a second, and Bean climbs like a pro. None of them will leave the fence, if I'm in it with them. Problem solved. Just don't leave him in the yard, period. I probably would have a tension wire installed, as I couldn't get the anchors tight enough to keep a dog in. Otherwise? It's a management issue.

I'd ignore Brownie, and not make a big deal out of him not wanting to be near Lion. He'll eventually realize that Lion is not a threat, and may adopt him as his personal body guard Big Smile Just don't acknowledge the scaredy behavior.

And for the furniture? I do all dogs are or aren't allowed. That's the only way it's ever worked, for me, LOL.

tiffy

Posted : 10/22/2009 7:21:55 PM

As far as couch privileges, its none or all.

Beejou

Posted : 10/22/2009 8:54:01 PM

I agree about the couch issue. When I lived with my ex we had 5 dogs of varying size, and he'd only let the small ones up. The big ones were VERY pouty and jealous and got up there anyway. (I turned a blind eye of course) It really doesn't work to have some on, some off.

bernerbear

Posted : 10/22/2009 9:10:54 PM

Hey, congrats again on getting Lion, he's beautiful :)

About the fence, I agree the only solution really is not to leave them out there... I had the same thing with my last dog. If we were with him, no problems. If we left for a second, he'd bust the gate!! (being over 100lbs ;) ) He didn't have S/A, he just didn't see the point of being fenced in while we weren't...

And I agree about the couch issue... it's gotta be all or none. Why is it that Lion isn't allowed on the furniture, and the others are?

Good luck with your new boy,

-bernerbear

grab01

Posted : 10/22/2009 9:42:12 PM

We have different furniture rules..the littles are allowed on the couch, Aesop isn't. There's just no room for a large dog up there. It was just a matter of consistency when he first joined the household. He learned quickly and never gives the couch a second look. Dogs are pretty accepting of rules most times, as long as you are consistent.

Mechanical Angel

Posted : 10/24/2009 1:37:13 PM

jennie_c_d
I probably would have a tension wire installed, as I couldn't get the anchors tight enough to keep a dog in. Otherwise? It's a management issue.

Where would I go about getting one of these and around how expensive are they?

jennie_c_d
I'd ignore Brownie, and not make a big deal out of him not wanting to be near Lion. He'll eventually realize that Lion is not a threat, and may adopt him as his personal body guard Just don't acknowledge the scaredy behavior.

Actually Brownie seems fine with him now, over the weekend I think he did just accept the fact that Lion is here to stay and wont hurt him.

Mechanical Angel

Posted : 10/24/2009 1:39:21 PM

bernerbear
Why is it that Lion isn't allowed on the furniture, and the others are?

Just like grab01 said there just isnt room for him on our couches, but he will try to squish himself on anway and he will most likely end up hurting himself or our furniture. Cuddles and Brownie have been able to get on furniture since they were puppies and it would be much too confusing for them to change it now.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 10/24/2009 4:47:05 PM

I just called the fence people, about the tension wire. I don't remember how much it cost. I've had mine for 6 years, and I think they installed it for free? They'd just put in the fence FOR the dogs, and it was so floppy, they could all just shove under it.

Kim_MacMillan

Posted : 10/24/2009 6:22:33 PM

I have slightly different rules as well. The Schnauzers are allowed on all of the couches, but Aspen (the foster Staffy mix) is not. With one caveat - he's allowed on the "dog loveseat". As for why....partly it is because he's a foster and I don't want him assuming all couches are welcome. But part of it really is that he's a really big dog, he sheds on it (the Mini's don't!), and he would just take up too much space!! The Schnauzers generally lay up on the back of it, or on the edge or in a corner, so they don't really take up any room. Aspen, stretched out, can take up the whole thing. He doesn't seem to care too much about this at all, and is learning quite well what the boundaries are. I rest easy realizing he probably doesn't analyze why the schnauzers can go on the couch and he can't. Heck, he gets more reinforcement for "not" being on the couch, so I think he's happy to be on the receiving end!!