Dog Community

Observations of a 1st time dog owner

Posted : 8/9/2008 9:56:19 AM

Bugsy is my first dog as an adult, so I am enjoying the experience of watching him mature. (I'm an educator and therapist so observing behaviors and learning processes is what I do). He will be three in the next month. I'll try to keep this succinct:

he was an incredibly hyper puppy with no off button and was never easy to pet due to the constant movement
he would fly out of any open door and take off, we live on a quiet 5 house cul de sac encompassing about 7 acres and often three of our neighbors would have to help us catch him - he would also fly in any open door so he had several tours of the neighbors houses. the best way to catch him was to bang his stainless bowls and yell dinner
he learned commands easily but wouldn't do them unless it suited him - no matter the reward
walks were a nightmare as he stalked and went after everything - his power was incredible even at a young age
he had separation anxiety when put outside, early on we wanted him to be able to be outside - under supervision but not having to be pulled around by him or risking him running off again (see above) - so we bought a tie out stake. He would happily go out with you on leash you would clip him to the nylon coated cable and walk about 6 feet and he would already be pooping. He would poop several times in a very short time and by 5 mos old just pull the stake out of the ground instantly. And this was a serious tie out. So that wasn't going to work. We would then be out with him attached to the 20 ft nylon coated cable and after receiving a serious cut and injuring a neighbor that wasn't an option either. He was quicker than you and would have that darn thing around your ankle then chase something and you were toast.
when he was about 10 mos old we put in an e-fence, sceptical that it would work but our development doesn't allow 6 ft fences and you can't fence your front etc etc. We diligently trained him, working to ensure he knew the boundaries, and making sure he would resist rabbits and squirrels etc. However he would still blow through it to go visit the neighbor's golden on occasion.

So how have things changed

he is still hyper but has learned self management of his anxiety - such as he chews his rubber bone when we have company, this is after some insanity but he does settle down. he seems to enjoy petting and can even be pet by said visitors, it still borders insane but they can actually pet him - this is huge
he is 100% trustworthy outside in his e-fence and LOVES his independence. he probably spends about 3 hours a day wandering to all corners of hte yard, hunting and inspecting. He does not lay down outside.
he knows more commands than I have taught him - still has moments of being too spazzy happy to do them and still has times where he believes he has a better idea than doing what you ask but he has his CGC and we are always complimented on how well behaved he is
we can walk past almost anything without him lunging - deer are still a task and certain cats
you can snuggle with him - its not often but on occasion he actually seems to enjoy it and seek it out so we take it when we can
when you open the back hatch of the car he sticks his head out and starts sniffing but he will not get out until you say so

So long winded but I thought I would share how he has matured - i am super pleased as I feel it is healthier for him to not be so crazy all the time and a lot easier on us too Stick out tongue

Bonita of Bwana

Posted : 8/9/2008 10:57:57 AM

He is not simply a handsome boy but obviously very smart as well !! ( and I am thrilled to know There is hope for Nemo )

You have done a wonderful job as a first time Dog Mom !!

Bonita of Bwana

kpwlee

Posted : 8/9/2008 11:36:47 AM

Thank you Bonita - I know that was long winded but last night we had some friends over and also we had a week of workers in and out and I was suitably impressed. He was a handful as a pup - the kind people say isn't for a first time owner, trying to manage him is what landed me on iDog and seeing him mature is wonderful.

Can't imagine that he'll ever be laid back but hey that's OK - so sure there is hope for Nemo!

I grew up with a goofy lab mix and have been around MANY dogs but this is first sole ownership

Once again my condolences on Jasmine - I really can imagine how difficult it is.

ron2

Posted : 8/9/2008 1:44:28 PM

He sounds like a typical. lovable Lab. I've known other Labs that have broken chains and tie-outs. So, congrats on training him. He's just a ball of love with his cravat showing.

kpwlee

Posted : 8/9/2008 2:15:29 PM

ron2
He sounds like a typical. lovable Lab.

LOL more like a lab on speed. I have been around many, many labs everyone in my family owns at least one. Last year some friends that have owned, showed and bred labs for 25 yrs visited with their lab who is a year older than Bugsy and we had to separate them as B wore out their lab and wouldn't leave it rest. It is hard to explain Bugsy's energy but it is overwhelming to say the least - frenetic is the best word I can think of Big Smile

ron2
congrats on training him

Thank you although i think it is more to do with him maturing and learning to appease his anxieties.

ron2

Posted : 8/9/2008 6:41:21 PM

kpwlee
Thank you although i think it is more to do with him maturing and learning to appease his anxieties.

Fair enough, though I would hedge my bet and say it's probably a combo of all 3. Good Lab temperment, maturation, and the training process.

And dogs are individuals. Sometimes, we might think something is a problem only to find it's part of the personality of that dog and we find a way to cope or manage or not worry about it. That is, choosing one's battles. A dog can get away with this or that as long as he minds. For example, Shadow can get on the sofa or bed and he has that privilege because he will move when I say "move."

He will bark at a stranger at the door but he will also assume heel position or sit by my side. So, rather than see the bark as a problem, I see it as an alert function and continue on with whatever. The friends that do come over are not scared by the bark. So, it's mostly a non-issue.

brookcove

Posted : 8/9/2008 8:31:16 PM

I've met Bugsy. My dog of choice is a Border Collie. He was mellow some of the time when he was here, but I saw much that made me glad he was going home with Karen! Though I always love a training challenge - emphasis on challenge. Lynn's got a lot of that "You and what army?" attitude but he did it with a smile and - well - Karen's right, his brand of energy is best described as "overwhelming."

I think part of it is that many dog savvy people like me have an expectation that a big handsome Dane-looking dog will have that dignity and laid-back attitude. My experience with big dogs is Maremmas. This week I traded two foster BCs in the house, for one Maremma that weighs more than both of them put together, and I keep losing track of her because she just melts into the floorboards, she's so relaxed. Then you meet Bugsy and you are like, "Ah, nice gentle giant." Then he kind of explodes with personality - not really motion (though he can do that too - oh my, when we let him loose around the sheep pen) - but YAY!

I'd love to see him again sometime soon Karen! This gas price thing really stinks - I can remember a time when we would have seemed like next door neighbors. I used to drive down to a friend who lived in Charlotte, from Winston-Salem, about twice a week back when gas was less than a dollar a gallon. That's way farther than I am to Raleigh. Crying

kpwlee

Posted : 8/10/2008 6:11:15 AM

brookcove
I keep losing track of her because she just melts into the floorboards, she's so relaxed. Then you meet Bugsy and you are like, "Ah, nice gentle giant." Then he kind of explodes with personality - not really motion

LOL - I just had an image of him flying inside your house and inspecting, in hyper mode, each and every crate etc.

His most insane behavior/energy is still at our place when someone visits, you can't catch him or hold him and as I said it is only recently that if you are lucky you might be able to pet him. One of my most vivid memories is of Superbowl 41 (2006) he was about 5 mos old and our neighbors came by for part of the game. She wanted to say hello to the puppy but he just ran wildly around the family room. She gave him a plastic water bottle and he tore it apart in seconds. She & he sat there mouth agape. It was like a feral animal that you captured and kept indoors. Thank goodness he didn't bite, bark, or growl. The only way to calm for months and months was to crate him - he would then sleep.

I personally have never seen another pup like it and used to think it was so sad that no one could just sit and pet him - play with him, walk him, etc but nothing calm.

And now as I say it is so much better but still nuts - the other night when those same people came by he did the craziness but then settled down to destroying a heavy rubber bone mixed with catching and eating insects.

Now Becca be careful what you ask for -

brookcove
I'd love to see him again sometime soon Karen!

pm coming your way

And Ron there is no doubt that I have come to understand him better which makes it all easier - I pretty much now how he ticks now

ron2

Posted : 8/10/2008 2:40:15 PM

kpwlee
And Ron there is no doubt that I have come to understand him better which makes it all easier - I pretty much now how he ticks now

That's how it was for me once I realized Shadow was more Sibe than anything else. After that, I could understand what he was doing and also adjust my expectations to what the breed is capable of.

Maxs Mom

Posted : 8/12/2008 12:57:12 PM

Yes Bugsy has Lab in him. I always say "labs make good 3 year olds". Bugsy is right on track.

I also find it fun to watch their individual personalities grow and flourish. I think in my own world I will appreciate the 3 dogs I have and their successors more because I have learned so much more about dogs in general. My previous dogs were pets, they were there, they were my friends and I loved them but it is so much different with my current clan.