chewing shoes / bed / pillows when not home

Spirit you are certainly at liberty to take your dogs to whatever behaviourist you like, what concerns me is there are behaviourists and trainers on this forum who have not once commented on the long term and daily crating of dogs, they should personally look at your own moral standpoint and look at the long term welfare of the dogs not the short term gain that people listening to your advice that may then come to you.

 
To others who are reading this thread, please avail yourselves the opportunity to visit the PAACT webpage and view the Code of Ethics, especially #12.
 
I did not mean that I would literally take my dogs to a behaviorist, but that I would feel comfortable taking them to Mic if they needed one, which they don't.  Thankfully, I must be doing something right, as I am fortunate enough to have five lovely, obedient, well-adjusted dogs.
As to the long term welfare of dogs, I think it makes more sense to insure the immediate safety of the dog, then work on the issues gradually.  We are talking here of a dog that has only been in his new home for a short time, and needs more time to adjust.  Right now, he is anxious. Whether he will be anxious in a few months, who knows?  From my own experience with a rescued hound, I can say that he was a very fearful boy when he first came here, but in a few months, he was right at home, and is now a registered therapy dog.
I used some simple confidence building techniques, classical & operant conditioning.

To Stan, I was just wondering if you or your organization are in any way associated with Jan Fennell?  I'm curious because of your username. To the original poster, Fennell has some very interesting things to say in her book, The Dog Listener.  I have been using Amichien Bonding with my pup and it's very helpful.  And yes, I crate as well.

I can't remember exactly how it was said, but something was said about the adjustment period for new and rescued dogs. Many on this forum know of Boss' abuse and neglect before I took him in an difficulties I had with him at first. It took months for him to get settled into his new home. About the time he did that, we moved so we had a bigger house and a yard for him to play in safely.
 
That was when the real trouble started... I gave him free run of the house. He chewed the tops off bottles of cleansers, he ate toilet paper, he destroyed furniture, chewed shoes and swallowed large chunks putting his life in danger, he even ate Ritalin. He even started using the house for his toilet. He didn't settle down when I got home either.
 
 I started crating him again and suddenly I had a happy well adjusted dog again and was eventually able to let him be out in the house again when I wasn't home. He had too much freedom and wasn't able to handle it, but felt safe in his crate with his favorite bed and toys and I felt okay knowing I wasn't going to come home and find a dog laying dead on the floor from something he got into, or one who tried to lunge out the window trying to figure out all the sounds outside the new house.
 
For some dogs, especially depending on their background it can take a while for them to get use to things and even feel comfortable and trusting in their new environment. Boss has lived with me for over a year now and he is just now feeling comfortable enough to roll over on his back and let me rub his belly. I almost cried with joy the other night when I looked over in bed and there was my boy sleeping soundly completely sprawled on his back snoring away.. that hasn't happened since I've had him. He's rolled around on my bed before during the day, but he'd never put his belly up and close his eyes and go to sleep before. Some dogs just take longer than others.
 
And for what it's worth, I would trust Glenda, Anne or Mic with my dogs in a heart beat! I've gotten some of my best training advice and suggestions from them and used them and they work!

To others who are reading this thread, please avail yourselves the opportunity to visit the PAACT webpage and view the Code of Ethics, especially #12.

I have amended 12 to reflect the reality I find here. I would not have normally needed to say that in the UK.
 
I will remind you of the statement oat the bottom of my posts.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"
Mahatma Gandhi


Stan

Changing the rules is easy when you make it up as you go along. 
 
 
 
 

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