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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
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10/27/2005
My boyfriend's family got his sister a female husky/retriever/chow mix (she is half husky) 2 years ago from a litter. I used to work at a veterinarian's office for just over a year, and from what I have seen there, this dog is completely uncontrolled. My boyfriend's family, however, does not see any problem in the way that she acts, but I think it's getting worse and worse and need someone to tell me if I am wrong or if there is a problem here!
The sister whose dog it's supposed to be, is a freshman in high school and doesn't spend time with the dog except for the odd occasion or when someone has to yell at her to walk her dog. The dog spends around 7 hours a day in her cage indoors or roaming around the house (this is new) on weekdays. The family is usually home on weekends. When they get home, they put the dog outside for a half an hour or so a few times. The dog rarely ever goes for walks, maybe once every 2 days or less. This dog tears everything up during the day when she is alone, or when they are sleeping. They don't usually notice until a few hours later so she doesn't get any meaningful discipline. The dog has escaped from the backyards so many times that I can not count, even with new fences and everything. When the dog is laying down, not sleeping, and you approach her face, she will bite you. If you pet her, she may also bite you. Just a few weeks ago, she was laying down in the middle of a bunch of people at a family gath
ering (on someone's feet) and I pet her with my feet (she doesn't usually mind this) and she grabbed a pretty vicious hold and tugged backwards. The dog occasionally pees or worse on the carpet. I think this dog has behavioural problems but I just wanted some feedback from someone. (genevre, Ontario)
Wow, that's a lot of conflict for the dog! It sounds like it's an all or nothing situation with big unrealistic expectations otherwise. Either she is completely deprived of social contact (in the crate or in the yard) or given way too much freedom to make all kind of mistakes.
Her temperament may be unsound as you suspect but more, she is completely untrained and un-socialized giving her no way to interact successfully even if she had an opportunity.
Sadly, my recommendation would be to find a home for her with a family that would be able to give her what she needs, training, social interaction, structure and be skilled enough to work with her on her startle reflex problem. Sometimes people need "permission" to re-home a dog, I would suggest that they simply cannot provide what she needs and letting her go to a more suitable home and that keeping her isn't doing her (or them) any good.
Unless you can convince them to work with her, I feel this would be in her best interest.
Hope that helps,
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
1.866.K9s.Best
www.caninesbestbehavior.com
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