It Is Getting So Difficult!!!!!
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| Sounds like a difficult situation. Although most sheepdogs are pretty laid back, some demand more attention when they are young and need to have an outlet to burn up youthful energy. They get bored and need more exercise. (I assume that when you say biting it is more mouthing and not real biting, but in either case it needs to be firmly dealt with). Crating may be a relief to you but doesn't address their needs. She will be less likely to compete for your attention when others in the family come home if she is tired and calmer.
My only suggestion, even though it may be a demand upon your time, is that Kayla needs to be taken on long walks and to places like the dog park where she can wear off some of that energy by the time the rest of the family comes home. I have had dogs that pulled and were not fun to walk and if she is one of those, I have found that a gentle leader or halti collar can make walking a lot more pleasant. If it's any consolation, I have found that by 2 years old, this kind of exuberance is mostly over. |
I know you're not looking for advice  but what you are looking at is a young dog in desperate need of a job. Putting her in the crate is understandable, but the more she gets relegated instead of integrated, the worse she's going to become. She's not going to slowly grow out of it much without a concentrated training effort.
Do you have a good 4H program in your area? If so, check out their dog program and perhaps there would be an appropriate class for 10 year old kid with one year old dog. Does she have any basic training? Can she walk on a lead without pulling your ten year old over? Without pulling you over? In the evening, can it be someone's job to take her for a nice long walk? A tired puppy...yeah, you know the drill
In my house, the dogs far out number the humans (one - moi) and since I work, they are home along all day except for lunch time, when I just zip home to let them out and grab something to eat. I've been coming home completely beat these past ten days and they, on the other hand (and that includes one 1 yr old, three (!) 2 year olds, one 3 year old, one 5 year old, one 7 year old, and one ten year old - all dogs, of course )have been sleeping all day just waiting for me to come and - gasp - make their lives more interesting. And all I want to do is sleep. It's too dark, cold and icy outside to easily find ways for them to blow off some steam. So we've had some interesting new activities like the kitchen floor covered in TP, the four youngest ones who use my body as part of their Indy 500 track if I'm desperate for a nap, and, of course, the gallon of water they dumped on the kitchen floor last night <in their efforts to clean up the shredded TP?> Like I said - it's a herding breed, they need a job.
I'm not real impressed with their efforts at helping around the house though. In fact, a little less help would go a LONG way But they're dogs. They're no more and no less than we make of them.
Kristine |
| I am sorry you are having such a problem with Kayla. It is important to keep in mind that at 1 year of age, Kayla is still a puppy--well, more like a teenager. You have a 15 year old, so you know what that means: a lot more energy (and sometimes attitude) than sense.
I don't think keeping her crated all evening is the best route for any of you. A few questions: what kind of training have you and Kayla had? Has the whole family participated in obedience training? If not, this would be terrific. How many walks on leash does Kayla get each day? On leash walks are both physical exercise and mental exercise, as well as a bonding opportunity. A tired dog is a good dog. Obedience training is important so that Kayla walks nicely on the leash with everybody. I found that it was a good job for my kids to have specified times to walk the dogs: hubby did the early morning before breakfast because he liked to include the local coffee shop in the route. One of the kids walked after school. Different kid did the after dinner walk. Parent did the last call, around the block walk. Walks (except for last call) were 30 minutes or more, weather permitting. That is, if it weren't raining really, really hard, wasn't really, really cold or too hot for the dog. It is good for all of you to work on teaching Kayla to greet visitors quietly. You will want to practice this over and over and over again, first with family and then gradually adding willing friends. Kayla needs to have a designated spot to wait until she is invited to greet (without jumping and barking) the visitor/returning family member. It takes practice, but it will make your family life so much more enjoyable for everybody! |
| I am sorry you are going through this rough patch...and I know you are not looking for advice...but maybe a couple of suggestions will help you out.
I totally agree with getting Kayla tired out...Take her for long walks and if she does pull...a gentle leader or a pinch worked wonders----. I have found with Heart  ....9 months old, that a tired puppy is a settled, calmER,more accomodating puppy.
Are you taking her to any obediance classes??? This may be the greatest help of all....When Heart is "in between" classes, she "forgets" to listen .... 
Good Luck~~~~~ |
Well Guinness forgets to listen when he forgets to listen  but an obedience class would help you a lot . Just beware when they hit two they go through it again!!! Enjoy your sheepy good thing they are cute!!!! |
| I have one suggestion regarding the barking, jumping, nipping when someone is let in the door. What I do did with Violet, because she would get so excited when someone would come to the door...is I would put her in my bedroom, which is right off the livingroom and then answer the door. After the visitor would come into the house and make their greeting, I would let Violet out and she was much calmer on greeting the visitor. I remember hearing about this on one of the dog training things on TV Ceasor or someone like that. The theory had something to do with someone entering her space and this way she is entering the space instead...anyway it does work. She can now be left out when someone comes in and she will listen to my commands to "stay settled".
You have to understand that they get so excited when people come to the door or someone moves around...they are hoping for a playmate. The Aussie I just adopted was in a situation where she was always kept in a crate or outside by herself while the other two dogs got to interact with the humans and each other. Asia was just acting like a puppy and instead of training her the former owners just put her outside or in a crate. I have not crated her since she arrived here three weeks ago and she is a wonderful girl. I walk her each day and she does get excited when people stop by, but is learning what is acceptable behavior and what is not. They are works in progress. Good luck! |
| When anyone comes to the door, Phoebe goes into the small sitting room off the front hallway. I started this last year when we had a number of workmen coming and going. Now, as soon as the bell rings, she goes in there on her own. I think that she feels safer being away from strangers and newcomers. Once the visitor is in the house, I let her out.
They do seem to go through spells. Phoebe rarely barked and then she was a barking maniac for a while. Now she's barking less. |
| Chauncey was a difficult teen. There were times when he had to go to the crate for the sake of both of us, but only for a time out. The more they are with you, the more you interact, the better it gets. He went through a time that was, even in hindsight, pretty bad, BUT it does get better with age. These guys are late bloomers. Once he got to about a year it gradually improved, 18 mos was good, now at 2 1/2 he is fantastic ( well in my standards, not someone oriented to obiedience ).....Kathy |
violet wrote: ......You have to understand that they get so excited when people come to the door or someone moves around...they are hoping for a playmate...
That is soooooo true. Another thing to consider is how we greet our dogs when we first arrive back home. If you're like me when I first brought home a new puppy and left home, the first thing I would do upon my return is rush to the puppy, and in an excited voice say something about going outside to potty. While running off toward the door he/she would be leaping and running at my side. Guess what! In the process of training him/her one thing, I was also allowing/training a no no. My puppy taught me that I was the reason he was so excitable when someone or myself came home!!! Once I realized this, I came in and ignored him/her completely until all excitement was over. Then, I quickly walked toward the door to let them out, praising them as they were going out for being good. When responding to a knock to the door, if possible, don't be as quick to answer it. Make her think its unimportant instead of "running" to answer. Of course I know we can't leave people out on the porch in the winter, and with teenagers, they run to everything if they think it might be for them. 
The main thing we have to remember to ask ourselves is, "what part of the problem" are we causing by our actions. You have to remain calm, otherwise, the more excitement the better in their minds. At least until they learn the differance. Good luck. Don't give up - nothing's better than an OES!!! mouthypf |
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