Toddlerhood?
Sophie is 4 now and almost always listens to commands. She doesn't jump on people, she hates to get wet or dirty and loves being inside with a chew close to us. We got her when she was 1 and so didn't have as much puppy time with her, but she never really had many accidents being house trained (she had been an outside dog prior to us adopting her) and learned pretty fast she shouldn't jump on people. I crate trained her for about a year and it worked really well. We adopted Mollie when she was 3 or 4 months old. She is 10 months old now. We have had a horrible time house-training her. The crate training just doesn't seem to work with her. She will pee in her crate an hour after being put in for the night. She was getting much better (she was learning to ring a bell on the door to go out), but we moved about two weeks ago and I have not let her in the house yet. It has been very wet and Mollie LOVES to roll around and play in mud. She has been filthy and the Oklahoma red clay is crazy to try to wash out. She jumps on people, on all the doors, she won't listen to anything. She just runs off. I worried that she might be deaf, but she will sometimes come when called and whistled for. I think I was very spoiled with Sophie, who just learned very easily and didn't "rebel" or whatever it is Mollie is doing. I cannot really blame any of it on the move, because she was like this before. She is just so rambunctious and gallops all around and trips us all and constantly licks us all. We cannot go outside without having to put her in the dog run, because she is up in our faces and laps (with a wet, red-clay beard). I am at my wits end. My partner wants to find another home for her. I hate to do that because despite her "bull in a china shop" demeanor, she is sweet and I love her and so do the kids, but right now, she is not fun to be around. She is a huge chore. So, any suggestions that you all have would be great. I have thought about enrolling her in some obedience training or some kind of classes. There is also a trainer here locally that keeps them for 2 weeks and then spends a 3rd week with the humans. Right now I am sort of cash-poor so I haven't done much but look into it. Thanks for letting me vent. I feel like a failure as a doggy-mom and am afraid I am not doing much good right now, as I am so frustrated that I am getting a negative attitude toward her. And I don't want to do that, either. |
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| Sounds like obedience training would be helpful/necessary for the little one. As many on this forum know, we had quite a time when our Winnie was a puppy. Up to about 14 months, she was more than a handful. (She's now almost 2.) We found that plenty of exercise, the mental stimulation of training, and time all helped. But, most of all, the training. If you can't afford class or personal training, a good book is "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell. Her techniques do take some time and dedication, but I think there are exercises for you and your dog that the whole family can do - and thus all are participants in the training. (And IF you really want to try, I have a used copy of the book I can send to you - just PM to me your name and address and I'll drop it in the mail.) You were fortunate that your 4 year old was a bit older when you got her. The puppy-phase can be very trying, but patience and consistent reinforcement help a lot. We still struggle with the jumping and over-excitement around visitors but we are now glad each day that we stuck with it, because Winnie has become a terrific and loving companion. (That said, she still has her  moments....) |
kayc1218 wrote: You were fortunate that your 4 year old was a bit older when you got her. The puppy-phase can be very trying, ... Yes, there's some truth to that. But it's also true that not all puppies are created equal. Raising sisters from birth taught me that. One was damn near perfect in no time. The other just turned four and should be civilized any day now   Some are A LOT easier than others and they spoil you...In Mollie's case I'm going to hazard to guess - and I don't doubt for a nano-second she could frustrate a saint - that there is a vicious circle in play: the more annoying she is, the more she gets "left out" (not bad owner left out, but left out of normal family day to day activities because she adds so much chaos to everything - and who wants to spend time with a troll?) The more she feels "left out", the more insecure she gets. The more insecure she gets, the more she clamors for attention (the constant licking, the rambunctious mow you down when I can get to you). Which is obnoxious, so the more she gets left out...you get the picture. This is a pretty anxious dog in all likelihood. The key to getting past that is exactly what's been mentioned: structured exercise (with humans) and training and so on. Lots of training. Lots of structure. Insecure dogs, especially, thrive on structure. Knowing what to expect. And OES in general thrive on time with their people or they tend to get a little neurotic. Many of them anyway. I'm sure there are some independant, aloof OES out there. But they're the minority. To get to spend time with her people, she has to be able to behave in a civilized manner, which means she's going to need a lot of supervision and it's going to be a lot of work in the beginning. Including being escorted in and out constantly to prevent her from peeing inside, if it's not medical. Two things come to mind in the pee department: 1) take a urine sample to your vet just to make sure she doesn't have an infection and 2) peeing in crate can be from anxiety, typically separation anxiety. I'm presuming you see her peeing inappropriately at times, and it's not just that she's leaking? Now as for rain and dirt. Hello! It rains. If my dogs are out at all, they will get dirty. The more they are out, the dirtier they are going to get. Key to that is civilizing her so she can be in and involved and not looking to create her own little piggy games outside in the rain.  Just out of curiousity, how old was she when she was spayed? Kristine |
| Thank you for the suggestions. That makes perfect sense about feeling left out leading to anxiety. She has actually not been spayed yet. We were planning on doing that soon, like in a month or so. |
LoveMyOESdogs wrote: She has actually not been spayed yet. We were planning on doing that soon, like in a month or so. You get no argument from me that she hasn't been spayed yet. I was wondering because if she had been spayed young she'd be more prone to infections and leaking. Less likely given that she's intact, so less likely peeing in crate is health related. Kristine |
| I wanted to wait until she was at least a year old. We had Sophie spayed when she was about 14 months old. She calmed down some after that. In fact, that is when she stopped jumping up on people. I am going to start tonight by spending time with Mollie. I will probably take her for a walk, just the two of us and see if we can start giving her some attention she is probably craving. |
I agree w/ the above.  Just had the thought, that if she's not shaved down already, you may save your sanity (or what's left!  ) and clip her way down. If she tends to be on the "Miss Piggy" side (at least for now), it will save your stress and labor by having her in a short 'do, at least for awhile. |
| I grew up in the City and still have family there. We had Sheepies when we were first married. It is way too hot out for her to be outside right now - and it will only get worse. Too much for a dog - I barely survived the Paseo Festival myself last weekend. And you won't see any improvement in her behavior if you aren't spending time with her. Tile floor is your friend! |
got sheep wrote: I agree w/ the above. Just had the thought, that if she's not shaved down already, you may save your sanity (or what's left! ) and clip her way down. If she tends to be on the "Miss Piggy" side (at least for now), it will save your stress and labor by having her in a short 'do, at least for awhile.AGREE! AGREE! AGREE! AGREE!!! so wish someone had suggested this to me at 10 months!!! our ten month old sheepie put me in tears every day....just look back at some of my posts during that time ours is a piggy as well. Short do's are just the thing. |
that was me  |
| I am not a trainer, breeder, or animal behavorist but I have had a dog all my life. In my humble opinion most dogs want to be with people and not kept alone and isolated. They are our pets and we are their family. She is spending her days outside away from you and as soon as you hit the yard she is all over you for attention and companionship. And I agree with someone who said the elements are too severe to leave her out all day - why not allow her the same conveniences we enjoy, ie, a/c, warmth, shelter. You want to pull your hair out now, but in the end she will be your best friend. Please keep us updated. |
| Our boy is 14 months old. I was just talking to my husband today about all of the cute new puppy pictures posted on the forum. We both said we don't think we could handle another puppy. Frankie pee'd in his crate all the time, we found out he had UTI's all the time. He was rough and bitey and jumpy. He still has his out of control moments, but they get fewer all the time. We keep joking about how much better he'll be when he gets older. I agree with what everyone is saying train train train. Exercise Exercise Exercise. Everyday that goes by we love him more and more. Just hang in there it will get better it just takes time. Lisa and Frankie |
| Thanks everyone. It has been raining like crazy and now has been over 100 for a week, so they have both been mostly inside. Mollie was spayed the first of July and spent a few nights at the vet and is doing well. They shaved her down as well and that has helped with the grooming issues. She starts obedience training in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to that. We are all trying to spend more time with her giving her lots of attention, but she is still a bull in a china shop. LOL |
| Good luck with her, don't give up! |
LoveMyOESdogs wrote: Thanks everyone. It has been raining like crazy and now has been over 100 for a week, so they have both been mostly inside. Mollie was spayed the first of July and spent a few nights at the vet and is doing well. They shaved her down as well and that has helped with the grooming issues. She starts obedience training in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to that. We are all trying to spend more time with her giving her lots of attention, but she is still a bull in a china shop. LOL Small steps at a time equal success in the long run. Obedience training doesn't end with the class session that night. Remember to practice what you learned that session for about 10 minutes each day. No longer or she'll get bored. OES tend to get bored easily & bored OES minds (like little kids' minds) tend to wander & you'll be back to square 1 which is FRUSTRATION. Set her boundaries, use positive reinforcement & a praise & reward method of training. Consistency is the key. |
I have a 10 monts old girl, and it sounds like you'r describing her  I was like that first, asked a dog trainer, and he said that it was just the age. She's 10 monts old teenager. On that age some dogs doesn't listen to ANYTHING! Just when they want to listen, they listen. It so ANNOYING! When they are about 1 year old, they become calmer and start behaving, but do not! stop training her! She needs to now that it's YOU! that is the leader! Good luck with your girl Hoped that helped. |
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