bloody dogs

[timwilky]

There I was, sat in the lounge with the laptop, laughing to myself at the brave french fighter pilot joke and what do I see walking past the front window, but the postman.

Jasper loves postmen. before I could stop him, he had lept onto the sofa, to the dining table and onto the window. he then barked 3 times and then ran half the length of the bay and tried to squeeze behind a vase full of roses.

So about 2 pints of water onto the carpet, and a dozen roses. Poor Jasper cannot understand why I smacked him. fortunately I managed to catch the vase on its way down.


I am fed up of his postman problem. I have tried to introduce Jasper to him. Even on the street, it is teeth bared and growling/snarling.

Typing this I now feel guilty about lashing out.

Originally Posted by timwilky

Even on the street, it is teeth bared and growling/snarling.

Does the dog do that too?

[Biker Biggles]

My Jack Russell is exactly the same with one saving grace----if we meet the postman he wags his tail and is completely friendly.(The dog that is not the postman).

[Stingo]

It's a dog - that's what they do - bark at things. Mine barks like mad every time I arrive home & park the bike. She doesn't stop until I open the front door It has to be better than silently letting the burglars in!
Consider moving the vase.- - don't get rid of the dog - it loves you.

Ok, To save starting a new thread.

We've got a 17 month old Patterdale bitch who is absolutely crazy. She's not the most compliant dog but she does do 80% of what shes told. Recently she has started chewing the cushionfloor in the kitchen. We've put a woolen mat thing over it but she just pulls the mat out of the way and keeps going for it. She only does it every so often but as you can understand it's a little annoying.

I love her to pieces but cannot keep patching the floor up. So she's now on strike 1 of 3. I'm not patching it up again till i know she can be trusted or know that shes not going to stop and hence has to go.

Anybody any ideas how we can stop this sort of behaviour. Like i said it's only the last 2 month she's started doing it. Shes never left for more than 1-2 hours at a time ( except at night)

Cheers Luke

[timwilky]

Well I have a friend with a Patterdale and of all things a rocket III, The only way of keeping the dog happy is for him to let it sit in his tank bag and do a few miles.

Not very safe for the dog, but it loves it. Consider rewarding yours with a ride out for a days good behavoir





OMG, the window cleaner has not turned up. Jasper has gone nuts again

Originally Posted by Stormspiel

Ok, To save starting a new thread.

We've got a 17 month old Patterdale bitch who is absolutely crazy. She's not the most compliant dog but she does do 80% of what shes told. Recently she has started chewing the cushionfloor in the kitchen. We've put a woolen mat thing over it but she just pulls the mat out of the way and keeps going for it. She only does it every so often but as you can understand it's a little annoying.

I love her to pieces but cannot keep patching the floor up. So she's now on strike 1 of 3. I'm not patching it up again till i know she can be trusted or know that shes not going to stop and hence has to go.

Anybody any ideas how we can stop this sort of behaviour. Like i said it's only the last 2 month she's started doing it. Shes never left for more than 1-2 hours at a time ( except at night)

Cheers Luke

Hmmm, I've not really had much trouble with any of my dogs being persistant chewers.

Firstly, although she's 17 months, does she still have plenty of chew toys to both amuse and exercise her jaws on?

Second, have you had her teeth checked out by the vet? Pedigree are running a 'petsmile' thing this month so get down to the vets for a free check up - she may have a tooth or gum problem which is occasionally annoying her.

Does she do it only when she's left, or are people around?

How do you react when you catch her at it? Likewise, how do you react when she leaves it alone?


I'd suggest rather than covering it up (which is almost akin to hiding a toy to her perhaps) try leaving the patch exposed.
Catch her worrying at it and go for a real heavy handed bit of discipline. Shout, scream, whack the wall next to her with a rolled up newspaper (shocks the hell outta them) banish her to her bed and then purposefully ignore her for a few hours.

Later, encourage her to walk by that area and really praise her when she comes to you. Praise her if you find her near there and not worrying at the patch.
Put a chew toy next to it as well and really heap on the praise if she even so much as sniffs at the toy rather than the patch and encourage her to play with it.

You basically want to transfer her attention from one thing that she likes to chew to another. This can be done by making really negative associations with the patch and really positive ones with a toy.
Just being negative rarely works as dogs do like to please so respond well to positive reinforcement.

Though I would recommend that whilst you're getting her teeth checked out you have a chat with the vet too - they will no doubt have better constructive advice.

This is a mild annoyance in the grand scheme of things, and certainly to my mind no reason to get rid of a dog.

Hope that helps somewhat.

Originally Posted by timwilky

I am fed up of his postman problem. I have tried to introduce Jasper to him. Even on the street, it is teeth bared and growling/snarling.

Typing this I now feel guilty about lashing out.

First off terriers can be incredibly protective of their home and 'family', they are also very vocal dogs.
Bless 'em, they were bred to fight rats, badgers and foxes in their setts and dens - can't help it really.

Also he and the postman go through this routine of attempted invasion and successfull defence everyday. According to Jasper his tactics work and he has no reason to change them - he's fanatic enough that a beating from you is unlikely to override his protective tendency and working plan of defence.

Some dogs also bark to warn their 'boss' that there is a potential intruder, and once they are sure you know about it then they'll be quiet - you're the boss, it's for you to deal with.
One of my GSD's was like this, he'd bark like mad but as long as I got up and made a show of looking out of the window and then telling him it was OK he'd then be as quiet as a mouse...

... don't think that's gonna help with Jasper though - sorry.



To be honest, I think you need a very understanding and brave postman with some time to spare...
... with possibly very thick gloves!

If he could take the time to actually come in and give you the mail, then greet Jasper in his own territory - be friendly and stop for a cuppa then go on his way, it might break the cycle by showing Jasper his tactics are no longer working.
The first few times may result in a bit of a fight - hence the need for a brave postie with a thick pair of gloves.
But if you both can stick with it Jasper would hopefully come to accept that he isn't going to see this person off. They are making it into his territory and not only that but you are being friendly with them.
I don't know how long it would take to break his behaviour pattern, but if it did work then things could go back to normal with an occasional stop for a cuppa from the postie to reinforce things.

Not too sure what would happen if your postie changed though - it may make no difference or you may be back to square one.

im sure i read somewhere that if a dog is barking and you dont want it to, you squirt it with a water pistol.

tim your carpet is already wet, you have nothing to lose by trying.

oh yeah and i dont mean one of the super soaker things that comes with water tanks that you put on your back. they actually hurt when the water hits you.

Originally Posted by nutty tart

im sure i read somewhere that if a dog is barking and you dont want it to, you squirt it with a water pistol.

tim your carpet is already wet, you have nothing to lose by trying.

oh yeah and i dont mean one of the super soaker things that comes with water tanks that you put on your back. they actually hurt when the water hits you.

I know it works to keep cats off the kitchen worktop!

It wouldn't have helped with our collie when I was a kid - one of his favourite games was to bark at the hosepipe whilst attempting to eat the water.
Crazy beast would do the same thing if you turned a tap on that he could get his head under. :P