You are all very kind and understanding , that means a lot. I had read about sspot in our local newspaper and was to contact I think it was Kerri Bee, but she was away and then the grandchildren came to stay and time passed by, but yes I should get in touch. I agree in the grand scheme of things one expensive shoe is nothing and he doesn't do it to be naughty I know. Today hubby has begun keeping him in his crate a little longer. I went shopping and hubby was working indoors so Arthur was in his crate for about hour & half and slept. I guess we need to start doing that again as before and eventually we built up the time in there and left him overnight, that's when he chewed his way out and destroyed the crate and injured his dear face. I think being confined and being left is one of his fears. And maybe we shall never overcome that. I couldn't bear for him to hurt himself again through fear. The sheep are in the fields now so we cannot give him a walk up there, he will only walk so far up the lane until he hears traffic on the top lane then is scared. If we could get him to walk on a lead and travel better in the car we could go to the beaches, but he is scared of anywhere away from home. Hubby has had him on the lead to go up the field many times, rewarding him with treats, but being a strong dog it is a challenge (plus hubby recently had knee op). When the family stay in the summer they take him, Max and their spaniels all for a long run up the fields in the evenings around 9pm....but Arthur still wakes 5ish! Unfortunately he sleeps most of the day, has a little game in the evening, goes to bed around 10pm, then most nights wakes maybe 12am, 2am scratching the carpet like mad. He knows the word 'bed' and when told 'bed' he will go and lay either in the crate or in his doggie bed next to Max. Then wakes around 5ish and that's it for us. Sorry if am repeating myself in places.
Hi Diana and welcome. It does sound like you're having a trying time and sleep deprivation certainly doesn't help us look at things rationally. You've had some wonderful advice above, but one thing I would suggest is maybe doing some training with him. Just fun stuff, nothing "important" so you can relax and it doesn't matter if he gets it right or not. If you don't already use clicker training, I'd encourage you to look into it. Training things by using only positive reinforcement really helps to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Since it teaches him to make good decisions for himself, rather than rely on being directed in everything he does, it also tires his brain out more. A twenty minute clicker training session can be very tiring for a dog and will help him settle. Doing a few sessions a day, even if you can only make them five minutes at a time, can really help with preventing unwanted behaviours, as his mind is kept occupied. I would start by just teaching something very simple and fun like a hand target, where his nose touches your hand. My two love to play this game and will come belting towards me from a distance to bash my hand with their soggy noses, just to get a treat or a ball. Here is a bit of information on clicker training: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/ten-great-reasons-to-start-clicker-training/ http://www.thelabradorsite.com/clicker-training-whats-it-all-about/ Here is a Kikopup video demonstrating the hand target, starting with a tiny little puppy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWSJVwZybwo Good luck and do keep us informed.
Diana, could you buy a harness to make walking Arthur easier? There is a thread on the forum about various harnesses on the market. When Charlie came to us at 9 months I don't think he had ever been walked on a lead as he crawled on his tummy and was scared stiff of traffic, but thankfully with lots of positive training we have resolved these issues, but a harness definiately helps us as he too is a big strong boy. I know it's daunting but maybe going back completely to basics is the way forward with Arthur regarding his lead work. Very short trips in the car to a place you can walk him for 5 minutes then back home and very slowly extending them when he seems more comfortable and always treating with maybe cooked chicken, sausage etc. You could try clicker training him to walk nicely on lead also to do tricks. Does Arthur like to retrieve a ball or play tug game? I'm absolutely no expert just trying to think of positive things to do with your boy to build his confidence. Don't worry about repeating yourself we know it's a difficult situation. xx
We do have a clicker and its something hubby had been trying but often Arthur would take no notice of it! As I type it is being used and Arthur is responding, going to hubby nosing his hand being told good boy. Thank you for reminding me of the clicker. We do have a harness but he just goes in circles whether on a lead or using the harness. We have both been reading Sspot website and will be contacting them. Taking him short trips in the car is something to be done. We have taken him to our daughters, he will not travel in the back of the estate car with Max so hubby drives and I sit on back seat with Arthur down by my feet. And of course this is how he goes to the vet when needed. Not ideal .
Just to check, the clicker isn't used as a cue/"command", but to mark a behaviour, right? So, you wait for (or encourage) the hand touch and click at the exact second that Arthur's nose makes contact, then give the treat. So, there's nothing really to "ignore". It's not telling him to do something, it's telling him that he got something right. If he doesn't get it, then it sounds like it needs charging again. I'd recommend reading through the clicker training articles on the main site to make sure you understand how it should be used, because it sounds like you may be a bit confused.
My dogs will sleep the day away too if there's nothing more interesting to do but I don't think that's doing your nighttime routine any good. Some more structured exercise and some clicker games through the day will help I'm sure. I probably do as many training sessions as I have cups of tea. Every time the kettle goes on we do a few bits and bobs - hand touches, sit & wait, recalls, dummy holds(I do Gundog training with my two). The more little games you can play the better. We bought my in-laws a book called brain games for dogs (I think) to give them some ideas of things to train their dog to do. The more he does that he gets right the more his confidence will build. That's not to say he won't need help from a behaviourist and a few games will solve your problems but dogs that get things right a lot and get rewarded generally feel happier than those that don't With regards to exercise you don't necessarily need to walk a long way from A to B to tire him out. My best exercise for tiring my dogs out is to hunt out food or toys in long grass. Ten minutes of hard hunting can be more work than an hours walk bumbling along by my side. If he loves his food chuck his dinner on the grass and let him hunt for it! Working his nose and his brain will do him good
