Therapy for my dog?

[Sharae]

I have 2 mini short-haired daschunds, George and Velvet. We've had them about 3 years, I got them both as pups (13 weeks old) although we got George a couple of months before Velvet. Although we treat them consistently and fairly, he is what you'd call a 'high-need-child'. Velvet knows she's a dog, and behaves accordingly, but I suspect George thinks he's 'one of us'. I have 3 teen-aged children who share equal responsibility with feeding, walking, playing pampering etc, but George cannot relax. While Velvet is content to chew on a bone, or curl up on her favourite chair, George is pacing. When I stand in the kitchen to cook, he is between my feet. He paces between rooms checking that every one is accounted for and when we put them out (they sleep outside) and close the glass door, he leans right up against it and will quiver and and whine for HOURS if he knows we are in the house. He stops once all the lights are off and we're in bed, but any time he hears movement he starts up again. The crazy part is that he begins to lick the glass until he froths at the mouth and there is a huge pool of drool by the door. Someone suggested we put bitter stuff (chilli powder, detergent etc) on the glass, but he licks it right off and doesn't even seem to notice. If I hug my husband or one of the children, he's right in there, up on his hind legs in a 'group hug'. When we watch telly at night, he often 'begs' on his haunches, sitting up like that for quite a while, just gazing at the telly too. Why is he so fixated on being where we are all the time, and how can we encourage him to just relax and enjoy being a dog?

 

[Dagna]

Check out something called Nothing in Life is Free or something like that. I know quite a few people that used that program for everything, from housebreaking to possesive dogs and it works! You should be able to find information on it online

 

[Faithful83]

Sounds like you have an alpha dog. You say you treat them consistently and fairly. Stop the fair bit. Dogs don't know fair, they know social hierarchy. My guess is he thinks he's above everyone in the household (even you). That means it's his job to pace around and make sure everyone is accounted for. It's time to establish yourselves as humans on the highest (alpha) level. It sounds like he's over Velvet, so it's fine to let him be over her. Here's what I'd suggest:

The family eats first. At least the person feeding the dogs. In a pack, the alpha dogs eat first. so you should try to simulate it, even if that means the person feeding him at the time only eats a cracker. Just as long as the dog sees someone eating. Then, when that's happened, make him sit before he gets his dinner (a little bit of the nothing in life is free program). If he doesn't sit when commanded (don't ask him to sit, tell him to sit. The alpha dog doesn't "ask" those lower than them to do something), simply don't feed him for a while. Just basically ignore him. Then after a half hour or so, go back to feed him, and tell him to sit. It shouldn't take him too long to figure out if he doesn't sit, he doesn't get the meal right then, and so will sit. Tell him to sit before anything...food, attention, treats...anything he likes. This is assuming Goerge is more dominant than Velvet. If Velvet seems more dominant (watch how they interact with each other to figure that out), feed Velvet after you. After the more dominant of the two dogs has eaten, feed the lower dog, making them sit before they're allowed to eat.

The more dominant dog out of the two (I'm assuming it's Goerge right now) should have privileges over the other dog. Goerge gets to eat first, get attention first, get the first treat, when going for a ride he gets in the car first, etc. But make sure that's all under the humans.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sharae]

That sounds exactly right - an alpha.......in George's case ...... an ALPHA dog! I will look for info on Nothing in Life is Free - it sounds great. Do you suggest that all humans in the family establish themselves above him? I mean, is it a good idea for all of us to be doing the 'Alpha' thing over him, or just whoever has the most to do with him? Velvet is definitely not dominant.....she defers to him on every level, food, best chair, first pampering, treats etc - he has got her towing the line beautifully. Thanks for your advice - we'll start working on him.

 

[Faithful83]

I'd suggest the whole family get involved. If anyone is perceived to be lower than him, let's say you for example, he may pace until he finds you.

 

[Sharae]

Hey, just thought I'd update you on George's progress! we've been doing the 'alpha-dog-eats-first-after-the-human' thing and for all his neurosis he's actually quite a bright dog......it took 3 days but he now sits before being fed. We've been a lot firmer with our commands (as in demanding, not asking) and i think we're getting somewhere! Thanks again for all your advice!

 

[moonpye]

Good Grief!