 Hi John,
We bought a Miniature Dachshund/Poodle puppy. He was four months when we got him and he is now six months old. Our problem is house-training. We bring him out every hour and if he does not go pee we bring him back and put him into his cage. This is after he has been outside for over fifteen minutes. We give Hemi praise and a treat when he goes to the bathroom and some days he is so good and other days he will make mistakes. The people that owned Hemi kept him in a dog run in the daytime and at night they would bring him into a cage where he would spend the night. They said that he never went on the rug but we knew when we got him to our home they were not telling the truth. When he is out to go to the washroom we are always saying "Hemi go pee." but he spends more time wandering into the neighbours yard. If Hemi goes on the rug and he hears that we know, he now goes right into his cage, so he knows he has done wrong. We don't know what more we can do.
Ruth
Dear Ruth,
I hear the statement from dog owners, " He knows he has done wrong" all the time but knowing one has done wrong and knowing what one has done wrong are two very different things. Every man that's had a wife or a girlfriend knows how your dog feels because at one point or another we've all received a similar message. The women we love using some some estrogen laced logic without hesitancy will let us know they are upset about something but leave our testosterone dampened brains to figure out just what that might be. If we are so unwise as to inquire as to the boundary we have trespassed the trap snaps shut with, "If you loved me, you'd know!" Isolated by our maleness we more often then not, wisely and meekly retreat saying, "If you need me I'll be (hiding) in the basement/garage/at a friend's/Iraq's Red Zone etc." Your equally confused dog is heading to his own sanctuary, his crate. I agree he knows you're upset but I'll bet he doesn't know why. How could he? All he's got to go on is your tone and body language and it seems he's hearing about it after the fact and pardon the pun, he doesn't have enough to go on.
You have to have a look at the digestibility of your dog's food, how often he eats, how many treats he's getting, how to supervise so that mistakes either aren't happening or are happening right in front of you (so he will know why you're upset.) It's all about structure and supervision. Get his leash on in the house so he can't wander away to eliminate. You can't catch him one time and not two others. It's too hard for him to connect the dots. Keep him on a lead in the yard so he's not touring the neighbour's yard or getting otherwise distracted, and take him to the same small area for no more then 5 minutes. Put him in his crate in between trips outside when you can't be sure you can track him in the house.
He's two months past when he should have had this down cold and every mistake you miss is gelling this into a life time habit. If you get all your ducks in a row you're 3 months from getting on top of this and a year from him not even considering going elsewhere then outside.
You can learn which ducks to get into what rows with a house training cheat sheet I give my clients. I'll put a link to in on the "Free Stuff" section on my website for anyone else with a house training issue www.johnwade.ca.
Pawsitively yours,
John Wade
www.johnwade.ca |
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 Hi John:
Not sure if you are able to help but my boyfriend is moving into my home with his 1 year old Great Dane and black Lab mix. I have three cats that are terrified and stay in the basement when he visits with the dog. Have you ever been able to help anyone with this problem. I really want to keep the dog (who is very hyper around the cats) but don't want the cats to have to resort to the basement. Would appreciate your input.
Thank You Diane
Dear Diane,
The biggest problem cats often have with dogs is not how big they are but how fast they come/run at them. At least that's the biggest problem outside of their objection to a dog's right to existence as most subscribe to the philosophy that if “It can't purr, it doesn't deserve fur.”
Some cats aren't going to overlook a dog's short comings no matter how well behaved the dog is. They just didn't grow up around dogs and no matter how sweet a dog's nature they imagine any nose to nose meeting will end with their tail sticking out of the dog's mouth. Only time will tell how well your cats will adapt but we can increase the chances by de-goofballing your hyper Great Dane mix.
First thing is to get a leash on him in the house so he can't get to a cat before you can get to him. If you can prove that to the cats one or more may become brave enough to test the waters albeit with one eye on the basement door. The second is to stick him a crate when you can't stay on top of him. At this point, many cats can't resist the opportunity to then make themselves known to the dog if only to strut their freedom status spiced up a little with racially derogatory and condescending comments.
Between the leash and the crate you may get to the point that the dog knows that whatever pleasure he gets out of sending the cats pelting down to the basement isn't worth contending with your simulated wrath and eventually he'll embrace a more civilized demeanour.
You might want to set aside some quality time to spend with the three mouseketeers as well. This sort of thing can be quite stressful and they need their social time with you to not feel lost. Find ways to play with them if they like to play or sit with them or brush them. Whatever it is that makes them feel special. There is a product you can buy that plugs into the wall and emits pheromones that seems to soothe many a cat's raw nerves. Check in with your veterinarian or drop me a note at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and I'll send you some information. The more you can relieve their stress the greater capacity they'll have to invest in adapting to the addition of a canine behemoth to the clan. Some cats end up quite liking the house dog if only to serve as a constant reminder to their owner of the advantages of a cat only house-hold.
Pawsitively yours,
John Wade
www.johnwade.ca |
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Hi John. My dog does not like thunderstorms. I don't know if you can help me or not but I am at my wits end. His anxiety is through the roof. Lisa Dear Lisa, Thunder phobic dogs often have specific characteristics and other distressing symptoms. In addition to their anxiousness as a result of the sound of thunder; fireworks also often sets them off. In fact many overreact when there is any overhead sound as hot air balloons or even roofers at work. Their personalities are often different as well. Overall they are noticeably kinder and gentler then most dogs. They're easier to train, not necessarily because they're smarter but because they just work harder to please because they dread disapproval. Were it not for the effect their anxiety has on them and their owners they're would be for many the perfect dog. When they hear thunder and eventually when they sense a storm coming they can have any or all of the following symptoms; pacing, panting, clinging to their owners, heading to a basement and often a bathroom and eating is out of the question. I've known dogs that have jumped through closed windows trying to escape the sound. This condition typically worsens as the dog matures and often many owners aren't even aware of its early stages. There's not much you can do about a dog that is genetically prone to anxiety but breeders and dog owners can head off the thunderstorm problem by exposing puppies before 12 weeks of age to constant loud overhead sounds. Since it's hard to find a co-operative thunder storm; as a companion to my book about what breeders and dog owners can do about socializing puppies I had soundtracks made of thunderstorms, another of baby cries and another of annoying urban sounds. I recommend that breeders and dog owners play these constantly for their puppies as all of those sounds can produce anxiety. The idea being to play them so often the dog believes they're as normal as a bird chirping. However they have another use and that is to desensitize already phobic dogs by flooding their environment with the sound that distresses them. A recording can be introduced gradually and at low volumes until the recording runs constantly at full blast from speakers set high. Eventually though it is wise to turn the volume way down and periodically without warning turn it on and then offer a treat or a toy that would normally be irresistible. If the dog won't take it drop the volume. The dog is continued to be “surprised” until it associates a sudden clap of thunder with a positive. Flooding isn't a new idea but it was when a friend of mine with a thunder phobic dog moved to a home with a train track very near that the value of flooding hit home. Bob (the dog and an old soul if ever there was one) went from anxious to indifference and she was better then middle aged with a long history of anxiety behind her. There's a lot more that can be said about thunder phobia but this is one of those situations where 'the hair of the dog' might actually bring relief. Pawsitively Yours John Wade |
 Hi John,
My 2 9 mo. old Great Pyrenees/black lab mix love eating wood!! I try to provide them with some healthier options such as bones, chew toys etc. but without going completely broke buying all of these treats for them what are some other options for them to satisfy this inclination for an extended amount of time as to stop destroying my deck, picnic table, stairs etc? Just to give you an idea, they destroyed an entire 7 ft. Christmas tree in 3 days!! Crazy. Also it has to be something substantial because they tend to gobble everything down and I'm afraid they will choke or block their intestines or something.
-Melanie
Hi Melanie,
Assuming your Christmas tree isn't still up in late April when I received your email, that would have made your lumberjacks about 4 months old at the time of the pruning. In human terms that would be about 3 or 4 years old and now about 5 or 6 years old. Lets for a moment imagine that they are indeed human and that age and you leave them in my care for the day. When you return to pick them up and ask, “How did it go John?”, I reply, “Fantastic, they're great kids but to tell you the truth I haven't seen them in a couple of hours, . . .” If your pair had 3 days to take the tree down something is out of balance at your house.
Dogs of that age shouldn't be left unsupervised in the house or outside the house. In fact until they're around 2 years of age, most dogs should be supervised at all times. I do this by having them drag their leads around in the house and around the yard when I'm handy enough to get to the end of the leash before they get into trouble. The idea isn't to eliminate freedom, it's to eliminate the freedom to get into mischief. Regular leash indoors and a 30' outside. I keep my crates handy so I can pop the dog in when I'm going to be too busy to interrupt mischievousness and leave them in there when I have to go out.
If your termite twosome have much of the Great Pyrenees genetics coursing through their blood there's trouble on the horizon of a more serious nature then wood chomping if you keep leaving them unsupervised in the yard. Over time some G.P.'s get quite aggressive when left in yards on their own. By nature they are protective and without you to keep reminding them that it's your property and they just get to live there, somewhere between 18 months and 3 years of age you'll be writing me about a problem you're having with them putting something entirely different in their mouths, like a cat or a neighbour for instance.
When I learn of dogs that spend a lot of time in the yard, I'm told it's because, “They like it.”, or “For fresh air and exercise.” but usually it's because their owner likes it and the dogs just become used to it. Besides, what puppies or kids “like” isn't supposed to be a priority. It's a factor, but it doesn't over ride providing a balanced enriching environment that allows for appropriate guidance when the need arises as it will over and over again as they mature.
I hope I've helped you cedar light. Your two are pining for some training and to start it wood help if you stop leafing them alone to lumber around as the bad behavior is bound to take root and branch off into territorial aggression. |
 Hi John,
I remember you writing that "no one gets a dog until Mom wants a dog" and this mom thinks we're ready. How do you feel about people purchasing dogs off of Kijiji?
JK (London)
Hi JK
I was waiting for the someone to ask that question. Kijiji, for those that don't know is sort of an on-line penny-saver. Different areas of the country have different versions. It's great buy and sell venue for some things but not a great place to get a dog. Some good breeders may be on there but they're more the exception then the rule and I wouldn't chance it.
The majority of those that use venues like Kijiji to put puppies for sale are puppy mills and back yard breeders. Most of the ones I've run across think they're good breeders but I haven't found one that knew much more then the difference between a male and a female dog. Another source I've come to learn and avoid in your region are dogs coming from Mennonite farms. The ones I see and I see them regularly are more often then not, train wrecks. They are often physically unsound; many that I see are suddenly aggressive. Do a Google search for - Mennonite puppy mill - and you get about 6,000 hits. Do another for - Amish puppy mill - and you get just under 40,000. Don't ask me why, I'm as surprised as anyone. I had two clients and one phone consult inside a week, all with facial bites from dogs they purchased from Mennonite farms. One requiring significant plastic surgery to a teenager's face.
I have a bunch of ways to track down the better breeders. Here's one weird but good way. You may or not be familiar with the concept of feeding your dog a raw diet. I had a chance to interview Dr. Ian Billinghurst one of the principles behind this a few years ago on my radio show and one of the things I learned as a by product of my research for the interview is that breeders that feed raw like a lot of doggy people are a little nutty, but in a good way. Not crazy nutty like some dog people as in the “I'm wearing underwear I knitted from the fur I collected from my dog.” (I wish I were kidding.) They're generally over the top about being current and well-informed about breeding dogs. They're usually hard core detail people with above average knowledge and usually know far more about what they're doing when it comes to the breeding of dogs then the average breeder. So I tell people looking for a good breeder to start by joining an Internet forum for breeders that feed raw and ask them if they know of someone good in the vicinity of where they live. Go to Yahoo Groups and search - raw dog food breeder - Sign on and see who can help you directly or refer you to someone in your area.
Anyone looking for a dog should spend as much time researching every nuance just as they would for anything they're going to have for many years, like a car, a home, or a spouse. You have to drive a few, see a few, date a few before you find what's good for you and you for it. Taking your time, doing your homework, asking the right questions almost always leads to finding a great dog.
Paw-sitively yours,
John Wade
www.dogtrainingwithjohnwade.com |
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