Number 1, i am not an animal lover or an animal hater for either cats or dogs. I have 3 cats (2 outside, 1 inside) and 1 dog. I have a history of a previous medium sized house dog for 15 years, when it passed away of old age, i was happy to have my life back, no more cleaning up messes, ruined flooring/carpet, scratched furniture doors, chewed up things, digging, messy yard, urine stained snow, messy car, and no more hair. I was dog free for 3 years. Then, last spring, my spouse decided to get a german shepard puppy, didnt even ask my opinion. I absolutely cannot stand this dog. It is hyper. It has to sleep in a kennel in our room or would tear the house down. It is in the kennel at least 8 hours during the day because we both work. When out of the cage, it turns in circles to the point of distraction, snagging up the carpet as it goes, it has damaged my couch, chair, outside plants in the ground, rips them right up, shredded brooms, cardboard boxes (UPS delivery + its contents left on the porch), basically total piarrhana dog wants to eat everything, also eats feces (its own %26amp; the litter box treats) it wants to maul and jump all over you all the time, needless to say it is now almost a year old and is about 5 ft tall when it stands on its back legs, it will snap at your face when it jumps, stepping on its back foot doesnt work, down, no, etc commands dont work, it is ruining my new back door with the jumping on the door to be let back in, it wants to maul your arms all the time and bite, i have not taken a nap on my couch for almost a year for fear of being bitten in the face if doze off, i cant even sit on my couch to watch TV without being mauled. My child disappears to the bedroom and only comes out to eat dinner. Dinner is a joke it runs around the table begging and pretty much can sit and reach anything at the table to pull it down, kitchen countertops too, it doesnt even have to get on its back legs to reach anything to get it off the countertops. it chases and mauls the cat so much, the cat is probably ready for a nervous breakdown (declawed). the dog is fed and watered properly, has plenty of doggie things to chew, nylabones, pigears, giant rawhide bones, a leather shoe that is "its" property. the dog has been to the vet, is fixed, shots etc and all that is taken care of. it has a electric fence in the yard and knows the perimeters, that was the only thing it learned easily, only went over that fence once. I am in the process of moving to a new home, that i have to remodel, we are going to be putting in thousands of dollars into this home. i absolutely do not want this dog in my house, or for that matter, outside ruining my yard either. how can i convince my spouse to get rid of this dog, give it away, etc. we are not home enough to give it the attention it needs, no time for those recommended long walks and exercise, weekends in the summer are not free, etc. this dog absolutely does not fit our lifestyle and it was a huge investment ($600 dog + $300 fence/collar + vet bill, food, etc) that we cant get back, also feeling guilty that this dog has "bonded" if you want to call that myself and child are terrorized by this dog and neither one of us can absolutely stand this animal, small dog would have been more tolerable, but this large dog (he wanted it for to detour trespassers) is just inexcusable, but also feeling guilty that dogs are pack animals, and this "pack" is sometimes a 12+ hours working family. Extremely hard to convince the spouse that they are wrong etc. i think that the spouse actually would rather be without this dog. Everyone (family/friends etc) that has heard the situation or knows the dog, says to get rid of it. what do i do short of getting a divorce, which i have threatened. i will be fair in saying that the cats, i would be happy to see them go too, tired of cat hair, litter boxes %26amp; coughing up furballs. Any advice?
Need advice for a problem pet? It is all about management. First of all, GS's are very active dogs. They are working dogs. They need to be stimulated and worked. Your dogs needs to be active. Take him to the dog park. Take him for walks, etc. He needs to be active. This breed is known for needing an active lifestyle.
Basic obedience classes will help tremendously with getting him to settle down. He needs positive reinforcement training. That will not only settle him down for your sake, but give him something to do. Work so to speak.
I understand your frustration, but it truly is all about mgmt.
Check in your local area. PetsMart, PetCo, in-home obedience trainers or even some community colleges offer basic obedience classes for their community.
Good Luck!
Need advice for a problem pet? buddy you dont need this pet, most of the dogs problem is anxiety, yeah they get it too. you need to come to a compremize and tell your wife you cant live like this because your miserable
Need advice for a problem pet? A unchained dog with the gate left open just after the spouse leaves for work will allow that poor puppy to find a good home where it is appreciated by the child who finds it. Just remember to remove the collar and toss it in the yard.
Need advice for a problem pet? Well, I'm not familiar with that breed, but from personal experience I know that you do have to set strict rules(especially for puppies). If your spouse wants a dog, perhaps you should consider purchasing a smaller breed? I have a Boston Terrier and she's a very small dog (at 5 yrs), and knows what and what not to do. She's not perfect, in fact, some of what you described I have experienced and still experience with her first hand. I think the size of the dog is what is causing the most problems, as you're physically unable to control it. I would definitely consider giving the dog away, and possibly purchasing a much smaller, less hostile breed.
Need advice for a problem pet? Give It To Some That Wants Then.
Need advice for a problem pet? You might want to take out adds in the news paper to see if maybe you can find a home for it. Offer it for free and count the lost money as a learning experance.
Need advice for a problem pet? From listening to your story, getting rid of the dog would easily solve your problem. But the dog's problem remains. If your spouse really want to keep it, there are several ways to solve this problem.
I have a german shepard and it was very hyperactive as well. I have to go to school for most of the day, and my roommate's gotta work so yes it's stuck in the kennel for most of the time.
A solution would be to give the dog a good workout everyday. Take the dog for a jog after you get back from work, bring it to a leash-free dog park, let it run! let it tire himself. This only takes an hour or a little more of your time, saves u from the torn furnitures and other problems because usually they get too tired to do any mischief after a good work out.
As for the dog's attitude problem, german shepards are known to be very obedient. Maybe try invest a little and take it to a good discipline training school. It is a little over 1 year old so its still young and capable of learning. The training will teach it to be obedient and you'll get yourself a good guard dog.
Anyways, dogs are pact animals and when they are left alone they get stressed, they WILL chew. It is their nature. If your family does not have the time to give it the attention it needed, giving it away to a family that could take care of it would be better both for you, your family, and the dog itself.
here's my 3 cents. hope it helps. =)
Need advice for a problem pet? You sound like a Goldfish person, then again i wouldnt wish this hate that im hearing on any goldfish either.
You should have thought about the consequences before allowing someone in your home to purchase him. Sounds like that you have no proper rule over this dog, which means its your fault, not the poors dogs. Since you decided to allow him to get the dog knowing that you both couldnt afford it and manage it then you need to own up to your responsibility and get it into obedience classes like it deserves. It doesnt sound like a problem dog, it sounds like a problem owner. Hopefully you will either own up your own responsibility like adults are supposed to or you will get the poor dog a new home. I guess since the cats shed you should get rid of them too, your ridiculous. Give those animals the life they deserve by giving them to a good family and not your unloving, unbalanced home.
Need advice for a problem pet? The relationship with your spouse is the real problem and the pets are a symptom. Everyone in your home is suffering, including your child. Please get help from a pastor, counselor etc. Someone your spouse respects.
It is fine not to want the pets, especially when the family does not care for them properly. If your family wishes to keep them, they must feed, clean and exercise them daily. If not, the animals deserve better homes.
Your child deserves parents who can work out their problems and provide a healthy home. Please get some help for yourself and family.
Need advice for a problem pet? you need to get rid of it or get a dog trainer to help with all those problem. Also the dog trainer will help you be the boss instead of the dog.
Need advice for a problem pet? from reading that .. the dog is bored and full of energy .. being caged more than 4 hours a day is terrible .. this is an aniaml that needs 45 minutes of fast paced walking a day .. if you can commit to getting rid of some of his energy that would be a much better dog
Need advice for a problem pet? You could call your local pet supplies until you find the one that will recommend a good trainer in your area. These dogs CAN ABSOLUTELY be turned around. The dog on Frazier was dumped 3 times, before the trainer found him. An unruly dog as you have described are usually the very smartest. He has learned to out-smart you and get his way. A good out-of-home trainer will charge you $500 per month, and may take 2 months. But, look at the savings! to you, your home, your child, your marriage, your life. I wish I was in your area. I would take on the challenge.
Need advice for a problem pet? the dogs problem was caused by u and now u want to get rid of it..u cage it up 8 hours a day how would u act if that happened ud be so happy to just be out of that damn cage...its sad that ur gonna get rid of a beautiful creature cause u dont like it and couldnt take the time to properly train him....it just makes me sad..and oh bye the way i am an animal lover.....and it sounds like u are a dog hater......
Need advice for a problem pet? I am sad to say i was shocked when i read this. Caging an animal for 8 hours a day is absolutely inexcusable!
this is why he is acting this way - they NEED to go on walks. i know it is hard but put yourself in the animal's *paws* - being locked up, no attention, no affection - it is awful. Dogs do not understand speech - only tones of voice %26amp; body language. You did not put your child in the crib all day with a bottle %26amp; expect it to raise itself did you? It is the same with a dog, it needs human interaction, training (how else will it know what to do or not do?), affection, exercise, etc.
If you do not want to INVEST anymore money, by getting yourself trained (people are trained on how to communicate wit dogs, not dogs trained on how to read our minds) - try a rescue to give the doggy a good home where it would be appreciLUVED.
Need advice for a problem pet? please give the dog away
you need to never get a pat again. I breed and trained gsd and it is not the dog it is you and your selfish lifesytle/husband.
god that story makes me sick. tell your husband if he wants to have a dog then he needs to be with someone who is loving/gentle and not so selfish..
that poor dog has been put into hell and I don't think he is bounded with you if he was he wouldn't be acting like he wants to be away from u so much.
if the people around a dog act crazy yelling/hating them sooo much then you get a crazy dog and the dog deserves better would you like to be in a home where you were hated?? I bet you don't even like this response..
it's not fun being hated is it???
Need advice for a problem pet? GSD's need LOTS of attention and training. They need a "job" to be happy. This dog is SEVERELY lacking in all areas.
Your family does NOT have the time for this dog or any dog for that matter.
If your WHOLE family can't dedicate more time to this dog, rehome him. There are great GSD rescue groups out there.
You and your spouse need to think what is best for the dog as well. This is one unhappy, confused pup. Eight hours a day in a kennel is no life for a dog.
Do everyone a favor and rehome him, and don't get another dog until your family has time for it.
I don't mean to sound rude, but that's the blunt end of things. I see this sort of thing all the time.
Need advice for a problem pet? Training,training,training.It sounds like your spouse has no idea whatsoever about properly training a dog.The reason for a dog to act like this,is because it has never learned not to.It sounds like it's beyond what can be learned from a book.Your dog needs be taken to a proffesional trainer.
