Nice Doggy, Good Doggy! Any Advice?
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
United States
April 14, 2008 12:05am CST
We have a Lab puppy. He's about 4 months old, just getting into the chewing-stuff-up business. Usually, he sleeps in the bed with me and my husband, or in the bed with my 3-year-old son, and never gets up once! But a few weeks ago he started getting out of bed, chewing EVERYTHING, and piddling in the floor during the night. So I decided to shut him in the bathroom (only at night, while we're all asleep, and it's NOT a small bathroom) for a couple of weeks. Last night he began howling at 2am, so I took him outdoors to do his business, then brought him back in to the bed, not the bath. Tonight, I took him out around 10:30pm, put him in the bathroom, and came to the computer to check my email. And he started whining. I ignored it, thinking that if I did so, he'd stop. No dice, he only got worse and started howling. So I turned off the lights and harshly told him to stop it. He stopped howling all right, only to begin barking! So I went in there again, harshly told him to stop it and lightly smacked his nose. He stopped making noise, but he cowered in the corner as though he was afraid of me. I grew up with Labs, and I've never seen one react this way. The only time he ever gets smacked (and never hard) is when he needs a reminder that his bad behavior is unacceptable. Dragging out the trash, going outside and doing nothing then coming back in and immediately pooping in the clean laundry, or piddling on my son's toys, for instance. I feel guilty for smacking him this time, though. He's a people-puppy, loves to be around us, and was begging to be let out just so he could be with us. My husband and son are asleep, and I didn't want him waking them with his barking. But I don't want to let him out, either, because I don't want to wake up and have to mop up pee before I have my coffee, or explain to my son why a good deal of his toys are dragged out of the toybox where we put them at night and chewed beyond recognition. The dog has chew toys! Why does he continue to chew stuff that isn't his?! For the most part, he's a very loving, very well behaved puppy, but at night he seems to turn into a little gremlin. What would make him get up in the middle of the night to only chew and pee, especially when he used to sleep through the night in our beds? Should I feel guilty for smacking him to hush, or was I right in doing so? Should I let him back in the bed with us, or leave him in the bathroom? When he howls, should I bring him out and into the bed or smack him and leave him the bathroom? This arrangement isn't forever, of course, but it'd be nice to have my guilt allayed for the time being, one way or another. And no, he doesn't sleep during the day. I could understand his nighttime behavior if he slept during the day, but he doesn't. Please help!!! Any advice and tips will be greatly appreciated!
5 responses
@javaleira (372)
• Portugal
21 Apr 08
i think you should give him a great education. well but don't give your dog all the faults.like i said you can be mad at your husband and hit your dog.that wont take you anywhere.a great advise i can give you is to never hit your dog with your hand ,because later he will think all the times you raise your hand you gonna hit him and he can attack your hand later when you just wanted to pelt him. good luck with our dog education! i hope i helped
1 person likes this
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I liked this idea. My dog is 10 months old now, and I can't tell you how many times he's tried to eat the flyswatter! We began using the flyswatter to "smack" him, and he does not like it! Any time he sees it, he stops whatever he's doing RIGHT THEN. However, if he sees the flyswatter unattended all by itself, he'll try to "catch" it and "kill" it! 
Glad we took your advice! Thanks so much for posting!
Glad we took your advice! Thanks so much for posting! @bfitto (12)
•
16 Aug 08
Well my friend you have a 4month old pup and a 3 year old son. If you boy was crying or wingeing would you go to him and yell and smack him. Puppies are like young babies and kids. We went to school to learn and we all still learn everyday of our life. It annoys me how people want puppies and don't realize the work involved. By the time they are 12/18 months they find themselves in the pound or shelters. Obedience training or a puppy school would be good but remember it doesn't finish there you have to continue for the rest of the dogs life. Labradrs are very playful and are easy to train, especially with toys and food. Chewing is a normal behaviour but can lead to problems later if not dealt with in the beginning. First of all you had him in the bedroom with you all and now he's put out. Just like a child sleeping with you then all of a sudden you put him in another room. When they are young they sleep eat play etc. Remember he is a puppy. If you toilet train him especially after eating, sleeping and playing and rewarding him when he is taken out. When he piddled could he get out and when they are young they will do where ever until they are shown the correct way. With the toys and chewing be careful about giving old socks and shoes as when they see one they will assume it's ok. When he was up chewing the other night how long was he playing and chewing and peeing before you realise what he was doing. Maybe you could take him for a walk before you go to bed. Have some play time with him. Never hit a dog for any reason as one day someting will happen for the wrong reason. Also a lab puppy doesn't become and adult till about 3/4 years. I have two labs 12 and 5 years and the 12 year old still thinks she is a pup. Put that extra effort in looking after your pup as it is for a good wonderful 14 + years. They are not pot plants you get and forget especially not labs. You will be rewarded in the end.
@FaerieAne2003 (679)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Actually, when I wrote this discussion, I would take him outside for a walk. He wouldn't do anything on the walk, but then he would come in and pee or poop in the floor, so yeah, I smacked him for it. Same as I would my 3-year-old. And yeah, when my son is whining and crying for no good reason, I yell at him for it. It's irritating and pointless--all he has to do is ASK for what he's wanting, he doesn't HAVE to whine about it. I realize I went to school for a reason--for them to torture me, wasn't it the same for you? LOL!
Anyway, he's 10 months old now, he spent a solid month outside on a runner & lead, and he's MUCH better behaved. It may seem "cruel" to you, but after finding the 3rd poo-mountain, 6th pee-river, and 5th trash-can-parade in the course of 4 HOURS, AND had let the dog out EVERY HOUR, my husband had quite enough!
And please, DON'T tell me not to "hit" my dog or my kids. According to the State of Georgia's Department of Family and Children Services, SPANKING your CHILDREN is perfectly fine. ABUSING them isn't. And they don't consider a smack on the hind end as correctional discipline as ABUSE, for children or ANIMALS. Yes, my dog loves me, and I love him. But NO ONE should EVER forget that DOGS ARE NOT PEOPLE. They have different social hierarchies and different ways of respecting, disciplining, and protecting one another. Do you want your dog to discipline YOUR CHILD the same way she would discipline her own--picking up by the scruff (or neck, in a human), or biting in the face? I thought not.
In addition to spanking for unwanted behavior, my kids are rewarded for good behavior. So is my dog. You have to take the bad with the good in order to appreciate what you have, whether you are human or animal.
Thanks for posting.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
26 May 08
You need to get a crate and crate train him. He is a puppy and will continue to be so for a long time - he does not really understand what is his and what is not.
Get a crate- one that will serve him through adulthood. Let him sleep in there at night, no it is not a punishment. My dogs are 9 and 12 and they love their crates. They are allowed to sleep with us and this just started in the past 3 years or so and they often prefer their crates. The pooch will not pee or poop in the crate unless sick. If they smell pee in the house, they think it is ok to pee there.
Never hit your pup! They don't understand that. If your pup is being stubborn have him do doggie pushups. Do a repeated series of sits and downs until he realizes you are the dominant dog. Never repeat a command. If you say sit and the pup does not gently push down on the pup, if your pup does not do a down when you tell him - jerk down ward (not to hard) with the leash.
You don't say if you did obedience training but it sounds like a good idea for both of you. My dogs are well trained. They know the rules. I can leave food out and they will not touch it - - even when left home alone and they were never hit!
@suz1000 (159)
•
26 May 08
Imagine this you in bed and wake up needing the toilet you call for your mum, she comes in nicely and takes you to the toilet and then takes you back to bed with her for a cuddle and go to sleep. Ah how nice. Next night same happens yet this time mummy comes in speaks harshly and smacks you when all you want is what you got yesterday for the same thing.
You have been inconsistent and confused your puppy. If he howls at this age he may need the toilet, so go in no fuss try and ignore, you dont want him thinking nighttime visits are great fun, take him outside if he goes toilet praise then put him back to bed in HIS bed not yours.
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
7 Jul 08
WOW. I dont know what I would do. Our lab that we just got is 4 months old and he sleeps in the bed with us but he sleeps all nite. He even sleeps most of the day. We use a fly swatter when he does stay outside for short periods of times. He has not chewed on anything. I have made sure that we give him plenty of toys and introduce a new one every week. But the thing that I learned is that you have to watch him like you would a baby. Just keep your eye on him and if he does not sleep through the night it is his fault he has to go to a kennel or put him outside. It won't hurt them. Good LUck
