while we were shopping, and she tore up half of the back of the sofa!! Now my mom is crying like crazy, and saying that we might have to get rid of the dog! I don't want to get rid of her, but she's so much more work then normal dogs! What should I do???
2006-08-25 12:02:43 · 24 answers · asked by gerbil_girl_11 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Looks your dog might need to become an outside dog or needs some training. Petsmart offers training (I don't know how good it it) and there are hundreds of books out there to train your dog. Google "dog training" but for now you may want to put her or him outside or if you have no fence on a lead.
2006-08-25 12:07:01 · answer #1 · answered by Charis 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This whole problem could have been avoided by crating (kenneling) the dog while you were gone. The crate is a place where the dog feels safe, and it keeps him out of trouble/danger.
To get a dog used to being crated, start by leaving the door open and tossing a few treats inside. Let the dog go in and out freely. Then, after he's comfortable with that, repeat the step and close the door for a short period of time (no more than a minute or two at most.)
Increase the closed door time over a few days. Finally, let the dog remain in the kennel while you're still in the house. If he whines or barks, ignore him. . .he will probably get bored and lay down. You can put a Nylabone in the crate to give him something to do.
Pretty soon, you ought to be able to leave the house with the dog in the crate and not have to worry about what kind of a disaster you'll be walking into when you come back.
Edit: do take responsibility for the dog and pay to replace the damaged sofa. Tell your mom you're going to crate train the dog and take it to obedience classes, then follow through with what you've promised.
Maybe if she sees that you're being responsible and trying to correct the problem, she'll let you keep your dog.
2006-08-25 12:12:28 · answer #2 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, put the dog somewhere where she can't do too much damage, like the bathroom, and give your mother some time to calm down. Coming home and finding out that the back of the sofa was destroyed was probably a pretty bad shock.
Next, if you really want to keep the dog, find out how much it's going to cost for you, personally, to either replace the sofa or get it fixed. Make it so that your mother has nothing to lose from your keeping the dog.
After that, look into obedience training and doggy day care for your dog. Some dogs do better once they've had training, and some are simply mischief-makers or dogs who get bored and they need to be kept busy.
If your mother decides that she simply can't hack it anymore, you're going to have to come up with a plan to find the dog a new home. The humane society is one place pets are traditionally taken. You may also have luck finding a new home for your pet by advertising on Craigslist. But please, no matter what, please don't dump your dog. Horrible things happen to dumped dogs, and even naughty ones who destroy sofas deserve better than that.
Best of luck -
2006-08-25 12:15:00 · answer #3 · answered by IrritableMom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like others are saying, crating the dog is your best option. You can learn more about crate training at www.peteducation.com.
Also, you might try letting to dog stay in the kitchen, bathroom, end of the hall, etc by using a baby gate. The dog can have its own little area while you're out, but not be able to cause destruction.
Oh, and if you can't afford to replace/repair the couch, perhaps you could offer to purchase a slip cover. They are much less expensive.
2006-08-25 12:15:25 · answer #4 · answered by fadedglitter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Crate training is the best course of action in this situation.
I hate crating my dogs. If my husband and I LEAVE the house and give the dogs free run of the house -- they'll tear the place up. My husband works day shift, I work nights. When he goes to bed, and I'm still at work -- the dogs have free run of the house most of the time (some times he'll crate them, and I let them out when I get home) --with rarely a problem. They know that they are not alone.
As long as one of us are home with them, they are fine (ok, and occasional chewed sock or something).
I must express that they spend as little time as possible in their crates.
Oh, and your dog didn't "eat" the couch because she was "hungry". Make sure she always has acceptable chew toys available to her.
Good luck. And please try the crate training, and give the dog another chance.
2006-08-25 21:04:39 · answer #5 · answered by kaschweigert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think when you got your dog, you should've accepted the responsibility for training your dog. Maybe she is more work, but you should've considered that having a pet is work before getting one.
It's unfair to the dog if it's the owner who can't control it. You should always keep your dog crated if you are not around unless you are 100000% sure they will not cause trouble.
If I was in your position, I would offer to buy a new couch and get started on crate training if you havent already done so. I would also consider going to obeidence .
And those good nice dogs that you see with your neighbours are a result of a lot of work. Owning a dog is requires a lot of time, patience and love, and if you can't do ALL of that...I think you should consider finding a new home for her.
2006-08-25 12:11:47 · answer #6 · answered by fallfromgrace_90 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell your mom that the sofa needed to be reupholstered anyway and offer to take some classes to learn how to do it. You need to figure out how to pay for this yourself - babysit, pet sit, do chores. If the dog is prone to mischief when unattended then she needs to be confined to a safe room (laundry room or big bathroom) or a good sized crate. This way she will be safe and your home will be safe at the same time. You should also make an effort to vigorously walk the dog at least twice a day and actively play with her regularly. This will help with the mischief.
2006-08-25 12:11:44 · answer #7 · answered by Susan G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
awwww.. what kind of dog is it? Is it a large dog? I would cut out some Marmaduke cartoons and put them up on the fridge. do you have a yard that the dog can be in? the way you explained the situation to us is very good,, that she accidently slipped her treat under the sofa and was just trying to get it. Can you chip in to help fix the sofa? Maybe your mom will calm down.
2006-08-25 12:08:23 · answer #8 · answered by mary_n_the_lamb 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Start crate training your dog. When you're going to be gone, put them in the kennel crate. You can get them at Walmart and they can be taken apart for easier storage. But, if you do this, you'll have to have someone to check up on the animal about every 3-4 hours, unless you have a kennel big enough to put out food, water, and have a place to go potty.
I've a friend & a next door neighbor, who has crate trained her dogs. It helps.
2006-08-25 12:09:59 · answer #9 · answered by Voice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you should do is go to your local pet shop and buy a low charge shock collar. I know it sounds mean but it always works. I even put it on to make sure that my small dog wont get hurt while teaching it not pee in teh house or act up. It really works , as mean as it sounds my vet recomended it its perfectly safe, and hey it also can teach them new trickes, not only does it tell them that they are doing somthing wrong but it rewards them. So it works both ways. After awhile, they wont need it cuz there are as sweet as sugar. Trust me if you really want your dog to stay, think about it. Hope that helps.
2006-08-25 13:04:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋