In need of some help!!!!?

Question

My family has a 4 1/2 year old great dane/chocolate lab mix. He has been the sweetest, most laid back, well behaved dog ever! The family we got him from raised him with rat terriers and he was great with them.

About 2 months ago we got a mini dachshund puppy as well. Now our big dog's behavior is is starting to get out of control. He growls at anyone that walks by. He takes off from our yard (he used to stay in our yard without a leash) and won't come back when we tell him to stop. When we leave the house, he darts out of the door, and we have to chase him to get him to go back inside. He even pooped in the house once!

We are trying to give him a lot of extra love, but it seems to be getting worse.

We are also having problems getting our puppy housebroken. We are reading books and trying everything!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what we should do? We are feeling like we have made a HUGE mistake, and that we have no control over our dogs.

We have had the older dog for about a year. He was with the same family for almost 4 years, and they had smaller dogs the whole time too.

Answer 1

I would recommend talking with a dog trainer in your area. You could even talk with your vet (hopefully you have one). An obedience class might even help.

Answer 2

WOW!! That is a lot to handle. A large dog feeling upset and a small dog refusing to house break. It sounds amazingly like what happens in homes when a new baby comes along!! You sound like you are doing everything right so it may be time to ask someone with the knowledge to help you through. First, talk to your vet about the dramatic change in the first dog's behavior. He may want to give the dog a physical to be sure there is nothing else wrong. Then, ask if they know any dog trainers/behavioral specialists. I know it sounds nuts...a shrink for your pets sort of thing...but I have seen it work in several homes where the dogs has decided he wanted to exercise his individuality!! If you can't find one, check out the books at a large store and find one the deals specifically with behavioral issues. My bet is first dog is upset by the new arrival, but beyond the simple fact he has to share you. Is he having to share his food and water dish, his toys, his sleeping spots?? Second pup may be having a hard time training because the house is so nuts over the behavior of the other dog...and mini dashaunds are notorius for being hard to housebreak!! Good luck, stay strong and in the end do what is best for your family..both the ones with fur and the ones without!

Answer 3

Sounds like you did. Personally i would never get two dogs. The other one is bound to feel left out in my oppinion. I'm sure there are some dogs that get along fine with other dogs or even a cat. But don't forget your dog as been the only one for 4 & 1/2 years that's about age 32 if you want to believe the dog to people age ratio. Your dog is used to things being a certain way. When all of sudden you bye a new dog you mess up his world lol. He might get used to it & everything might be ok. You can always send him to one of them dog psycologists & they can tell you what he's thinking lol. But it seems to me that your dog is is pretty pissed off & not happy about it at all. Either get rid of the new dog & i know it will be hard or see if the old one gets better over time. Next time i wouldn't wait so long to get another puppy if you want two. It might be a hell of a lot easier if they grow up together.

Answer 4

You need to get him in to some obedience classes. You also need to make a run or fenced in yard for him so he can't run away. He needs to learn to respect you and others.He is challenging authority and at this point getting away with it.
As for housetraining the Dachshund..he needs to be TAKEN out every 1 1/2 - 2 hours and when he goes praise him lavishly,if he doesn't g owithin a reasonable amount of time bring him back inside and either crate him, confine him to an area or tether him to you wait a while and try again. A puppy won't be accident free until he's at least 6 months old and with toy/small breeds that can be even longer.
Both dogs need classes and remember never to give your dogs a command that you can't enforce immediately.It only teaches your dog he can disobey if he wants to and only needs to obey if he feels like it.

Answer 5

You are having quite a problem and your left out some important information that is needed to determine a proper resolution - For example you did not state how long you have owner the big dog before you brought the little guy home. You also did not state who the bid dog is growling at - strangers that walk by or family members and the other dog?

A totally seperate issue is the hoousebreaking of the small dog - Since that is the easier issue, lets discuss that one first OK -

House breaking any dog, #1 is to get that dog an appropriate sized crate - the dog must be able to stand, turn around and lie down in the crate. A sosft dog bed or mat of some sort needs to be inside the crate and for ease of cleaning, the bottom of the crate should have a slide out drawer. Now let us start with the morning, you open the crate and take the dog outside to make potty - when you return to the house, if the dog has made her potty, then she can run free while you are preparing the dogs meal - put the dog and the meal in the crate and let the dog eat and then let her have some water - approximately 30 to 45 minutes after the meal was finished, take to dog outside to make potty again - if the dog does not finish #1 and # 2 then the dog goes back into the crate - take the dog out again every 20 minutes until # 2 has been made - Now the dog needs to be hooked to a 20 foot cotton training leash (only costs about 5 dollars at most dog retail stores) - and you literally tie this leash around your waist - this way the dog is always near you so you can keep an eye on what the dog is doing. Try to pay attention to the dog - The dog should never be allowed to roam the house freely while it is still being house-trained. When you do not have the time to pay attention to the dog, put the dog back into its crate only give the dog an interactive toy or a puzzle toy or a stuffed Kong toy.

This is the entire routine - the dog sleeps in the crate - every time you take the dog out of the crate you take the dog to the spot in the yard that you want the dog to make potty #1 and #2 - always take the dog out 30 to 45 minutes after the dog eats and or after the dog drinks - keep taking the dog out until the dog makes both # 1 and # 2 - when both have been made, then the dog can have some freedom at the end of the 20 foot cotton training lead - someone must keep an eye on what the dog is doing and try to take the dog out every 60 to 90 minutes and fifteen minutes after a considerable drink and when the dog does make outside - you have to give the dog a ton of praise and a yummy treat would be good too!

If you keep this schedule and keep taking the dog out and keep rewarding the dog every time he makes outside and keep taking him out hourly and keep him on that 20 foot lead and keep watching the dog and paying attention to his meals cause what goes in must come out - after a month or so of no accidents, then you are ready to start testing him off the leash with some freedom during the day, but still have him sleep in the crate at night for at least another month - Remeber all freedom must be earned by the dog.

Now for your second issue -

With the limited amount of imformation you have provided, I can tell you that your big dog is feeling like his territory has been invaded and now he has to compete for your attention and love and he is not happy - It also sounds like you brought this littel dog directly into your home and did not allow the dogs to meet on neutral territory.

Your dog is hurt and confused and he is not sure what to do about it - You are going to have to go back to square 1 with the large dog - out him back on a lead and involve him in everything with the little dog and provide him with a lot of treats. This dog does not feel special any more, you may think you are giving him more attention but he is resentful of this new dog so his mind has that negative feeling contaminating anything good you may be doing. I suggest that you start working at least 3 training sessions per day into this big dogs day - start with basic obedience and then move on to advanced obedience and see if there are any agility clubs or fly ball clubs in your area that you can join - this dog needs some time with his family without this new puppy - he needs to feel super special and I am sure that if you give him some alone time with the family, he will learn to not only tolerate this new dog but he may even start to play with the new dog but you cannot expect him to share his time with his family with this new dog, that is why you have to allocate a certain part of each day where the new dog is out of the picture and his behavior should improve.

Your big mistake I think was to not introduce them on neutral territory and not asking the big dog for permission if you could bring home a play mate for him. After all he was there first and he was # 1 all the time and now you brought home competition and I don't like it no matter what it is.

I hope my explanation makes some sense to you and tha my suggestions will help you and your family get both of your dogs back into a normal life, soon.

If you are still having problems after say a few weeks of trying to work this out on your own, I would suggest that you contact a canine behaviorist who can come to your home to observe your dogs.

Good Luck

Answer 6

.You have upset the establish routine. You should not give praise (love) when the dog is misbehaving as this just reinforces the bad behavior. So what I think you are doing is giving love when the dog misbehaves thinking that it will make the dog be good when just the opposite is happening. The dog misbehave because he knows that you will give him attention. You must correct the dog for the bad behavior as he is doing this because you are allowing it. You must be a firm but fair leader and if you were the leader in the dogs eyes he would not be bad but would listen to you. correct the dog when he is bad and praise him when he is good. consistency is very important and every one in the family must be consistent

Answer 7

i can;t really say much but the same thing happened to us, there could be 2 reasons.
1) the first dog is really territorial. and the other dog in ya'lls house / yard, are just kind of making it angry.
2) it is jealous that you are spending time with the new one instead of the first.

Only addvice i can say is let the try and become friends and play together. and if you feed one something off the table give it to them equally.

Answer 8

Take both dogs for a walk. At least for 20 minutes or longer daily. Make them both walk by your side or behind you; making sure you remain the "pack leader". It will work wonders on the behavior problems.

Answer 9

If you have the store PetSmart where you live, call them or go directly to the store and ask if they have a trainers that you can speak to. If you don't have a PetSmart, then try another Pet Store chain. A lot of them have trainers who will be more than happy to give you advice.

Answer 10

looks like your dogs aint gettn along
put them on a leash when your gone
or u may have to give one up
or make one inside and
out side dog
get u a dog kenal try that