HELP!!!! Just adopted a 1-2 year-old Aussie.?

Question

I just adopted Ozzie 8 days ago, I have already started taking him to traning and he has already been to several pet stores for socialization. The frist few days we had him he was doing great, he enjoyed going in his crate and sleeping in it with the door open and gave us no problems at night going into the crate at night. THis past week he has stopped going in his crate during the evening to lay down and it is a complete struggle to get him in to go to bed. He has started nipping during play and I have several bruises, I've tried redirecting him with a chew toy, and this is not working. Although he was never housetrained, my husband and I take him out every two hours when we are home, and Ozzie never had an accident in the house, until this past weekend, he peed twice, while looking at us, and pooped in his room over night. My husband and I really want to keep him, but his behaviors are becoming worse by the day. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do????

Answer 1

Aussies are high energy dogs. If they don't get enough exercise every day they become extremely boisterous and obnoxious. They need at least an hour of hard exercise every day. And I mean at least an hour (mine needs more), and the dog should be running the entire hour. If you can't provide him with this then he may not be the dog for you.

Aussies are herding dogs, and as such they have a tendency to be somewhat wary of strangers, and also to nip. If he is already over a year old, don't worry about socialization. If he is shy you will need to do a lot of remedial work, but taking him to pet stores won't help the socialization process at this point. If he enjoys going to the pet stores then keep up with it.

Next thing, 8 days isn't even nearly long enough to know if the dog is going to fit into your lifestyle. He hasn't even relaxed enough for you to know what he's really like. If you are this impatient, you should reconsider having a dog. They take a lot of time and a lot of patience, especially Aussies.

If you decide you're willing to put enough time into this dog to keep him here is what you need to do next:

1. Crate training. Chances are the only reason he was going to the crate initially was because it seemed safe. If you didn't reinforce the behavior, and only acknowledged it by closing him in for the night chances are it doesn't seem so great anymore. Try putting him in there with a marrow bone or a stuffed frozen Kong once a day, and feed him in his crate for a few weeks. Make the crate a good place to be. Forcing him in will only make him more afraid to go there. Good things should always happen to dogs in their crates.

Also, teach him a command to go to his crate. If you use clicker training this will be a lot easier on both of you. Simply put yourself, the dog and the crate all in one room, and close the door. Every time he goes towards the crate click and treat, then build up to moving closer, putting a foot in the crate, then two feet, and on and on. If you talk to your trainer they will likely be able to help you as well.

2. If he was never house trained then he still isn't house trained. It takes most dogs 4-6 MONTHS to be fully reliable. He doesn't know how to signal to you that he needs to go out, and he doesn't know why he's supposed to go out. You should be giving him HUGE rewards when he goes outside, and if you aren't watching him he should be in his crate.

You say he pooped "in his room over night". Does this mean in his crate? or that you are putting him in a separate room at night? If it was in his crate then you have a lot more work to do, but I'm going to address it as though he was in a separate room.

Keep him in his crate at night. If you don't think he can hold it all night then use an x-pen or gate him in the bathroom. Have the crate in the x-pen or bathroom with the door off, and tie some good chew toys into the crate so he can't take them out. Put his water dish near the entrance to the crate, but leave enough room for him to come and go without stepping in it. Put a puppy pad next to the crate away from the door. This will give him a way to go if he has to.

3. Nipping during play. Nipping is a play behavior, but you have to teach him that it doesn't get him what he wants (to play). Every time his teeth make contact with you, stop playing, cross your arms in front of your chest with your hands covered, and look at the ceiling. Stand there for about a minute, or until he calms down a little. Now nipping is ineffective. If he has a hard time calming down walk into a different room and close the door. Basically, abandon him when he does it.

Redirecting won't necessarily cause him to stop since the play isn't stopped when he nips. Introducing a toy might even encourage him to nip if he likes playing with the toy. Play must stop every time his teeth make contact with your body. If you are not consistent the behavior won't change.


Most of all though, give him time. He's only been in your home for 8 days, most dogs take weeks or months to adapt to their new lives. Give him a break, and take it slow.

Answer 2

You've got a high-energy herding dog that is getting frustrated because 1) he doesn't have a job, 2) he doesn't respect you, and 3) he doesn't have a leader. In the absence of leadership, the dog will assume that role. This dog needs lots of exercise (long walks on a leash!). If that's not something you can commit to, Id' say you'd be much better off with a different breed.

Play-biting or nipping is the tell-tale sign of disrespect. If the behaviors are escalating, you may end up with a real liability on your hands. If the dog is nipping at you, it's not a matter of if, but when, he will do it to someone else because he will think it's acceptable.

Truly, I would try a new trainer. You can find a good one by going to www.dogpro.org.

Good luck!

Answer 3

First you have taken in a dog which was previously owned, many times they suffer from anxieties due to abandonment and they need time to bond to you. 8 days in not long at all, be patient and give him time.

As far as the crate, his night bed should be in your room. Dogs are pack animals and they will consider you to be part of the pack. When you need to put him into the crate, take a training treat, place it in the crate, put him in and give him positive praise.

The nipping, you have to be firm and tell him how good it is when he uses his toys instead of your arm. It's as if he is trying to get dominance over you. When he nips, take the back of his neck and pull back and say "no bite", give him the toy and keep this going until he gives up. You win, not him.

Perhaps take him out more often for a while, he also may be urinating to show it's his home. You tell him "no" & take him outside immediately when he does this. When he voids and deficates outside praise him.

Honestly, it sounds as if it's a dominance issue. If he continues speak to an animal behaviorist/trainer/vet. Just correct the negative behavior and reward all the positive.

Answer 4

It really does rely upon the canine. I've a cat pleasant greyhound and this canine used to be educated to run after small furry matters. You must take it slowly. You must get a muzzle for the canine and a kiddie /canine gate in order that at least one room can also be secured ie the cat has somewhere to go. Dog is on a leash and muzzle. Show dog to cat. I don't suggest preserving the cat! In case you have glass doors, that is even better, dog can see however are not able to get to dog. The canine should be interested however not staring. If the dog begins barking or pulling, stay no and put dog into a take a seat function. If this occurs, you will have a protracted avenue ahead! It is going to just be a topic of repeating and repeating unless the dog neither barks or pulls. Cats can regularly defend themselves if they have got someplace dependable to run to or climb. Recall reward every much constructive behavior from the canine. Terrible behaviour a "no" command and put the canine into take a seat function. I'd by no means leave the canine and cat on my own within the identical room, similar to i do not leave my canine on my own with youngsters- as a lot as he is calm and loves kids. Better riskless than sorry.

Answer 5

Please, please, do not listen to the "rub his nose in it" advice!! Dear god, the last thing you need is an incredibly intelligent dog resenting you.
It sounds like he had some training before he came to you, the thing with Aussies is that they are in constant need of intellectual stimulation, and you always need to be one step ahead of them. Basically, if they think you'll give an inch, they'll take a foot.
What this means is that there may not be a clear establishment of every member of your family's dominance over him. The easiest way to correct these issues is with tons and tons of training (not just house training, but even things like making him work for his dinner and going on constant walks will help.) Always make sure he's paying attention to you when you're on walks, don't let him follow his nose, the walks are about you, and he's invited to come.
Once you establish a positive dominance, the dog will respect you and your "rules"
My aussie used to be a handful and it took a long time to bring him to heel, he's the best dog i've ever owned now :)
Don't give up untill you absolutely have to, it's so rewarding!

Answer 6

Herd dogs are not for everyone. If he has growled at you or plays and gets aggressive you need to establish your dominance in a way he understands. If you are afraid of getting bit get a muzzle then when you are playing with him and he gets agressive, growls even while playing you need to get on top of him with your body and hold him down. He will squirm do not let him up until he totally gives up and sighs and melts into the ground. You may have to do this more than once but it is the only way a lot of dogs will understand you are their Alpha. It may take 10 minutes but I had one dog take 45 minutes, that was a long time but I only had to do it once for that dog, ever. My Blue Heeler will give up now as soon as I lie on him he will not even try to get me off, and he is very obedient and tests me very little if ever. House training be consistant, herd dogs are clean by nature but need structure. Never yell at him just say no firmly and take him and the soiled towels out and put in the yard where you want him to go. NEVER leave dirty towels in the garbage in the house, he will smell them and not get the message as quickly. With obedience training he will accept the crate. If he is your only dog he will need alot of attention, sometimes it's easier and better for them to have a friend, dogs are pack animals. Good Luck! He sounds pretty normal to me, just needs some training and time to grow up.

Answer 7

Walk him for at least and hour and a half. I have one and he is very high maintenance. Also give him a bone or something to occupy him while he is in his crate. Mine is also between 1 and 2 and i just got him about 2 months ago! What a coincidence!

Answer 8

It sounds like you went from being the boss to Ozzie being the boss. check out Cesar Millan his books did wonders on both my dogs. I have a healer and a lab both very active in different way and now act like lazy dogs in the house. To them it is a privilage and a time to relax when they are in the house not tear it apart. Good Luck

Answer 9

Well it depends ur dog might b missin his bro & sis and feelin lonley or he mite av a bladder problem my dog did da same he just felt lonley play with him when u take him out for al walk like for a game of footy fetch a ball

Answer 10

Did you try rubbing his nose in it. You have to train him to know that every time he messes on your floor you will rub his nose in it . Sounds like he knows your weakness, be stern and let him know you will not tolerate his behavior. Give him better commands, maybe he's not sure what you 're wanting.
Dogs are like people, sometimes you get to relax and he following you.