Please tell me it will be good someday (long)
- Thread starter Emma's Mommy
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tesster
Boxer Insane
Emma's Mommy said:
:D Yes, that's the selective hearing that onsets at about Emma's age. They hear nummies, but nothing else.
Tess grew up in an apartment, too, and this stage would have been really hard for us if we hadn't had the dog park. Do you have a dog park anywhere nearby? Tess needed 1 solid hour at the park every day during that stage. We nearly went nuts last winter when she didn't get as much play time in because no other dogs or owners were crazy enough to go to the park in the rain.
Things will be better soon!
Roxymyboxy
Super Boxer
Emma is an absolute doll! My heart goes out to you however because "puppyhood" just like "babyhood" seems to last forever while you are in the middle of it. Most of these behaviors she will probably outgrow. I remember following Roxy around just like one of those little "Betsy Wetsy dolls" (the dolls that drank water and it just ran out the other end)
Those first few months were difficult to say the least. But the most beautiful, loving, well behaved dog finally emerged and all my hard work paid off.
I am convinced that in a years time, you will not believe the difference in Emma. Good Luck, and keep us updated.....
Those first few months were difficult to say the least. But the most beautiful, loving, well behaved dog finally emerged and all my hard work paid off.
I am convinced that in a years time, you will not believe the difference in Emma. Good Luck, and keep us updated.....
Have you considered doggy day care? It isn't something I ever tried, but Tess had serious issues with SA and the crate. She would literally bounce so hard and persistently, that I would come home and not be able to open the back door because she bounce the crate clear across the kitchen and wedge it in the laundry behind the door. Not only that, but she managed to collapse it just far enough to get out of it, and then proceed to tear up the house. She even managed to cruise across the kitchen, pull the phone and answering machine off the counter, and squeeze it under the bottom bar on the crate. I even tried putting our 40lb dog food can on top of the crate to keep it in place - what a joke! This was just a puppy mind you, not even 30lbs.
Long story shorter... I ditched the crate and started locking her in the laundry room, which is basically an overglorified crate (4'x6'), and resigned myself to accepting a lovely hole in the back of the door and no knobs on the washer or dryer (she jumped up there, ate the knobs, and peed - every day!). I still use a pair of pliers to turn the washer on - and Tess is 10 - I just refuse to spend $60 on that one timing knob. She grew out of the destructive behavior, partly because I got Tenaia so she would have a playmate, but she also wasn't getting any reaction from me anymore - good or bad - when I got home. I guess it is kind of like kids (I have 2 of those as well) - they lose interest if no one gives attention to the bad behavior.
Now my two are allowed run of the living area of the house when I am not home. They seem to know exactly what they are 'allowed' to chew up when they are protesting being left at home. Sometimes I come home to a paperback novel completely shredded in the living room, and a couple of times I arrived to find several DVD's in the middle of the floor - boxes destroyed, but not a single mark on the actual DVD. Since I don't know which one did it, though I suspect they both share in the fun, they both get a scolding, but I have learned to roll with it and not let it piss me off. After all, they could be shredding the furniture, but they don't. A couple of days ago, it was my Victoria's Secret catalog - they must think they need some pretty panties! It really doesn't happen very often, so why get upset?
I leave the TV on for them during the day as well (sometimes the radio). It seems to have cut down the outburst frequency considerably. Perhaps you could try that - maybe it will help.
Good luck and hang in there. It will get better.
Jen, Tess and Tenaia
Long story shorter... I ditched the crate and started locking her in the laundry room, which is basically an overglorified crate (4'x6'), and resigned myself to accepting a lovely hole in the back of the door and no knobs on the washer or dryer (she jumped up there, ate the knobs, and peed - every day!). I still use a pair of pliers to turn the washer on - and Tess is 10 - I just refuse to spend $60 on that one timing knob. She grew out of the destructive behavior, partly because I got Tenaia so she would have a playmate, but she also wasn't getting any reaction from me anymore - good or bad - when I got home. I guess it is kind of like kids (I have 2 of those as well) - they lose interest if no one gives attention to the bad behavior.
Now my two are allowed run of the living area of the house when I am not home. They seem to know exactly what they are 'allowed' to chew up when they are protesting being left at home. Sometimes I come home to a paperback novel completely shredded in the living room, and a couple of times I arrived to find several DVD's in the middle of the floor - boxes destroyed, but not a single mark on the actual DVD. Since I don't know which one did it, though I suspect they both share in the fun, they both get a scolding, but I have learned to roll with it and not let it piss me off. After all, they could be shredding the furniture, but they don't. A couple of days ago, it was my Victoria's Secret catalog - they must think they need some pretty panties! It really doesn't happen very often, so why get upset?
I leave the TV on for them during the day as well (sometimes the radio). It seems to have cut down the outburst frequency considerably. Perhaps you could try that - maybe it will help.
Good luck and hang in there. It will get better.
Jen, Tess and Tenaia
Emma's Mommy
Boxer Buddy
Wow!
OK, now that I have read all of your stories, I feel like a whiny butthead. My goodness you all have gone through so much with your babies! Obviously I have it not so bad in comparision. It also shows me that there is hope that this all will work out with work and patience.
My better mood is also being helped by the fact that Emma is currently laying in my lap, looking up at me with her angelic face and licking me like a popsicle.
You all are so awesome for helping me through this (I'm sure there will be plenty more to come) and I will keep you updated with Emma's progress.
Cheers,
Angela
OK, now that I have read all of your stories, I feel like a whiny butthead. My goodness you all have gone through so much with your babies! Obviously I have it not so bad in comparision. It also shows me that there is hope that this all will work out with work and patience.
My better mood is also being helped by the fact that Emma is currently laying in my lap, looking up at me with her angelic face and licking me like a popsicle.
You all are so awesome for helping me through this (I'm sure there will be plenty more to come) and I will keep you updated with Emma's progress.
Cheers,
Angela
ILoveMyEnzo
Boxer Booster
I can't really offer any advise that hasn't already been said but I wanted to commend you on sticking with your dog. I volunteer at the humane society and it saddens me when people give up their dogs because they have too much energy or misbehave. When you buy a dog they are your responsibility and I'm just happy that there are owners out there that stick with their dogs through good times and bad!!
KMB's BabyB
Boxer Booster
We are in Oregon City and Freya is nine months tommorrow. We could meet at a dog park close by and then maybe they could visit a couple times a week if that would help with the energy. We have a small backyard but the dogs seem to run around ok in it. Post something on the boxer bash thread if you want to. I think that training will really help and I "wear" Freya around the house on occassion and it seems to help. Many dogs out grow thier submissive urinations as they grow and gain confidence. "No" is not a bad word but merely a command to redirect IF you use it as such and not as punishment. Also in situations where you are in danger(i.e pulled into traffic) a sharp"No!" and pulling her back is not a bad thing given the situation. I wouldn't reccomend it as a method of correction all the time but in that instance it would have been fine. It does sound like exersise is the key here though in conjunction to training. Good luck.
TexasTini
Super Boxer
Went through the same thing with Shadow. He had MAJOR seperation anxiety. He would eat and destroy everything in his path.
We had a "doggie psychiatrist" come in and evaluate him and we learned to leave the TV on for him. This somehow reassured him we would be back. Now the TV is on from the time we get up in the morning until the time we get home...
On the rare occassion that we forgot....he would eat spanish moss out of my silk plants to make himself throw up.
Knock on wood....Sampson doesn't seem to have these issues...
We had a "doggie psychiatrist" come in and evaluate him and we learned to leave the TV on for him. This somehow reassured him we would be back. Now the TV is on from the time we get up in the morning until the time we get home...
On the rare occassion that we forgot....he would eat spanish moss out of my silk plants to make himself throw up.
Knock on wood....Sampson doesn't seem to have these issues...
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