Archive through April 18, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: 2003 April: Dogs (ARCHIVES): Archive through April 18, 2003

Ddr1135

Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 04:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Damn, he does look comfortable! I'm going try that position right now.

Tagurit

Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 04:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
HELP!! Ok, now that I have your attention. lol (I have been a lurker for forever and finally coming out of lurkdom!) I really need some advice! We have two cats and two dogs. The cats are 7 and 4 years old and the pups (brother (Jake)and sister (Jessie)) are 8 months old. The pups are all american mutt - lol - part lab, part hound, and some people claim to see Bull Mastiff in Jake (I don't see it). We have had the pups since they were 5 weeks old. They act like it is the first time they see the cats. The poor cats can barely go from one room to the next without them running after them! The dogs aren't going to do them harm, they just want to play but a bit to rough for the cats.

We have tried everything to get them to calm down and get along and I am about at my wits end (as is dh). It is so bad that the pups have to spend the night in the garage (sounds worse than it really is as they are spoiled!) because they would spend the night stalking the cats. It is becoming like we have during the day animals - the pups and night time animals - the cats.

Do I just have to be patient until the pups calm down (they tend to be a bit hyper) or do we just deal with the fact that the 4 will never be in the same room together for the rest of their lives?!?!?

Moondance

Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 04:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Have you tried the can with pennies(coins)... water spray bottles? I am not a dog expert but I know these techniques do help with behavior problems.... I hope things get better!:)

Squaredsc

Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 04:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
tagurit, welcome out of lurkedome (is that a word?) personally i would say let the animals work it out themselves. now i have a dog and a cat, my angel (dog) was 3 in december. we got ms. kitti around october, she's a stray that my youngest ds brought home. i think she's about 1. now angel is very skittish around other animals and it takes awhile for him to get used to them but they chase each other and play and etc. but when ms. kitti doesn't want to be bothered she lets angel know and he takes the hint.

the thing is, i think, is that your dogs have lots of puppy energy and your cats are a bit older and more settled. are the cats declawed? again i would say let them work it out and they will eventually get along and know the boundries. with dogs i would say they need to work out the pack order but don't know if that works with cats. oh i also had a rottie from 8wks and angel was 1 1/2 and they also eventually got along.

Squaredsc

Wednesday, April 09, 2003 - 04:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
oh also when my rottie was growing and angel and she would play around and i thought they weren't getting along, just rough playing, i asked my vet and he said if they weren't drawing blood then leave them alone.

Tagurit

Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 06:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks square! I think I have started to resign myself to the fact that I have to wait for "puppyhood" to be over. Unfortunately from all I have been reading, labs don't settle until they are 2 or so. I have been leaving them alone and letting them do what they want. I figure one will hiss or bark if something happens. lol

Moondance, thanks for the suggestions too. Unfortunately labs also LOVE water! The water bottle would never work. They would think I was playing. lol

Moondance

Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 07:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL I guess that wouldn't work!

Spitfire

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:30 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Turner.jpeg

This is my girl Turner.

Lucy

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:50 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh Spitfire, she's a beauty!!

Juju2bigdog

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:03 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Turner looks cool. I mean cold. I mean cool, really cool. Yeah, cool.

Kstme

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 03:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Spitfire...what a beautiful puppy!!

Tagurit...I think the others are right. You just have to let the pups and the kitties work it out. Sometimes kitties will harrass the dogs when you aren't looking!

I found, with Oliver, slamming a book on a hard surface changed his direction of concentration. If you use a squirt bottle and the pups like it...THAT'S GOOD!! Ollie will give up any cat, any day, for a lick from a squirt bottle!

ps...I used the book to end his "barking just to be barking" trick. It only took three slams! I can now talk on the phone without being seranaded in the background! He was getting so bad, it was driving us all nuts! He'd gotten to a point where he'd sit in front of me and just bark! Sussex Spaniels don't stand when they bark and their whole body literally whomps off the floor! It's hysterical to watch for a VERY SHORT time!

Dahli

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 05:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This is quite a coinkidink Tagurit... we are at our wits end here with our two 'pups' and are looking for advice too.
We have two 1 yr old male whippets, litter mates and are the sweetest pups you'd ever want to meet, but when they fight it is truly frightening.
I'm not talking about the rough and tumble of dogs when they play fight but truly vicious scary bloody fights. There are at least a couple of times a week where I am terrified at the intensity and potential damage to not only the dogs and us but house and home. Pictures fly off the walls doorknobs leave holes in walls and glass tables and mirror doors are at great risk of shattering. We are unable to control them and stop it - the noise they make is deafening and only when they are exhausted and totally soaked with each others saliva does it slow enough for us to pull them apart. I've been told this breed has some (bull) terrier in it and that is where the vicousness comes from but it is to the point we are considering getting rid of them or at least one - since it's so very terrifying. We have already spent over$500 patching one of them up since their skin is like parchment paper and wounds split so far very fast. If anyone has any suggestions, we'd love to hear them.
thanks!

Kstme

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 07:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Dahil...have they both been neutered? If not, do it NOW!

Some breeds of dogs do not exist well together if they are males. Even if they are litter mates! Even if they have been fixed! Because they have begun the vicious fighting, you "may" need to get rid of one. Have you talked to your vet about this? Has she/he given you any ideas?

Have you considered a trainer? As much as I am a dog lover, you have to consider your family first!

Dahli

Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Kstme! thank you so much for your reply! I forgot to mention, yes they have been neutered - we did that last October, we have talked about getting rid of one, but it's like that movie Sophie's choice!! how do you choose one of your 'kids'!?? Yikes!
our vet is the one who tells us it's the 'breed' and both our boys went through obedience training and Max was awarded top honours!! We just feel so upset about all this and can't figure out what to do. Whatever it is I can see it won't be easy.

Tagurit

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 04:35 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Dahli, I can relate. My pups are litter mates too and yes they do get along but Jessie is just terrible. We too have thought of giving her up to another home but feel terrible about doing so. We really think she would be great in a one dog family but we feel like we failed some how if we gave her up. I caught her the other night being extremely nasty to Jake (and he is bigger) and didn't like it at all. She has to be the center of attention, has to have all the rawhide, has to be petted first, has to...well you get the picture. :) Maybe we can help each other get through this with minimal amounts of gray hair. lol

Kstme

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 06:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Dahil, it comes down to dogs are "pack" animals. Their whole life revolves around "their" need to survive. Even in domesticated dogs, there is still a wildness that will prevail. If you look at any family with dogs there is an "order" to which those dogs share their space with the human.

In a breed with "dominate" males, even if they have been fixed, it becomes increasingly hard for one of the males to be the "alpha" dog. Also, once a dog has fought viciously for a time, it will become "instinct" for his survival...in his mind and the fighting "could" end up neverending.

Don't EVER feel YOU failed!! Your breeder should have known this about Whippets and should have NEVER sold you two males! IF you have to get rid of one because this can't be resolved, don't blame yourself!!!! If it were me AND I KNOW how hard the decision is to make, I would look for a good home for one of them. A home without other pets!

You have to think of them. They are picking up your anxiety over their behavior which for some very odd reason, in a doggy's mind, will cause them to fight too. I don't have a clue as to why this happens!

Sorry for the ramble...still working on first cup of coffee. It's still your decision. I know it's hard, either way.

Theowl

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 06:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Dahil and Tagurit, I really feel for you!! I don't know how in the world I could give one up. Please be strong and do what is best for you and your family. Also, listen to Kstme!! She is the "Moondance" for dogs!!

Julieboo

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 06:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I agree w/ktsme about the 2 dogs.

Tagurit, can you set up a gate somewhere, so the kitties can get away from the dogs when they've had enough? Or maybe one of those cat towers? We have a gate at the top of our stairs (we have a 2 story house. So if the kitties want to escape either our overly affectionate son or the dog, they have access to "safety." If you don't have a 2 story house, you should be able to accomplish the same idea with a gate in a hallway...

Grooch

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tagurit, I would suggest seeking out a trainer and maybe crate training would help (for when you are out of the house.)

I would also look on the internet for a local whippet club and contact them for advice.

Also, I belong to a pug board and they are invaluable to me for when I have pug problems. (lord knows they have so many.) Hopefully you can find a similiar board on the internet and the can help you.

Also, try contacting a whippet rescue group in your area. I am sure they will be more than willing to help you and they must have expeience with this.

Grooch

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:16 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here are some links, I hope they help.

http://whippetlovers.com/

http://directory.google.com/Top/Recreation/Pets/Dogs/Breeds/Hound_Group/Whippet/

http://www.breedclub.org/whiprescue1.htm

Tagurit

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I love this place because you get such great advice!

It is hard about the thought of giving one up because I am so torn. We have had these two since they were 5 weeks old. I keep thinking that if I just give it time she will get much better. I feel that sometimes it is my fault because I don't feel like I bonded to her like I have with Jake. She and I were at odds the second day she was home. Then I wonder if we are doing her a diservice by keeping her when she really deserves a one dog house.

I accept the fact than one always has to dominate the other and be center of attention but I get really annoyed when she gets in the middle of my son and I playing. If I pet her and then tell her to lie down while giving her a bone or something, she then goes and does something destructive or goes and bothers Jake. She has ruined a couch and chair. And, if we don't bring them in right away while outside, she goes and digs holes! My dh tells everyone he is on his way to an 18 hole golf course. :) It isn't like she doesn't get spoiled or attention! Right now I am just at the "hope she gets better with time" attitude and go with the flow.:)

Julieboo, we definitely have an area just for the cats. We have a one story house but their domain is our bedroom. I even installed a cat door into our bathroom door so they can go in there if it is really horrible.

Tagurit

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:23 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Grooch, just saw your posts. Thanks for your advice too. We have done the crate training. I believe the biggest problem is Jessie is just stubborn and thick headed. Kind of like her owner. :)

Grooch

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tagurit, there is a book that I think will help you. I will have to see if I can find my overdue library book notice to find the name of it.

Grooch

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 07:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Also, how much exercise is she getting? If you take her out once a day and really tire her out, that might help a lot.

Grooch

Friday, April 18, 2003 - 08:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here is the book and it was written by a behavioral vet, Nicholas Dodman, called The Dog Who Loved Too Much.

He covers different kinds of aggression, gives a number of suggestions, tells stories and has good chapter summaries. He also suggests some medications to use on a short term basis to help the behavioral suggestions take better.

There was a very good chapter on alpha dominance. Which will help you understand her behavior better. Maybe reading this and seeing a dog behaviorist instead of a dog trainer will help.

Good luck!