Couple of Dog Questions

[so lucky]

For the most part, Penny is doing fine. She is still agreeable and eager to please. I have come up with a couple of things I think I need help with.

First is that she still pulls hard, even with the prong collar. It is almost impossible to keep it high on her neck, just behind her ears, because she always has her head down, tracking something. She doesn't pull as hard with it in this manner, but I know that is not correct. I did get it to stay up high for a while, by keeping the lead just a couple of feet long, and making her stay right by my side, and not giving her enough length to get her nose to the ground. It was obviously not fun or comfortable for her, as she was still trying to pull. Is this what I need to do?

The other thing is that she is starting to whine in the middle of the night, in her crate. The first night, about a week ago, it was at 2 AM. I got up and took her out for about a minute, let her pee and then brought her in and she went back in the crate. No more whining till I got up. Night before last, she started whining at 5 AM. I just decided to get up at that time. Last night she started about 1:30. I put a pillow over my ears and didn't get up, and she kept whining for a while, off and on. I suppose she stopped, and I didn't wake back up till 5:30, waiting till she wasn't whining before letting her see me. I let her out on her tie-out without greeting her or petting her like I generally do. I didn't scold or anything negative. She didn't wait for a treat when she came back in, just went to her pillow and went to sleep. Since she has proven that she can hold her bladder all night, should I continue to ignore whining at night, hoping she will stop if not rewarded by my attention?
Thanks for your input on these issues. I am trying to keep this from being a big deal for DH, as he is still likely to find fault with the whole thing.

 

[Nyboy]

What is the time she goes out last at night ?

 

[Beekissed]

I'd ignore the whining....taking her out rewards that behavior and reinforces it. You might give her a stuffed animal or something in the crate that brings her comfort.

I wouldn't use a prong collar as it soon desensitizes the neck and causes the exact opposite of what you are wanting. My sister had a literal WALL of such things designed to keep a dog from pulling and it never worked...she and her husband both sustained some pretty serious injuries from this dog on walks, resulting in surgery. The dog had been to several different trainers, lots of money spent there...nothing helped.

I visited one day, took a simple leash and put it through the loop of the handle and placed it high up on her neck and gave a little, quick jerk on that to the side each time she started to pull me and wouldn't let her walk in front of me....always to the side...nice loose leash but not giving her any length on it(typical Cesar Milan style). Corrected the pulling in a matter of seconds and she walked calmly by my side. My sister couldn't believe it. Ever since then they don't have problems with her pulling and dragging them all over the world, though I still feel like she needs consistent, dominance training to be all the dog she can be....they give her way too much leash for my liking. I did notice the wall of implements had disappeared the last time I was at their house and just a few leashes remained.

I'd surf YT for Cesar Milan vids and see how he accomplishes the walk...amazing stuff and works very well when applied correctly. He also has great vids on crate training and helping them get used to the crate, etc.

 

[Smart Red]

I don't know the answer. Someone here will know.

I still get up to let my dog out. (That's because I am house trained.) Sometimes she just whines and I can shush her with a word or two. Usually that is when she sees shadows or thinks she sees something. But when she tries to lick my toes, hands or face, I let her out, no questions asked. That means she NEEDS to go out.

 

[so lucky]

What is the time she goes out last at night ?

About 10PM, then she goes into her kennel with a dog biscuit and a pat and a "good dog."

 

[so lucky]

I still don't think I get a signal from her that she needs to go out. I put her out on a tie-out several times during the day, and take her for a walk in the evening. She has had "accidents" in the house 4 times, none in the last 10 days. I think the last one was when DH didn't put her in the kennel when he left, while I was gone.

 

[Nyboy]

If she is going out at 10 pm she should be able to hold her urine ( unless medical reason like urinary infection ). You had the right idea putting your head under pillow when she whining, When she learns whining willn't get what she wants it will stop. The worst thing you can do is let her out, that is teaching her to whine. kind of like you don't pick up a crying baby you let it cry its self out. With the pulling you might want to work with a dog trainer, a lot of the large chain pet stores have group classes that are not expensive. Also check shelters for training classes. Personal trainers that come to your house can be very pricey, group classes are much cheaper and help in socializing dog. If possible both you and your husband should go together.

 

[Carol Dee]

I use @Beekissed method when walking husbands hunting dog. We did both go to obedience classes with Will. Funny how he still minds better for me than DH! Might have something to do with not being consistent. When Will wants to jump on him lap he says NO then when Will gets up on his lap, He lets him stay! Barking and whining get Dad out of his chair to see what he wants. I ignore it if I know he DOES NOT need out. He does not act like that when it is the 2 of us alone. When DH is homethey drive me crazy.

 

[lesa]

You might have better luck with a harness, rather than any kind of collar. Especially, if the pup is inclined to always have nose to the ground! The whining at night is a tough one... as long as no accidents in the crate- I would ignore the whining. I have a 10 year old dog that sleeps in her crate- in all those years I bet she has gone out in the middle of the night 3 times. As Nyboy says, unless there is a medical condition they should be fine all night in the crate. Good luck!

 

[so lucky]

I use @Beekissed method when walking husbands hunting dog. We did both go to obedience classes with Will. Funny how he still minds better for me than DH! Might have something to do with not being consistent. When Will wants to jump on him lap he says NO then when Will gets up on his lap, He lets him stay! Barking and whining get Dad out of his chair to see what he wants. I ignore it if I know he DOES NOT need out. He does not act like that when it is the 2 of us alone. When DH is homethey drive me crazy.

I guess they are kind of like kids that way, and know whom to pay attention to, and whom to beg.