Obedience classes for my dog

Stephb1986_2

Hi everyone,

I think I need some obedience classes for my dog she can't be left for too long in the house on her own out of her cage, last weekend she ripped up my OH dad's duvet and duvet cover, she has ripped up her own bedding so now it looks like she's covered in snow she's just naughty.

We do take her on a 3-5 mile walk everyday so she does get exercise. She is a border collie x with a whippet. I am near Manchester can anyone recommend a dog trainer?

Many thanks

Steph xx

MrsTinks

Seperation anxiety has nothing to do with obedience... And unless you know for certain that she's not anxious then you're on the wrong track with "she's naughty"...
My dog demolished walls, beds, skirting boards, shoes - but to name a few things - when left alone initially because she didn't know how to handle being abandoned.... you can't tell a dog that "you'll be back in 3 hours"...

It took nearly a year before I could get rid of her crate without her demolishing the house and even now she's limited to the hallway if we're out.
3-5 miles a day... how long does it take you? You should be aiming for 45 mins to an hour for your main walk with a dog like that - plus about 15 mins in the morning and 15 mins either at lunch or evening depending on when you do your long walk.

sarabe

She needs to run, not walk. Apologies if that is what you meant by a walk.

She also needs to be going out for a run a minimum of three times a day.

A trainer may help you to give you some ideas of how to keep her mentally stimulated.

Try here. http://www.apdt.co.uk/local_dog_trainers.asp

If she is anxious at being left then you need help with that.

If she is just bored and has too much energy then upping the exercise and the mental stimulation should see you with a dog that sleeps when you go out.

One thing that you should consider is that if you play with your dog in the house she will just find something to play with in your absence.

Indoors should be for chilling and relaxing only and all active games should take place outside.

Stephb1986_2

She goes for a run I let her off the lead in the park and throw a ball for her she really enjoys it. Even when I'm in the house if I'm in a different room she will find something to destroy, She gets walked in the morning for half an hour then she has a big walk/run in the park thats 2-3 hours and then in the evening another half an hour walk.

She does get plenty of exercise I think it might just be bordem but she doesn't like to play with teddies or anything. At night I've been throwing snowballs for her in the back garden she chases after them but doesn't realise they dissapear when they hit the floor I think she likes it.

When I go out she gets shut in her cage she doesn't mind at all she doesn't cry or anything. She sits in the cage when I'm in with the door open so I don't think she minds us going out we're never out for that long either.

Raksha

Have you ever thought about videoing her while you are out? This can often give big clues about the reason for a dogs behaviour. A stressed dog will often show signs other than destroying things - they will pace, whine, wait at the door. A dog who enjoys being free of restrictions will go looking for 'fun'........

foreign_correspondent

How old is she? I am just asking as my mum has a lurcher, probably collie x sighthound, and she was a !!!!!! for chewing anything she could find between 1 year old and about 18 months - we worked hard on making sure everything chewable was out of sight, keeping her well stimulated and exercised, and offering her suitable alternatives to chew on.

She is now pretty good almost all of the time, but, she hasnt been out much this week, as my mum has the flu, and has reverted to finding things to keep her entertained! I am off round there later to take her out...!

Stephb1986_2

She is 11 months old at the moment we're going to have her spayed in the next few weeks hopefully that might calm her down but I doubt it as it never did with my labrador.

I have emailed a dog trainer in my area so hopefully he can do something with her.

She has chewed so far,

Leather sofa, massive theasauras (sp), socks, tea towels, Duvet and cover, Paper (she even climbs on the dining room table and picks stuff off that she fancies chewing, her own bed!

Steph xx

foreign_correspondent

Ah, its a normal stage of puppyhood - havng said that it can become habitual so you should be working on training her out of it - my mum found an nformation sheet from the dogs trust helpful, but I cannot find it on their website right now - I will have another look later for you.

Stephb1986_2

Thanks FC, I'm pulling my hair out with her I think that traning classes would be a really good option for her. She might need more mental stimulation but how do you do that?

Steph xx

foreign_correspondent

mental stimulation can be anything from training (training her to lie, go to her bed, sit, stay, do tricks, clicker training, whatever) to playing games (hiding treats for her to sniff for and find etc) to giving her toys that take a bit of working out to get rewards - eg. stuffed kongs, food balls, tug-a-jug etc...

I think ten minutes mental activity is as tiring for a dog as an hours physical activity.

You also need to be finding a nice selection of interesting things for her to chew - dog chewy toys, raw meaty bones etc and directing her chewing interest away from household items and onto these!

Its also useful to teach the dog to 'give' or 'drop' items she has - you can practice this by getting her to swap a ball or toy for a food reward, or to drop a ball then get a game etc...