runaway dog

[homerbart]

Well I am just back from the vets with the dog. Last week I paid �26 for his booster and �26 this week for Kennel Cough not forgetting the grooming which set me back �25.

I dont even spend that amount of money on myself and I really dont begrudge the dog except when I was down at a friends on Saturday - I just threw him (with no lead) into the car as he is always wanting to go with and I accidentally left the car door open and he ran out and ran down right to the bottom of the street then he came back up passing me with a force and only I captured him in a women's garden.

With not being well and in a lot of pain I am not really able for all that and it makes me depressed that he still wont come back - (he is 4 and half years) he only comes back when I am in the park.

But that incident in the street makes me wonder about it all. If I was older I definitely could not keep up with that carryon.

Anyway you have to get this kennel cough up your nose and it took 3 x 20st people to hold him down. He is only a little terrier. (crossbreed) When I came out to pay the young receptionist about 20stone - she was still out of breath with holding him down. I was really afraid in case he bit one of them - he fought them so hard. To tell you the truth I dont think they got the FULL drops in his nose cos some of it spilt on the table.

He wearies me so much especially since I am so good to him but it does not mean anything to him - I know he would settle with somebody else who was far more active than me so when I come back from my holidays I will be looking for somebody more younger and active to take him. He needs tremendous exercise.


Anybody out there to console me - thanks

[wolf63]

You probably love him too much and as a result spoil him. Remember that he is a pack animal and you are supposed to be the leader of the pack and he is supposed to look up to you. Alas it looks like that he is in charge.

I don't know much about terriers but it is possible that he is the wrong breed for you - maybe too strong minded and stubborn.

Some of the more knowledgeable AB posters may be able to give you links to sites where you can find out about retraining - for both of you. You obviously love him loads and care about him - try sticking it out.

Dogs are supposed to be good companions and he may yet be one.

Good luck.

[homerbart]

thanks for that wolf63 - you are right he is a great wee companion - snuggling up to you at night - giving you funny looks - wagging his tail when he is really happy - all the doggy things but I guess I am having a bad day with him today. Another thing you said is probably correct is that with him being a terrier - he is unbelievably stubborn and strong-minded and I got him from a rescue home and never had a dog before so knew nothing about dogs. Anyway - he will go to the back door for a wee - when you open the door - he backs into the kitchen - then he goes out when it suits him. He would drive you mad. I read all the business of having a dog and I know you need to be the leader of the pack which obviously I am not - only sometimes - when it comes to feeding. A nice timid obedient dog would have suited me better but I guess I am stuck. I am even surprised he has lasted so long with me with the running away he does - heads into traffic - misses oncoming cars - lost in a park for 5 hours. I found him in the next area from the park. Anyway sorry for ranting. bye for now

[paddywak]

I wouldn't worry too much about his reaction to the kennel every time that Max has his it's a major job but Margaret the vet tells me not to worry as she can count on the fingers of one hand dogs that dont object to it,

[homerbart]

thanks for that paddywak. I was talking to a friend of mine (doggy person) last night and she said the fact that the vet asked me to hold him down along with the other workers was not right. She said if she had have been a good vet there was a way of doing it. I knew inside myself that this was all wrong cos I think my being there with him upset him too.
Are there vets out there who just take the dog to the surgery room and deal with him from beginning to the end. We have loads of vets surgeries here in Belfast but wouldn't know which was which. Next year I will have to ring vets and ask some questions as to how they operate. The whole thing really upset me and as my friend says the dog was upset too.

We are friends today. Thanks - bye for now.

[leelapops]

hello homerbart, hope you are feeling less down today.
I am sad for you having to feel this way about your dog, and I do know what you mean. Sometimes it isn't fun nd games at all is it! My Collie was such hard work for such a long time, and even now there are some situations he just can't be in.

wolf is so right, it sounds as if you love him very much, and it is worth sticking it out, if you feel strong enough.
Try to do some fun training with him in short bursts, using lots of treats and praise. If you have to, use an extendable lead while he gets used to coming back to you in all situations every time.

I think that he needs to know he must respect you. So little things like not letting him dash ahead of you through doors (I don't mean to patronise, it might be stuff you do already, it's just that it was stuff we didn't know about initially, and with Jack being our first dog, we have had to learn such a lot!).
I know terriers can seem inexhaustible (is that a word?!), but mental exercise should tire him too, so it doesn't always have to be physical exercise. Maybe those dog puzzles by Nina Ottoson (I think) available at www.surreypetsupplies.com, or a treat ball that he has to spend time figuring out in order to get a reward.

I am sorry to go on, but I would be so sad to see a good, loving owner have to give up a cared-for dog, when so many dogs don't have a good home. x

[paddywak]

Keep at it homerbart, Max a GSD is very strong willed and as a puppy he was hard work. luckily we had always had GSD's in the family so we knew what to expect and always had plenty of help , now at six he is great and has repayed the hard work and frustration a thousandfold. In regards to the kennel cough vaccine its only ever been Max, me and the vet but he really hates it and does his best to be as difficult as possible

[Jillius]

homerbart, it could have been me writing this. I have a terrier who has been hellish from the day we got him 12 years ago !!!!!! He is as good as gold for hubby, but hubby works away all week so he only sees the best of him. It's a constant battle from the moment I wake up till the minute I go to bed. Our dog is very aggresive towards men. He hates them (although once he knows them he is like a little teddy bear). Taking him to the vet is horrendous and he has to have a general anaesthetic just for his jabs ! To top it all off, he has now developed the most irritating habit of making champing noises with his mouth when he isn't even eating. Sometimes I feel as though I will crack up, but then i look at his cute little face and feel guilty.

[leelapops]

Oh Jillius :( What a shame, and I know just what you mean about feeling guilty. And for him to be 12 now means you must have felt this way for a while!

Do you think there's any chance you can change things now?x

[homerbart]

Hi everybody - thanks for all your answers. Somebody mentioned about toys to challenge him mentally. I know none of you will believe this but Harvey is absolutely excellent with the big ball. He can roll it around the yard with his nose. He heads it back to you consistently sometimes on a count of 5. With having garden furniture in the year - he can get it out from where it is wedged. In fact the ball is a most powerful tool to him whereby if he has gotten out on the street it is the ball he comes back for. I bring him to the park and if we hit lucky he chases the birds - he loves that. He is an extremely fit wee dog. Only I am not able to do this all the time he and I did about 2 years walked 9 miles. 4 and half to my sisters home and back to mine. He needs loads of exercise. Now that the good weather is coming in I will get him out maybe twice a day. He so funny - as I am typing this - he came out of the bedroom - looked at me typing - went on into his bed. My friends adore him cos he does have a funny personality.

Last Sunday I had friends in for lunch - he came in from yard with the broom of the brush in his mouth and trailed into the living room and we all laughed so he is a bit of a character. One of the other friends wants me to film him (which I could not be bothered) and send to "you have been framed".

Walking through a park - if he is off the lead - he runs right into a football match and takes off with the ball. Of course he is put on the lead right away. - Hope you find him funny. Shall I give him up? bye for now

[ruthann58]

no dont give him up you just need some help there are lots of people on here who i am sure will be able to give you lots of good advice you can exercise him in the garden sit in a chair you can throw his ball for him to fetch. we have a stairgate so that our dogs can not get to the front door so they cant dash out when someone forgets to close the middle door

[Jillius]

Try not to give up on him, you sound as though you are doing a great job. My dog was ill treated before I got him and he has never forgotten why he hates men, though I wish I knew what had happened to him. He is so gorgeous to look at, like a fluffy teddy bear and his personality is great. When we have a fire on a night he drags his bed out of the kitchen and puts it in front of the fire where it's cosy.
I can't see his behaviour really getting any better now. Hubby says it's just the way he is !

[Cheekyteddy]

Hi Homebart

Just a suggestion but you really need to become this dogs pack leader - the best way to do this in my experience is with food. Hand feed him every morsel he gets - if it does not come from your hand he does not get it. Also someone else touched on this - when you go out make sure you always leave the house first - dogs go out in packs always led by the alpha male and female. If you play with him always win and end the game by putting away the toy and do not make excuses to him - just put it out of the way where he cannot find it. You start and finish the game.

It would be worth talking to your vet - they may know someone who could give you some advice. A dog that will not return is no fun and a danger.

You obviously love him - so keep up doing your best.

Best wishes

:Louise