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New baby coming - dog(s) acting up!!!
Hello, I've been reading various posts and decided to post myself to
get some help from the community - my wife is due in the next few weeks and we need serious help to get this under control. We have 2 lhasa/shitzu mix dogs (one male 4 and one female 6 - both rescued over 3 years ago.) They are housebroken, listen well to basic commands (okay he does mostly, she's stubborn at times.) The female has taken to barking/whining in the middle of the night usually about 1-3 am. She's been doing this for the last couple of weeks on and off and it's a) annoying as hell b) scares the hell out of you when the dog starts barking in the middle of the night. Just out of the blue this has started. We started crating them about 3 months ago in the hallway right outside our door since the baby will be rooming in with us for the first couple of weeks/months. We started early to get the dogs used to it and before they were in our room in their crates but they woke up every time my wife got up to use the bathroom and wanted to get out. We made it very positive and low-key when we moved them outside the bedroom with treats when they got in and then with positive praise. We have a nightlight in the hallway that they can see with. Both of the dogs were fine in the beginning especially her - she'd get in the crate and just go to sleep. I tried getting up and going out in the hall for 10-15 minutes trying to reason with her and as soon as I come back to bed she starts agian. We tried walking them at 11pm right before going to bed. We took them to the vet to see if it was a bladder problem - it's not. My wife said as long as she's getting attention she's happy and that we should just ignore her - I agree she likes attention and this is her way of getting it. To complicate matters - the male has started doing a couple of times this week. We have started to closed the bedroom door which we normally keep open but when they bark we close it and they DID NOT like that - but they eventually stopped after about 20 minutes. Can anyone shed some light on this? We really don't want to revert back to the dogs staying in our room (it's already crowded with the baby stuff as it is) or being out of the crates at night (I don't wish to be tripping over them and I don't want any "surprises" when I get up in the morning which led to the night time crating in the first place." Unfortunately we can't put her anywhere else in the house for another month because of our house guest visiting from overseas. They get plenty of attention/loving during the day (but not overboard as we read up on prior to a baby coming) I'm just at my wits end and need some help! Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Between the dogs and the baby will we ever sleep?? Also, please no "it's preparing you for a baby" comments - we've heard them all! Thanks! |
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"Georges" wrote in message om... Hello, I've been reading various posts and decided to post myself to get some help from the community - my wife is due in the next few weeks and we need serious help to get this under control. We have 2 lhasa/shitzu mix dogs (one male 4 and one female 6 - both rescued over 3 years ago.) They are housebroken, listen well to basic commands (okay he does mostly, she's stubborn at times.) The female has taken to barking/whining in the middle of the night usually about 1-3 am. She's been doing this for the last couple of weeks on and off and it's a) annoying as hell b) scares the hell out of you when the dog starts barking in the middle of the night. Just out of the blue this has started. We started crating them about 3 months ago in the hallway right outside our door since the baby will be rooming in with us for the first couple of weeks/months. We started early to get the dogs used to it and before they were in our room in their crates but they woke up every time my wife got up to use the bathroom and wanted to get out. I was going to suggest putting the crates in your room until I read this...Hmm...how long were the dogs crated in your room? Is it possible that they just needed to get used to it a while longer? Hubby and I made the concious decision *not* to remove Macula from the bedroom. Our reasoning was that she had always slept in the room with us and we didn't want her to feel that she had been ousted by the babies. Difference is, Macula has always slept in her crate. We made it very positive and low-key when we moved them outside the bedroom with treats when they got in and then with positive praise. We have a nightlight in the hallway that they can see with. Both of the dogs were fine in the beginning especially her - she'd get in the crate and just go to sleep. I tried getting up and going out in the hall for 10-15 minutes trying to reason with her and as soon as I come back to bed she starts agian. We tried walking them at 11pm right before going to bed. We took them to the vet to see if it was a bladder problem - it's not. My wife said as long as she's getting attention she's happy and that we should just ignore her - I agree she likes attention and this is her way of getting it. Your wife is at least partly right. Whatever had her start barking, she's now learned that she can get attention by doing so. You may have to work on ignoring her *while* she's barking, but if she stops go and tell her "good hush" and give her a pet. To complicate matters - the male has started doing a couple of times this week. We have started to closed the bedroom door which we normally keep open but when they bark we close it and they DID NOT like that - but they eventually stopped after about 20 minutes. Can anyone shed some light on this? We really don't want to revert back to the dogs staying in our room (it's already crowded with the baby stuff as it is) The only thing I can suggest is that you rethink this. I know it can be really crowded (we have twins rooming with us and a large dog) but for how long? If the baby is only going to be in your room for a few weeks or months, will the dogs be back in your room after that? If so, I'd worry that they would see the baby as a usurper--something that ousted them from their pack. The crowding might be worth it to ensure that the dogs develop a good relationship with the baby. or being out of the crates at night (I don't wish to be tripping over them and I don't want any "surprises" when I get up in the morning which led to the night time crating in the first place." Unfortunately we can't put her anywhere else in the house for another month because of our house guest visiting from overseas. They get plenty of attention/loving during the day (but not overboard as we read up on prior to a baby coming) I'm just at my wits end and need some help! Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Between the dogs and the baby will we ever sleep?? Also, please no "it's preparing you for a baby" comments - we've heard them all! Thanks! No snide comments, just a reflection from one exhausted new parent to another--the dogs will have *nothing* to do with the lack of sleep you get after the baby is home :-) Congratulations on your new addition, and keep us posted :-) Marie Meet Macula at http://members.rogers.com/mmcw/ |
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Marie said in rec.pets.dogs.behavior:
We really don't want to revert back to the dogs staying in our room (it's already crowded with the baby stuff as it is) The only thing I can suggest is that you rethink this. I didn't quote much, but this was a good post. -- --Matt. Rocky's a Dog. |
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