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New baby coming - dog(s) acting up!!!



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 27th 03, 07:50 PM
Georges
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Default 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!
  #2  
Old July 28th 03, 11:03 PM
Marie
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Posts: n/a
Default


"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/


  #3  
Old July 29th 03, 05:59 AM
Rocky
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Posts: n/a
Default

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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