[Kitchen Cottage]

Sorry, but you are so fab at this I thought I'd try you again 

Well, separating Luca (blind dog) and the others has turned out very well.  He is calmer and bonding a lot more with me.

The issue is now Yellow, the GSD like partially sighted rescue.  She is young, nervous, sweet natured and was fine with me going to work the last two weeks.  I've been home 3 days and she has developed separation anxiety.  This has manifested itself in trying to destroy my oak French doors to get out and to turning over the house to find a way out.  Casualties so far are chomping the door ( it can be prettied up a bit),  a line down the TV where she knocked it off, some crockery and odds and sods.

I can't leave her in the house when I go back to work so it's suggested I put her and my working cocker in a stable.  They are purpose built stables and robust, but frankly I am afraid of what a GSD that's over excited could do.

Thoughts on this suggestion and the situation.  Do I put my foot down and say I can't manage Yellow?  I'm not used to large dogs (I was told she was collie size, blind and older) but the rescue's only choice will be to put her in Kennels, which is an expense they are desperate to avoid. 

I think I was falsely blaming Luca for the chaos in the house, a lot of it revolves around Yellow, who you can't just put in another room

She won't go outside for more than a few minutes and consequently has way too much energy.  She has been badly beaten (and partially blinded) and cowers at the slightest admonishment...

Thoughts please xxxxx

[funkyfish]

You could short term manage by getting a vet to perscribe some Diazapam or alprazolam as anti anxiety.  Personally as a vet nurse, behaviorist and someone who has rehomed lots of dogs, it sounds like this dog needs lots of rehabilitation-1:1. You have to think of any resident pets and other fosters.

Sometimes the dynamics don't work. I'd have no problem sending her back. She needs a different set up. Kennels may suit her for a short time as she will have routine etc- just a few days. If no suitable foster or home can be found then PTS maybe kinder as being passed around will further mess up her head and exacerbate any behaviour problems.

[doganjo]

My first thought is that there is not an instant fix for Yellow.  I feel the only answer is going to be a kennel that she cannot break out of when you are out of her sight or at work.  If she has company and lots of toys to distract her that may help - these treat games can be quite useful, but they can be expensive for those that work.. 

Do you think she is worse because you have been at home?  I know you say the charity cannot help financially but surely they have access or can obtain this to a behaviourist?  I'd have thought that was the very least a dog re-homing charity should have.  I can put you in touch with a qualified dog behaviourist in the North of England if that would be helpful. He helps run a last chance dog charity.

[shygirl]

crate-training comes to mind again - but it does depend on how long you are at work for. theres a reason why rescue centres wont rehome to people who work more than a few hours a day.
i think the general consensus is not to leave a dog for more than 4 hours. i certainly wouldnt leave a dog in a crate for more than 4 hours.
a fixed routine is crucial. i wouldnt spend 24/7 with her whilst you are at home - then leave her to go to work. keep structure to your days at home so she cant follow around allday, and make a point of leaving her on her own during your home days - whether you are upstairs to popping to the shop, so she gets used to the fact that you do actually return. then keep the welcomes quiet and matter of fact rather than excited reunions.

would it be possible to leave her in a crate in your car whilst a work so you could walk her during breaks and leave her stuffed kongs and bones to keep her occupied?
when we have had to go out to a show and know we'l be out at least 12  hours - we have put the dogs in the stable as the conservatory is too warm in summer - but you have to trust it is dog proof. my gsd can jump the door if she wants too.

is she actually getting exercise? a tired dog is much happier. will she not walk on a lead?
the gsd i have now never tires and would go day or night so yours really needs to get exercise.

will she really not go outside - even with you at her side? you have to just increase the time out minute by minute. try clicker training every few steps til she gets going and stick to safe routes til she has confidence to see new things. keep a portion of her dinner for clicker training so you can do lots and lots of clicks and she has to earn her food.
are you familiar with clicker training - do you need a link to a good site?

try clicker training for tricks just to tire her mentally, and keep everything positive.
for example my terrier learnt to "leave" with clicker training and will proudly "leave" something and thinks he is so clever for "leaving" something, he doesnt see the command as negative at all.
 maybe a treadmill in the house would solve the exercise problem. how about a dog walker to visit her whilst you are at work? we have a great dog walker near here who will do house visits or whatever you require and does doggy day care.


if its any consolation - my gsd used to sit on my window sills (they are 2ft wide as its a barn conversion) if i worked outside without her, and knock down all the ornaments and flowers etc. shes outgrown it now but the new terrier is chewing the window frames instead.

you have to dog proof the house - move things that can break, and cover any chewy sections in anti-chew stuff. (we used the horse sticky anti-crib stuff) remove or protect things that can be damaged.

if you are planning on re-homing dogs on a regular basis, a good strong steel kennel/run on a concrete base would be a wise investment.

[Old Shep]

yet another fab post Shygirl - I don't have much  to add.  KC you are obviously giving Yellow more freedom than she can cope with.  She needs to be in a small safe place when you are not there.

[honeyend]

Crumbs I never leave normal dogs for long periods of time never mind rescues, I may not be in the room with them but they know where I am. They have hard unsettled lives and routine and a settled environment. I can not my head round putting a dog in a crate, or any confined space  that is already distressed on its own. Doesn't seem much of a rescue to me.

[Kitchen Cottage]

I should explain I foster old blind dogs, which is what I thought Yellow was.  That is before they go and live with old people who thought their dog owning years were over.  All my fosters have been quiet, gentle and just wanting a snuggly bed.... that is the way of the old blind dog!
 
I have an almost totally open plan house, My living room opens directly onto the open plan kitchen dinner and between the living room and hall is a double sided fireplace.  I really have NOWHERE to exclude Yellow, as Luca has the utility room now.

I honestly think she is too much for me, she wasn't what was said and she needs someone used to young big breeds.  I'm going to tell the rescue she is going back.

She doesn't have massive problems, she is loving and friendly, if someone were with her a lot she would come out of her shell, but I don't have that time.

I think I need to concentrate on Luca, Freddie and Misty.

I do like Yellow, but someone else needs to cope with her, that's all I am doing coping and not helping her

[shygirl]

ahh i just wrote a long post on crates but its disappeared.
basically a crate is a tool that is available to use not abuse. it is invaluable for some dogs but not somewhere to dump the dog. my terrier hated it so it wasn't right for him (tho it is essential for him in our car as he gets manic on car journeys) but it was very good at housetraining my other dogs and also somewhere safe to put the dog if the baby is crawling etc. it can be a safe zone for a dog in a busy household and you don't need to shut the door 24/7. its his own bedroom/den so to speak that can be enhanced with bones etc.
as with any training technique - if it doesn't work or feel right - change to something that does.

hope it works out for you.


http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/housebreaking/Crate-Expectations

http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/senior-dog/Preparing-a-Dog-that-is-Going-Blind-or-Deaf

http://www.clickertraining.com/dog-training

[doganjo]

I agree with that assessment of crates/cages/indoor kennels, shygirl although i don 't agree with Cesar Milan's methods. 

My dogs all use the open metal cage as a 'laying down' place during the day if they want to - I also have a plastic dog bed alongside it and they swap over.  They also follow me all over the house - "whither thou goes .............."  etc    I also have two fabric ones that are used in the car or at shows   so that they feel relaxed and comfortable in therm own space..  So Honeyend, it is in no way cruel or treating them like zoo animals as I have been told on occasion.

[shygirl]

crates are a good hundred pounds to buy but they survive for ages, i used them for collecting piglets/hens etc from markets and now they are really handy hayracks for our goats! if you buy quality ones they will last forever.
a handy investment.

[doganjo]

No they aren't these days - I have two lightweight aluminium ones that cost £40 or less, (now about 6  or 7 years old - also used to transport my ducks down here - 150 miles of quacking was the hardest part  ) the canvas one I just bought was under £30 (for Crufts)

[shygirl]

thats good - ok my dog is 11years old now so maybe they arent a hundred pounds now - tho it was when she was a puppy...lol. 

[doganjo]

In 2005 I bought a second hand Great Dane sized metal cage for £100 - half the new cost. Until I forgot to close the door one night and the fox took my ducks it was their night time run , attached to a wooden dog shed.  It's been outside since 2002 I believe and is only now showing signs of rust. More or less redundant at the moment though as I'm using teh old hen run and shed fro my new ducks - and they have just been let out onto my half acre paddock with the burn running through it.  Just off to watch them now.

[honeyend]

I have no objection to a dog being trained to see a crate/ confined space is their area and place of safety, this is usually done as a pup where they have their toys, food and blanket. Its very different to put a dog that is distressed and need of security,companionship and a pack leader in confinement and leave it for long periods of time. I have had dogs from rescue kennels, I also had small children, and worked part-time in theory the road to disaster but the dogs always went every where with me or were left at home with my husband until they knew the house  and car were their home and could be left for longer periods. I now only rehome from private individuals as I think some of the kennels are rehoming dogs that have multiple problems and are too complex for most people to cope with. As I write I have my rehomed Rotti x sat at my feet who is a joy, I got her as a 7month old puppy last summer, she has never, chewed, messed or barked but I dread to think what an intelligent young dog would have been like if left alone for hours on end. I have never had a Rottweiler before but from what I have read they and GSD are some of the most intelligent dogs and mine certainly is, my lurcher is an idle thicky in comparison.
   

[Old Shep]

Hoenyend  - people underestimate the amount of sleep a dog needs - around 17 hours per day - in keeping with predators in general.  In order to get this amount of sleep they need a safe place where they don't have to keep one eye open in case danger comes. A crate in a corner, covered can give them this security.  Of course you wouldn't leave them in it all day, but overnight  and for 2-3 hours at a time is fine.


Most of my fosters have lived in a heated stable with a run attached.  You would think they would like to be outside in the run - but no nearly all of them have preferred the stable door to be shut so they are safe inside.   Dogs don't think like us.