jemappelle

Mine get fed usually between 4-5 pm and then shut in for the night between 9-10 pm.

Thanks everyone. I'm just not sure what to make of this dog! I've had a lot of rescues over the years and have never had anything like this and I am starting to think I'm not up to the challenge. When I walk out the door, he is jumping all over my legs and so excited to see me, so I keep walking to a chair and sit down. Then I can't get him to come anywhere near me - he just lays down a few feet away and looks calm! He may come over for a little bit of cheese a couple of times and that's it. He sleeps inside in a crate, goes in without any problems, quiet all night, goes out in the mornings without any problems. Today I couldn't even get him to play but yesterday he played a lot and was doing zoomies several times. No zoomies today though. Hopefully a bit more time will help.

I'm having trouble engaging/motivating Ash. Today I thought I would try the clicker training 'touch' in the video posted by MrsRB. The first 3 times it was ok (he's hesitant and very dainty taking the treat), then he moved away and I couldn't entice him back. So I got the Cav out and she already knows the trick so was straight on to it, full of Cav enthusiasm. lol However, she isn't used to the clicker but wasn't bothered by it all. We kept this up for about 15 click/treats. Still couldn't get Ash to come over. Even with his favourite toy today he only ran after it twice (before the touch training). All tips appreciated! HALP!

Cars can be transported interstate so it may be worth Googling that to see if one of those companies could help.

My first cattle dog was very clumsy. She did eventually grow out of it but not until she had knocked my feet out from under me twice! lol

Thanks RuralPug. I've also started throwing his toys on the grass for him to chase so he gets used to it more.

I'm happy for him to pee on the clothesline upright and the plastic chair on the grass but he doesn't like walking on the grass much!

I am having trouble getting him to wee on the grass. It seems the barbecue and house are good objects. And he seems to be able to hang on forever. Today it is a bit wet, which didn't help. If I ever see him do it on the grass when we are outside he gets lots of praise but I don't see it very often. The Cav is peeing every time I walk them onto the grass and I say 'hurry up' but he just stands and looks at me. I'm surprised he doesn't want to pee over hers. There is no sniffing, he just goes up to an object and pees on it and it's a long stream so not just marking.

Yesterday we spent a bit of time playing with a stuffed toy. He finally got into it, with a bit of help from the Cav, and it was lovely to see him running around and obviously happy.

Thanks everyone for the links. I have some reading to do today! Yesterday I tried to teach him to sit but I realised quickly that it wasn't going to work so I switched to 'look' (look at me). He picked it up very quickly but when he'd had enough he turned away from me (seemed to shut down, maybe it was too long for him or he'd had enough treats). Now he comes up to me and looks at me all the time, which is great. We also went for a 20 minute walk and he was very good for a dog that isn't lead trained. He trotted along beside me with his tail up most of the time. He got a fright when a car went past but I kept going so he pulled back into line and got praise for that. Last night when I fed him I stood near the bowl and he came straight over and ate it all. The cats are much more relaxed too. Yesterday one was asleep on the trampoline bed with the Cav so he went over and had a look and then moved on to another bed. The day before that the cats spent much of the day perched up on high objects! He is so much calmer than when he first arrived. I can go in and out of the house with no crying, jumping up on me or mouthing my legs.

Thanks Rural Pug, yes some of it is behaviour from his old home. The poor cats are very wary and are tip toeing around (well not the old girl, she is boss and knows it) but he isn't seeking them out to harass them or anything. And I have started off as I mean to go on but am finding him quite a bit different than what I expected. He learnt straight away that jumping up on me and mouthing my legs received no attention but sitting quietly next to me earned lots. Sorry for all my rambling but it is helping me to sort out what I need to do. I have just realised how rusty I am, having had the same two dogs for many years.

I'm on the K9 Pro page now, doing some reading. I was using a PP40 (airline type crate) as that was what the breeder has used for him on the occasions he has been crated. But I couldn't see him in it so I got a wire crate which was delivered yesterday. I can now see that he is very relaxed in it and he can see out more, of course. He runs inside (when instructed) and I say 'bed' and he is straight in. He's not even sure what praise is, poor fellow, he looks at me confused. So today I will work on trying to get him to sit and learn what praise is. He got out the other day, when I was putting the bin out. He ran off down the road, pooped on someone's lawn and then came running back to me, when called, so he has bonded to me! I never thought he would be game enough to run out - lesson learned by me! lol And I got to meet two more neighbours who came out when they heard the crazy lady, in her daggy old clothes, calling out. lol

Luckily the dog didn't see me get the biscuit because he had scuttled off down the side of the house. He is so jumpy that when I put his food bowl down he jumps backwards, edges forwards, repeat! I move away but keep an eye out to make sure the other dog doesn't come over. I think I need to work on his self confidence but not sure how to do that. And I think it will take some time!

I need some help with a toy Poodle I've only had since Sunday. He is a retired stud dog and only recently desexed. He has come from a house without cats and chickens but is fine with mine, so far. The second night he was here he barked at the inside cat to get away from his crate when he was inside it and she got such a fright that she has stayed away. Today I gave him a biscuit which he took over to a bed outside and one of the cats walked past, showed no interest in his food or even looked at him and he barked and snapped in her direction. She scuttled away and I was so surprised I went uhuh and he jumped off the bed and ran off so I picked the biscuit up. He hasn't shown any problems with me. I've done a bit of Googling and some people say it is from insecurity and this could be the case for him. My neighbour popped in to meet him yesterday and he was at the back door barking at her so I got her to move into an area where she couldn't be seen and when he was quiet we went outside. He was so frightened of her, barking and running away. We sat on the chairs in the sunroom (runs off the back door) and talked for a while. Eventually, he came over behind my chair and pressed himself against the wall. After a while, my neighbour won him over with some cheese and the dog sat on a chair between us and the dog would look at her for treats. The breeder I got him from didn't get him until he was 9 months old and is pretty sure he hasn't been socialised properly and I was made aware of that before I took him. I had two visits at his house and he had a lengthy visit here before I went ahead with taking him on. I've done quite a bit of dog rescue work so know that the honeymoon period is ending and he is showing his real self. I should also mention that I have a 12 year old Cav and they seem to be getting on fine. They have been playing a little and are currently asleep together on a trampoline bed in the sun room. As the Poodle is used to being outside all the time and is not properly house trained, I bring him (and the Cav) inside after feed time and the Cav goes out into her usual night time spot at bedtime while the Poodle stays in the crate for the night. While I am good with separation anxiety I need help with resource guarding if I have any chance of this working. Thanks for reading this far if you are still with me!

He needs a clip but I will try to get something tomorrow.

Just thought I would update even though it is early days. I picked him up Sunday afternoon and by Monday night he was squatting on the grass. He has only marked 3 things that I can see, in the yard. He is crated inside as that is what he is used to when being inside, but we get in and out the door without any problems. Fingers crossed it continues!

I went to visit him at the breeder's house today and he was very good for a dog not used to being inside. He was taken out and weed and then when back inside he went to cock his leg and uhuh from me stopped him! I think he will be easy, once he is used to me as he startles easy (had a rough start to life with no socialising).

Thanks everyone.

Have you got any belly bands DDD?

Thanks Dogmad, but with having cats I am excellent at cleaning up the smell! lol Plus Grace has never peed in this house as she is never left to roam freely inside any more.

That's interesting. I have never been able to train my Cav girl (she is 12). She is a big marker and goes everywhere! I'm wondering if these two together will just end up having a marking competition.

I would say he has had no toilet training as he came from a bit of a bad situation when he was 3 months old to the breeder that has him now.

I'm looking at getting a retired breeding dog. I have been offered one that marks a lot. He will be desexed but is there a chance I will never get him out of marking? I will get belly bands and train him but am I wasting my time as I want a house dog? I know with stud cats that spray, it can be hit and miss whether they still do this when neutered. Your experiences, please.

Cortisone will make her drink and urinate more. And it starts acting very quickly!

That reminds me of when my cattle dog was a pup. After he outgrew the puppy pen I used it to put all the pot plants in.