Help w/Dog training...new "rescue" dog

[beth1954]

My daughter was fostering a rescue dog, and has decided to keep him. She has had dogs before, but it's been quite awhile. This dog is a blue heeler. He wasn't abused exactly, but definitely neglected. He has been tied to a short chain for at least 3 years. His owner died, and we got a rescue group involved. Anyway, my daughter ended up with him. He (Patches) is a great dog! He seems to really know what we have done for him. He is absolutely in love with my daughter. The main problem she is having with him is that when she goes inside for the evening, he scratches at the back door. It is very loud, irritating and very naughty! He's a 50 lb dog, and it sounds like some kind of monster is at the back door. Does anyone have any ideas how to break him of this habit?? When he does that, she ignores him. She waits until he calms down and lays down, then she goes out to interact with him. Any other ideas??
thanks,
Beth

[Riddick]

Let him be a inside dog? It is obvious that being alone outside is traumatizing for him. Tell her to get a crate and let him sleep inside...

[beth1954]

I've never had good luck with these forums because I always get that type of response.

The dog has been on a 6' chain for at least 3 years of his life. He is now in a small back yard with no chain, has the run of the place, is taken to the dog park, and walked every single day usually twice. My daughter has 3 cats and he wants to terrorize them. I don't think he would hurt them, but the cats are a nervous wreck. I know, I know...........there may have been better solutions than for my daughter to keep him. But he is very happy there. But it seems as though SOMEHOW he could be trained to not scratch at the door.

Never mind.
Thanks for you very thoughtful, informative, insightful help.

[leplake]

I understand what you're saying when everyone says the same thing, but if everyone says the same thing, then it's probably true. You've started right by ignoring him when he scratches the door (followed by a reward like interaction when he's quiet again) but I think if you are really desperate, having him crated inside is a quick fix, though if he's not used to a crate, hey may whine which can be just as bad..

[Riddick]

If he has to be outside at night, try giving him a kong stuffed with some good stuff so he has something to do for a while to get his mind off of being alone, and then he may doze off to sleep after working on the kong for a while.

IMO, it's cruel and dangerous to leave a dog outside especially at night...if she doesn't want to buy a crate, can't she lock him in a bathroom?

[LuvMeBre]

Definetly go for a kong. Stuff it with peanut butter, kong stuffing, meat, etc. etc., canned dog food, dry dog food, etc. etc. and that will keep him busy: AND buy a puppy pen and put the puppy pen in front of the door..

[LuvMeBre]

Quote: Originally Posted by Riddick can't she lock him in a bathroom?

*scratch* *scratch* *scratch* *scratch* I can just see [Patches] ripping the wood off the door and ramming his head into the door so hard that his head broke through...he gets through the door and tears through the house, terrorizing the cats and her daughter waking up to a dog with one scratched up face. *hence the movie "Hooch". LOL

[Kendalle]

maybe he should be trained how to act with cats.

[Sharni]

My dog has always slept outside at night, and most of the day if that is where he wants to be...he used to be a door scratcher.

I had to fence off the door and i did the kong and treat ball thing, as well as telling him to cut it out if he persisted

But what works for my dog may not work for yours...but you can only try

[beth1954]

Thank you LuvMeBre and Sharni.....
We'll get a Kong. that might keep him busy. He is about 5 yrs old, has developed probably some bad behaviors from being tied to a tree for all that time on a short leash.
Since he's not a puppy, I think it would be difficult for her to crate train him since she's gone about 10 hours a day. Maybe she should find a way to make it so that he can't get to her back door. I don't know if that's possible. I think that MAYBE he could get along with the cats after awhile, but her cats are so odd, and any little change seems to affect their personality FOREVER. My daughter introduced a little kitty a year or so, and her other 2 cats have never been the same. Not as affectionate as they used to be, etc. He is in a fenced in yard (privacy fence about 6' tall) and is NOT tied. He has the run of the back yard (not very big, but better than the 6' radius he had before. He is really doing good.....he just scratches at the door once in awhile.) He hardly ever barks or raises a fuss. It's fun to watch him play with his toys, because I don't he ever had any toys before! He's such a sweetheart and is totally in love with my daughter. She took himi to foster him (first time to foster). She couldn't bear the thought of him going to another foster home, and then eventually (who knows how long) finally getting adopted. We knew his family (first owner committed suicide, second owner had a heart attack and died a few weeks ago.)
I don't think being locked in a bathroom will work. Her bathroom is barely big enough for him to turn around in. He is like a bull in a china shop, and has never been an indoor dog. She's trying to calm him down a bit (yeah, right).

[Jennicat]

Just FYI, most rescues crate train dogs, and most of those dogs are older. Dogs are very adaptable. I don't think an idea should neccesarily be discarded before being tried. Our Aussie was crate trained when she was 3 and had lived outside her entire life. Now she's a couch-hound and loves the AC.

[LuvBullyKisses]

I would try to bring him inside for certain amounts of supervised time... slowly socialize and introduce him to being inside. Teach him appropriate and non-appropriate behavior. I would not just leave him roaming in the yard outside all day long as many dogs get stolen from backyards these days. He could also hurt himself- and what are you going to do in the winter?

You could put a towel, blanket down in his dog bed and do the same where the cats sleep. After a couple days, switch blankets so both animals can get used to each other's scent. I would also try to introduce them slowly to one another. Keep the sessions short with lots of treats and praises!

[kathydip]

I also think it's a good idea to try and teach him how to act with the cats. You never know when a bad storm may force her to bring him inside. That being said it doesn't solve the immediate problem of scratching at the door since she won't be able to train him overnight with the cats.
The best way is to try and keep him from reaching the door. It sounds like he really wants to be with your daughter all the time. It's probably the most love he has ever gotten. She is wonderful to give him a loving home.
For tips on teaching him how to act with the kitties - I advise her to watch Cesar! I am sure he has an episode or two on that subject.
Or her kitties could become upstairs kitties like my Bean. She refused to come downstairs with the dogs.

[HappyDancer]

thank you and your daughter for rescuing him I had to crate train my dog when he was 7, took awhile, but he got along good...but only at night. during the day he has free reign of the house and yard (doggie door) but it did take work to potty train him and get him used to the cats and the other dogs...with alot of patience and love (which it sounds like you all have in abundance) he will calm down and learn whats right and wrong

and trust me a Kong is a life saver lol...my puppies played with theirs yesterday for 7 hours straight lol...they love the peanut butter in them the most lol...they came with a stick we put in and it took them 5 days to figure out how to get it out lol...

[beth1954]

I would love to post a picture of Patches, but I don't know how to do that. I'm pretty much "challenged" in that way......