Accepting the Inevitable

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TheHeretic -> Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:18:47 AM)
We brought our new dog home last night. This is going to be an adventure. I guess you would have to call him a rescue, even though he was living a much more lavish life than he will find here. He's a 10 month old yellow Lab (English) of excellent breeding. He started out as an investment scheme by people with no idea what it meant to bring such a dog into their lives. He was not properly trained, and was passed through a couple other very nice homes where he continued to get away with bad behaviors. He was fixed along the way, so all those fancy papers are meaningless. I'm confident of our ability to turn him around. It's going to be a process though, and I look around the house and yard and wonder what is going to be destroyed before it's done. I've caught him putting his head into the trash and know I'll hit the kitchen some morning soon and find a disaster. I'm going to find all sorts of disasters and minor tragedies in the weeks, and maybe months, ahead. I accepted this fact as soon as the pro trainer the last family brought in contacted me about him. It's simply the way these things go. Accepting the inevitable. How do you do it? Can you do it? When you know bad things are going to happen, how do you react when they do? Is it different than when it comes as a complete surprise?

Musicmystery -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:31:10 AM)
Actually, you've just largely answered the question. Try training a husky puppy. A wild adventure, even for one experienced with dogs. ["How to train a husky"] I retrained a year old lab once--but missing those early puppy years makes it very much harder. When I'm expecting things, that does help. When it's just the nature of things--a damaging thunderstorm, a dog being a dog--that helps too, even if momentarially frustrating. It's things that "shouldn't happen" that I have to step back and let go of, recognizing I can't control what others do. I can only choose best responses (and appropriate preventative measures along with good planning). Small things, ironically, can be the more difficult to take in stride. But then, I've never had to face any truly traumatic bad thing in my life so far (even if I thought so at the time). I've been on the scene of trauma, however, and the seriousness of it trumps all other thoughts, at least at the time. Dealing with the ongoing aftermath would likely be far more difficult, of course. But people do it. The dog, especially a lab (they're wired to please), however, will one day soon be trained. Patience and consistency, as I'm sure you know. Good luck, and enjoy.

Jeffff -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:31:40 AM)
Labs are great dogs..... Labs are also largely retarded for the first 18-24 months of their lives. I recommend buying no new furniture.... carpeting....landscaping.... shoes... any material possession you might care about. Labs are GREAT! Jeff

SL4V3M4YB3 -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:36:46 AM)
When you know bad things are likely to happen you mitigate the level of effect they will have. So it's actually an advantage to know which bad things may happen and how likely they are because you can plan and allow for them. For example on most construction products around 50% of the budget is spent on groundwork’s due to hidden obstructions or potential weak ground conditions. These are hidden costs compared with say demolishing a superstructure that may contain hazardous materials that need to be carefully stripped out first such as asbestos. The cleanup of obvious hazards can be more accurately costed and allowed for in the budget. I tell you know it'll be the things you don't see coming that'll make you really question the whole wisdom of the project. So what you do is sit down with as many people as possible (from various backgrounds) and try to think of every issue that may crop up and how to mitigate it. This'll be a much more worthwhile exercise than worrying about the things you do know will happen. It's good the dog already speaks English, this should help.

mnottertail -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:37:58 AM)
one way to keep him out of the trash is cayanne pepper.......another is rubbing alchohol... jumping on you? I am a knee to the chest for that dog with a NO type. (I am not actually talking about hurting the dog, just a solid little knee to knock out some wind). I love labs, had a big black one I called Elmer Fudd once, cuz thats kinda how labs are, he was a great big beast and liked to wrestle, jesus he was a hell of a dog to fight, he won most times. I was thirty five and 167 pounds and the dog was around a hundred. Fuckin Monster that dog, goddamn near ripped my ear off once, by accident. had a wobbly toddler who pulled his tail and ears and jumped on him, just kid vicious, he loved that kid and his tail was so big when the kid came by knocked her down with the air from wagging.......she hit her head on the floor and cried, and after that he (on his own crawled around her) what a wonderful dog old fudd was. Ron

WinsomeDefiance -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:40:40 AM)
Congrats on your new member of the family! I'm very jealous of you, by the way! I was just looking at the dogs listed in petfinder, and saw a yellow lab that I fell in love with. Hopefully (for his sake) he'll be gone before I am in a position to get him - therein lies my jealousy of you! You know its going to be work for the first few months, but I think you know its going to be work that pays off in companionship you'll receive. That's how you handle the day to day nuisance - by keeping your eye on the long-term goal. Best wishes WinD

LaTigresse -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:43:05 AM)
After many rescues that have come through my house, many 'issues'. I can recommend a very large kennel to prevent destruction when you are gone, lots and LOTS of exercise.......walk walk walk walk walk.........and seriously enforce manners. Do not baby him, especially in the beginning. Instill boundaries and enforce them.

camille65 -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:44:53 AM)
I desperately want another dog.. but I also know that I am very very not suited to being the Alpha Human. It was pretty much left to me to train my last dog (I was married then) and looking back I did her a disservice by not being dominant enough but I just didn't know how! The only thing that I learned during her first few years (which seemed to last an eternity) was that my 70# bundle of love was an absolute terror when it came to casual puppy destruction. She ate the flooring from my back hallway. Trash. Toilet paper. I actually would cry from stress driving home from work knowing I'd be faced with her unbelievable energy lol. But I loved her despite all that, it would only take a brief moment of that pure puppy love being directed toward me and my heart would melt.

Aynne88 -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:45:28 AM)
Best best best dogs ever! I had my two, one black male, one yellow female for close to 14 years, I am so happy for you! They will try your patience at times, but they are walking furbuckets of love, loyalty and fun. Oh and they will eat anything. lol. Have fun!!

rockspider -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 10:48:04 AM)
I had a labrador/husky cross. My first dog. Took a lot of training and it never really got there. Nice dog thou, but as we had him before we got kids, he never really was great with kids. I am now on my second st bernard. Best dog in the world. Calm, friendly and loves kids. Takes a bit of feeding thou. Damned thing is like vacum cleaner when it comes to food. Only disadvantage.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 11:10:24 AM)
I had an absolute gem of a black lab many years ago. She was an older adoption and was amazingly trained. First got her, walked her on a leash around the perimeter of the property and she never went beyond it. She did, however, have a horrible problem with fireworks and thunderstorms. At the time, we lived just 2 blocks from where the 4th of July fireworks went off and she needed to be sedated every year. She could hear thunder from the next state it seemed, lol. She would drool and there would be puddles of spit all over the house (really gross). Jeff's statement is just so true about them. Larger dogs are "puppies" for a longer period of time and Labs are notorious "garbage hounds" until they are trained out of it. I would suggest keeping the garbage in a closed off room and as LT said, keeping him kenneled when no one is home. A neighbor lost her lab because he got in the garbage (actually opened the cabinet under the sink to get there) and got a bone stuck in his intestines. Good luck with him. They are extremely lovable, smart and agile. As much as it is an oxymoron, they are also big clumsy goofballs!

TheHeretic -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 11:49:38 AM)
I built a pen in the back yard for the last new addition, LaT, but never needed to use it. I think it is time to mount the latch and oil the hinges. Not as big as would really be best, but I hope it won't be needed all that long. A doghouse is on the shopping list. And yes. He is going to make sure I get out for my exercise.

windchymes -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 12:20:13 PM)
Labs and lab mixes are truly wonderful dogs, once they turn 3 or 4, lol. Until then, they're pretty much nutcases. They're a working breed, so if they get bored, they'll give themselves "jobs" to do. Mine was also obsessed with trash, but it wasn't for the food, he just liked taking stuff out and putting it somewhere else. And, everytime I came home, he'd meet me at the door with something in his mouth, sort of like a welcome home present. Sounds weird, but a couple times when I peeked in before opening the door, I saw him frantically looking for something....anything!....to grab before I got the door open. Plenty of exercise, and give him "jobs" to do. Strap a backpack on him and put a couple of quart or 1/2 gallon size bottles of water in it for him to carry and go for a walk. He has a "job" and the extra weight will burn up some of that energy.

thornhappy -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 12:28:21 PM)
Every time I fly through O'Hare on a 50 minute layover, I assume I'll miss my connection. I consider it inevitable. So I ponder how to deal with it, how many flights remain to my destination, recall where the help counters are in the terminals, and how it may change reservations for the rental car and hotel at my destination. And recall that politeness and calm goes a long way when talking to gate agents. Kind of a Zen thing.

sirsholly -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 12:38:54 PM)
quote: one way to keep him out of the trash is cayanne pepper.......another is rubbing alchohol... ammonia in a spray bottle, or window cleaner.

LanceHughes -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 12:44:15 PM)
Search and read the strings dealing with training subs. LOL! No, I'm serious..... First and foremost, YOU decide the boundaries and then enforce them. Gently, but firmly and consistently. Putting the garbage in a separate room is not a solution, nor is cayenne pepper. It will take time (and yes, put it in a separate room when you are not able to have a training session.) Just, "NO" with a firm statement...... and hand in his face. Helps to wrestle on floor and bite - gently - his exposed neck. Might take three or four times, but that's what his instincts will respond to. I've bit some male subs on front of throat - works charms. Twisted collars work, too. LOL!

SDFemDom4cuck -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 1:07:07 PM)
My last rescue was a 4 yr old track greyhound who had really never even been in a house before he had been at the rescue. The poor thing didn't even know how to walk up a set of stairs. I found that an old clean blanket that I had slept with for a few days and put in his crate helped a great deal with anxiety issues. Sammy Two Toes got into everything! Everything was new and fascinating to him. I equated it to having a toddler in the house again. A 4 ft tall 110 lb toddler but a toddler none the less. Rather than blaming the dog when things went awry I learned to think ahead. Child locks on cabinet doors and closets helped a great deal. Removing everything within counter surfing reach was a must. It only took one devoured rib roast snatched from the counter while I had stepped back out to shut down the grill taught me to never leave him alone for even a minute until I had broken him of counter surfing. I found myself repeating "He's a dog, he doesn't know any better" as a constant mantra the first few months. A lot of people don't go for crating but I think it gives the pet a safe place to go when they are overwhelmed. A blanket or piece of clothing with your scent on it tends to associate you with being the pack Alpha. As well as the suggestion of wrestling him down and gently biting the neck all remind them who is the Alpha. Labs are working dogs. Good long walks twice a day will do a world of good. Dog Parks are great for burning off energy and socializing as well. Be patient, think ahead and remember... He's just a dog, he doesn't know any better. Until you teach him differently. Good luck and Congratulations! Thank you as well for going the rescue route as well. I wish more people would. They just need a little extra love and a firm hand.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 1:30:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sirsholly quote: one way to keep him out of the trash is cayanne pepper.......another is rubbing alchohol... ammonia in a spray bottle, or window cleaner. I tried those with my female toy poodle that I had years ago for her chewing habit. She developed a taste for those things.

LafayetteLady -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 1:36:42 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LanceHughes Putting the garbage in a separate room is not a solution, nor is cayenne pepper. It will take time (and yes, put it in a separate room when you are not able to have a training session.) Until that dog is trained not to go in the garbage, it is not only a solution, but a safety measure. If the dog has free roam of the house while you are home, unless you intend to lock him up just to go to the bathroom, it is for the dog's safety to put the garbage out of reach. As for the cayenne pepper, ammonia or anything else, it is behavioral training. The dog learns that the garbage is not pleasant and therefore stays away from it.

DomImus -> RE: Accepting the Inevitable (1/23/2010 3:23:46 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic Accepting the inevitable. How do you do it? I'd get a shih tzu.

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