Out of control dog... what to do...
Discussion
I'm looking after my mum and my sister's dogs for a week while they're on holiday and I'm about ready to snap...
They're both King Charles Spaniels and my mum's is great. He had a small amount of training when he was a puppy and I've had lots of contact with him since and he's really well behaved. A few problems but on the whole he's pretty great.
My sister's on the other hand has had no training and is completely nuts. He never calms down. He constantly jumps up, scratches, nips, pees everywhere and is completely unresponsive to commands. I usually have a high level on patience, especially with animals but I really can't cope. I had to look after him sometime last year and he was the same then, but I tried training him to stop jumping up (just by ignoring him, turning my back to him etc until he calmed down, then giving him some attention) and was pretty successful. By the end of the week he was still a bit of a pain but much better behaved.
Turns out though that it was all pointless, as my sister likes him jumping up, scratching, etc, so he's just gone back to his old ways. I won't be looking after him again, but I'm stuck with him all week and I really don't know what to do. I haven't slept all night because he barked until about 4am because he's used to sleeping in my sister's bed and not in his own, etc.
What can I do?
They're both King Charles Spaniels and my mum's is great. He had a small amount of training when he was a puppy and I've had lots of contact with him since and he's really well behaved. A few problems but on the whole he's pretty great.
My sister's on the other hand has had no training and is completely nuts. He never calms down. He constantly jumps up, scratches, nips, pees everywhere and is completely unresponsive to commands. I usually have a high level on patience, especially with animals but I really can't cope. I had to look after him sometime last year and he was the same then, but I tried training him to stop jumping up (just by ignoring him, turning my back to him etc until he calmed down, then giving him some attention) and was pretty successful. By the end of the week he was still a bit of a pain but much better behaved.
Turns out though that it was all pointless, as my sister likes him jumping up, scratching, etc, so he's just gone back to his old ways. I won't be looking after him again, but I'm stuck with him all week and I really don't know what to do. I haven't slept all night because he barked until about 4am because he's used to sleeping in my sister's bed and not in his own, etc.
What can I do?
Crate training is not just stuffing a dog in a cage and leaving it. That would be cruel, the dog could hurt itself and it'll cry and bark even more.
It'll take you at least the whole week to get it comfortable with the crate - if it's a fast learner. Until it's happy you don't lock the door!
Go back to giving the dog discipline as you did before. Sounds like you did fantastic if you saw those results after only a few days. Hopefully this time it will remember your rules and pick them up even faster.
When the week is up tell your sister that the poor thing needs boundaries. Little dogs don't know that they're small and cute - they're still dogs, same as any other dogs.
It'll take you at least the whole week to get it comfortable with the crate - if it's a fast learner. Until it's happy you don't lock the door!
Go back to giving the dog discipline as you did before. Sounds like you did fantastic if you saw those results after only a few days. Hopefully this time it will remember your rules and pick them up even faster.
When the week is up tell your sister that the poor thing needs boundaries. Little dogs don't know that they're small and cute - they're still dogs, same as any other dogs.
Indeed, OP. The dog can learn that it has boundaries in your house, even if your sister decided it doesn't need any in her house. PITA for you, but if you mananged to see results in a matter of days last time, you must be doing something right!
It might be worth having a word with her as well, explaining that a happy dog is one with boundaries, rather than one that lurches from one situation to another with no guidance and no owner engagement. If she trained it, she would also benefit from a much, much closer relationship with her dog. Who doesn't want that?!
It might be worth having a word with her as well, explaining that a happy dog is one with boundaries, rather than one that lurches from one situation to another with no guidance and no owner engagement. If she trained it, she would also benefit from a much, much closer relationship with her dog. Who doesn't want that?!
He's got a fair bit better... I couldn't find a crate but made him a den instead and got him a bone and he's been silent all night... 
This really should have been done when he was a puppy... Apart from when he's with me I don't think he's ever had to sleep on his own. He is really, really needy. I can't leave the room without him crying, barking, etc. At least I can sleep now though.
Talking to my sister will do no good. Believe me I've tried... She likes him jumping up and trying to lick peoples faces etc because "it means he loves them".
I have no real clue what I'm doing when it comes to training dogs, but I'm guessing the reason I had results so quickly is because he's just easy to train... It really wouldn't take much to sort out his issues, sadly it'll never happen. Some people shouldn't have dogs. 
This really should have been done when he was a puppy... Apart from when he's with me I don't think he's ever had to sleep on his own. He is really, really needy. I can't leave the room without him crying, barking, etc. At least I can sleep now though.
Talking to my sister will do no good. Believe me I've tried... She likes him jumping up and trying to lick peoples faces etc because "it means he loves them".
I have no real clue what I'm doing when it comes to training dogs, but I'm guessing the reason I had results so quickly is because he's just easy to train... It really wouldn't take much to sort out his issues, sadly it'll never happen. Some people shouldn't have dogs. therealpigdog said:
mx5tom said:
Talking to my sister will do no good. Believe me I've tried... She likes him jumping up and trying to lick peoples faces etc because "it means he loves them". (
Point out that he licks his arse with that tongue next time he gives her a kiss. (Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff