I got Larry out of the Humane Society shelter at 3 yesterday afternoon. I was lucky enough to get a donated crate and bed that just happened to come in when I finished the adoption paperwork.
So, what's the deal with Larry? He's about a year old and we assume he's a yellow cairn terrier. At least mostly cairn terrier. He was dropped off at the Humane Society by a family who was "moving" and couldn't keep him. They apparently kept him in the basement and didn't do much training at all with him. He's definitely not housebroken and he doesn't even know the basic commands (not even sit). So I've got a lot of work to do. First goals go hand in hand: housebreaking and crate training. The other thing getting him to understand "off" (for jumping on people and furniture).
He wasn't real interested in eating last night and not terribly interested this morning either. He just wanted to be petted more than anything. He was quite happy when Heather brought him a tennis ball, and even happier to have a rawhide. Here's hoping he's just chewing on the rawhide in the kitchen right now, and not peeing on the cabinets.
Speaking of which, the documentation from the humane society says he needs to get acclimated to the crate, so not to just put him in there immediately. So, while I'm at work today, he's gated into the kitchen. Heather was nice enough to get him a terrific walkthrough gate. Makes life really easy on me.
Last night, we took a few walks and he did pretty well, except he never dropped a deuce. He's doing a bit of pulling on the leash, but if I give it a bit of a tug and tell him to wait, he's doing well on waiting and then waiting for me to say ok and take the first step. The other thing he did very well at last night was patiently waiting for Heather and I to eat first. He didn't jump up, didn't beg, didn't whine, or anything. He just sat or stood and was hoping for something to fall.
He was a little whiny when I tried some separation anxiety testing by going into the next room and closing the door. Hopefully not a huge deal.
The things that weren't so good: first, he peed on a Petco bag full of stuff that Heather bought. It was in the kitchen, so it cleaned up easy enough. I was really surprised at that, because we had taken a walk only about 40 minutes earlier and he went pretty well and didn't have much water otherwise. Around twenty after 9, he decided to pee on the back of the broken recliner. It just happened so fast. I didn't get to him in time, and luckily, most of it hit the carpet. So it was another clean up job. This morning, I took him for a walk first thing and he did #1 just fine (a few times). I brought him back in and he was just delighted to be awake. So I petted him for a while and we watched the morning news and things were going fine. Then, in the brief amount of time it took me to get undressed and put my bathrobe on, I came out of the bedroom to find a pile of poo on the living room floor. Luckily, it was pretty solid and I was able to flush it away and use the carpet cleaner. I'm just amazed at how quickly he can void himself.
When we went to bed, he did okay. He kept circling the bed, probably trying to make sure that I was still up there. Then he went over to his bed and blanket, did a little digging around and went to sleep. The problem came when I woke up to use the bathroom at quarter after three. He was super excited and thought we were up for the day. He was too excited because he jumped up on the bed. So we had to go through the "off" routine for about a half hour before he got the point that there was plenty of sleeping still to be done.
But in all, he seems really lovable and just wants to please and get affection. Hopefully I'll be a good enough owner to break him of the bad stuff.
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5:32 am! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely use "off" and not down for not jumping. Lots of one word commands (off, sit, walk). Try using his name before the command (as in "Larry off!" or "Larry Sit!"). Larry is an excellent dog name because it's two syllable and two vowel sounds. But if you remember jeff's rule, that dogs only hear vowels, you can have fun coming up with alternatives (thus "crazy amy" for "lady"). Lots of praise, even for the stupid stuff... like at dinner last night you could say "larry good wait". i find that to be the harder part-like when we're walking and they are actually doing it correctly, Charlie, good walk.
I also use "thank you" a lot. not because the dogs necessarily need manners, but it helps the adults in the house (as in "no thank you" or when they actually do what you tell them and in "charlie, go lie down...good, thank you buddy"). I think it helps the tone of the "house" when there are so many "commands" being said.
For walking, I can't recommend enough the "gentle leader"-it's expensive and dogs generally hate it at first, but, man, it really works. My dogs now sit to have it put on because they know they'll get a walk or car ride afterward, although they can't wait to get it off when we get home!
That's all I have time for. will you be in Pgh for the holidays at all? can't wait to meet him.
hope the kitchen is mostly intact today. you'll have all weekend to work with/enjoy him. He sounds very sweet. you should also forward this to Missy if you haven't already. They know what they're doing too.
I also posted this on your FB page, but jeff sent me this a while ago and it still chokes me up
ReplyDelete1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is
likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.
You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only
you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand
your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt
you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if
something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right
food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old
or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say
you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is
easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good
care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience
without God's critters~ Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We
do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and
joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!
Thanks Peg!
ReplyDelete