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Post by zahada on Feb 8, 2014 17:39:39 GMT
Give Lucas a stuffed Kong before you leave, so he will almost look forward to being left alone! Leave the house and spend 5 minutes hiding in the garden or round the street only a small distance from the house. After those minutes, return and see if he is still chewing the Kong, or up and whining again. If he is contented, leave for more minutes. Possibly now 10. Increase the minutes and as soon as (if he) starts whining again, return and ignore him until he settles. Don't give him any food, don't immediately go for a walk or play with some toys, or he will be excited for you to return and anxious for his 'fun time'. He ail associate you coming home with something fun if you do this. In my opinion, once a dog is toilet trained and trained not to chew household objects, the dog is OK to be trusted out of a crate. The dog has more space, and has more space to spread out and chill. He may even enjoy spending time in a place where your scent is heavy whilst you are away, to comfort him and hopefully decrease his separation problem away from you. If he is out of a crate then he will have more room to lay down, chew his toys, etc. Spread an array of safe chew toys around the room for him to explore and chew on. Chewing is known to reduce stress levels in dogs as well - bonus! When you said that you doubt Lucas will have been whining the entire time - he easily could have been! If he is that stressed out, he will not stop until he exhausts himself or you return. When you return, the relief will flood over him and he will be able to relax. Whining for long periods isn't good for dogs - its stressful and can lead to further and more problematic problems. Regarding your neighbour, if you are allowed to own a dog the neighbour should not be able to do anything about it. I would be surprised if a neighbour could overpower a landlord who has said that you can own a dog in the first place.Where did you get that idea BT? If a neighbour is upset by a noise from another neighbour, he/she can report this to the local council who will have to investigate. If the council's conclusion is that the noise a nuissance, the council will issue a noise abatement order which must not be broken or financial penalties can be imposed upon the offender. However, the council will expect that communications had taken place and problem not been resolved before they will act. I would be surprised if the tenancy agreement didn't have a clause that if the dog is deemed to be a nuissance by neighbours he will have to be removed or tenancy terminated. The best way forward is to speak to the neighbour (take a box of chocolates), thank them for making you aware of the problem, explain that you will work on the problem. Engage them in the solution, introduce them to your dog, show them how wonderful he is, get them on your side. Ask them to help you with his training by recording the start and end time, type of noise etc. Katherine -be nice as pie, some nosy people respond well in being part of 'community' or a 'process'. Good luck |
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Post by BorderTerrier on Feb 8, 2014 18:22:33 GMT
Give Lucas a stuffed Kong before you leave, so he will almost look forward to being left alone! Leave the house and spend 5 minutes hiding in the garden or round the street only a small distance from the house. After those minutes, return and see if he is still chewing the Kong, or up and whining again. If he is contented, leave for more minutes. Possibly now 10. Increase the minutes and as soon as (if he) starts whining again, return and ignore him until he settles. Don't give him any food, don't immediately go for a walk or play with some toys, or he will be excited for you to return and anxious for his 'fun time'. He ail associate you coming home with something fun if you do this. In my opinion, once a dog is toilet trained and trained not to chew household objects, the dog is OK to be trusted out of a crate. The dog has more space, and has more space to spread out and chill. He may even enjoy spending time in a place where your scent is heavy whilst you are away, to comfort him and hopefully decrease his separation problem away from you. If he is out of a crate then he will have more room to lay down, chew his toys, etc. Spread an array of safe chew toys around the room for him to explore and chew on. Chewing is known to reduce stress levels in dogs as well - bonus! When you said that you doubt Lucas will have been whining the entire time - he easily could have been! If he is that stressed out, he will not stop until he exhausts himself or you return. When you return, the relief will flood over him and he will be able to relax. Whining for long periods isn't good for dogs - its stressful and can lead to further and more problematic problems. Regarding your neighbour, if you are allowed to own a dog the neighbour should not be able to do anything about it. I would be surprised if a neighbour could overpower a landlord who has said that you can own a dog in the first place.Where did you get that idea BT? If a neighbour is upset by a noise from another neighbour, he/she can report this to the local council who will have to investigate. If the council's conclusion is that the noise a nuissance, the council will issue a noise abatement order which must not be broken or financial penalties can be imposed upon the offender. However, the council will expect that communications had taken place and problem not been resolved before they will act. I would be surprised if the tenancy agreement didn't have a clause that if the dog is deemed to be a nuissance by neighbours he will have to be removed or tenancy terminated. The best way forward is to speak to the neighbour (take a box of chocolates), thank them for making you aware of the problem, explain that you will work on the problem. Engage them in the solution, introduce them to your dog, show them how wonderful he is, get them on your side. Ask them to help you with his training by recording the start and end time, type of noise etc. Katherine -be nice as pie, some nosy people respond well in being part of 'community' or a 'process'. Good luck If the landlord said Katherine could have a dog, then Katherine has the right to own a dog. Yes, I agree that the neighbour could complain and the case be taken further, however, all dogs have their downsides and this is Lucas'. If Katherine promises to work consistently on the problem (this should be explained to all involved), then Katherine should be allowed to have a set period of time to resolve the problem herself as Lucas is her dog. Katherine has made excellent progress with her puppy and I have faith in her that she can work hard and resolve the nuisance the whining is causing  |
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Post by katherine on Feb 8, 2014 22:00:41 GMT
Thanks for the advice, we are really trying our best alongside other things we need to focus on at the moment. We both left him with the stuffed kong yesterday on his own while we popped to the shops for ten/fifteen minutes and when we got back he had polished off the kong and was not whining, So we have been also trying to settle him into it at different opportunities to leave the house. I would love to trust him out of his crate around the house but I think he's still a little too mischievous to be completely trusted.
If he whines while I am out at University, there's not much I can really do when I'm not in the home and don't know hes doing it. We can only ease him into it, let him get used to it and hopefully he will stop in time. Obviously I can't help my timetable and when my lectures are, but there's going to have to be a little more co operation from the lady downstairs too I feel. If she complains again I will have to explain that we are trying everything given the current circumstances. We are going to try and record him the next few times we are out to see what hes doing, hopefully that will inform us on what he gets up to.
On that note, I feel both of us have worked very hard so far and we are willing to continue to work harder to solve this. I'm determined! It's been worrying me sick that she might get him taken off us, but personally I don't think she has the right to have him removed from our home.
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Post by Pawsforthought on Feb 8, 2014 22:07:45 GMT
Sounds like you've started the work well well done to both of you and Lucas! He is still very young, so I'm confident you'll be able to crack this minor issue! Let's just hope misery guts will forgive him some whining in the meantime! Someone needs to tell her life is too short to be such a grouchy old twit all the time. |
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Post by migsy on Feb 8, 2014 22:56:35 GMT
I feel so sorry this issue is spoiling your enjoyment of Lucas to a certain degree.Whatever you do Katherine,don't let things get unpleasant,(or if neighbour is spiteful,she could make deliberate noise to get Lucas barking).Try to keep things light and pleasant.What are your other neigbours like? They may put in a good word for you.My lovely late elderly neighbour(she was in her 80s) used to say Skip was her free protector,as he barked if anyone came up our drive,and when she went on holiday,she would say "Skip,don't forget you are on guard while I am away." Have you introduced Lucas to your neighbour yet? teach him shake hands or high 5,it rarely fails to win people over.
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Post by katherine on Feb 8, 2014 22:59:28 GMT
I hope so I really do, and if she continues to have a problem despite us working with him then it's not really our problem. She shouldn't be watching us at her window either, I find that very odd :S
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Post by migsy on Feb 8, 2014 23:10:33 GMT
How old do you think she is?when some people aren't very active and have nothing to occupy their minds,they can get a bit odd and focus on negative things,hence the constant watching,do you think she may be lonely?
It wouldn't excuse her being grumpy towards you though as most elderly people are very friendly and glad of a chat.A lady I pass at the bus stop when walking Skip always has a friendly word,and is always smiling,she is 90 and everyone likes her.It makes you want to talk to people like her as they are a pleasure to meet.
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Post by katherine on Feb 8, 2014 23:25:40 GMT
How old do you think she is?when some people aren't very active and have nothing to occupy their minds,they can get a bit odd and focus on negative things,hence the constant watching,do you think she may be lonely? It wouldn't excuse her being grumpy towards you though as most elderly people are very friendly and glad of a chat.A lady I pass at the bus stop when walking Skip always has a friendly word,and is always smiling,she is 90 and everyone likes her.It makes you want to talk to people like her as they are a pleasure to meet. I'm not sure how old. 70's? but I do know she lives alone. She has not met Lucas yet and we rarely cross paths with her. The other neighbours are lovely and one of them has already greeted the dog. Both of them also have pooches of their own. That is actually what I find very strange...She will stop and chat to us sometimes and come across as very friendly but the minute she doesn't like something shes at the door. |
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Post by migsy on Feb 8, 2014 23:29:37 GMT
Good,you have allies in your neighbours then Katherine, as if she grumbles about Lucas,they will probably say how nice they find you and Lucas to be.So fingers crossed,you are doing fine.
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Post by caz2golden on Feb 9, 2014 11:40:31 GMT
I feel so sorry this issue is spoiling your enjoyment of Lucas to a certain degree.Whatever you do Katherine,don't let things get unpleasant,(or if neighbour is spiteful,she could make deliberate noise to get Lucas barking).Try to keep things light and pleasant.What are your other neigbours like? They may put in a good word for you. My lovely late elderly neighbour(she was in her 80s) used to say Skip was her free protector,as he barked if anyone came up our drive,and when she went on holiday,she would say "Skip,don't forget you are on guard while I am away." Have you introduced Lucas to your neighbour yet? teach him shake hands or high 5,it rarely fails to win people over.The lady who lives next door has said in the past that when her husband is away for work that she is grateful my dogs bark when anyone comes up my drive or theirs, the thought that another living thing knows whats going on!! Makes her feel a little bit safer! |
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Post by Pawsforthought on Feb 9, 2014 21:38:41 GMT
That's the trouble, isn't it? I like dogs to bark while I'm away and when on my own too. But if people around complain you can't have your personal burglar alarm (/passersby alert system) switched on  |
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Post by katherine on Feb 9, 2014 22:23:53 GMT
I have university for a couple of hours on Tuesday plus the time it takes to travel. I'm so scared of leaving him even if I do leave him with the recording, a radio and his kong just in case she comes back and tells us hes been doing it again or she does something worse... :-( I crossed her path today when bringing him back from a walk, I tried to avoid her because i still felt gut wrenchingly angry but she said hello so I had to speak to her. Sheesh.
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Post by zahada on Feb 9, 2014 22:35:17 GMT
Thanks for the advice, we are really trying our best alongside other things we need to focus on at the moment. We both left him with the stuffed kong yesterday on his own while we popped to the shops for ten/fifteen minutes and when we got back he had polished off the kong and was not whining, So we have been also trying to settle him into it at different opportunities to leave the house. I would love to trust him out of his crate around the house but I think he's still a little too mischievous to be completely trusted. If he whines while I am out at University, there's not much I can really do when I'm not in the home and don't know hes doing it. We can only ease him into it, let him get used to it and hopefully he will stop in time. Obviously I can't help my timetable and when my lectures are, but there's going to have to be a little more co operation from the lady downstairs too I feel. If she complains again I will have to explain that we are trying everything given the current circumstances. We are going to try and record him the next few times we are out to see what hes doing, hopefully that will inform us on what he gets up to. On that note, I feel both of us have worked very hard so far and we are willing to continue to work harder to solve this. I'm determined! It's been worrying me sick that she might get him taken off us, but personally I don't think she has the right to have him removed from our home. Can you get more Kongs then? Also how about a pen rather than a crate? www.croftonline.co.uk/products.asp?partno=XP30B |
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Post by zahada on Feb 9, 2014 22:41:29 GMT
I have university for a couple of hours on Tuesday plus the time it takes to travel. I'm so scared of leaving him even if I do leave him with the recording, a radio and his kong just in case she comes back and tells us hes been doing it again or she does something worse... :-( I crossed her path today when bringing him back from a walk, I tried to avoid her because i still felt gut wrenchingly angry but she said hello so I had to speak to her. Sheesh. Your fear is bound to afect Lucas's behaviour. Have you heard of Adaptil products? They mimic the hormones a bitch gives off when lactating to calm her puppies. The plug in is wonderful. www.adaptil.com/ukCould you get one of your dog owning neighbours to pop in and take Lucas out to relieve himself and give him a fresh Kong? |
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Post by katherine on Feb 9, 2014 22:52:44 GMT
I have university for a couple of hours on Tuesday plus the time it takes to travel. I'm so scared of leaving him even if I do leave him with the recording, a radio and his kong just in case she comes back and tells us hes been doing it again or she does something worse... :-( I crossed her path today when bringing him back from a walk, I tried to avoid her because i still felt gut wrenchingly angry but she said hello so I had to speak to her. Sheesh. Your fear is bound to afect Lucas's behaviour. Have you heard of Adaptil products? They mimic the hormones a bitch gives off when lactating to calm her puppies. The plug in is wonderful. www.adaptil.com/ukCould you get one of your dog owning neighbours to pop in and take Lucas out to relieve himself and give him a fresh Kong? It might be worth looking into getting more kongs and one of those Adaptil plug ins, they look great! I've looked and they seem to sell Adaptil in a local pet shop so I might go have a look tomorrow on my day off. Liam feels that as we don't know our other neighbours well enough, he wouldn't be comfortable letting them in the house. |
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