Not too much new to report in the last couple of days. Chow has being sleeping off her bus run a lot (Bus lag?) but the terrier puppy is starting to emerge. Still, she's a very laid-back, easy-going puppy -and I work with A LOT of puppies!
She has been to daycare, and LOVES Brojack when he's there, and when I take Beckett with her, she's a very happy dog. For being so young, she takes quite awhile to warm up to other dogs and want to play. I'm not sure if that its too many dogs at once for her, (15-20 per group) or a lack of overall manners (daycare pupes are raised by people, not other dogs, so they are NOTORIOUS for not knowing proper play etiquette and especially how to greet another dog). However, despite the difference in dog skills, every day she's been a bit more playful, and when she plays, she plays in a totally terrier, over-the-top way -reminds me so much of how Honey and Toast played, except that Chow is clumsier, and about twice the size!
We've also found that Chowmein is crate-trained. Don't know if she was formally crate-trained, but she is fine in a crate, and was okay left for an hour of grocery shopping. I wouldn't recommend crating her for a full work day, but I think she'd be okay to go to a home and be crated up to five hours if needed.
She's also got one of the strongest bladders ever! Our yard still isn't 100% fenced so its all on-leash walks around the property. (They play so much inside, I don't think its hindering anybody :P). She is hesitant to pee on a leash, so if she won't pee in the morning, she goes back into her crate, and comes out every hour to try again. When he last pee is approximately 7-8pm, she will hold it until 9am or 10am yesterday. I'm feeling slightly bad that she's crated so much in the morning (daycare makes up for it though), but the upside of getting her to pee on a leash and not in the house is better for everyone involved -especially if she gets a family that doesn't have a secure yard.
Other than that, curbing the puppy things -jumping, mouthing, chewing on the odd inappropriate thing. She's a good pup.
I promise pictures in the next blog :)
Emily Out
Fostering dogs in Victoria, BC. Giving them lifeskills, cushy pillows, structure, confidence and copious snuggles. From chihuahuas to Rottis, to huskies and anything in between, amusing stories, mostly useless dog tips, and cute dog pictures abound.
6 comments:
Why would a dog need to be crated for 5 hours in a day??
unless they are Really destructive and there is no option...
5 hours seems excessive and really mean to me!
You obviously do not know much about dogs and are out to criticize. when we got our dog, we thought she was fine and in the 10 minutes he took a shower, she chewed the leg of the $500 coffee table! We have been crating her and she is learning...and now she will stay out of trouble for several hours. You need to learn more about crating...many dogs love it and find it to be 'safe and secure' and not mean!
I lie on both sides of the crating debate.
For puppies, I'm very, very pro-crating. Puppies chew, -like a $500 coffee table-, but can chew wires, blankets, couches, any number of things. And if they swallow, they could become dead puppies :(. Housebreaking is also much easier with a crate, and so is travelling. Mostly, crate-training is a safety practice for puppies. It is a safe place for them to be when you can not supervise them. It is also a safe place for shy dogs, or dogs that need a break from the group.
However, on the other side. My own dog Beckett, I have NEVER crated -although have tried multiple times, and he's panicked. Being a completely non-destructive dog, and 2-3 when I got him he is more than content to lay around the house while I'm away. That works for him. To him, crating is a super stressful situation. The cons outweigh the pros for him, and this can be the case for many adult dogs that have never been crate-trained.
However, Lemon is crate-trained, and has gradually gotten access to become 'free-range'.
But I do agree, long periods of time (8+ hours) in a crate is a very long time period, especially for a pup. However, its unrealistic to only consider people who are home basically 24/7, and people who are home all the time slowly get very needy dogs that usually get some sort of seperation anxiety.
I would definitely do some more research on crate-training though. It might sound cruel on first glance, but most dogs like their crates in the long run.
What?
I adore dogs/love dogs and know "everything" about them.
I also admire and respect people who rescue/care for
and foster dogs which is why i follow this and other animal blogs.
I still say 5 hrs in a kennel is mean... unless they are destructive and there is no option.
Thanks Emily...
I agree with both sides of the argument.
Our first dog was 5yo when we got her and she was NEVER crated.
Our second dog was 3yo when we got her in the summer and she was NEVER crated.
Then, the third dog, 1yo, we got in December did so much damage when we left her for an hour. The stress was horrible...we also have 3 little dogs. We compromised by keeping her in the family room and kitchen (with the other dog) with double baby gates blocking the rest of the house...then she broke through...chewed the couch, amputated Dora, terrorized the cat, you name it! Keeping her on the leash with us in the house for a couple of weeks and crating her...within 2 months she now knows her toys...and expectations though accidents happen. We now alternate nights...one night she sleeps with my son on his bed and the next night she is crated...and she seems okay. In case it is needed, we don't want her to 'loose' her crate loss.
I agree, extended periods of being crated can be difficult, but it is better that and also having a great family life at the other times...then being chained outside and starving 24/7. That is what our dogs came from.
Yes, its all very individual dog dependent, but its better to be safe than sorry with young dogs. I've lost a few things (not really missed by any stretch), but if they had of been eaten, they could have done a lot of damage and left me with a lot of medical bills :(.
Still, crating should be trained. Of course you don't just leave your pup suddenly in a crate for hours at a time. We use crates at our daycare to give rest periods too. With young dogs, they usually don't take breaks themselves, and their bodies are growing so fast (especially big breed dogs) that they need the downtime so that they aren't so hard on their bones.
Most if not all of the young (under 1) fosters that come through here get some kind of crate-training, even if that's only for bed-time and for the odd hour or two while I fly away to have a life. It's a skill that will serve them well in their new home.
And personally, I think a cushy crate for a few hours beats a cold backyard :).
But to each their own opinion. Still, as much as I enjoy having pups around, I enjoy going out to watch a movie without fear that my house will be eaten and I'll come back to a dog I have to rush to the hospital. Safety first in this foster home!
Post a Comment