I might be a bad dog owner

[swolt]

So I haven't owned a dog in a long time. I did a bunch of research before we got Skeeter and got a book on how to train him.

Then I got sick on Friday and we got him on Saturday. I haven't been able to set up the dog house or get him a collar or the toys I wanted to get him. I've tried to make it up by playing with him a lot but today I'm not feeling so great and just had enough of him biting and trying to eat my face and put him outside. I did get the fence ready before he came so he has a big yard to explore.
I just feel bad because I had planned on giving him a lot of attention and starting to train him right away. Right now the only training that has taken place is him teaching us to give him what he wants.

[dazie]

don't worry about it.  Think of it as good prep for a baby.

[BigDun]

I hope the back yard's fence is baby safe so you can put the kid out back and let them fend for themselves when you are too busy to take care of them.

[swolt]

I hope the back yard's fence is baby safe so you can put the kid out back and let them fend for themselves when you are too busy to take care of them.

It is, and we already got the baby a food and water bowl too!

I let Skeeter back in and finally found a toy he will play with instead of chewing on me. He is now taking a nap at my feet, because being a puppy is hard work.

[meredith]

any offspring of swolt could fight off a pack of wolves, screw your damn fences!

[Jessie]

People who intentionally have puppies and babies at the same time are insane.

[swolt]

People who intentionally have puppies and babies at the same time are insane.

Well the puppy will be 5 months old when the baby is born

[Jessie]

I'm not sure if you know how this works, but five months old is still a puppy.

Poor, dumb swolt.

[swolt]

I'm not sure if you know how this works, but five months old is still a puppy.

Poor, dumb swolt.

[Dry then Catch]

YOU MONSTER

[swolt]

Ok so I need some advice from you dog people.

The house training is going great. He hasn't had an accident since Sunday night. He has learned where his sleeping spot is and he doesn't whine when we put him to bed. The only problem we're having is he won't stop trying to eat us.
The book I got says Labs like to chew on everything so you should get some toys that he likes to chew on and praise him for chewing on those. Over time this will train him to chew on the toys and not on other stuff.
But he doesn't like any of the toys we've gotten. He likes to chew on us; fingers, toes, whatever he can sink his teeth into. And he has those sharp puppy teeth and it freaking hurts. He just doesn't like his toys. Anyone every had a dog like this? Any ideas?

[swolt]

Oh, and we have been very careful not to fuss at him. The book said Labs don't respond well to negative reinforcement, so we have been positive and give him treats when he does something we want. Like I said for the potty training that has worked very well.

[Jessie]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

[dazie]

Teach him "no bite" when he starts to chew on you.  It'll take a bit, but if you say very clearly "no bite" and pull his mouth off you, he'll get the idea.

Another thing that has worked with our dogs in the past is "OW!" quite loudly, but not angrily.  What that did with our dogs was surprise them to the point they stopped chewing on us.  When they took their mouths off us, we'd then praise them and pet them.

Don't worry if he doesn't get it right away.  Labs are smart dogs, but a little stubborn in the brain pan.

[Infobahn]

Teach him "no bite" when he starts to chew on you.  It'll take a bit, but if you say very clearly "no bite" and pull his mouth off you, he'll get the idea.

Another thing that has worked with our dogs in the past is "OW!" quite loudly, but not angrily.  What that did with our dogs was surprise them to the point they stopped chewing on us.  When they took their mouths off us, we'd then praise them and pet them.

Don't worry if he doesn't get it right away.  Labs are smart dogs, but a little stubborn in the brain pan.

I am sure the baby will pick up on those commands right after birth.

[Jessie]

Teach him "no bite" when he starts to chew on you.  It'll take a bit, but if you say very clearly "no bite" and pull his mouth off you, he'll get the idea.

Another thing that has worked with our dogs in the past is "OW!" quite loudly, but not angrily.  What that did with our dogs was surprise them to the point they stopped chewing on us.  When they took their mouths off us, we'd then praise them and pet them.

Don't worry if he doesn't get it right away.  Labs are smart dogs, but a little stubborn in the brain pan.

I wish Everett had been younger when we got him, because NONE of that worked for him.  He's a very smart, but very stubborn and even more excitable dog.  He's getting there, though.  We're six months in and he's mostly bearable these days.  He's come a long long way. 

I highly recommend doing an obedience class with him.  It made all the difference in the world with Everett, and you'll find that it's more you than him that needs to be trained on what to do and how to do it.

[dazie]

Teach him "no bite" when he starts to chew on you.  It'll take a bit, but if you say very clearly "no bite" and pull his mouth off you, he'll get the idea.

Another thing that has worked with our dogs in the past is "OW!" quite loudly, but not angrily.  What that did with our dogs was surprise them to the point they stopped chewing on us.  When they took their mouths off us, we'd then praise them and pet them.

Don't worry if he doesn't get it right away.  Labs are smart dogs, but a little stubborn in the brain pan.

I wish Everett had been younger when we got him, because NONE of that worked for him.  He's a very smart, but very stubborn and even more excitable dog.  He's getting there, though.  We're six months in and he's mostly bearable these days.  He's come a long long way. 

I highly recommend doing an obedience class with him.  It made all the difference in the world with Everett, and you'll find that it's more you than him that needs to be trained on what to do and how to do it.

2nd on the obedience class.  Also, if you can afford it, take him to doggie day care now and then to get him socialized.  Zeus is similar to Everett- it's taken us 3 years to get him settled down because he had no training at all as a puppy.

[Jessie]

I really need to do the doggy daycare thing with Everett.  He's so big and has been aggressive towards other dogs so I'm just terrified to let him near anyone else's pet.

I don't worry at all about him being around kids or anything though.  He loves kids and even cats.  Just hates dogs.

[Dry then Catch]

I really need to do the doggy daycare thing with Everett.  He's so big and has been aggressive towards other dogs so I'm just terrified to let him near anyone else's pet.

I don't worry at all about him being around kids or anything though.  He loves kids and even cats.  Just hates dogs.

maybe you should stop being such a BITCH
get it
cause he hates dogs
hahahahhaa

[grace]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

i gave my dane pups traffic cones with heavy rope through them. designed to be indestructible ... it worked, but not a great "inside toy." 
they are super well behaved now, with the exception of food theft on occasion. lost a great loaf of french bread yesterday...but left it on the counter and went out, my bad.

[BigDun]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

i gave my dane pups traffic cones with heavy rope through them. designed to be indestructible ... it worked, but not a great "inside toy." 
they are super well behaved now, with the exception of food theft on occasion. lost a great loaf of french bread yesterday...but left it on the counter and went out, my bad.

We're so lucky. Our last two dogs haven't chewed anything that wasn't a dog toy, and although they act very interested in human food, they only jump on the food that drops to the floor.

[Dry then Catch]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

i gave my dane pups traffic cones with heavy rope through them. designed to be indestructible ... it worked, but not a great "inside toy." 
they are super well behaved now, with the exception of food theft on occasion. lost a great loaf of french bread yesterday...but left it on the counter and went out, my bad.

We're so lucky. Our last two dogs haven't chewed anything that wasn't a dog toy, and although they act very interested in human food, they only jump on the food that drops to the floor.

its a shame you didnt rear children

[VikingJuice]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

i gave my dane pups traffic cones with heavy rope through them. designed to be indestructible ... it worked, but not a great "inside toy." 
they are super well behaved now, with the exception of food theft on occasion. lost a great loaf of french bread yesterday...but left it on the counter and went out, my bad.

We're so lucky. Our last two dogs haven't chewed anything that wasn't a dog toy, and although they act very interested in human food, they only jump on the food that drops to the floor.

its a shame you didnt rear children

Most of the time that'll get you put in jail these days.

[grace]

Everett is a monster about chewing.  He can destroy the average dog toy in about two minutes flat.

The only ones he really likes and doesn't instantly eat are big rope chews and tires. 

He's a lot bigger that Skeeter, so Skeeter probably doesn't have his powers of destruction just yet.  Anything left within reach at night is game for Everett's mouth of death, though.  I've lost several shoes, throw pillows, a netbook charger, books, etc etc. 

i gave my dane pups traffic cones with heavy rope through them. designed to be indestructible ... it worked, but not a great "inside toy." 
they are super well behaved now, with the exception of food theft on occasion. lost a great loaf of french bread yesterday...but left it on the counter and went out, my bad.

We're so lucky. Our last two dogs haven't chewed anything that wasn't a dog toy, and although they act very interested in human food, they only jump on the food that drops to the floor.

these guys can lay their head in the kitchen sink, but usually don't go there. they never destroy anything and very sweet. i'm gone @ work from 8-5 or 6 sometimes. feel soo guilty slamming them for anything that i forgot to remove as tempt material. gentle- always hungry -giants! oh well...

[dazie]

I concur.  I have more damage done by the (relatively) tiny dog than by the giant moose.

[Jessie]

Everett has eaten:

Multiple Xbox controllers
Laptop charger
at least 5 pairs of shoes
pillows
plastic bowls
back scratcher
99% of the dog toys Ive bought him (the rope toys and tire toys seem to last longer than anything else.  kong toys and their ilk don't stand a chance)
Anything fleece.  He LOVES fleece, but he tears it into tiny little pieces.
He ate a hole out of one of my hoodies

Basically, anything that he can reach at night is fair game.  He's a giant, so it's like trying to babyproof the house from a 10 year old.

[dazie]

We had to keep Zeus in his crate all night for almost two years before he calmed down enough to get left out.

Between him and Libby we've lost countless headphones (including some really nice ones) Tim's mac cord, my Birkenstocks, lots of homework (seriously!), random pairs of underpants (eew), socks, rolls of toilet paper, utensils, bowls, half a peach pie (that was just recently), belts, extension cords, a cell phone, couch cushions and China's collar.

And then some.

Dogs suck, actually.

[BigDun]

Good thing Swolt's dog will have a baby to chew on.

[meredith]

I concur.  I have more damage done by the (relatively) tiny dog than by the giant moose.

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S THE LITTLE ONE THAT WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD BABY

YOU HEAR THAT, EVERYONE???

[Jessie]

We had to keep Zeus in his crate all night for almost two years before he calmed down enough to get left out.

Between him and Libby we've lost countless headphones (including some really nice ones) Tim's mac cord, my Birkenstocks, lots of homework (seriously!), random pairs of underpants (eew), socks, rolls of toilet paper, utensils, bowls, half a peach pie (that was just recently), belts, extension cords, a cell phone, couch cushions and China's collar.

And then some.

Dogs suck, actually.

We're back to crating Ev at night, but starting tonight he's getting Benadryl first becuase he's stressing himself so much about being locked up that his face, neck and chest are SOAKED in drool in the morning. 

Dogs do suck.  But they're also wonderful.

[grace]

wow, makes my hounds look like saints.

jackson will eat money, but only paper and not the entire bill. so far a 20 and and a 1. i was able to find pieces with a serial # and my bank was nice enough to replace them. they gave jackson dog cookies thru the drive drawer window.
go figure, a reward for a bad?

[Jessie]

We gave up on trying to crate Everett at night.  I don't know why, suddenly, his crate terrifies him, but it does.  We just have to be sure to pick up EVERYTHING that he might be able to reach before going to bed at night.   Poor guy.

[Dry then Catch]

much like their children, white people's dogs are unruly, undisciplined and lack an innate sense of class and modesty

[sapphirehart]

Delta (chocolate lab) likes to get in the bed with me and Buck when I sleep over. She climbs right in between us and tries to push me off the bed. 

[swolt]

5 days with no accidents in the house! woohoo! And he goes to the door and asked to be let out all on his own.

We got a spray bottle with vinegar and water and spray in his mouth when he tries to bite us or something he shouldn't bite, and he gets a treat when he plays with his chew toys. He is figuring out what is his and what he can't have. He also gets a treat when he goes in his kennel and his favorite toys are in there so he doesn't seem to mind.

This week he has really seemed to catch on and be easier to train.

He also talks alot, which is really funny. I've never had a dog that was so vocal. He sighs when he is content, and also when he is frustrated (like when he gets sprayed in the mouth.)
If you sit and talk with him he talks back, but not barking, more like a mumble. It is very cute.

[swolt]

Oh I forgot to post this too.

Yesterday we took him to mom and dad's and he got to see his mother and sister. He is a little bigger than his sister and was beating her up at first, but then she had enough and grabbed his collar and threw him down. Then she taught him to swim in the pond. We were there most of the day, and by the time we left he was completely worn out. He loves riding in the car and sticking his head out the window but he was knocked out before we got on the main road.

[BigDun]

Oh I forgot to post this too.

Yesterday we took him to mom and dad's and he got to see his mother and sister. He is a little bigger than his sister and was beating her up at first, but then she had enough and grabbed his collar and threw him down. Then she taught him to swim in the pond. We were there most of the day, and by the time we left he was completely worn out. He loves riding in the car and sticking his head out the window but he was knocked out before we got on the main road.

If you are going to let him hang his head out of the window in a moving car, get him some of these.

[grace]

Oh I forgot to post this too.

Yesterday we took him to mom and dad's and he got to see his mother and sister. He is a little bigger than his sister and was beating her up at first, but then she had enough and grabbed his collar and threw him down. Then she taught him to swim in the pond. We were there most of the day, and by the time we left he was completely worn out. He loves riding in the car and sticking his head out the window but he was knocked out before we got on the main road.

awww, dogs have to be social too. hangin a head out the window is fun and part of social.
mine hang and slobber all over the windows...and smile big time!
bein social wears them out too!
i'd be a bad owner, if i didn't get them out and about once a week at least!