Why is he so unsettled and lifting his leg indoors?

[Gaelle]

The last while C has been increasingly unsettled especially indoors (as those of you who go to Thursday training classes with us can vouch for) and sometimes whining and crying for no obvious reason. He was recently at the vet and had a check up so there's nothing physically causing pain. He has now peed indoors despite the door being wide open for him and me being in the room. He hadn't that long been out a walk. He's also becoming quite scared of strange men and sometimes even jumps when Martin appears. I promise we don't ill treat him. Any suggestions?
PS I am seriously considering the "snip" for him to see if that would help him.
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Happiness is watching my dog chase leaves dancing in the breeze.

[linsey]

Gaelle,

I have a wee feeling that he is just "testing" you here and trying his luck... he is a big strong, confident dog and you said he was coming on well previously with all the training etc... so it is fair to say he isn't stupid. Maybe as you try to impose pack order, he is trying to find other ways to get around it?

I am no expert - but it is just a suggestion...

I went through a phase with Leon where he would refuse point blank to toilet in the garden cos he wanted out a walk. So for three or four days I didn't walk him UNTIL he went in the garden, then once he went I took him out right away... one day he actually managed to hold it in til nearly 5pm... unbelievable how smart they are and the stunts they will pull...

I reckon John can give you the best advice tho,

Good luck,

Lx
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Dogs are the leaders of the planet.
If you saw two living creatures, one of them does a poo and the other carries it for him, who would YOU think was in charge?
- Laurence Billi

[Suzanne H]

Gaelle, Otto is showing a lot of the same traits and he has been snipped - whining and being a bit fearful of strangers. He hasn't peed in doors though.

Him and Cuthbert are around the same age, and I just think it's a phase - adolescence. And given I have a teenage version, their behaviour is not that dissimilar.

Testing boundaries
Trying to act the big man, when inside they're just wee boys
Whinging when they don't get what they want
Expecting everything to be done for them
Throwing a strop if you tell them what to do
Answering back (Otto does this)

Dogs at this age will show 'heightened exploration of dominance' - and jumping up, standing on you, peeing, are signs of dominance.

I just ignore the whinging - he does it because he wants walked/fed/played with....and try to only give him what he wants when he's calm. If he jumps on me I totally blank him, turn my back on him...more I do it, more he tries...but he's getting the message.

Type adolescent dog into google - there are some good articles.

With the shyness, John gave some good tips at training ie standing in front of the dog so he sees you're in charge so doesn't think he has to deal with "strange men" that's your job and to engineer meetings with "strange men" who you know really to get the dog more used to it. Give the stranger a treat for the dog and let the dog go to them. Don't pander to or get stressed if he looks scared ie by petting him, just treat it like it's a normal.

(Of course, my advice may be pants, given I'm a first time gun dog adolescent owner too, but I do think there is a lot in ignore bad, reward good and that includes rewarding them with you ie play when calm!)

[linsey]

[marcella]

[Suzanne H]

You can borrow Ian - he scares the crap out of everyone except Otto.

I'm having to engineer meetings with children - I'll be run out of town!!

[Gaelle]

Thanks for the replies, I've been pretty much doing most of it already except the standing in front bit (I've been standing to the side but approaching the other man while trying to show C there is nothing to be scared of) but it looks like I'll just have to keep on with a little bit of revision of my behaviour. Hopefully the lifting his leg indoors was a one off incident. By the way will soda bic and water neutralise the odour attraction for him?

With the shyness, John gave some good tips at training ie standing in front of the dog so he sees you're in charge so doesn't think he has to deal with "strange men" that's your job and to engineer meetings with "strange men" who you know really to get the dog more used to it. Give the stranger a treat for the dog and let the dog go to them. Don't pander to or get stressed if he looks scared ie by petting him, just treat it like it's a normal.


He's turning into a big scaredy cat at times, the times when he's NOT pushing his luck and trying to jump up on me.
Thanks.
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Happiness is watching my dog chase leaves dancing in the breeze.

[StuartW]

Peeing indoors.. yep, Doogle did this a few months back when we both went upstairs.. to.. er, do some tidying up. He couldn't follow because of the 'Doogle Gate'. Our response.. both of us shouted '"NO!!!" and punted him out the back door.

Remember, he's the dog.. you're the owner. Put him in his place.

[jackdeb]

We had a problen with Oscar peeing when we fisrt got him

He used to stand in front of us and stare barking constantly and then taking mad running fits up and down the living room we thought hyperdog is wanting to play and then he would pee everywhere.

Eventually it struck us we feed them normally at 6pm sometimes slightly different depending on what's happening about 30 mins after food he needs to pee he's not being bad or demanding he really needs to pee as long as we walk him at this time even for a 2 min pee stop he gladly would last through the night if need be

Just a thought i know all dogs are different but this was his way of saying 'look you guys am bursting

As for the barking at strange men don't know Oscar used to bark at people esp with prams but short sharp corrections have sorted that

Debs'

~
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springers rule!!! our house

[charlene]

aw wee p*s*hy pants oscar
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[jackdeb]

[linsey]

[charlene]

am sorry but u new that was coming
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[Dave Rowland]

[marcella]

nice to see another thread has taken a nose dive!