Help with bonding and calming please.

[Sian Spencer]

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Hi all! I'm new to this site so unsure where things should be posted etc but I'm wondering if anyone can give me any advice or own experience...
I have a spayed 18 month old German shepherd cross dobermann... who a little live wire! Shes quite well trained but not totally obedient.
We have recently adopted a recently (4 days ago) neutered approx 2 year old dobermann.
They get on great, love to play together and are a lovely pair of children... I mean dogs..
The only issue were having is they are far too boisterous in the house crashing around diving on the furniture, barking their heads off...
Although I know they need time to settle in with each other can anyone give any advice on calming them down in the house? My GS x D is excersized for around 2 hours a day on and off lead, at the moment my D is only on short lead walks due to his neutering 4 days ago.
We do use, no, leave and stop commands and these work but only sometimes, they've got toys kongs etc but their favourite thing to do is bark and play rough.
I really dont want to re home this poor boy for a 3rd time in his 2 short years alive as we've bonded so much already (currently using me as cushion) but I really need them to calm down as my neighbours are complaining about the barking and my furniture cannot take 70kgs regularly launched at it!
Any help or advice at all would be amazing please.
Thanks in advance!! X

 

[Caro Perry]

4 days is no time at all.

Do you have any outside space they can use? If the dobermann is feeling up to playing rough in the house I'd be upping his walks. Obviously you won't be able to let him off lead unless it's a confined area.

 

[Sian Spencer]

4 days is no time at all.

Do you have any outside space they can use? If the dobermann is feeling up to playing rough in the house I'd be upping his walks. Obviously you won't be able to let him off lead unless it's a confined area.

 

[Sian Spencer]

Hi we have our decent size garden and have an enclosed paddock we can hire at the local dog rescue centre, it's where we taught our gs x recall.
I thought that... hes not bothered by his op site at all and is full of beans but the vet said 7-10 days, I agree that hes obviously feeling up to it.
Will book the paddock for this afternoon see if they can wear themselves out! Thanks for your reply

 

[JoanneF]

As well as the above, maybe you could teach both a settle down cue. Some dogs don't know that they have an 'off' switch. You might need to teach them separately to begin with, for example train one while the other is maybe out for a walk if there are two of you.

 

[Mad Murphy]

George is new in our house too and although my two are not barkig much they are playing a lot.
Sometimes we just seperate them to give them a bit of peace and some cuddle time. Murphy stayed with dad and had a treat there George came with me and had his bone in my office space .
Maybe trying calm times apart from each other would help.

Have you spoken to the neighbours? My advice would be to pop in with a bunch of flowers and say 'thanks for being understanding about the dogs'explain its new and youre doing your best. I find if you speak to people and they know whats going on they are more understanding..Just hearing dogs bark like mad and not know why or if its going to stop is sheer hell.

 

[JudyN]

I agree with @Mad Murphy - I would separate them if they get too rowdy, using stairgates or whatever works for you, with them both having access to a bed and maybe a chew. And I would also speak to your neighbours. Explain that it's early days and that the new lad can't let off steam outside just yet. Also, ask if there's particular times when they're particularly annoying, such as when they're trying to out the children to bed, or during their favourite TV programmes, and either walk them or separate them at this time.

I'd also worry that the boisterous play could be worse for your new lad than on-lead walks - maybe up his walks, encouraging lots of sniffing opportunities/games to tire him and relax him a bit?

 

[Sian Spencer]

Thank you all for your advice I will try all of this. Hes such a lovely daft lad x

 

[merlina]

Great advice- also think very very new dog. Trying to find where he fits in and at the moment I'd guess is using activity to counteract the stress he feels at being in a totally new environment. (One of my rescues dug holes in the garden like a maniac navy for about a month- it was to calm his own nerves but did nothing for ours!) I'd say take the advice and hang on in there- if your neighbour knows this is temporary and you are on to it as best you can be you may get some breathing space. Good luck.