Sydney's Behaviour

[Esty]

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Hello

Most of you know about my Mum's rescue pup, Sydney, who is now six months old. I'm beginning to think he is related to Wendy's 'Scarlett'!!!

In many ways, Syd has improved loads. He's great on the lead, good with other dogs, pretty good off lead, and is housetrained and sleeps well at night. He's lovely with people he meets. He can be left for an hour or so without becoming destructive. However, he still has some behaviour issues.

Syd has two walks a day and a big garden to play in. He's walked for about 30 minutes in the morning, some of it off lead, and about an hour in the early evening, some off lead. However, by about 7pm he won't settle. He will bark and whine at my Mum and Dad. It can't really be for attention as they try to get him to sit with them on the sofa but he just sits in his bed barking and crying. He's got toys so he shouldn't be bored. He's not hungry or cold or needing the loo and doesn't seem ill. He's fed James Wellbeloved so I can't see he's getting hyper off that.They try to ignore him but it's hard to ignore that high pitched whippetty whine! I will say he seems quite a dominant dog - when my two put him in his place he doesn't get the message and still jumps up and lunges at them. Most dogs faced with two full grown whippets would eventually get the message but Syd hasn't yet - he still thinks he's one of the big boys!

The other thing he's started doing is jumping on the dining table. He gets down when told but gets straight back up again. They don't seem to have much quiet time with him in the evenings and it's getting quite stressful for them.

Does anyone have any ideas why Syd might be doing these things, and what they can do to stop/ help him? There's a limit to how long he can play with my two as he doesn't give them much peace either! Could he still be having teething trouble, because it's the only other thing I could think of?

 

[Nicola]

It's such a long time since Fred was a pup that I just can't recall exactly what he was like at that age, but I do remember it being stressful. They always seem to kick off just as you want to settle down and watch TV for the evening, usually about 7-7.30. Is there anyway you can distract him with a pig's ear to chew for half an hour or so for some respite, or a hide chew (ensuring they don't swallow the resulting pulpy mess at the end). What about a game of something, like hiding a bit of cheese and getting him to find it. They soon cotton on. Half an hour of a stimulating game and some quiet chew time should see him settle down for the late evening. Some whippet pups and adolescents are a nightmare, but they do grow out of the worst of it, starting from about 16 mths onwards.

 

[FeeFee]

He's obviously getting good physical exercise, so maybe try adding some extra mental stimulation might tire him out a bit more? A short session of clicker training can be good fun for the dog and the owner - it doesn't really matter if you are training formal commands or cute tricks like 'high fives' or rolling over, it's all brainwork for the dog, and you'd be surprised how much it wears them out!

It's also worth standing back and looking at when/how he gets attention at home. We all so often give attention (even if it's negative attention) to dogs who are being restless/noisy/demanding and ignore them when they are quiet and settled. Sometimes just changing the emphasis to praising and petting them when they are quiet on their beds and ignoring any demanding behaviour can make a difference.

You could also think about teaching 'settle' as a command. Ian Dunbar has a great exercise called 'Jazz up and settle down' where you deliberately wind your dog up and get him excited, then practise settling him, then put both behaviours on cue so you can satisfy your pup by having a wild few minutes' game of chase or tuggy, then get him to settle immediately after. There's a bit more about this and a couple of videos here: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/jazz-and-settle-down

Loads of luck with him, I hope your parent are able to find their way through this phase and get a bit more peace!

 

[eve]

Toddy was a hyperactive nightmare when he arrived at age 7 months having been stuck in a kennel for 3 months with little attention. So many time, I was ready to admit defeat. Some whippet pups just seem to be like that. Add Sidneys history and I can just see the picture. Toddy has settled down a lot now that he has been with us 6 months and has passed the 1 year mark. Like Sidney, he still does not always take a telling when other dogs warn him off. I think this is down to his poor socialisation as a pup.

For some reason, Toddy goes hyper within 15 minutes of being fed, he always has. It cannot be the diet as he is on Hills I/D at present for health reasons and before that he was on Ecannuba Puppy.It is almost like the food gives him an energy boost like a high caffine drink.

Is Sidney fed just before 7pm when your parents settle down for the evening? if this is the case, perhaps feeding a bit earlier and letting him play in the garden for 20 minutes shortly after may help.

There are one or two options that may help.

The first one is a bit controversial

Sidney may benefit from the water gun therapy Your parents sit quietly on the sofa and if he starts his carry on give him a squirt each time he starts up. same with the dining table.

The second one is to put him away in his crate in the kitchen or wherever her sleeps either before your parents settle down for the evening or if he starts to kick off with a 15 minuite time out.

Thirdly, pups can have a problem choking on chews. I have not tried them but a lot of people use a stuffed KONG toy to keep a dog entertained. I have used a ball with treats before but because I have 4 dogs, they squabble and it can be noisey. I think the kong may take his mind off disturbing your parents.

He will get better, honest.

 

[k4tie-d]

sharon sorry your mums still having a bit of trouble

has he got a kong?

i bought smokey one last week and its amazing how long it keeps him occupied. you can stuff it with chicken/biscuits/anything you can think of really.

iv found broken gravy bones and a wee bit cream cheese to stick them together works well.

i use it if i feel ruby and star look like they have had enough of having a smokey dog hanging from their necks lol.

and it will keep him amused for a good half hour (thats if R or S dont help him along)

the only other thing i can think off is to get him a friend :- he would probabily settle down better having had someone to play with all day and then someone to snuggle with all night. probabily not what your mum wants, having trouble with one is enough but it could work :b

good luck, hope yous can get it sorted :huggles:

 

[Esty]

Thanks for all the advice, guys, I'll get my Mum to read through the replies.

Syd has got a Kong but he might not have been given it the past few nights as the stuff'n went nasty in the can. :x Soft cheese is a much better idea, as is the idea of giving him a training lesson in the evenings. He is a clever little fella so it could be boredom. I also suggested a friend for Syd - I think he needs a bitch to show him who's boss - -but my Mum's face said it all, so I don't think he'll be getting a friend soon.

Thanks again

 

[k4tie-d]

Thanks for all the advice, guys, I'll get my Mum to read through the replies.Syd has got a Kong but he might not have been given it the past few nights as the stuff'n went nasty in the can. :x Soft cheese is a much better idea, as is the idea of giving him a training lesson in the evenings. He is a clever little fella so it could be boredom. I also suggested a friend for Syd - I think he needs a bitch to show him who's boss - -but my Mum's face said it all, so I don't think he'll be getting a friend soon.

Thanks again

that stuff'n stuff is awfull, better with cream cheese or peanut butter, dont know if there is anything else anyone uses but i have used both, with cream cheese being the fav. :thumbsup:

 

[Nicola]

As Fee Fee says, I honestly think some mental stimulation could be the key. A short training session of some kind, or a stimulating game (mine love hide the cheese :clown: ), and then settle him down for half an hour with a kong if you don't think chews are safe (the odd pig's ear has never hurt my two). When it is time for him to settle down, be firm but kind.

Good luck. Let us know how he gets on.

 

[TillynPip]

I've got three dogs and I've never had a problem settling them in the evening. However. Gracie (7 months) goes to puppy training classes one evening a week and, by the time we've finished, she crashes out in the car on the way home, stumbles from the car into house and aims for the sofa or fire. She doesn't open her eyes until bedtime walkies and there is no doubt that it is the mental stimulation of clicker training (as Feefee said) and the excitement of seeing the other dogs, which she absolutely adores.

A couple of weeks ago, I was doing a new exercise with her which she just didn't understand and the trainer told me to sit it out as Gracie appeared tired. It was near the end of the class and, sure enough, Gracie curled up and went to sleep for the remaining ten minutes or so. Could your parents enroll Sydney in a class, even if they only go to a few lessons to get the gist of what it's all about and then carry on clicker training at home? They might find that tiring out his head leaves him less energy for whining and being a pain. Just a thought.