Need help with new dog!

[kcmo727]

We recently adopted an adorable Brittany Spaniel/Foxhound (possibly Pointer) mix from our local shelter. Her name is Stella, she is approx. 18 moths old and she is great in so many ways: happy, affectionate, very gentle with the kids, well-behaved, housebroken, not a barker -- her good qualities by far outweigh her bad ones. But here they are: due to her sporting dog background, she LOVES to be outside. I am not interested in an outside dog -- I want her to be a companion but she is constantly whining to go outside so that she can stalk the squirrels, birds etc.

I let her in and out most of the day, which is not so bad but the worst part is that by 5 am :eek: Stella is EXTREMELY anxious to go outside. Does anyone have any advice to help her sleep in until 6, which is our normal wake up time? It is as though she has some inner alarm clock that wakes her up each morning at 4:53 on the dot.

I have tried walking her at night, right before we go to bed but that didn't help. We also tried crating her at night but she howls and whines so loudly that I am afraid she is going to wake up the kids, which would be far worse than having to get up with Stella.

I am always so impressed with the level of dog expertise on this board and I am hoping someone might have some advice for me. I'll try anything!

Thanks!!!

[Goldie]

If she gets enough exercise during the day, she will sleep better at night. You really need to make sure she's getting at least an hour's exercise every day. Some dogs need more - many of the sporting breeds, like other working dogs, are bred to be able to work all day long. They don't do well sitting in the house all the time. As she gets older, this should improve.

The other thing I would suggest is DON'T EVER let her out when she is whining - it only rewards her for whining, and that behavior will get worse. When she is nice and quiet, go get her and take her out.

Good luck with her! Dogs are very adaptable and you can probably work out a routine that works for both of you, but you do have to invest some time in making that happen every day.

[Jessnc]

This is an "after the fact" comment, but I think that before anyone gets a dog, whether it be from a breeder or a shelter, they should know what the breed characteristics are. (excluding mutts, of course) I have done lots of research to determine which breed of dog will fit my lifestyle. Not many dogs would fit my lifestyle - that's the main reason I haven't gotten one for myself yet. It would be unfair to say, get a greyhound knowing you won't run with it daily or have a large fenced in yard for it to run around in. Just an example. Humans have bred certain characteristics into dogs for specific purposes. Specific training will not work to correct every undesirable characteristic.

That said, has your dog been crate trained before? If not, it will take a little while for her to get used to being in a crate. She will whine and bark and whimper in the beginning.

I agree with Goldie - Stella should sleep better at night with sufficient exercise.

My credentials: my parents have 5 dogs, all of which are sighthounds (we have a Stella too :p ) Mom is a dog groomer of 30+ years and sis is a vet tech. They love dogs. They know everything there is to know. I've learned a lot from them and from watching them raise and train their dogs.

Hopefully things work out with you and your little girl. Training definitely takes patience.

[AzAnne]

I have 3 dogs, 2 border collies, one of which is a Stella! And a mini doxie.

I know that if I don't let them out for a little while later in the evening to do their stuff. One of them typically wakes me up either middle of the night or before 4:30.

So maybe your stella is anxious 'cause nature is calling :p

I also agree with the exercise. When we spend a while later in the evening playing ball or frisbee they are pooped!

[nancymaring]

Just briefly...A Tired Dog is a Good Dog...


She needs more exercise then you think...and more then an hours worth.

Also, if she is sleeping through the night, and wakes up...she needs to go potty. Whining right after waking is her way of telling you she needs to go out. It is different then the 'I'm bored, so I'm whining" type of whining. I would take her out to avoid 'training' her to have accidents in the house. Heaven knows, I would hate to have someone tell me to 'go back to sleep' when my bladder goes off in the morning!!!

More later...(I'm not suppose to be on the board...I'm suppose to be making stuff for tomorrow Supper Club!)

nancy

[armel]

I got my dog at 7 months. I instantly started crating her at night. At first she would whine when I put her in there. But I always ignored her.

She wasn't house broken, so in the middle of the night, if she whined, I would take her outside on a leash to do her thing, and then instantly bring her back inside and put her in the crate. If she whined then, I would ignore her.

She quickly learned that whining got her no attention. I wouldn't say her name or talk to her or tell her to be quiet. I totally ignored her (except for the housebreaking stuff).

One thing that I did do, was slowly move back the time in the morning that I took her out.

When I first got her, she would need to go out at midnight and at 5am. Over time, she has adapted to not need to go out in the middle of the night or until I normally get up.

She always gets to go outside last thing in the evening. so that she can sleep through the night. I have also heard that it helps to not give the dog access to food or water after a certain time, then when they do go out the last time, they should be good until morning.

I think my dog knew when daylight was breaking and I have heard that dogs are most active at dusk and daybreak. So I also use to try to keep my room dark so it wouldn't be so noticeable to her. Although she probably could tell from her other senses.

Good luck! I know I was sleep deprived for several months even though my dog wasn't a puppy anymore either. I even got a mug that said "I wish my dog came with a snooze button". She ultimately adjusted to my schedule though.

[JJeannette]

To go along with Armel's suggestion of keeping a room dark--I put a towel over the front door of the carriers my two sleep in--it only comes down over the door at night. If they are crated any other time during the day, the towel stays up---it helps them know when it's time to settle down for the night and makes the carrier more "den-like" for them.

[armel]

To go along with Armel's suggestion of keeping a room dark--I put a towel over the front door of the carriers my two sleep in--it only comes down over the door at night. If they are crated any other time during the day, the towel stays up---it helps them know when it's time to settle down for the night and makes the carrier more "den-like" for them.

What a great idea!

[mcgeiger]

I just got home (6 hours for ONE-yes ONE-surgery today!) so short version...

exercise good (it's a hunting dog!)
crate training very good
regular schedule for elimination (at least to train--walk on leash when get up, eat, wake up, after playing)
if your kids cried for ice cream for breakfast would you give it to them?--she's training you to respond to her whining...

please post with other questions:)

[Arete]

Keep in mind that crate training is not just putting them in the crate and hoping they get used to it. While that will work for some dogs, it's best to start with just a few minutes and build up slowly. One of our dogs (a stray that developed separation anxiety) was very unhappy about the crate training concept, but we started off with her in it for a few minutes while I was in the room doing chores (like putting away laundry, so my attention wasn't on her.) Then we progressed to me leaving the room for the few minutes, then finally increasing the amount of time. Now she LOVES her crate (goes in all the time on her own to take a break from the other dogs) and has zero separation anxiety. Also, it's really important to not make a big deal when you let them out of the crate. Just open the door quietly and walk away. If you pet them, cuddle, make a fuss, then they learn to look forward to you coming to let them out which will make it much harder.

And for the record, that is exactly what you should do when you get home after being away. Let them in (when you decide they should come in, not immediately when you get home) and then ignore them. After they settle down and have gone off on their own, call them over and give them some lovin'. It is amazing how much this helps for all sorts of problems. Our dogs (three total) now wait patiently at the back door when we get home, no barking whining, scratching. After a bit (usually 5-10 minutes) we let them in and they generally just go off to "dog around" until we call them over one at a time to get their lovin'. Occasionally, the youngest (who is a 2.5 y.o. Rhodesian Ridgeback, and can still be a bit of a puppy) will come in and get a case of the "puppy rips" where he runs around like a maniac. We just ignore him (laughing quietly to ourselves, because it's really cute) and when he settles, he gets attention.

And a basic obedience class is always a good idea because it will help your dog learn to listen to you in a crowd, socialize him, and help you remember to practice your training with the dog. All of our dogs go to at least the first level of basic training just so they have a "good education" even though we know enough to do the training by ourselves.

[SusanMac]

I also have a Brittany (btw, they're not spaniels, they're pointers. It's all about the ears, the build & what they do in the field :-) He definitely does love to run, and not necessarily by your side. It's a hunting dog thing.

Maybe this has already been raised & I missed it, but wanted to point out that running around your backyard numerous times a day isn't really enough exercise for a dog. Stella needs at least one full hour of walking or running together with you. If you have a dog park so she can do it w/other dogs, that's also good.

One thing we've trained our dog to do is go back to bed after the morning potty break. So, he wakes up at 5:30 needing to go to the bathroom. We let him out, then we all go back to bed (he goes into the crate) & rest for a bit longer. He may not go back to sleep, but he will lay quietly in his crate since he no longer has a desperate need to pee.

[kcmo727]

Thanks to everyone who replied and gave advice!

How funny that several of you have your own Stella's -- it is a really cute name -- we actually named her after our favorite beer, Stella Artois. :D her original name was Ozzy -- strange choice for a female dog. She didn't respond to it anyway but she has already learned to come to her new name.

After reading this I have come to a few conclusions...Stella is probably not getting enough exercise. We do have another dog and they enjoy running around together and wrestling but for a young dog with her activity level, that is probably not cutting it. I am going to increase her walks and see if that helps. It will certainly be good for me!

I am not sure what to do about crate training...our dogs have always slept with us and I would be sad to have her away from us but since I am sick of getting up at 5am, I will probably try it again. And after reading these posts, I now realize that I wasn't crate training correctly to begin with. I really like jeannette's idea of putting a towel over the crate...that might make it easier for Stella to fall asleep.

Armel, glad to hear that your dog ultimately adjusted to your schedule, that is what I am hoping for and I just need to be patient. Stella is a great little girl and seems quite trainable and eager to please so I know that she will respond to all the great advice given here! She was in the shelter for four months and has been with us for only three weeks so she needs some time as well. Thanka again for all the tips and encouragement!

[avariell]

i wonder if i have been spoiled by owning medium-large dogs throughout my life, but i have never needed to let a dog out to relieve itself because it couldn't make it over night. (excepting, of course, those instances when they might have been ill or maybe an 8 week old puppy) there have always been hunting dogs in my life, so i know how stubborn and outdoorsy they can be. they are also some of the smartest, most loyal, loving animals i have ever had the pleasure of being around :)
i think crate training is a wonderful thing. ignore the barking. let it wake your kids up (i know this advice sucks)... don't give in to the dog and she will grow to consider her crate a safe haven.

instead of taking stella for a walk - can you give her a job? if she likes to retrieve, throw a ball/toy/whatever for her every night or morning or whatever is best for you. this hard exercise can really take the edge off of a sporting dog and allow them to follow some of their natural instincts. depending on how strong her hunting instincts are, be careful when taking her to a park or a place where she won't be a on leash... hunting dogs can catch a scent and take off to follow whatever critter they have noticed with a single minded obsession :)

good luck with stella and congrats on adopting a sweet puppy :)

[armel]

I am not sure what to do about crate training...our dogs have always slept with us and I would be sad to have her away from us but since I am sick of getting up at 5am, I will probably try it again.

Also, just because you crate train in the beginning to get her off on the right foot, doesn't mean it has to be a forever thing either. Now that Gigi loves her crate, I usually let her sleep with me. But it was such a lifesaver in the beginning. [the other dog folks will probably tell you I am doing it all wrong in that I let her sleep with me now.]

But she does like to sleep in her crate too. And that is very convenient.

[Kristilyn1]

Sounds like you got some great advice here. One thing to keep in mind is not every dog likes to sleep with their owners. Our golden who is our daytime shadow---has been refusing to sleep in our room since she was about a year old. When I turn off the downstairs lights, she will go hide in her crate and will only consider coming upstairs when I lovingly call the cat :cool: yes, she's very jealous of the cat. We don't see her again until the alarm goes off in the morning. I would consider "alarm" training her. Like someone said, slowly increase the time that you will get up and take her out---but only have it be after the alarm has gone off. After a while if she's a smart dog she will figure out that it ain't time to go out until the alarm goes off. Even though she doesn't like the crate now, she will probably learn to love it--I know my dog loves hers.

Kristi

[gertdog]

I grew up with a Brittany Spaniel- he was my dad's dove hunting companion, and a wonderful, sweet affectionate dog as well. But really high energy, and a definite need for lots of running and exercise. Stella will likely loooove retrieving and chasing- so that's a good way to get more exercise in.

As for crate training at night- we put Gertie's crate next to our bed when she was a puppy so she could hear and smell us. There were a few nights of whining, but we ignored it and she got used to the crate. Once she was housebroken and "trustworthy" at night, we got a bed for her in our room and she slept there.

[avariell]

Also, just because you crate train in the beginning to get her off on the right foot, doesn't mean it has to be a forever thing either. Now that Gigi loves her crate, I usually let her sleep with me. But it was such a lifesaver in the beginning. [the other dog folks will probably tell you I am doing it all wrong in that I let her sleep with me now.]

But she does like to sleep in her crate too. And that is very convenient.

I actually think you are the perfect example of how crate training really works in the long run... your pet grows to love the crate, but you don't always have to use it. it is more the knowledge that it is an option (like if your dog is sick or you are having visitors or whatever) that makes it great. i don't think it is bad you let her sleep with you at all :)

[varybarry]

Letting your dog sleep with you is not a problem at all, but it's nice to know that you have the crate just in case you need it.

[Grace]

Also, just because you crate train in the beginning to get her off on the right foot, doesn't mean it has to be a forever thing either. Now that Gigi loves her crate, I usually let her sleep with me. But it was such a lifesaver in the beginning. [the other dog folks will probably tell you I am doing it all wrong in that I let her sleep with me now.]

But she does like to sleep in her crate too. And that is very convenient.

I won't tell you you're doing it wrong! We crate trained both our dogs in the beginning, but neither need/use their crates anymore. We even took them apart and put them away. They sleep wherever they want now. One dog sleeps in the living room in front of the window, the other on the floor next to our bed. Once they're trained, I think a crate is optional.

ETA - we do keep one crate assembled in the basement for our one chicken dog. She has to go in there when it's raining or storming. Anywhere else and she's a basket case. In the crate, she's ok. I put a blanket over it so it's dark and enclosed. She's much happier there when it storms. (The other dog sits in the front window and watches the storms!)

[Laurielee]

I agree with Avriell about giving her a job and both Avriel and Susan have good points about excercise. With a dog like this, walks dont cut it. They need to run, so a dog park would be a good idea. My dog is 9 now and she still has to run. A couple of days of walks and she is read to go beserk, luckily we an area we can let her run and ger her excess energy out.

Laurie

[Grace]

I also agree with Laurie. My two labs MUST run every day. Walking is like doing nothing pretty much. Fortunately I also have a 14 acre park across the street where they can run off leash. We go out every night (very late when no one else is out). They go nutty in the house though when it rains for a few days and they can't go out and run. Dogs need to run, not just walk.

[JJeannette]

I see that you've only had Stella for about 3 weeks---you're all still in the "adjustent" period! And she was at the shelter for 4 month--long enough for her to get used to the routine there; now she has to learn a new routine--it takes time--.:)

[armel]

Good to hear that others think it is ok for the pupster to be able to sleep with me now. I had a dog behaviorist and trainer tell me that I absolutely should NOT be letting her sleep with me. But I just didn't listen to them. I like having her sleep on the bed when she wants to.

[ljt2r]

Good to hear that others think it is ok for the pupster to be able to sleep with me now. I had a dog behaviorist and trainer tell me that I absolutely should NOT be letting her sleep with me. But I just didn't listen to them. I like having her sleep on the bed when she wants to.

The idea is that it can make them think they are equal to you, rather than subordinate. But IMHO if you are thoroughly dominant in all other facets of their lives, I don't see how it can hurt. I love having dogs on the bed--although DH and I got a king size bed when we realized we were running out of space! :D But trust me, my dogs don't think they are in charge. They just enjoy a good snuggle every night.

However, going back to the OP, in light of your enjoying them in bed, that is all the more reason to not let the dog train YOU with her whining to go out. I agree with what everyone said about exercise, and I also second the the thought that dogs can be trained to go quite a long time without going outside for the bathroom. The trainer may have been concerned that you need to firmly establish yourself as "top dog." :p

Laura