My Canine Is Sadly Learning She Is A Canine.

[RussH]

My dog, Tia, is a rescue dog we aquired about two months ago. It is obvious that the previous owner did nothing to train her, so we are doing it. She has always assumed that she is a people, but sadly, she has to learn she is not a people but in fact a dog (common usage of the word)

She is no longer allowed on the furniture until she learns her manners, and she is not real happy about having to learn this lesson.

I am sure there is a lesson in this for us humans, but I haven't seen it yet.

 

[Britt.f7]

We had a rescue dog from Chicago who thought it was normal to poo in the basement. Once we got that worked out, she did well. She had a lot of issues but she was well worth it. I hope you feel the same.

 

[Chava]

Love my rescue dog...such a wonderful buddy! He's a big dog and sleeps on the floor (thank goodness), but probably for the first week he wanted to sleep on my bed....he just felt so happy to have a human. Once he adapted, he was simply more comfy on his own rug. Probably your dog wants/needs to be close (and probably prefers furniture). Do you have a doggie bed or cushion in the living room, near the humans? Maybe give her treats and sit on the floor and give her some extra snuggles and attention in her doggie space? My dog feels weird on the couch, so I don't have that problem, but I give him lots of attention in his doggie plane. Especially new rescue dogs need lots of love. She'll want to do right by you, but give her lots of snuggles...turning on that emotional connection to you will help her follow your cues and learn. And congrats....I love, love, love my fur orphans!

 

[RussH]

We are glad to have her, and we have been letting her on the funiture, and she has had a few accidents that we have been dealing with. I talked with a trainer, and she made a suggestion which we are following, but today was the "last straw". Until she is fully housebroken she is not going to be allowed on the funiture.

We did put down a pillow for her, and made her stay on it for a little while, and now when she tries to get on the furniture I tell her no, and put her on the bed.

She really is a sweet natured, but very yippy, dog, and we do enjoy her, she just has to learn her manners, and realize she is a dog and not a person.

 

[Springer80]

I wish I had a puppy dog. I suppose the trick is making her feel just as special in this new 'dog is dog' world.

 

[KwanYingirl]

My service dog needs more training I can't afford it right now. Treats and positive rewards work the best to train dogs. Annie occasionally poos inside but that's because I space out and forget to take her out

Good luck. My dog is my best friend. And since she is a service dog she can go anywhere with me.

 

[Friday]

I'm a terrible person.
I don't let people pee on my furniture, either.
Zzzzzt! Off! Off!
;)

 

[RussH]

don't let people pee on my furniture, either.

If they tried they would be consigned to the floor as well

 

[FindingMyself88]

My service dog in training was a rescue! She doesn't like getting on the couch, but does because she and I are both better off with her up against me. She loves the contact and it helps keep me grounded. Thankfully she was house trained when we got her. She has had 3 accidents, but those were because I wasn't able to take her out.

We are working on her separation anxiety though (and mine too I guess lol). She doesn't go with me to therapy due to doing EMDR and needing to focus. She whines and barks while I'm gone. I also get anxious without her.

Our biggest thing right now though is her distraction to other dogs and her come while distractions are around. She got loose yesterday and she isn't use to being an outside dog… she ran around the whole entire apartment complex! I chased her BAREFOOT on hot asphalt! Needless to say she came back, but I have burn blisters on my feet and can barely walk :(…. Needs serious work on come!

But otherwise she really is doing GREAT considering I've only had her 2 months and she had no prior training! She already has most of her basics down and 4 of her tasks. She goes everywhere aside from therapy with me!

 

[Chava]

Peeing on furniture isn't cool. Is she anxious or reacting to not being allowed on it? Does she pee elsewhere inside or is she focused on specific pieces of furniture? Glad you have contact with a trainer.

Give her lots of snuggles, play and wear her out, get her running around in the yard and give her treats for paying (and peeing) and reward her with fatty or healthy mellowing treats (my big high-energy dog loves the fat trimmed off a steak or a greasy cow knee cap or egg...maybe peanut butter or egg is better for small dog tummies??). My dog is great in the house but the training has gone both ways...he has high energy needs and doesn't do well with extremes of boredom or over-stimulation...so I have trained him but also learned about his needs and adapted some for him, like I walk or run with him daily (he trains me in helpful ways!). Other dogs need less exercise but other kinds of stimulation, more contact, more security, whatever....takes a little time to figure out, especially when they cam from somewhere else. But contact and play/exercise can help curb anxious behavior....especially if she's sort of an adolescent, like so many rescue dogs.

 

[KwanYingirl]

In Maine the women's prison trains service dogs. They spend their first year with a foster family to get socialized, then the inmates teach each one for the person who will be getting that dog.

 

[marylouise]

My five year old godson is learning not to stand on the couch. He doesn't like it. I suspect the training is similar to that of your rescue dog. We are all trained really. : ) And I'm better with kids - and, yes, my husband - for having had dogs growing up.