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 | Matthew “Uncle Matty” Margolis I've been working with a 1-year-old Weimaraner. His owners started looking for a trainer after he did more than $10,000 worth of damage to two living room sofas. After.
When I visited their home for the first time, I walked into the living room and couldn't believe my eyes. It looked like a supersized shredder had attacked the couches. They were more foam than furniture.
The owners described the problems they were having with their dog -- jumping, barking, chewing, stealing food, knocking over the kids and guests. The irony, of course, is that for a year they had dismissed the idea of dog training because they didn't want to spend the money.
These folks were under the impression that their oversized pup would grow out of it soon. Two things about that: 1) Dogs mature around age 2 to 2-and-a-half. 2) Puppies grow into -- not out of -- bad habits left unchecked.
They told me their beloved Weimaraner acted out when home alone because he was "angry" that they left him. I assured them he was not angry, and that it was much more likely that he had no reason to think they cared about the state of their house.
When a puppy is left alone with free rein of the house and no boundaries to speak of, how is he to know what's what?
They explained their quandary: They can't leave him outside in the yard because the neighbors complain about his constant barking. And they don't feel comfortable leaving him in a crate inside because they worry that he's bored and lonely.
Here comes the benefit of calling a professional: options.
For the barking problem, I recommend the citronella collar as an effective training tool. When the dog barks, the collar emits a short burst of citronella spray. The dog dislikes the spray and stops barking. Eventually, he gets the idea that he can avoid the spray entirely by not barking. Your neighbors start sending you flowers instead of hate mail.
The crate is an effective tool to use while your puppy is growing up, being housebroken, adjusting to the house rules and undergoing training. No puppy should have the run of the house, especially when home alone.
A crate should never be used as a punishment. Your dog's crate should be a comfortable, safe, welcoming place that he enjoys. And it's perfectly safe to leave him there for a few hours while you're out. In fact, it's probably the safest place for him.
Ultimately, though, training is the tool that will give you the degree of trust you want before you leave your dog alone in a house full of expensive -- or inexpensive -- furniture. Destruction is the No. 2 problem people have with their dogs. Training is the No. 1 way to eliminate it.
Woof!
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Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is the co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and the host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.
Copyright 2011 Creators Syndicate Inc.
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