advice, please

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Wheaty

New member
Meet Milo - a 4.5 yo intact Newf dog who adopted me last Saturday. He instantly took to following me when we met him at his foster home, bounced ahead to my car and sat patiently waiting to get into the car boot.

So far, Milo has won our hearts and we all love him as if we had known him for ages.

He doesn't chew, doesn't countersurf, doesn't beg at the table, doesn't steal food/treats even if he knows where they are and they are in his reach. Also, whilst he drools, there have been no booger slingers sticking even to the walls much less ceiling, and we haven't found a single Newf hair in the food - though he does shed, and we do groom him daily.

Now the problems are... Sorry, TBC in a few minutes.
 
W

Wheaty

New member
Milo pulls on the leash. And I mean PULLS. The first time I took him out I had to jog after him to keep up. I would LOVE to let him run around off leash but he hasn't been trained to come. And he is OBSESSED with other dogs. We have been told he can't live with another male dog because he hated a male Great Dane in the foster home, whilst getting along with 3 Newf bitches there. But when out and about, he thrusts himself on ANY dog we meet. An I can't stop him; my 110 lb of flesh are no match to his150 lbs.

I tried Halti. He HATED it. I went through the routine of offering him a treat through the Halti, then letting Halti touch his muzzle, then putting it on. After 2 days of work, I succeeded in putting it on. He wouldn't leave the house until he pulled it off with his paws. Get it on. Pull it off. Repeat 3 more times. I took him out with the muzzle part of Halti off, dangling under his chin, under the theory that he would get used to it. He chewed his way through half of the width of the muzzle strip. Go fig.

Walking is necessity because he doesn't open his bowels in the garden. But I'm dreading walks because there are a few dogs in the neighbourhood, and he has reacted to every single one of them. Twice he pulled me along, and went right to the other dog's butt. Did he say hello? I don't know. I know the other dogs get angry (growling and barking), he starts barking, they appear to fight and the other owner threatens to break my dog's neck.

I love walking and I had been looking forward to walking him. But I'm dreading our walks now.

An APDT dog trainer is visiting on Sunday to look into the situation. I'm also having him neutered on Monday. Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

He also ONLY EATS FROM HANDS. No bowls. I find it adorable, but wonder how sustainable this is in the future. Any advice?

Finally, he doesn't appear to know how to play with any toys. He finally learned to get squeaky eggs out of a plush Kujen platypus dog toy, but he would most happily just chew on it, making it squeak in his mouth. He doesn't have a clue what to do with a ball, other than carry it around for a while and hide it in his place. He STILL hasn't learned to get kibble out of his Kong Wobbler, and just sits there waiting for us to roll the toy around so that the kibble spills out. He does appear to like tug of war, but hasn't been taught to give (though making s good progress)
And he liked chasing my kids around the garden.

Oh, and his patience for grooming sessions doesn't exceed 10 min at a time. So there are a few mats we still need to work through.

He doesn't bark, and is VERY good with No and Leave it or Stop commands (unless I'm trying to stop him from meeting another dog). He is an unbelievably sweet dog, and a true Velcro Newf, following me everywhere in the house and garden. He cried after I'd left him in the house for the first few times, but even this I'd getting better as he seems to have learned that Mummy always comes back.

If it hadn't been for the issues with other fogs and pulling on the leash, I would have had the most behaved dog in the world. I can even deal with handfeeding issue. Please help.
 
fall3n-ang3l

fall3n-ang3l

New member
First of all the link doesn't work,it asks for permission lol
I use a dogmatic headcollar on bernie,there supposed to be a lot better, specially with dogs with muzzles like Newfies, other than that,you can get harness to help to stop pulling, bernie does pull but the dogmatic has helped a lot, he does run up to dogs but he's on a long line and if I see a dog, I get hold of the long line and keep hold of it, if the dogs get closer than I pull him close and practice heel, I also get extra special yummy treats and hold them in my hand,so he can smell them and he keeps close,( I also put his lead on his dogmatic as well) we did have a break through the other day, I was speaking to a woman who had a dog and we were stood a few feet away from her and I got bernie to sit and he was brilliant, he was sat there, not whining not trying to get to,the dog and he was just brilliant, every now and then he got a treat and a 'good boy' wether he keeps it up,is a different matter but he's done it once and I was so proud!

As for the hand feeding, personally I would stop that, I would put his food in the bowl and just leave it, bernie gets his morning feed in a treat ball, so it gives him something to do when I do the school run, have you tried one of them? They is different setting on them,so you could make it really easy,put some very smelly treats in there so he can smell them,bernie has the kong wobbler and it did take him a while to get used to it,as for playing with toys, bernie isn't a ball kind of dog, he loves playing tug, he could do that all day
 
victoria1140

victoria1140

Active member
Try a different type bowl in a different p!ace,if you are using stainless try ceramic or glass.

I have a dogmatic for Max due to his breathing issues but did prefer a gencon.also what type to lead are you using.l have a police training style one so l can make it shorter or longer as required.

Toys l have rescues here that wouldn't know or understand a toy if it bit them in the butt. He probably just doesn't understand them.

Stop him chasing the kids around the garden as its probably going to increase his excitability.

Start training in the house on a lead so you are in control and its a safe environment.

Also perhaps shorter and more walks for a bit until you see the behaviourist
Perserverance is so important and baby steps.

Sounds like he just needs a few kinks ironing out of his system and has fallen on his feet.
 
Ksullivan

Ksullivan

New member
I found that walking Sully on his lead if he got pulling, to turn and go the other direction, and keep doing this. It changes their thought pattern, and teaches them to stay with you.
 
CathyC.

CathyC.

New member
You can also try holding a treat in your hand while walking and rewarding him for being in the proper position or for giving you eye contact. Also reward for leave it when dogs are near. If you see a dog instruct him to sit. Keep him distracted with training.
 
dreamchaser456

dreamchaser456

New member
When I am in "training" mode with an adult newf, I use a slip collar for control. As soon as he begins to pull, take a step sideways away from him, it takes him off balance a bit and will help to refocus his attention back on you. He also can't use HIS weight if you pull sideways and he's off balance. I adopted an untrained 2 yo seven months ago that is also dog reactive. If stepping sideways doesn't refocus him, then make several right turns (it keeps him off balance and requires his attention on you). Do NOT try to pull him back... instinct will have him wanting to pull forward even more.
The trainer coming will be able to give you more specific things to do that will help you gain control also. This will be a process that will likely combine positive "command" training along with some corrections (as in stepping sideways when he pulls).
As long as the garden has enough room for him to move around, you can walk him around that on lead until he has a bowel movement, plus use that time as training.
I would stop hand feeding at once, when he gets hungry, he will eat!
As far as toys are concerned, my boy is just now learning what they are, he still doesn't know what to do with squeaky toys but is learning to play with a ball and a rope.
It takes 4 to 8 weeks for them to really adjust to a new home so you may see more "fun" play in time. When Kota came we also had to deal with mats in lots of very short sessions and small treats!
Kota is almost completely over his dog reactivity now and will hold a heel or sit/stay around new dogs so there is hope!
 
Murphy

Murphy

New member
Plenty of great suggestions and is clearly is not a one time problem/solution... But lots of controversy ......look it up.. Prong collar... and no it doesn't hurt... I would strangle myself before hurting a dog. It all comes down to proper training and use. Like I said.. there is loads of information here.. check it out and good luck.
 
W

Wheaty

New member
Thank you everyone for advice - lots of great suggestion s, worth a try.

Handfeeding mystery solved - he can eat raw food from the bowl. When I tried mixing it with kibble, though, he carefully separated the two and left the kibble in the bowl. I can't afford feeding him raw diet, though!
 
Keira25

Keira25

Member
Murphy said:
Plenty of great suggestions and is clearly is not a one time problem/solution... But lots of controversy ......look it up.. Prong collar... and no it doesn't hurt... I would strangle myself before hurting a dog. It all comes down to proper training and use. Like I said.. there is loads of information here.. check it out and good luck.
Click to expand...
I have to second trying out the prong collar, particularly in a situation with a 4.5 year old strong male dog. It may save you from a serious injury, like pulling your arm out of its socket, etc. You will also have a safer walk with your dog because you will have more control over him, especially since he loves to go visit other dogs. If you try it, get professional advice on how to fit and use it properly, and buy a quality brand like Sprenger. The tips are rounded smooth balls. Cheaper ones at Petsmart etc. may be sharper at the point. Good luck.
 
Angela

Angela

Super Moderator
I don't think prong collars which are a godsend to your situation are available much in England, are they?
 
jacqueline

jacqueline

New member
such a cutie , I use an easy walk harness on my boy , works well for us , keep us updated on his progress , and good luck ,
Jacqui,x
 
W

Wheaty

New member
Thank you - I thought about the prong collars, but hesitated due to the huge controversy surrounding them over here. I am happy that veteran Newf lovers back them up! I only want the best for my boy, but you would not let the kids run the house just because you love them, would you? That's not what parental love is about. I think it is the same thing here.

BTW, is it normal how Milo chose me and immediately got attached to me? I mean, he will play with my kids and listen to my husband, and he is not at all possessive about me. But when I'm in the room, he only has eyes for me. If he could, he would follow me to the loo! People can come in and out of the house and he doesn't even move his head. But if I move even 1 meter, he would get up and lay down right next to me. Weird?
 
victoria1140

victoria1140

Active member
Completely normal on the attachment.malc gets up in the morning ,no one moves.

I get up and an entourage follows
 
dreamchaser456

dreamchaser456

New member
Perfectly normal that he has "attached" to you. While our newfs are wonderful family animals, they do seem to favor one person the most. Of our 3, one is daddy's girl all the way (and I'm the trainer in the house so it's not because of interacting more) and the other two are mine. (And I can't go to the loo without at least one of them coming along since they all know how to open doors even if I close it, lol)
 
Murphy

Murphy

New member
Keira25 said:
I have to second trying out the prong collar, particularly in a situation with a 4.5 year old strong male dog. It may save you from a serious injury, like pulling your arm out of its socket, etc. You will also have a safer walk with your dog because you will have more control over him, especially since he loves to go visit other dogs. If you try it, get professional advice on how to fit and use it properly, and buy a quality brand like Sprenger. The tips are rounded smooth balls. Cheaper ones at Petsmart etc. may be sharper at the point. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Excellent point about the better product and training !!!!!
(Sprenger) That's what my boys had. !! :bear:
 
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