Post by dino_v_f1 on Jul 23, 2011 22:31:23 GMT -5
I'm starting this thread for any new Doberman owners and for anyone that is having trouble leaving their Dobe home alone and out of the create.
Working in the residential property management industry, I see a lot of neglected pets in my buildings. It usually does not bother me, but this week while having major work done in one of my buildings, I met a Siberian Husky that was the sweetest little girl. She has a great temperament, she is super friendly and like I said very sweet.
I was observing the Husky while my tenant was home and she appeared to be very happy and relaxed. Here is where it goes downhill though. The tenant and her daughter were leaving to go out for a bike ride and they did not take their little Husky out for a pee and poop break before leaving her home alone. As soon as they left, she made sure to lay 3 fresh ones on the living room floor and peed in a few spots too. I find this behaviour very unsettling because it could be avoided if the pup was create trained and got some real exercise. She also exhibits separation anxiety and quietly whined and howled while her "guardian" was away.
The next day, my guys were still working in the unit so I popped in to see how work was going and to also see how the Husky was. The tenant was getting ready to go out again without taking her Husky out for a bathroom break. So, like any concerned animal lover, I politely recommend that she take her dog out for a bathroom break before she leaves and to also take the time out to create train her dog and take her across the street to play some fetch. She agreed with me, but said she is too busy to do that.
All that being said, here is my real point to this thread. Leaving your dog home alone for the first time out of their create, but with limited access to the house can be a bit stressful. You're worried about leather couches, your hardwood floors, your bed and anything else your Dobe can manage to get into. But if you have taken the time to crate train your dog and properly house break them, then leaving them home alone and taking baby steps will make it a breeze.
We sometimes leave Dutch, our 2 year old Doberman home alone for as long as 8 hours during the day and all he wants to do is sleep - on our bed. I make sure he gets loads of off leash exercise in the morning and I slowly got him accustomed to staying home alone out of his create by giving him short periods of time in the house alone after relieving his self and some proper off leash exercise so he can have anxiety free roam of our house - which he does.
My tips for leaving your companion home alone are:
1)Make sure your pup is create trained and house broken
2)Off leash exercise to tire them out is a must. A tired dog is a happy dog
3)Start with 15 min stays at home alone and slowly work your way up from there
4)Never make a big deal when you leave or arrive home from being out this will just induce anxiety. When I leave the house, Dutch knows when he is coming and when he is not and he never makes a big deal regardless of the situation. When I get home from work he greats me in a very calm and happy manner. Just the way like my dogs, calm and happy.
5)Make sure they have their favourite toys and a fresh bowl of water and leave some treats around. Your dog needs to know what is his to play with and what he can not touch. I don"t have to put any of my shoes away. I taught him a very young age what belongs to him and what does not.
I started leaving Dutch, home alone uncreated at 15 months and he is always well behaved when we are out. Oh, except for that time one of my workers came in unannounced through the back stairs and Dutch had him cornered in a bark and hold in the back room, but I'll share that story on a different thread. It's a great one with a peaceful out come.
Dino V
Havoc Vom Dobereich "Dutch"
Just Because I Don't Bark, does not mean I'm not Home
Working in the residential property management industry, I see a lot of neglected pets in my buildings. It usually does not bother me, but this week while having major work done in one of my buildings, I met a Siberian Husky that was the sweetest little girl. She has a great temperament, she is super friendly and like I said very sweet.
I was observing the Husky while my tenant was home and she appeared to be very happy and relaxed. Here is where it goes downhill though. The tenant and her daughter were leaving to go out for a bike ride and they did not take their little Husky out for a pee and poop break before leaving her home alone. As soon as they left, she made sure to lay 3 fresh ones on the living room floor and peed in a few spots too. I find this behaviour very unsettling because it could be avoided if the pup was create trained and got some real exercise. She also exhibits separation anxiety and quietly whined and howled while her "guardian" was away.
The next day, my guys were still working in the unit so I popped in to see how work was going and to also see how the Husky was. The tenant was getting ready to go out again without taking her Husky out for a bathroom break. So, like any concerned animal lover, I politely recommend that she take her dog out for a bathroom break before she leaves and to also take the time out to create train her dog and take her across the street to play some fetch. She agreed with me, but said she is too busy to do that.
All that being said, here is my real point to this thread. Leaving your dog home alone for the first time out of their create, but with limited access to the house can be a bit stressful. You're worried about leather couches, your hardwood floors, your bed and anything else your Dobe can manage to get into. But if you have taken the time to crate train your dog and properly house break them, then leaving them home alone and taking baby steps will make it a breeze.
We sometimes leave Dutch, our 2 year old Doberman home alone for as long as 8 hours during the day and all he wants to do is sleep - on our bed. I make sure he gets loads of off leash exercise in the morning and I slowly got him accustomed to staying home alone out of his create by giving him short periods of time in the house alone after relieving his self and some proper off leash exercise so he can have anxiety free roam of our house - which he does.
My tips for leaving your companion home alone are:
1)Make sure your pup is create trained and house broken
2)Off leash exercise to tire them out is a must. A tired dog is a happy dog
3)Start with 15 min stays at home alone and slowly work your way up from there
4)Never make a big deal when you leave or arrive home from being out this will just induce anxiety. When I leave the house, Dutch knows when he is coming and when he is not and he never makes a big deal regardless of the situation. When I get home from work he greats me in a very calm and happy manner. Just the way like my dogs, calm and happy.
5)Make sure they have their favourite toys and a fresh bowl of water and leave some treats around. Your dog needs to know what is his to play with and what he can not touch. I don"t have to put any of my shoes away. I taught him a very young age what belongs to him and what does not.
I started leaving Dutch, home alone uncreated at 15 months and he is always well behaved when we are out. Oh, except for that time one of my workers came in unannounced through the back stairs and Dutch had him cornered in a bark and hold in the back room, but I'll share that story on a different thread. It's a great one with a peaceful out come.
Dino V
Havoc Vom Dobereich "Dutch"
Just Because I Don't Bark, does not mean I'm not Home