Introduction

[Arti]

Hi
This is the first time I have joined a forum, so I am a little out of touch let's say. But I thought it would be good for my little one. So let's see how it goes .... hopefully really amazing.

He is a gorgeous little adult puppy... he is 14 months and his name is raffie. I did a DNA test on him as he was a rescue dog at 18 weeks old. His dad was a pure American staffordshirebull terrier so he is and his mother was a cross of an American Staffordshire and galgo espanol and whippet.

So he's 85% staff- where he is really loving and playful, he flies high and has that kind of colouring like the whippet and he can run fast like the galgo espanol.

So he is pretty well rounded. I was after getting a small dog and I spoke to my partner about this and we were just having a look and we saw raffie on the net and he was falsely advertised, we went to see him and when we saw what condition he was in we couldn't just walk away, after all it was Valentine's Day and Cupid struck. So we took him home and looked after him. It took a while but as he wasn't vaccinated and hadnt really been outside before and at this point he was 18 weeks old. So we got him checked out and microchipped- vaccinated him, wormed and finally got him out.

The only problem is that he still bites. He has learnt bite inhibition with me. I give him lots of toys and he understands with me. But to my partner he finds it really fun. I have explained to my partner that he needs to control him but he doesn't get it really.

Raffie is a really good dog but my partner really doesn't make it easy as he really doesn't get him at all. He enjoys when raffie is sleepy then they will sleep or chill with each other, but other than my partner is basically undoing all my hard work eg

I taught raffie to sleep in his own bed which took a lot. But after a while my partner put him in my bed and now raffie sleeps on my bed!!!!!

I taught raffie that when I come in from outside to sit rather than leaping at me. So he started to wag his tail for take off but he would be on the floor so he wanting me to stroke him. But my partner will come back and he will jump all over him, start biting his clothes and within a few minutes my partner gets upset and I have to sort it out but getting raffie and distracting him. But is so tiresome.

Raffie will start jumping on him while we are watching tv and my partners arm keeps sort of pushing him away! And it's like come on everyday I explain this to you.

It has got to the point where it's like him or the dog and sadly I choose raffie.

I have tried to tell him to talk to my dog walking friends but he hasn't done that,. Anyway sorry when off on one. But it's difficult to explain it to people around me as they do not have dogs. Plus my partner doesn't get it. And now because raffie was acting like that coupled with his crying if I leave him alone at my mothers house, my mother has said he can't go over there anymore.

So he doesn't get enough human interaction. So I thought I would get some advise from people who maybe understNd where I am coming from.

Thanks

 

[JoanneF]

It sounds like you are having a tough time - sorry to hear that.

Dogs learn a lot faster if everyone is consistent. So I'm afraid if your partner is staying, you need to have a serious discussion. My favoured approach to mouthing is that teeth on skin = end of play; so as soon as that happens, walk out of the room. You don't have to stay out for long but you both need to do exactly the same thing consistently to drive home the message. Alternatives include putting a toy in his mouth as an alternative, or saying "ouch" like a puppy squeal, but I think these can just ramp up the excitement.

I'm not entirely sure what your question is relating to him being at your mother's. Do you mean he is left alone and crying, or your mother is there and he cries anyway, or is it not an issue because he won't be going there anymore?

 

[Josie]

Welcome to the forum @Arti and thanks for your introduction.

I'm afraid I don't have much to offer on this subject other than he's very handsome and you'll get lots of great advice from others

 

[Mad Murphy]

Oh dear , its sounds as if Raffie has been getting very mixed messages. Dogs/puppies often choose a favourite chew victim. I was Murphy's and even though OH and I were on the same page and did the same thing when Murphy bit he still bit me 99 times more often than he bit OH..
It was painful but you have to say 'it will pass'and with training it does.

The crying could be S.A ? there are other people here who know more about that than me. But again with training you should be able to get past it.

Good luck and I hope you find the support you are seeking.

 

[Arti]

It sounds like you are having a tough time - sorry to hear that.

Dogs learn a lot faster if everyone is consistent. So I'm afraid if your partner is staying, you need to have a serious discussion. My favoured approach to mouthing is that teeth on skin = end of play; so as soon as that happens, walk out of the room. You don't have to stay out for long but you both need to do exactly the same thing consistently to drive home the message. Alternatives include putting a toy in his mouth as an alternative, or saying "ouch" like a puppy squeal, but I think these can just ramp up the excitement.

I'm not entirely sure what your question is relating to him being at your mother's. Do you mean he is left alone and crying, or your mother is there and he cries anyway, or is it not an issue because he won't be going there anymore?

About my mother: he cries if I leave. Or if I put him in the garden while we are eating. When he goes there he starts to act up like he does when he with my partner so he may jump up and she doesn't like it. But I will calm him down but he's just playing. But as soon as he can't see me he just cries.

But yeah we won't be going there anymore, but it just means that when I have to go out for a long period of time it used to help that I could go there but now i just exhaust him out and just keep an eye on him with out dog camera and I leave my jumper with him and he seems to just sleep.

 

[JudyN]

Welcome - Raffie sounds like a wonderful dog and you're clearly a wonderful owner. It's a shame your partner is less easily trained.

You say he doesn't get enough human interaction - presumably he interacts with your dog-walking friends? Can you take him to visit friends in their houses, pop into any local shops or businesses that allow dogs in - maybe a pet shop? What is he like with other people in general? What is he like when people come to your house?

Does he bite and jump up on anyone other than your partner? If not, I'd say you might be able to live with the situation if your partner can put up with being bitten or jumped up on. If on the other hand he gets angry with Raffie then that's obviously not fair on Raffie. You might even need to rehome him - your partner that is, not Raffie

If you can give some more information about Raffie crying when being left, we'll be able to help.

 

[Arti]

Oh dear , its sounds as if Raffie has been getting very mixed messages. Dogs/puppies often choose a favourite chew victim. I was Murphy's and even though OH and I were on the same page and did the same thing when Murphy bit he still bit me 99 times more often than he bit OH..
It was painful but you have to say 'it will pass'and with training it does.

The crying could be S.A ? there are other people here who know more about that than me. But again with training you should be able to get past it.

Good luck and I hope you find the support you are seeking.

Well I'm glad I am not his chew victim... but that does help.

Thanks.

I hope he gets it soon.

Even when my partner just tries to pet him he just loves to try and bite him with a wagging tail. He will makes the funniest noises - it's been said he sounds like a duck lol

 

[JudyN]

If you can give some more information about Raffie crying when being left, we'll be able to help.

Sorry, I've just seen your reply. It sounds like he's OK left on his own in your house, which is great. Maybe it would work if he had a dog playpen at your mum's or a crate, or a stairgate he could go behind when you're eating. And you could keep him on a lead in the house to stop him jumping up on him. Teaching him to 'settle' will help too. If she's adamant that he can't visit her at the moment, maybe she will relent in the future when he's more mature and calmer.

 

[Arti]

Welcome - Raffie sounds like a wonderful dog and you're clearly a wonderful owner. It's a shame your partner is less easily trained.

You say he doesn't get enough human interaction - presumably he interacts with your dog-walking friends? Can you take him to visit friends in their houses, pop into any local shops or businesses that allow dogs in - maybe a pet shop? What is he like with other people in general? What is he like when people come to your house?

Does he bite and jump up on anyone other than your partner? If not, I'd say you might be able to live with the situation if your partner can put up with being bitten or jumped up on. If on the other hand he gets angry with Raffie then that's obviously not fair on Raffie. You might even need to rehome him - your partner that is, not Raffie

If you can give some more information about Raffie crying when being left, we'll be able to help.

Hi thanks

When I go with my dog walking friends he's only interested in playing with the dogs. In this particular group there are a few ladies who just keep to themselves so they don't really greet raffie but we all walk together anyway as raffie gets along with the dogs so I just go with it. There are a few people who are great but raffie won't really go up to them he just goes to the dogs. When their dogs come over I make a point of greeting them all and give out some treats but when the occasional time one of the ladies dish out treats he will be there but he's not interested in the treats. So he doesn't get one as the other dogs are just getting excited.

I do make an effort if for example a kid is running around and starts to point and get excited when they see him. I will give them a treat and let them give it to him.

He doesn't jump up at people if he's off lead. But there were a few kids that I used to take to the park when I first got him, and he did do his mouthing. But I don't see them anymore because of school times and my work times conflict.

But I don't have people who would allow dogs in their houses unfortunately apart from mum as everyone is there but now that's not happening.

And where I take him on the other side of town most of those dog walkers do not like to let their dogs play. They have them on a tight leash so just need to find some fun dog walkers.

With the crying, once I walk him and leave the house he only now cries a tiny bit and then just sleeps. I monitored him on the camera for a few months so I am satisfied with that now. Before he used to get to howling stages.

But now if I am in the house and I go for a shower for instance. He will be crying.

Or if I do anything basically while he's in the house he needs to be near or he will cry. When I eat sometimes I just close my door and he will just cry and sit outside.

 

[JoanneF]

Or if I do anything basically while he's in the house he needs to be near or he will cry.

It is a good idea to teach independence so he doesn't get so anxious when you are out of sight. Like JudyN said, baby gates are helpful, and slowly building up time he is not Velcroed to you. Find a time when he is relaxed and not actually interacting with you (to make the contrast less noticeable) and step out of the room. Aim to be back before he gets upset. You are trying for him to have a "you're back, I hadn't realised you were gone" reaction. Try to praise him for quiet calm behaviour. Slowly build up the time you are out of the room.

On the subject of people, I'm not completely sure what your goal is. My view is that it is great if a dog is dog and person neutral, he doesn't have to socialise with every person and every dog (we don't greet every stranger in the street). At 14 months, just be aware that he will have lost his puppy license so he is at the age that other dogs may become less tolerant of play.

If you want him tired, exercise isn't always the best approach. All that does is gives you a super fit adrenaline junkie that you cannot physically tire. Training (obedience, scentwork, tricks) all tire out a dog mentally which is a lot more effective than physical exercise.

 

[JudyN]

As long as he's not uncomfortable with other people, that's fine. If he doesn't enjoy being petted by other people that's fine too - don't let people pet him if you can see he'd rather they didn't, or one day he might tell them himself I find most people who try to pet my dog without even asking are completely oblivious to him rolling his eyes and backing off. I feel like biting them myself at times

As JoanneF says, work on separation within the house gradually, but don't push too hard. If you stick him behind a stairgate and he gets upset because he can't be near you, he'll end up feeling more insecure and will want to stick close even more. My dog used to follow me around the whole time, but in time he was more interested in being in the comfiest spot. When he's lying in the sunny spot is a good time to wander off into another room

 

[arealhuman]

Welcome to the forum. As a first time dog owner of a rescue dog with its own will, I would definitely say consistency is key. Both you and your partner will need to use the same words for commands (e.g. "down" to lie down, or get off furniture, not both) and the same behaviours to discourage things like the nipping. I can see you have some great advice already, and I'm sure more will follow. Keep us all updated as to how it goes.