Dog trainer recs?

oliviosis

Help!  My husband's dog hates me...or something.  He's been acting out since I moved in after our December wedding and it seems to be getting worse each day!  He's not aggressive but has become destructive when we leave him home alone or just when my husband is not at home and I'm in the other room.

Anyway, we need a dog trainer!  Have any of you used one locally?  It has to be someone who can come to the house.  No group classes because the dog is deaf (which creates a whole different set of issues you'd never think of).

lauren&matt

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you're having problems but SO happy to hear that you're trying to work them out.  I don't have any trainer recs, but I would suggest asking your vet and/or the place where you might board your dog.  

GL!  I had the names of a few, before I had my baby (thinking I might need a behaviorist... fortunately I did not.)  Not sure where I put that list.

futuremrs.huff

Awww that sucks...poor disabled, separation anxiety doggy!!! I have no recommendations (my dog flunked out of puppy obedience school at petsmart). You should make a video and submit it to the dog whisperer!! I know it's crazy, but it could be a fun project for you and the hubby. Sorry I'm not much help.

oliviosis

Thanks ladies! 

Trust me..I have thought about making videos to send into the Dog Whisperer!  We found some trainers through my husband's co-workers so hopefully we'll get the dog on track!  The list of things he's eaten/gotten into in the last 3 weeks is laughable..it's a wonder he's still alive but I swear that dog has 9 lives (maybe more).

In the mean time, pray for me!  And the dog

linzlars

Oh no! I hope you do get it figured out. I don't know of any trainers so I hope the ones your husband's co-workers recommended will work out for you! It does sound like he's pretty jealous of you. My mom's dogs have done the same thing when a new dog has been introduced into the house. I think he's probably trying to show your husband that he's upset about someone else getting attention. Is the dog friendly with you? Maybe if you try developing a relationship with him yourself he won't see you as a threat anymore and more as another parent. Good luck!

paith041

You may want to start crating him when you leave him home alone. It'll give him his own space and his own little domain, especially if he's stressed out. I would also try leashing him while you are at home. This way he can stay with you and you can give him physical commands that can help him out some. Dogs definitely act out when there's change and since he's deaf he's probably even more uncomfortable.

oliviosis

Yesterday was the first day that we've come home to no issues in about two weeks!!  yay!

The vet actually recommended that my husband not crate him because he has anxiety issues and was licking himself until he bled.  They think this was partly due to skin allergies (common problem for Dalmations apparently as is deafness) and then made worse by anxiety (a big problem for deaf dogs also) and lack of anything better to do.  We do have him confined to the kitchen/hallway with a baby gate and his bed, bone, toys.

We got a leash called a Gentle Leader on Wednesday and we have been practicing walking him ( I couldn't before cause he pulled too much and I couldn't control him) and a Kong.  And I'm trying to learn some signs/commands and both my husband and I will use the same signs.

So that's my update so far in case you wanted to know   We're working on it and yesterday was promising.  I think being able to walk him will help a lot so he'll know I can control him too.  I'm hopeful!

linzlars

It does sound like you're off to a good start! I use Gentle Leaders on both of my dogs and it seems to work miracles. I think that will really help if you can build your own relationship with him by walking him and using those signs/commands. Hopefully these past few days have been destruction-free too!