Hi, can anyone give me their comments please. My mum (who's 67 although very fit and active) took a rescue cross lab (6 months old) and has had him for just over 2 months. He's a lovely dog, if a bit of a rogue in the house, she is retired and spends a lot of time with him (but not 24/7), she is calm and tolerant of him and has experience of previous family dogs (not perfect ones either), but she is on her way back to the home with him on Friday. The reason is as follows.

Roy is a very boisterous dog and although displaying timidness to strangers is also very excitable. The main problem is he "charges" like a bull and although 99% of the time he flies past you, sometimes he hits you full pelt. He has knocked me over once and hurt me and also has knocked over my 3 year old nephew. He also runs full pelt at people from a long way away and barks like mad, although he has never displayed any growling/snapping. She always takes him where there are usually no people/dogs as she lives in the country but obviously you can't always avoid this. If he's on the lead constantly he just leaps and jumps and tugs like mad which is very exhausting to walk him. I know some of you will say "never off the lead" but please don't chastise, just constructive criticism (I'm a bit upset at all of this).

Today, however, my mum phoned me nearly in tears to say he had bowled her "up in the air" after charging her and she thought she had broken her leg to the point that she had to head off to casualty. The leg wasn't broken but I think the heart was as Roy now seems to have to go as she feels she can't either control or trust him. I feel she thinks she has failed the dog.

Mum had booked classes for the dog which were to start next week but I think that Roy is now walking the doggy plank so to speak. She was committed to him, had him chipped and vaccinated and booked him in for neutering etc. I'm devastated at all of this and if there were a magic cure I'd love to hear it. He's so good with me and gets on with my dog but I simply cannot have two dogs. Is he just the wrong dog for her or could we/should we do something. Sorry if this is a sob story but I'd love him to stay and time's running out.

CG

Sounds as though your mother would be the perfect candidate for an older dog rather than a puppy; there are lots of lovely dogs out there who get overlooked by those wanting a younger dog. Dogs should be for fun; at six months old his chances for rehoming to a more suitable family are great whereas older dogs, who perhaps have better manners and are more sedate often have to stay in kennels for life.

Hmmm... My dane bowled everyone over at 6 months, until he learned people are not for bowling over! He sent my 9 year old three foot up in the air, luckily, I was there to catch her. To be honest, he stopped doing it on his own, and now, when he comes galloping toward us he slows and runs to the side, and stops if I say "steeeady". It was never his intention to hurt us, he just overshot himself and forgot to apply the brakes.

I'm not sure if that helps or not to be honest, its just my experience... some more folk will be along shortly though I'm sure :)

No magic cure. If your mum is steady on her feet and has a change of heart tell her the next time the pup makes a run for her to bring one leg up to knee height. It will not feel great and will knock the wind out of him briefly. And she does need to keep him on the lead until he is cured.

Is your mum able to afford a trainer, someone that will work only with her and her dog to correct this behaviour?

Stacey

For general walking i would say to try a head collar called a halti, the pull the dogs head to the side which stops them from pulling thus will make a bit more of a pleasure to walk. I would say to keep him on the lead but get him an extendable lead so that he can walk a bit further in front when she is in the field with him.
He is a puppy and at 6mth he is at the teenager stage (you can say what ever you want but i am not going to listen) and with the right help he will learn that this behaviour is not acceptable. We have a 6mth GSD and have nearly got to the end of jumping, but she is getting a little bit ignorant so we train back to basics to get her to learn.

Good luck

I think neutering may well help, and some formal training, to direct his enthusiasm into a more productive behaviour. Thats if your mum can hang on in there for a few months, he is being a bouncy teenager, adn the cure is simple, but takes time, just patience, firm handling, and time.

Good luck to your mum and Roy.

Em

Thanks to all - Roy is to be neutered on friday although whether or not he returns with mum remains to be seen. My own vet suggested a good dog therapist to me and I'm trying to persuade mum to visit my vet and be referred and so try one last chance. I take on board the point that perhaps an older dog would have been much better, but we were at the rescue centre and they paraded Roy out and mum just fell for him - albeit probably in the heat of the moment. If an older dog had been shown, I have no doubt she would have fell for him just as easily. He wasn't free - she had to pay for him and willingly did so. This is a very upsetting time for us all but I'm trying to persuade mum to give him "one last go" and have some professional help. I will let you all know how it goes. Please keep your fingers crossed!

CG

Feel sorry for your Mum:-( one of mine knocked somebody over when he was about that age and I felt dreadful it really shook my confidence with him. It took me a little while to get over it but if your mum feels it's too much to cope with tell her Anne sends her a {{{Hug}}} and she is not to be hard on herself
Anne

I little trick my trainer recommends is to fill a small bottle or plastic tub with stones, enough so that if you shake it, it makes a good rattling sound. If a dog comes barging towards you shake the tub at it - he or she should automatically back off. As soon as they do, ask for a sit (or whatever) and reward this behaviour with a treat.

I always carry my 'rattle' when in the park with my pup - just in case some big nasty baskerville hound comes careering up to us!

Good luck

Jo

i was told this by our trainer to get an empty can of beans and fill it with marbles, and then tape a lid on it, when the pups dones something wrong, shake it to break his concertration, and get him to sit, u do look a bit of an idoit for shaking but it is slowly working, am mainly doing it for standing onm his back legs looking on the kitchen side.

If you need help in rehoming then look in my profile and contact one of the rescue people as I am sure they will be able to help if not put you in touch with the nearest rescue to you ! It sounds he maybe to much for your mum. Maybe an older dog may suit her. :)

HTH

Lucy

My heart goes out to Roy and your Mum. Roy sounds very like Morse when we first got him in terms of being an affectionate but excitable dog who had zero training or socialisation earlier in life. The head collar will work - we used a Gentle Leader, and used his daily food as a training aid. But we are also 20 years younger than your Mum, and had him out much of the day meeting people and dogs until the excitement died down a bit. Wishing them both all the best.:)

Sadly Roy is to be returned to the Centre tomorrow as my mum feels she has lost all confidence in him and that she doesn't have the ability to train him properly. It is probably the best thing for the dog but it has put her off having a dog now, perhaps he really was not the best one for her - he was difficult from the first day she got him although she was very committed to trying to work it out. Thanks everyone for your kind words - maybe this story might help avoid another older person taking on something that in reality they won't be able to cope with. I think mum is being very brave admitting defeat and taking him back and I will miss him but hopefully he will find the right home.

CG

Thats a real shame! Poor Roy!
Your mum must be gutted! Sometimes it is better to let someone else have a go, But don't let it put her off of dog ownership forever! There will be a fat, lethargic old boy or girl out there who needs someone like your mum.
We tried and failed with our boy, he was PTS on sunday. But, we are not disheartened. There will be another young man who needs us just as much, if not more and we intend to find him and bring him home!
Wish your mum luck for me!
Carrie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks M - I don't think Roy will have to be put down. I personally think he just knew he had one up on my mum, i.e. he was stronger and thought he could call the shots. She is gutted, as I am but at the end of the day I think she should never have considered a rescue pup and an older dog was always going to be her best option. However, the Centre contacted her with Roy and she wanted him as soon as she saw him. I don't mean to be nosy but can I ask why you had to have your dog pts and what breed?. I'm a new dog owner myself who's dog isn't perfect and I am learning so much from here all the time. If you don't want to tell me, I totally understand. Thanks again for your post.

CG

I've personally e.mailed you. hope you dont mind CD.
Caz xxx

Im so sorry your dog had to be PTS and admire you for being so courageous in a heartrending situation.(())

Love to your Mum CG and hoping Roy will get a new home soon. I do hope she regains her confidence again soon and hopefully finds a rescue centre which can accurately match dogs to owners. Round our way there are older people struggling to manage bouncy young dogs bought for them by well meaning family, mostly GRs and Labs. Sadly they all wanted smaller/older rescue dogs as they recognised the problems here. Its nothing to do with anyones competence in training dogs its Anno Domini.

I am training in aromatherapy and shiatsu therapy for dogs and horses at the moment so am very interested in an animals behaviour. Both these therapies get to the route cause of a problem emotionally and physically and it sounds like this dog has some issues to sort out! He's obviously never been given the grounding in etiquette but it's never too late - he's only a pup. Not funny when it puts your mum in danger though. If you're willing to have one last shot with him then I do suggest trying one or both of these therapies as it is very calming on animals and helps deal with past problems as well as becoming healthier and more focussed. My dog Jessie would attempt to attack any dog she came across after an initial friendly sniff which was as you can imagine causing problems. I have since been giving her shiatsu and aromatherapy and the difference is incredible. We walked past an alsation the other day and she looked but didn't react. She has never behaved so calmly. Not bad for a beginner in these therapies! Anyway if you're interested I'm training with Jacqueline Cook and her website is www.shiatsu-for-horses.com. I hope you find a solution.

That sounds very interesting - it is too late for poor Roy, he had to go back today but I myself have a rescue BT who is very dog aggressive (doesn't matter breed or size) and I would give anything a go. He has actually improved over the last couple of weeks but I will definitely have a wee look at the website.

CG