HI
I haven't posted here in a while but I have a question I was hoping someone would have a solution to. I have a 6 month old weimaraner bitch whom I co-own. She lives with my brother and his family an hour from me so I only see her once in a while. Anyhow, she is a beautiful bitch that I will start showing soon and this is my problem...when she is not with them at home in her normal routine she is a beast! She screams in her crate, pees in her crate and is just down right annoying. I have tried EVERYTHING, including a bark collar (which I know she is bit young for, but it was a last resort)
Any suggestions you may have for me I'd love to hear. She needs to realize the world does not revolve around her and when she goes to the shows she needs to be in her crate more. I just don't know how to get her through this one.
THANKS
Amanda

Think this is something you should talk to your Brother about; it is likely to be their handling of her that is causing this problem. It is difficult because as they are caring for her, how they do it is to a great extent up to them. Are they into showing do they know the sort of discipline she will need, if not, may be you are going to find that if you wish to show you will have to get and train your own dog.

Dogs need consistency to a certain extent if they are to be confident, I'm afraid trying 'everything' is not being consistent.  You need to establish *why* she is behaving as she is, and act accordingly.  An anti bark collar may just have confused her even more :(

Perhaps before we suggest anything you could give us the "everything" that you have tried with her?

Apart from screaming and urinating in her crate what else is downright annoying about her behaviour?

As digger said, one needs to find the cause of her behaviour and not just treat the "symptoms".

How long is she in her crate for now a day?  And how long will she need to be in a crate in the future?

regards

You say that as she lives an hour away you "only see her once in a while".  It sounds as if she hasn't had the chance to get to know you properly and trust you, or see you as one of her family let alone regard you as a person she respects.  She isn't "being a beast" she's being a confused puppy.  Sounds like a normal Weimaraner puppy to me, they need stability and bond very strongly with their humans.

What have you done to address this?   At the very least she needs lots of time with you to learn to trust you before you think of trying to train her for show.

She won't accept a crate if she doesn't use one at home.

And what on earth is a 'bark collar' ??  and how does it work?

cina..you say 'she needs to realise the world does not revolve around her and when she goes to shows she will need to be in a crate more'..sorry?  :-( she is a six month old baby!!It sounds to me that she is confused and scared and probably not correctly houstrained. She is not capable of 'thinking the world revolves around her' dogs don't do that. You also make her sound like a 'possession' rather than a living thing and showing is not a 'right' but something you do with the a well trained dog who wants to be there or if this is not the case you are wasting your time! Sorry to sound sharp but it sounds as if this poor little dog has had a rough start. Hope things improve. :-)

Lol Reddor,

You said the rest of it for me :)

Think it unlikely that unless both Brother and Sister have the same end in mind, (showing the pup) that the arrangement will work; as far as the pup is concerned this strange woman turns up and starts making demands on her that 'her people' do not make. The brother and his family must understand what is required and slowly introduce her to it with care and understanding, so I would say again, talk it through with your Brother, if he is not prepared to train the pup to showing, and as he has the pup living with him it is his choice, then I would think again about your plans and start again with your own pup who you can train yourself. This poor pup must be very confused.

She does sounds stressed. She is also very young and i do feel the crate may not have been introduced very well. Ideally the dog sees the crate as a "den" and will go in there of its own accord; that is when you know you have got it right :). I do also feel that not every dog will take to a crate although most will with positive associations with it.

IF for example, your brother works and she is in her crate a lot of the time, she may associate it with being left alone. If on the other hand he is with her a lot and she is almost never in the crate, it may upset her and she may not understand why she is suddenly put in the crate. It may be that you/he need to go back to basics and introduce a positive training plan to get her to love her crate!!

Another way to look at it is, does she have to be crated at shows? I don't  show as such but just attend local shows and my dog is always with me. Of course if you have more than one dog that is different.

Lindsay
X

Amanda  :-) ..Have just got back and reread your post thinking I might have got my initial impressions wrong, but it still reads like someone who has not an iota of love or concern for this puppy :-( I thing you need take into account what the other posters have said on here, forget about showing for now and if the puppy is going to be staying with you sometimes see what you are doing differently (you say 'when she is not with them she is a beast') from your brother, stick to the same routine as she has at home but most of all make friends with the puppy and treat her gently. Don't forget she can't do as you ask if she is scared of you and does not understand what you are asking of her.

I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! I raised this pup, I own her mother...this dog knows me and knows what a crate is. She goes in her crate on her own at her home she loves being in there.
You should try not to be so harsh and concider maybe you just didn't have enough information. The only problem with this dog is that she is spoiled rotten and is allowed to do what she wants when she wants. I on the other hand do not let my dogs get away with EVERYTHING. I love my dogs, however I have a 10 month old daughter that takes a lot of my attention at the moment, so MY dogs realize they need to chill out when I ask them to and be crazy when its allowed. That is simply what I want this dog to realize. She is a DOG not a PERSON!
I guess I came to the wrong place for help, it seems many here are to willing to pass judgement than to be helpful of the situation...I will turn my question to someone else who may be of some help instead.

Lindsay~
I do have other dogs so its hard to keep her with me at all times, plus I am not always the one taking her. She goes with the handlers, just to get her used to the shows and the noise and comotion and they have many dogs. But they do give her attention.
For instance they had her about 2 weeks ago and they let her out to play with the other dogs when they came back from the show for 2 hours, then it was time to let others out so they put her in her crate and she screamed like someone was killing her. I feel that she may have a touch of seperation anxiety that is adding to the problem. I am hoping that its something she will outgrow....she is a weimaraner after all and they tend to be a bit nutty. Well I take her again today and hopefully since it hasnt' been long since I have had her she will remember the routine and start to get used to it.
thanks,
A

Hi again

I'm not very "up" on shows, but when you mention handlers, i take it you may be in the States? (Or am i totally wrong?! )
I wonder if she has a lot happening and finds it hard to adapt to strange people and places? :) A lot depends on how well she was socialised as a small pup and whether she is therefor able to cope with strange and possibly slighty stressful experiences. For example, she may have been a little concerned at being with the handlers although seeming to enjoy it (was this the first time?) and loved playing with the other dogs, but got very stressed when she was then put in her crate and left....just a  thought. Maybe she was even overtired, like a human baby ;) WAs she left at home while the handlers went to the show, or did she go with them? Sorry not clear, but if the former then that may explain it; she was just feeling a bit lonely and glad to play, then upset to go back intothe crate.

If you feel she really does have separation anxiety, (for example does she follow you all over the house and even to the bathroon? Does she destroy things at your brother's home if she is left?) this can sometimes get worse as dogs may not grow out of it. However, being a youngster she may just be acting normally. I gather Weims can be prone to anxiety a bit though.

Not sure what to really suggest, i'm just tossing out a few thoughts and ideas really. I would just make sure she enjoys the whole scene as much as possible and build up that bond :)

Lindsay
X

I think that dogs just don't do too well switching back and forth between families. Most dogs get dependent on that "pack" feeling and get used to their routine at home. To switch is hard for them, even adults. So with a puppy, it's easy to understand why she's acting this way. She's been ripped from her people that she lives with on a day to day basis. I don't think it's spoiled if she doesn't act that way at her home but does when she's put in a place that she only sees once in a while.

If she were to become more comfortable with the switching, things might change. But she won't get comfortable or at ease if you're thinking she's just plain spoiled rotten. She needs to be shown with patience and practice on things to put her at ease. If she gets in trouble for screeching in her crate, she'll hate it more. I am not saying that that is what's happening or that you're doing anything wrong. I don't have all the information. It's just a general kind of statement to assist with any training you might want to try.

Babies aren't really spoiled. They become more secure and independent if they're given plenty of attention and their troubles are addressed early in life. It gives them that good foundation if they have stability and routine. Then they're able to handle all kinds of things better when they grow up.

I think for showing, you should have a dog who lives with you all the time...especially if you're starting out with a young one.

I do hope everything will work out for you.

Carrie

"she is a weimaraner after all and they tend to be a bit nutty."

Really?!

I have not found that to be the case.

Most dogs if they are confined when others are having fun would, like children, be frustrated at not being able to join in, regardless of the two hours play she had had before.  As she is only 6 months old perhaps, again like a young child, she got "overtired"?   I would not jump to "separation anxiety".  Weimaraners are not "prone to" separation anxiety any more/less than a lot of other breeds as long as they have had proper "alone" training when a pup.

regards

cinajella  :-)  am really sorry if you do not like the advice you asked for and were given, there was no offence intended as far as I am concerned. Sometimes we don't like the advice we receive if it does not accord with our expectations. If you stop being angry and defensive for a moment and listen to the advice given to you by people who are trying to help things may be a lot easier for you. Referring to your last post in my experience a 'spoilt child' is a child whose life has been ruinied by parents who do not give the time or correct attention to a child and a 'spoilt' dog is one whose temperament has been spoilt by incorrect handling or lack of attention on the part of the owner. I am well aware we are talking about a dog not a person but as far as I am concerned a dog is another living thing entitled to the same consideration I give to a human. I appreciate you must be very tired with small children so perhaps now is not the time to be thinking about showing a dog and maybe she would be best left with your brother whom she is used to until you have more time to spare. :-) Sincere best wishes.

Spot on reddoor. I think Amanda you might need to reread your original post and imagine how it comes across to others! You say later that you 'raised' this puppy - well if she's only 6 months he's not raised at all - she's a baby who sounds like she hasn't had a very nice life so far. I'd be the first to admit I know nothing about showing dogs, but 6 months sounds awfully early to me; how about a bit of growing up time and some love and attention first?

firstly , if you see the dog as little as you say, she will likely be a bit upset if you take her away from your brother. Here are a few suggestions.....
1. Have you thought of taking your brother with you? the girl may be more settled, and he may learn some things from you.
2. Do you, or your brother take this pup to ringcraft? This is the only way to get a dog prepared for shows/used to the show atmosphere
3.Maybe you could spend some more time with the pup so that she  is happier in your company and you could develop a proper relationship...not just a case of the pup recognising you.
4. for you to go in hard on the training, when your brother obviously isnt, is clearly not working. the pup will just learn quickly to fear her encounters with you.
5. When entering a part ownership arrangement( and I am in one) both parties must agree on how the training is to be done, who will show etc. did you make an agreement?

To be brutally honest with you it is wrong of BOTH YOU AND YOUR BROTHER to confuse the pup by insisting on different standards. It wont help her behaviour at all, and will make it worse.
My honest suggestion is for ONE of you to buy out the other party, and go for sole charge. 

Hi
Are you in the uk or states ?
Weims are funny creatures at the best of times. I am sure you already know that if you own several.
I had a bitch quite similar. We found that we created our own monster. Because right from birth she was never with out Weims to cuddle up to. So if she was left in the crate on her own she would scream and pee. She was quite frustrating but stopped peeing once her bladder was stronger. We made constant points of letting her out to the toilet.  The screaming stopped because I took the other dogs away, yet I stayed with her. I sat against the cage and read a few pages of a book. Then i would let her out praise and she would join the others. Then I left yummy treats with her, still sitting in the same room. But I gradually got further and further away from her.
Your problems may not be the same as ours were. Maybe she cant adjust to two different routinues, from one household to another. Dogs are funny things and can really get set into a certain routinue. Like kiddies really are'nt they!!
Take care and hope all works out
Nut