just after a bit of advice really. My doberman (now 5 months old) has always had a thing about hoovers and the washing line. when I hoover i have to crate him or he attacks the hoover physically lifting it off the floor,(in a playful manner) but the washing line I don't really know how to solve. (this time of year isn't too bad as I tend to use the tumble drier) but come spring/summer again I would like to use my washing line without having the clothes pulled off eaten and dragged all round the garden within seconds of hanging them out :-) My neighbours find it highly amusing to watch the dog leaping and snapping at our underwear :-P and various other items. I have tried giving bones, kongs and even playing which works for a short period but is there any other methods I could try that I haven't thought of? As he does like the outdoors and spent alot of time out there doing sunbathing :-D Please help save my underwear!!
Em

I had to laugh at your post about the washing on the line, its easy for a dobe puppy to reach, you should watch a west highland white terrier trying to do the same thing, only laundry they can reach are sheets and duvets, its a puppy thing.   You must admit it is quite funny to watch them, especially if its a windy day and they are running and jumping about trying to catch the washing on the line.  I really dont know how to stop this apart from distracting the puppy and taking it away from the washing line.  In the spring the pup will be a lot older and will have learnt more commands for you,  A lot of pups also do this with hoovers ive got an adult dog that still barks and chases the hoover.

if your garden is big enough put a fench up with a gate and put your washing line on the other side.

I have a gate and fence separating the garden letting the dogs have thier own area ...let them use the garden when you want them too.

Must add too that it is a puppy thing and most do grow out of it!

Roni

Thanks, I am hoping that he will grow out of it, but having said that his mum and dad still do it (and they are 2 and 3 1/2 lol)
will see how things go in the spring, but if it doesn't work out,will try the fence thing!!
cheers Em

Hi marguerite,
I must admit, it does give me a bit of a laugh at times, but my husband gets awfully annoyed as it is quite often his stuff :-P (he is in the RAF so gets a bit cross about his shirts with teeth marks lol) I was hoping it was just a puppy thing. I know he is still young and hopefully will not be so bothered come spring. I just wanted to set the boundaries as he is a very dominant boy and will try to push every button to gain control of us.
Em

edited to say post fallen in wrong place! (will I ever get the hang of this :-))

Hello

I agree it is a bit difficult to hoover the floor with my 15 weeks old puppy ... growling...barking...biting the brushhead :)  It's quite funny though.  Today I crated her in order to hoover the carpet without her, but she was whining, because she thought she missed out the fun.  She also was after the washing on the line in the garden, hope she grows out of it till next summer. :)

Regards

Bagpipe

Hi, I also have a dobermann he is now 21 months and last summer 04 was a nightmare, I have a rotary line and I would be in the kitchen and all of a sudden I would see it going round, and there he would be hanging onto something on the washing line, a sock or a bra usually.  This summer 05, was okay no problem with my washing, unless he was in a mood and ran by and took a quick grab.  Obviously something they grow out of.

Thanks dgibbo,
that has made me feel much better :-) I too have a rotary and thats how I used to know as you could hear pegs snapping and the washing going round lol.
Em

I can't give advice on the washing but the hoovering I have under control. My Gabi used to do the same as yours. I found it quite frightening as she would growl and attack the Hoover. Crating was my first option but she would just carry on and I was afraid that she would do herself an injury. The next option was only to Hoover when I could persuade hubby to take her for a walk. This was ok untill molting time when it needed to be done every day, hubby only home at weekends. One day we decided to try a different angle. I put her and hubby in a down/stay in the hall (hubby ready to restrain her if she moved) I proceeded to Hoover the dinning room saying good stay every now and then. When I finished this room I told Gabi stand and a really big fuss and treat. This we repeated with every room, changing her position so that she could see me with every room. This only took a couple of goes and I can now do it without hubby to restrain. At first she would try and break the stay but I found that if I kept the motor running and just calmly put her back in position she got used to it. Hope this helps.

thanks Gabby will give it a go, but being a big boy is some what hard to restrain lol but will give it a go  :-)
thanks Em

Yep I have a tiny TT attached to the hoover head, or the brush head oh and the mop head.  I've given up trying to stop her just pick her up when she does it or stow her in the crate.  We have re named her fluff buster as she picks up more fluff than the brush alone.

My big boy used to attack the washing when her was youner and the table cloth, removing dishes with it, he also had a thing for flower pots.  He leaned the leave it command and improved, as long as you caught him at it but he just grew out of it by the time he was 12 months.

this thread make me laugh , as i have the same problem with the hoover , i have try everything (cant pick my dog up as she is a lil to big 12 months old lol) i now have found a way to hoover and she gets to play at the same time .. i make her sit in the door way and say "wait" believe it or not she does (shes a cross bull mastiff/ dogue de bordeaux) once the hoovering if finished she runs in to get her hoovering and i get the best of both world and so does she lol

I am sitting on here reading this and my house is in desperate need of a good hoover but I can't face it.
Started with my JRT who is now 10 months and that was fine as he just chased it barking furiously, in fact stupidly I found it funny.  Then I acquired a Rottie x GSD who is now nearly 5 months and huge and she has copied him, only even wilder as as she picks it up and the two compete for it. The noise they make is horrendous.
I have only got to mention getting Henry out and they both shoot to the cupboard and wait excitedly.
I have tried shutting them in the last small room that I have to do so I can get the rest done first but they go wild in there barking and yelling and banging on the doors.  My Rottie x has also found she can undo doors now (oh joy, NOT).
I suppose I had better brave it.  Unfortunatly I do not have an OH to distract them, Its just me and Henry the hoover.

Bev

One trick i have seen is to put bags (shopping or otherwise) full of water on the line. I guess you could also booby-trap some clothes to the bottom of the bags, but not necessarily... When the bags are attacked, the dog ends up cold and wet. It might dissuade them from trying again, or maybe not...

Hi Macchiato. Sounds like a good idea, so long as your dog does not adore water. Would not put Gabi off. She just loves water and would find this a super game. Might be a good idea and lots of fun in the summer when she needs to cool off. I just use the tumble dryer so I don't have this problem.