Ok this is still about Max - have no idea why he does this. We can put him in the car, but as soon I approach the car and get in he goes absolutely nuts, barking non stop for about 15 minutes. Where we sit until he has calmed down. This is whenever someone gets in the car - anyone got any ideas why this happens and how to try and calm him down ?

if theres an award for the hardest pushed dog owner--im sure it must be yours!!!!!!its at every oppurtunity isnt it, -try a water pistol-it'll need 2 of you though- is there a safe guard up ---incase he objects to the pistol???

The pistol idea is fine cept he loves water and occaisionally runs round the garden with a running hose in his mouth. Yes theres a guard installed but shooting him with a water pistol whilst driving is kind of difficult - maybe I should just buy some earmuffs. And yes its every chance he gets, Im sure he thinks he's funny lol.

id cut your losses---get some valium ,have his teeth all taken out!!! --then feed him on slops.--that way everyone will be able to sit and do what they want without the fear of a nasty bite--the worst is getting gummed to death !!!!! even little old ladies will be able to move him off the couch etc, sounds good to me :D

Oh my god, we think the same :D. Although we we're thinking of an anesthetic instead of valium lol :) and having him de-barked :O

bless your cotton socks-still putting your dog first-----i meant the valium for you!!!!!!

sorry!!! on a serious note:( try a cage in the car but cover it up so he cant see a thing- to a dog thats full of it and raring to go-it must be so exiting looking out of the window at all of the havoc he could cause- i know several whove used covered cages for noisy dogs and they have worked--depends if your cars big enough for one though,

I thought the other idea was better :)

Hmm @ the covered crate idea, thats a damn good idea and he wont know when I'm getting in, apart from the door slam. Wonder if ear muffs and a blindfold on Max would have the same effect. On the subject of crazy goings on, has anyone seen a dog sit and stare at their tail and bark at it - because guess what Max does :D

when you get his teeth out---have him docked---hey presto--that naughty tail wont get him into anymore trouble

flippin eck - he hasn't got much going for him, we'll have to feed him thru a straw and tie a ribbon on his docked tail to make him look pretty :d

He's not a border collie is he? Tinker does exactly the same thing. Goes ape for the first five minutes in the car. Barking, whining, scratching at the floor. And she loves nothing more than a good soaking with the hose pipe. Even jumping up to try and catch the pipe when you're watering the hanging baskets.

She also used to try and chase the windscreen wipers, throwing herself at the dog guard and trying to nip the one on the back windscreen. Someone sitting with her on the back seat and yelling at her cured that eventually.

I have no cure I'm afraid. But if you get one, PLEASE pass it on! :)

My Border Collie used to try getting the back windscreen wiper and yes he to chases the hosepipe and if you pick a torch up there he is after the light he also come's down my local pub and goes after the darts when they are being thrown.
He does stop by using the leave it command.
Glad im not the only one with a nutter BC.

Karen

Leave it does work for a minute or so. But then it all gets too much for her and she's off again, trampling bedding plants in her rush.

Needless to say, Al encouraged this at first, thinking it was funny.

Ever seen a dog go into spasms of delight at the sight of a pressure washer. ;)

Same here my BC used to chase shadows on the ceiling or walls other half laughed at him took me ages to stop him chasing them and even now you only have to say shadow and he is off looking for them.

Karen

My Gsd is just the same, mention the word hose and he's there, great fun till you try washing the car and have to explain footrpints all over it, doesn't do the paintwork much good but makes it more fun, all started with the great water pistol cure. Ingrid

a friend of mine had a dog that used to do the same.She was advised to do things in stages
1.take him to the car and put him inside ,walk away.Return after 5 mins or so ,take him out and return him to the house.Repeat the excercise as often as u like until he seems ok with the excercise and doesn't react
2 Same excercise only this time u turn on the ignition and u return to the house leaving him in car.Repeat as before
3 Same thing again only u sit in the driving seat this time,don't drive off just sit there with the dog in the back and the engine running.Repeat as before
4 u actually get to drive away now but just a short hop and not to go any where special just a drive down the road and back
all very time consuming but it worked for my friend who is a medical rep and takes the dog with her on her calls now with no problems what so everI think it took about 10 days from maniac dog to subdued pooch

Is this a herding thing ? Max is a GSD and when you go to the hose tap he runs to the end of the hose to wait for the water so he can bite it - he's done this since he was a small puppy only now he's a large puppy :D. As for the car thing it just seems to be when someone gets in - if you just put him in there he's fine, but as soon as you get in the front he goes nuts. He also tries to attack the rear wiper too but only when he's in this initial aroused state. After about 15 minutes he's calmed down and the wiper isn't even there to him.

Good advice Kia but what if you've tried this for about 2 weeks and he still doesn't calm down ? :D This was one of the suggestions our behaviourists came up with, she said we have to make the car the most boring place on earth to Max - the only trouble is Max doesn't seem to get the theory lol

BAnger, i think Max is one of a kind, totally unique LOL :D

LIndsay

ps Banya loves the hose pipe too, and prefers drinking from a tap to her bowl !!!

Thats a good way of describing loonacy Lindsay :D

I have to admit that I am one to always suggest the water pistol cure - however you find pretty quick if your dog likes it or dislikes it. If you find your dog thinks it's a game - then stop!! I usually try to add that bit, but sometimes forget.

Works a treat for ours - the don't like getting wet, so usually stop the behaviour - however there are times the behaviour is rewarding enough to them (for whatever reason) that they choose to get wet. They will also come over while I'm holding the gun/spray bottle and nose it to ask for a drink! Proves to me they're not scared of it.

They're still wary of the end of the hose.

Sorry this doesn't really help anyone though.

I find the same, also though you must never show amusement when using the squirter as a deterrrent, distraction device, and timing is important!

Thankfully none of mine like getting squirted between the eyes!! :D

I used to squirt babs when she was being thought not to climb over the seat whilst travelling. Hubby used to say ,look at clint eastwood in action, got me christened dirty Harry .In the end I used to say to her when she moved. make my day daft things arent we. :d