Help! Suggestions needed.

**Crunchy** · 01-31-2004, 06:07 AM

Good friends of ours had two lovely male desexed one yo German Shepherd brothers.

Their home is sited between two motels, and the guests who had to sleep during the day complained that the dogs occasionally barked in the afternoon.

My friends gave one of the dogs away, but his brother pined so much that 48 hours later they requested the other dog back.

They then took both dogs to the RSPCA shelter.

I stepped in, as I love Shepherds, even though I have daschies (weiner dogs). I surprised my dh with the GS dogs. He was wonderful about it. I didn't want the dogs destroyed and I have been wanting a GS of my own for some time. Also, I was pretty sure that no-one would be wanting to take on both brothers, and to split them up would be heart-rending for both.

So now we have them, and I have re-named them, with the former family's permission, Rojan and Lochie. My problem is, although I am a very good dog trainer, even getting my dogs to widdle and drink on command (not at the same time, but they are very convenient commands), I have trouble as a small person, communicating to both dogs, even when they are leashed.

I cannot separate and deal with them that way, because the noise that the one that is left behind makes distracts the other too much, and all he wants to do is go back to his long-lost brother. We live on five acres, and I cannot get away far enough on the property for the noise to be negligble. The dogs are not mature enough to take out on the road, I believe, as one has already spooked our bull into someone else's paddock.

Suggestions, please? I do NOT want to get rid of either or both of the dogs, and no-one else in the family has either the strength (dd, Alice), inclination (dh's oldest son, who is frightened of the breed) or time (dh, who is on a swinging shift and has too much to do around the farm on his days off) to do the training with me.

I cannot afford anybody, and I think it would be a bit much to ask someone to volunteer their time and then watch them dislocate their shoulder trying to cope with a dog who wants to be with his brother to the exclusion of all else.

Please, help me. I want well-behaved dogs, and they do love me, and are starting to respect me.

Thankyou for all of your help and prayers.

**SewCrafty** · 01-31-2004, 06:18 AM

I really don't know what to do and these suggestions are what popped into my head. Disregard if it sounds

Could you take all 3 dogs, your little one and the brothers outside, tie the 2 brothers to a fence post so they are together and work with your little one like you would be doing with them, in thier line of site.

Then switch the little one for one of the brothers and so on until they get used to you working with just one of them at a time. Just make sure they (whichever one is left behind) can see you and the other one working together.

Dogs are smart and I think they will pick up on whatever you do quickly at least until you get to the point where you can control and then train them together.

Good luck.

**slowtypinwoman** · 01-31-2004, 05:45 PM

Crunchy,
I have two Dobies sisters. They are a handful, but I love them dearly and would not want to get rid of either of them. I have some ideas. First can you and Dh take them to an obedience class of some sort? We did that and it helped us to understand what to expect and how much we can do with them. I do most of the woking with both of them and ALL the walking. Get them the pinch collars. They are wonderful for training and they learn quickly how far a pull is acceptable.
I have to take them out one at a time to walk with them as two is one too many! lol They will howl at first but soon learn that you are coming back with the sib and they need to be able to separate from one and other at some time. I have many more I ideas and would love to share them with you. PM me and You can ask what might be greatest on your mind. I have been through this and it can be done but it does take alot of work an your part and theirs. Keep the faith. I love my puppies who are now 70 and 73 pounds of pure muscle. They are pullers too. lol
I'll be glad to help you anyway I can.
Marcia

**KKCondrey** · 01-31-2004, 05:59 PM

I wouldn't care what the motel guests thought of a dog barking in the middle of the day. If I lived near one and they complained about my dog, I would let her bark that much more....lol.

I am glad though that you took in the dogs and I hope that you are able to get them trained. I have a friend who has a German Shepard and next time I talk to her I will see if she can give me her tips.

**voodidit** · 01-31-2004, 08:02 PM

If your yard is not fenced have you thought about one of the invisible fences? That way they would be able to run together without you having to hold on to them but they would not be tempted o leave the yard. Then you could just keep an eye on them why they are out.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 02-01-2004, 02:36 AM

You may be able to train them as a brace (a matched pair). You can get brace clips and leashes at a good sized pet store. I agree--a pinch (prong) collar may be just the thing you will need for these two. As I am sure you are aware, GSDs are a very intelligent breed. They will catch on quickly. They have already figured out what makes you tick. If you can be distracted, then they get what they want--each other!

You may have another option. Get a spray bottle and fill it with a mix of vinegar and water. Just use a bit of vinegar for the scent. Whenever dog #2 (the one tied up), have a helper squirt him. Most dogs don't like to be squirted and will decide that quiet is what Mom wants, quiet is what she will get, so they can avoid
that stinky stuff!

Make sure that whatever you try that works, to continue to use that option. Dogs understand consistancy; thier mentality is pack-based and in a pack the same things are done the same way EVERY time.

Good luck!

**Crunchy** · 02-01-2004, 04:54 AM

Ladies, thankyou.

I have now realised my dh will not put any time in (mainly 'coz he doesn't HAVE any time to spare! lol), Aaron, dh's oldest son, hates GSDs and they know this and are growling at him, and Alice (dd), is way too slight to handle. That leaves me.

We have choker chains in Oz, but the ones with the prongs are illegal.

I don't know what an invisible fence is, but I would love to find out!

I think I will try and persevere with the one dog at a time scenario.

First of all, I must get them more suitable accomodation. Presently, we are using the leashes to tie them under the trees at night, next to the haybales, near the caravan. It's sheltered, but they are in each other's noses too much, and they get tangled as well.

During the day, they are leashed to the back of our flat bed truck, so that they are under cover, but can still see all that is going on. It also stops Muppet, our bull, from munching on the hay bales over the fence. You can imagine why!

Dee, sweetie, we actually now have FOUR

! Two daschies and two GS. Naturally, the two daschies have their noses seriously out of joint at the moment, thinking Mummy doesn't love them anymore, and so want to go everywhere with me. Daschies normally make a huge fuss of their parent owners, but these two have gone quite troppo the last few days. Every time I see them!

I think it will be a case of having them nearby (within coo-ee, as we say) so that the GS can check them out.

Please, keep the suggestions coming. I need all of the help I can get!

**slowtypinwoman** · 02-01-2004, 08:20 AM

Crunchy,

We have ours inside in separate crates. Is that possible with you? The trainer we went to said a big problem when you have sibs, is that they bond with each other more than they do the owners. Try having a bit of "me" time with each of them. The vinegar spray is a good training tool too. Have you gone to your local library to see if they have any training books for GSD's?
http://www.perfectpaws.com/index.html
This a good site I have cruised before.
Persevere! Marcia

**Crunchy** · 02-02-2004, 04:51 AM

G'day Ladies, and thankyou, Marcia!

Well, they accompanied me into Town today, with me driving, and the dogs leashed to ute tray. I think it's the first time they had experienced 100km/hr. winds. lol They sure drank a lot when we stopped!

Rojan and Lochie are getting easier to handle, so that's good. You're prob. right about the two bonding, but like most siblings, they also fight. They were water bombed yesterday, a la bucket, for growling, teeth bared, at each other. A rather fast change of subject immediately thereafter.

Marcie, our place is miniature, and my dh wouldn't stand for it. Dogs belong outside, not inside, you ask him, he'll tell you.

Also, I just discovered that Rojan has fleas. They had their meat sprinkled with Brewer's yeast and garlic tonight. I don't think they appreciated my culinary efforts, more your sort of basic meat-and-potatoes-hold-the-potatoes types.

We are learning to play "fetch". Currently this consists of my chucking the stick, the dogs trying to outrace each other to get it, and then the supreme victorious picking it up and promptly dropping it, waiting for me to pick it up and chuck it again. They are getting better, now they are often dropping it closer to me.

I will try the vinegar and water if they persist in ungentlemanly behaviour. Trouble is, it doesn't spread too far.

God is good, we'll get there.