The struggle is real. The lovely ball of fur that you brought home as a rescue has turned into your worst nightmare. The neighbors are complaining left and right and you are at your wits end. When the puppy came home the rescue organization had told you it was bound to be a small to medium dog with easy temperament. Most likely a mix between a beagle and a lab. Six months and 115 pounds later you are starting to question their genetic assessment. Your once lovely puppy is now the size of a mastiff able to dig like the best terrier and eager to escape every single time he can. His prey drive is barely manageable and once he fixes his sight into something he can chase you can forget about keeping him contained. Your sweet little pup also struggles with strangers; at home he is an angel but as soon as a new person approaches you have nothing less than Cujo.
This is the reality for thousands of families facing the endless nuances and surprises of dog ownership. You love your dog, you want the best for him but you are no longer having fun and you feel the family pet has become a liability. If this is your situation you may be exploring your options. Is it time to re-home? Can my dog be re-trained? Do we need an alternative dog fence system?
Finding a New Home For Your Pup
Just a quick look at Facebook groups will give you a glimpse that is rather discouraging. Hundreds of dogs are offered to alternate homes because their owners are unable to deal with their behaviors. The stories vary but the theme remains the same. Looking for a better environment for the dog, no longer have time to deal with it. The reality is that rehoming a dog will not help in terms of correcting bad behaviors. In fact, the perception of abandonment and separation may result in additional behavioral issues. With very few exceptions rehoming a problem dog is not a good idea.
Giving Pup The Training Needed to Better Respond to Their Environment
Now we are talking. Training and behavioral therapy is the best way to address a problematic puppy. If you can’t do it on your own, seek professional help. You may just find that with a little tough love and the right tools your Cujo can turn into a Lassie. There are many approaches to dog training but we have found that a combination of positive reinforcement and feedback through the use of a dog training collar often yields the best results.
Reinforce Barriers & Improve Fencing
One of the key problems resulting in dogs being abandoned at shelters is their proclivity to escape. Dog owners feel defeated when dealing with diggers and climbers that end up at the pound almost every week. Improving your dog containment system through installing a wired electric dog fence or a wireless enclosure is the most affordable and sensible approach to keeping your dog safely contained. A good quality electric dog fence does not need to cost thousands of dollars and you don’t need a professional installer. A little sweat equity and a few hours on Saturday are enough to set up a good barrier. Once your dog fence is installed it will be just a few weeks for your dog to be fully trained. The key to successful electric fences is consistent training.
Feeling hesitant? Why not give us a call. We will help you decide what is the best containment and training solution for your dog.