New (rescue) dog - He likes my curtains...
Discussion
Hello All,
Myself and my partner have just rescued our first dog, a 1 year(isH) old Stafford Bull Terrier. We've had him a few weeks now and he's been really good but we do have a few settling in issues, nothing too major or that we can't handle - other than this:
When we go out to work, I have returned at lunch time to this. This is the second time it's happened. When we leave him we give him the roam of the open plan living room/dining/kitchen area and our bedroom (he likes the carpet). He has a good few toys to play with and chew, I leave the radio on and he has a big window to look out of in the living room. He get's around a 30-45 mins walk (sometimes run) every morning, 20 mins at lunch time and a good hour+ in the evening which usually includes 30mins of off the lead sprinting as fast as he can chasing a ball.
How do I stop the curtain thing? First time it happened I disciplined him (no affection, tone of voice, called him over to the curtain etc) which I now realise was probably the wrong thing to do (I've been led to believe he wouldn't have realised why I was angry). This time around I just acted as normal as I could but took all of his stuff out the room and closed the door (he's banned from the bedroom now).
Any advice welcome!
Myself and my partner have just rescued our first dog, a 1 year(isH) old Stafford Bull Terrier. We've had him a few weeks now and he's been really good but we do have a few settling in issues, nothing too major or that we can't handle - other than this:
When we go out to work, I have returned at lunch time to this. This is the second time it's happened. When we leave him we give him the roam of the open plan living room/dining/kitchen area and our bedroom (he likes the carpet). He has a good few toys to play with and chew, I leave the radio on and he has a big window to look out of in the living room. He get's around a 30-45 mins walk (sometimes run) every morning, 20 mins at lunch time and a good hour+ in the evening which usually includes 30mins of off the lead sprinting as fast as he can chasing a ball.
How do I stop the curtain thing? First time it happened I disciplined him (no affection, tone of voice, called him over to the curtain etc) which I now realise was probably the wrong thing to do (I've been led to believe he wouldn't have realised why I was angry). This time around I just acted as normal as I could but took all of his stuff out the room and closed the door (he's banned from the bedroom now).
Any advice welcome!
Could be just jumping at the window as suggested, or nesting. Both our SBTs seem to like dragging everything into a pile & nesting on it.
Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
Pesty said:
Sorry can't help with the training. He looks lovely though. Good luck.
Thanks!bexVN said:
Are you sure he is not just pulling them down whilst eg, jumping at the window?
It will be almost impossible to stop this if he is doing it whilst you are out unless you stop him getting at them. Have you considered crate training?
Positive, there were teeth marks the first time and tears the second (I fastened the rail more securely so he's worked harder this time around). One set of teeth marks so it's more of a single chomp then chewing. I'd say he's jumping up, grabbing the curtain with his teeth and hanging there till they fall.It will be almost impossible to stop this if he is doing it whilst you are out unless you stop him getting at them. Have you considered crate training?
He also does a thing where he moves my clothes. Just grabs them and puts them somewhere else - no damage etc - I caught him in the act and it's just that - grabs moves and that's it - like 15 seconds of madness. He's probably done the same with the curtains, only difference is the curtains were fixed.
I suppose I'll have to move the curtains out of the way and tie them up for the time being. I keep talking on about an IP camera so I can view his behaviour and modify it - I must get that done.
I have thought about crate training but it feels really cruel to cage him up 4 hours at a time. I suppose if he does anything else I'll have to consider it.
Hooli said:
Could be just jumping at the window as suggested, or nesting. Both our SBTs seem to like dragging everything into a pile & nesting on it.
Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
Nesting, that's what he does with my clothes drags them to where he lays - Think it my be my smell he wants to be near?Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
He's a great dog to be fair, all things considered he's doing very well.
As long as you introduce it properly and he gets plenty of exercise/playtime etc crates are fine. We have a Lab sized one for our whippet.
We had to use it because Bryn kept cocking his leg in the lounge when we were out (our house is a bit open plan so shutting him out wasn't going to work!). He is fine, I give him a Kong with treats in and leave the radio on. He settles well.
I only need to do the 3 times a week for work for usually 3 hrs at a time, although Fridays it is unfortunately 6hrs, not great but no other choice at the mo. May get a dog Walker but poss temp problem. He is chilled out though.
We had to use it because Bryn kept cocking his leg in the lounge when we were out (our house is a bit open plan so shutting him out wasn't going to work!). He is fine, I give him a Kong with treats in and leave the radio on. He settles well.
I only need to do the 3 times a week for work for usually 3 hrs at a time, although Fridays it is unfortunately 6hrs, not great but no other choice at the mo. May get a dog Walker but poss temp problem. He is chilled out though.
EnthusiastOwned said:
Hooli said:
Could be just jumping at the window as suggested, or nesting. Both our SBTs seem to like dragging everything into a pile & nesting on it.
Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
Nesting, that's what he does with my clothes drags them to where he lays - Think it my be my smell he wants to be near?Not sure how to stop it apart of telling him off everytime you see the curtains down. They do know in my opinion as ours learnt not do stuff when we're out by getting told off when we got back.
Enjoy him, they are a wonderful affectionate breed.
He's a great dog to be fair, all things considered he's doing very well.
One of ours is a sort of rescue & he nested a lot when we first got him. He'd lived in a pen at the bottom of the garden for five years because he's not great with people & his owner had small kids. He's been in the house after about four days (once he got used to me) & the nesting has stopped now. I guess it's a security thing.
Ace was that scared of everyone when we got him that anyone he didn't know he'd attack out of fear, it's taken him months before to get him used to people. That he trusted me after four days amazed everyone who knows the dog. It does seem the more he's settled in & feels like it's his home the less he's nested.
bexVN said:
As long as you introduce it properly and he gets plenty of exercise/playtime etc crates are fine. We have a Lab sized one for our whippet.
We had to use it because Bryn kept cocking his leg in the lounge when we were out (our house is a bit open plan so shutting him out wasn't going to work!). He is fine, I give him a Kong with treats in and leave the radio on. He settles well.
I only need to do the 3 times a week for work for usually 3 hrs at a time, although Fridays it is unfortunately 6hrs, not great but no other choice at the mo. May get a dog Walker but poss temp problem. He is chilled out though.
So it's an option. It'd be four days a week, 4 hours a time (until November when my family visits from Crete then he'll have company 24 hours a day for 3 months, pretty much (then we'll have another battle when they go!). We had to use it because Bryn kept cocking his leg in the lounge when we were out (our house is a bit open plan so shutting him out wasn't going to work!). He is fine, I give him a Kong with treats in and leave the radio on. He settles well.
I only need to do the 3 times a week for work for usually 3 hrs at a time, although Fridays it is unfortunately 6hrs, not great but no other choice at the mo. May get a dog Walker but poss temp problem. He is chilled out though.
He has a Kong and a Kong Bone, a Nylon Bone and a couple of rope toys - he doesn't seem to touch them during the day, to be fair; even when we are here it's only for a half an hour chew, otherwise he just sleeps or follows us around.
Hooli said:
Could be.
One of ours is a sort of rescue & he nested a lot when we first got him. He'd lived in a pen at the bottom of the garden for five years because he's not great with people & his owner had small kids. He's been in the house after about four days (once he got used to me) & the nesting has stopped now. I guess it's a security thing.
Ace was that scared of everyone when we got him that anyone he didn't know he'd attack out of fear, it's taken him months before to get him used to people. That he trusted me after four days amazed everyone who knows the dog. It does seem the more he's settled in & feels like it's his home the less he's nested.
I have no history with ours, no microchip, name, collar; nothing! All I know he was found roaming the Manor (bit of a rough area in Sheffield) and he was around 2-3 years old. But, he's house trained, eats and plays very well (*can remove food from him), gentle (for a strong lad), great with other dogs and people, including people playing sports or on bikes - I've even introduced him to my friends 5 year old and he was great, if a little boisterous. He's even great on car journeys and loves them!One of ours is a sort of rescue & he nested a lot when we first got him. He'd lived in a pen at the bottom of the garden for five years because he's not great with people & his owner had small kids. He's been in the house after about four days (once he got used to me) & the nesting has stopped now. I guess it's a security thing.
Ace was that scared of everyone when we got him that anyone he didn't know he'd attack out of fear, it's taken him months before to get him used to people. That he trusted me after four days amazed everyone who knows the dog. It does seem the more he's settled in & feels like it's his home the less he's nested.
He was VERY jumpy when we got him (he headbutted my girlfriend on the first day and almost knocked her out!) but that's 95% been eradicated. He can now sit and give paw and he's become more gentle in his general movement. He still gets excited and a little possessed every now and then but our Vet Health check indicated he was closer to 1 year old which would explain his energy bursts.
The curtain thing is a bit of a mystery as he's not shown any care to the curtains when in our presence. I'm wondering if it's separation anxiety as it's happened on Monday morning, both times - After a full weekend of attention he's playing up the first time he's alone?
Get a camera set up on the curtains 
I still think he could be getting wound up by outside stuff and taking it out on the curtains.
Have you tried a plug in ADAPTIL in the room, you could also use natural products such as zylkene and Kalmaid, definitely worth looking into, they are completely safe and won't make things worse just not make a difference if they don't work. Also can use all three I've mentioned at the same time.
I still think he could be getting wound up by outside stuff and taking it out on the curtains.
Have you tried a plug in ADAPTIL in the room, you could also use natural products such as zylkene and Kalmaid, definitely worth looking into, they are completely safe and won't make things worse just not make a difference if they don't work. Also can use all three I've mentioned at the same time.
Are the curtains only in the bedroom?
If so, I would be inclined to keep him out of there (and give him other things to 'nest' with).
You could be right about the 'grabbing' thing. Staffies are renowned for loving tuggy games. Could you set up something (like a proper rope tuggy toy) that he could grab and pull on - eg attached to a newel post at the bottom of stairs?
PS - he is lovely
If so, I would be inclined to keep him out of there (and give him other things to 'nest' with).
You could be right about the 'grabbing' thing. Staffies are renowned for loving tuggy games. Could you set up something (like a proper rope tuggy toy) that he could grab and pull on - eg attached to a newel post at the bottom of stairs?
PS - he is lovely
A friend had problems with her Whippet jumping on kitchen sink or living room window sill and knocking stuff over or destroying the blinds/curtains. She stacked some cycling water bottles rather precariously, so as soon as he tried to get up the whole lot fell on him. Did it a couple of times and the problem stopped. Could you balance something on the top of the curtain that'd fall and discourage him?... obviously something harmless and not a brick!
Try stuffing the kong with hot dog sausages and sealing the end up with cheese slices, guaranteed to keep him distracted for at least an hour.Don't break the sausages up too much so he really has to get his tongue in,I used to seal each section to make it doubly difficult .
Try changing the toys that you leave out.They become less boring that way.We have a small pop up clothes basket we tidy all the toys and chews into, then the dogs have to get them out themselves,Grizz has a tendency to walk about with his head stuck in it.
Try changing the toys that you leave out.They become less boring that way.We have a small pop up clothes basket we tidy all the toys and chews into, then the dogs have to get them out themselves,Grizz has a tendency to walk about with his head stuck in it.
bexVN said:
Get a camera set up on the curtains
I still think he could be getting wound up by outside stuff and taking it out on the curtains.
Have you tried a plug in ADAPTIL in the room, you could also use natural products such as zylkene and Kalmaid, definitely worth looking into, they are completely safe and won't make things worse just not make a difference if they don't work. Also can use all three I've mentioned at the same time.
Well the window is above his eye line and the curtains end just at his reach (on his hind legs). The curtain he goes for is next to a partially open window, so it could be the case he's hearing noises. I still think he could be getting wound up by outside stuff and taking it out on the curtains.
Have you tried a plug in ADAPTIL in the room, you could also use natural products such as zylkene and Kalmaid, definitely worth looking into, they are completely safe and won't make things worse just not make a difference if they don't work. Also can use all three I've mentioned at the same time.
I've not tried any calming products - ADAPTIL plug in would be as far as I'd want at the moment, I'm not a fan of calming tablets if I'm honest (as far as humans go, anyway). The ADAPTIL collar looks interesting too and might be more suitable?
moorx said:
Are the curtains only in the bedroom?
If so, I would be inclined to keep him out of there (and give him other things to 'nest' with).
You could be right about the 'grabbing' thing. Staffies are renowned for loving tuggy games. Could you set up something (like a proper rope tuggy toy) that he could grab and pull on - eg attached to a newel post at the bottom of stairs?
PS - he is lovely
Curtains in bedroom and living room, although the bedroom ones are above his head where as the living room go to the floor. He's currently banned from the bedroom so I'll see what I'm faced with when I get home at lunch!If so, I would be inclined to keep him out of there (and give him other things to 'nest' with).
You could be right about the 'grabbing' thing. Staffies are renowned for loving tuggy games. Could you set up something (like a proper rope tuggy toy) that he could grab and pull on - eg attached to a newel post at the bottom of stairs?
PS - he is lovely
The tugging post is a great idea, but not sure if it'll work, he's only interested in tugging for around 5 mins a day and only when we start - I don't think he's that bothered by it. I might be wrong though.
Thanks!
Jasandjules said:
Does he have a bed with a bit of vet bed or blanket in?
He has two beds, but they are more cushions - He has a habit of pawing them and he chewed one when we first got him (I think out of excitement more than anything) so we are reluctant to spend a bit more on a proper bed until he's settled. We have been considering a blanket or even old duvet with cover though. Do you think it may help?AdiT said:
A friend had problems with her Whippet jumping on kitchen sink or living room window sill and knocking stuff over or destroying the blinds/curtains. She stacked some cycling water bottles rather precariously, so as soon as he tried to get up the whole lot fell on him. Did it a couple of times and the problem stopped. Could you balance something on the top of the curtain that'd fall and discourage him?... obviously something harmless and not a brick!
I'm not sure it'll work, the curtain pole is falling on him for a start and I don't think he's tugging long enough for anything to fall before the curtain does. Plus I think he'd find it a game and it'd encourage him more than anything. If it was a brick falling on his head I don't think it'd phase him - his head is like a brick anyway! megamaniac said:
Try stuffing the kong with hot dog sausages and sealing the end up with cheese slices, guaranteed to keep him distracted for at least an hour.Don't break the sausages up too much so he really has to get his tongue in,I used to seal each section to make it doubly difficult .
Try changing the toys that you leave out.They become less boring that way.We have a small pop up clothes basket we tidy all the toys and chews into, then the dogs have to get them out themselves,Grizz has a tendency to walk about with his head stuck in it.
Tried the whole Kong thing, stuffed with smelly fishy treats (which he loves) and he just gets frustrated / bored that he can't get to the treats straight away so he gives up after a few minutes - I even tried the Kong Bone with treats in either end - really accessible and once again, wasn't too interested. This guy isn't to fussed about food and treats (unless they are easy and chewy) he responds to affection more than anything. Try changing the toys that you leave out.They become less boring that way.We have a small pop up clothes basket we tidy all the toys and chews into, then the dogs have to get them out themselves,Grizz has a tendency to walk about with his head stuck in it.
Pigs ears last around 5 minutes, I gave him a whole pizzle and that lasted 30 mins. He's a machine!
Edited by EnthusiastOwned on Tuesday 29th September 10:50
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