flick: (Default)
Flick ([personal profile] flick) wrote2013-09-12 07:37 am

Night 3

Well, in some ways last night was better.

She wasn't very keen on going to bed, because she knew she was going to bed, but once she was in there it was quiet. For about an hour, when she started up again. She took a break between 12:30 and 1:30, and then had another hour or so of trying to escape. I had set the dishwasher going before I went to bed, so it's possible that the hour of quiet was until there stopped being a noise in the kitchen.

(I was fast asleep until I woke to find a very cold Mike getting back into bed, having been to tell her off. Mike's gone back to bed now, being a much lighter sleeper than I am.)

She has done less damage to the door this time, but there seemed to be more thuds and less scratching.

Things tried last night:
- putting her in her bed for short periods of time during the day (made her reluctant to go in there, even with treats (this is almost amusing, as she usually follows me to the loo, but now wavers about trying to decide if she'll get trapped or not)
- leaving the radio on (may try moving this to the kitchen tonight, on the same principle as the dishwasher)
- giving her one of my blankets (I'd put it in her favourite living room lying spot in the evening, which she seemed fine with, and then moved it to her bed. This morning, I've moved it back to the living room and she's now lying on the rug instead as it is apparently Tainted)

Things to try:
- keep putting her in there during the day. Less / no fuss when she comes out?
- switch the light off (we had thought she'd be happier with a light on in the laundry, but will try the other way and see)
- radio on in the kitchen

I may take my book and go and sit on her bed to read for a bit.

[identity profile] bohemiancoast.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
Given how this works with children, it sounds like it's actually going quite well.
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 08:48 am (UTC)(link)
[laughs]

That's actually quite reassuring, thank you!

[identity profile] bohemiancoast.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
The other thing that works with kids of course, is wearing them out in the day. Is she getting long enough walks?
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
We are trying to wear her out, but I suspect that doing so would require about half a dozen half-mile walks spread over the day: she gets tired relatively quickly, collapses in a heap, and is then fully recovered! She does spend quite a lot of time charging around the garden and field, though.

[identity profile] helenex.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
Not been through this with a dog, but the cats seem to understand that dark + quiet = time to sleep?
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 08:49 am (UTC)(link)
She seems to be of the view that humans sitting still + no current fuss = time to sleep! (As soon as I picked up my laptop, she flopped over and is now doing her dead dog impression.)

[identity profile] ang-grrr.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 10:36 am (UTC)(link)
REALLY?!?!

Where do I get these magic cats? My cat takes dark + quiet = time to bat my owner on the face or yowl like I am being tortured.

[identity profile] helenex.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
First time this week I've been proud of the fact that our cats wait till 5am to wake us up (this morning, by getting up, leaving the bedroom and puking loudly just outside)

[identity profile] inamac.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
That sounds fairly hopeful.

Definitely switch the light off - for mine that's a signal to go to sleep (in the wild dogs tend to go to their dens at nightfall - all that 'wolves howling at the moon' may well be a complaint that it's too light to sleep!).

Not so much 'less fuss' when she comes out during the day, but not just 'good girl' for being quiet but 'do something' when she comes out (play a game, or take her for a quick walk round, do some 'sit' training), that should reinforce the message that the store room is 'her' place, and outside she does what 'you' want (and she enjoys too, of course).

Rehabilitating dogs is Hard Work and there are no foolproof methods.
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 11:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I suspect you're going to get sick of questions before too long....

[identity profile] bemused-leftist.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
If you were worried about the damage she was doing to the door, then think about the damage this is doing to her!

If you don't want her sleeping in the room with you, or even coming upstairs -- then find a family that will let her sleep in their room. There are such families.

'Find a better home' does NOT mean 'take her back to the shelter'. It means 'find a better home'.

The energy you are spending on this, and the attention you are getting from other LJers -- could be used to find her a home where she will fit in better.


[identity profile] con-girl.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I've never met an animal that when in a new situation didn't test ALL THE RULES. It really doesn't matter what the rules are. They will be tested. There will be variation in the degree of testing - some will test hard for months, others will give up almost immediately. I can't remember where I saw them but there are articles on training that say that you can also expect occassional re-visits and acting up - often just when you thought the rule had been accepted. It actually has been accepted but it's like a double check of your sincerity is required.

In case you were wondering, I think keeping the dog out of certain spaces is completely reasonable. Not that you need my opinion on this :) It is possible that it mightn't be the right choice for this dog but it is routine for many country dogs and it is way, way, way, too early to know that. She's also not showing any behaviours that sound alarming - I'd worry if she ran away from you, hid her tail, or stopped eating. Banging on the door? Sounds like normal testing to me that will go away unless you somehow accidentally reward it.
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Given that I've just been out for a smoke and found her waiting at the door when I got in, after which she did the happy dance and then stuck her head between my legs while wapping me with her tail.... I think she's coping!

[identity profile] dorispossum.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm no expert on dog training - or even a dog person - but every dog owner I've ever known tells me you have to persevere. It sounds really hard though, so good luck!
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[identity profile] flickgc.livejournal.com 2013-09-12 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I think it's worse for Mike than me, as he's the one getting woken up, but we're going to keep trying and hope she settles down.