First off, people keep saying we should get an older dog, let me repeat
THE SHELTER LIED TO US. We were told he wasn't high energy, wasn't a pup. We got a pup, and are trying to work with it. Our other dog wasn't nearly this bad, he was very mellow. We've read tons of books, looked up tons of other information, but after repeated attempts it isn't working, it gets given up. No, @
lukeykee I can't run. Running makes me fall, I know this. Happens every time.
I'm still reading through the other ideas given.
So far, mum has set up a makeshift agility course. He gets run on this. He gets walks. We do whatever we can to play with him. Today he got a two hour walk, but it did nothing. Now he's started barking at us for everything. He'll get wound up around bed time and be REALLY bad around bed time. We go to bed early, but there are nights we don't want to go to bed at 9:30...but the barking is the worst. He barks for everything and anything, and though we try to ignore it this leads to 1. my night turn working dad getting woken up, or 2. his barking ESCALATING and suddenly he's jumping and nipping at us. We can't ignore that, now, can we?
I tell my parents not to hit him (he gets hit on the rump, never the face or otherwise) with a rolled newspaper. We tried shaking bottles with coins in, and water bottles, but both just make him bark at us, so those don't work. When he's barking he needs to stop immediately, or else he'll wake dad up. My dad has the fan on in his room, sometimes has headphones on - he's still woken up.
I really hate how you all speak so badly of my parents, I know what they're doing is bad, but you're freaking blaming me when I can do NOTHING in the situation when I suggest things and nothing happens - that is, I'll say 'ignore the barking' and the barking doesn't stop and dad wakes up and yells. Or when I try to be firm with the dog (NOT HITTING HIM), I simply give him on command as sternly as I can (ie go lay down), and all it results in is his disobeying or barking at me. He doesn't listen to mum or me, no matter what we do. He only listens to dad, and dad, like I said, is much more dominant in his training. When mum's at work I try to train him with more positive methods, but even I get frustrated because he won't get it, or, worse, parents will totally do the opposite, leading me to be at square one. We can't convince dad to try a different way of training because he is actually getting results.
I should also mention that during all this, Spector does not act aggressive. He nips, yes, and he barks - but he is getting wound up, excited. His hair is not raised, he is not showing signs of fear or aggression, other than the nipping - his teeth are still coming in. We are not abusing or neglecting this dog. When he's good and sweet and nice, he gets all the love, all the treats, that we can give.
As far as I know, @
JosienBB only small animals in carriers or service dogs are allowed on buses. I've never seen a dog on a bus.
I know it sounds like I'm coming up with excuses, because, well, what the hell am I supposed to freaking do? I'M TRYING THE BEST I CAN. IM ONE PERSON. ONE FREAKING PERSON. My parents are the ones with the money, the ones who are with the dog most of the day once school starts. Not freaking me. I'm doing the best i can, I walk him as far as i can when mum works. I work with him. I do my best, but it's not freaking working.
Obedience classes are a no-go for the following reasons:
1. My dad works night turn, Sunday-Thursday, and recently, on Fridays occasionally. He sleeps about 90% of the days he works. (8am-12pm, then from 330pm-9:00pm). He only goes out on these days if he HAS to. He needs to relax and rest during the time he's home.
2. My dad is the only one in the house who drives.
3. My mum works 3 days a week, 12 hours.(Roughly 5am-8pm, as far as when she's gone from home) When she comes home she is tired, days off usually mean days resting. She works most weekends, and has no control over this. She's an RN and is required to work so many weekends.
4. I don't drive. I have classes Monday-Friday.
5. Dad hates driving with the dog in the car, even if the dog is restrained or in a crate. He doesn't like going places with the dog.
Anyway, the real reason I replied was because mum has given Spec one more week, she can't take any more of his misbehavior. we're are our energy's end with having to constantly yelling at this dog and being forced to hit him because he won't do what we ask otherwise. He won't drop dangerous things he finds, he won't stop barking, he won't generally CALM DOWN when he needs to. I'm in freaking tears over this and I come here just to hear all these critiques like I'm not doing anything, and I hate it.