6 month old rescue misbehaved!

So we rescued a staffy called Chaos the other day, and he is very hyper and likes to hump things. As well as pee in the hallway.   

We are getting him neutered tomorrow but I'm not really expecting that to fix all our problems. What can I do?

He is a rescue but is very stubborn and has bad habits.

Not much help sorry but he is probably only trying to settle in. They will try to push boundries but stay firm and patient. the humping needs to be distracted perhaps with a toy or game. How much exercise to you give him? sometimes its pure boredom he is still very young so just be persistant. When you can pop here and say hi xx
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

3-4 walks a day, 2 kinda short - 20-40 mins and 1 or 2 longer ones where i ran with him etc.

I cant take him off leash yet because im a bit scared, and every time he pulls i say "SHH" which makes him stop. After a few seconds i continue walking but than he pulls again after 5 seconds or so.

AM i doing something wrong or do i just keep trying?

Also he seems to prefer sleeping on the floor rather than in a bed of blankets and pillows. Is it the heat?

Im doing my best to keep him under control but i need guidance

Ill try and update you guys every day if thats ok? I really love him and want to keep him but he is out of control at times

He is not human or dog aggressive as the last owners had 1-6 year olds and 2 dogs - but the wife got pregnant and they had to give him away. They were really kind and respectable people - and the two older dogs were very well behaved. Chaos enjoys being petted by strangers lol - hes very cute.

I feel almost guilty because i get the feeling that if a more experienced and better owner got him he would be better behaved

Please help

No you musnt beat yerself up just keep doing as your doing. Try a treat on the pulling thing. Let him sniff it and holld it in your hand up by your chest. Walk a little way and make him sit then treat. Keep doing this and it does work. He really is adjusting to new surroundings just be patient, they are hard work at times but so worth it in the end. x

It really is early days, he's still settling in   there is loads of information on our website that may help   

Don't despair... Be consistent with the training, they are head strong and yours is still young. You WILL get through this with love and patience. We are all here to help so just shout.

The training you do now will pay you back 100 fold going forward but it's not an overnight thing. Be patient.

He will pay you back with so much love that in a while you'll wonder what you ever did without him   

You could try a long line to let him burn some energy off. What kind of lead collar/harness do you use? Some people find their dog is best with a harness, others with thick padded collars but I prefer a half check with a 6ft lead. Can you try training classes?
Pete.

I use a thin chain collar so he doesnt feel uncomfortable (leather ones look stiff) and a 1m lead which i wrap around my hand to make it shorter.

He also isnt used to sleeping on his own and cries all night if left locked outside the bedroom so i let him in, but i wake up with him beside me lol. SHould i get a crate and place it next to my bed? I dont know if hes used to them

But even at 6 months he is pretty strong, i cant imagine him fully grown :l

Time is limited!   

Thanks for all the advice everyone

I myself wouldnt go near chain collars they arent good unless you know how to use them properly. Is it like a choke chain?   

im not a fan of chain collar also

If you use a longer lead in both hands so the lead is across the front of you, you'll have a little more time to react before he's at the full extent, and more importantly before he pulls you. Have you thought about a harness? I've never used one but tonnes of people swear by them. I think there's a non pulling range.
I personally think crate training is essential. We've had our pup for almost 5 weeks and apart from the first night she's slept until we get up and she's in there when we're not home.
Pete.

Ohhh no its not a choke chain! Its just like a normal collar but made out of a thin chain!
I would never use a choke chain, maybe a half choke as a last resort since it only tightens a bit so your dog doesnt have a risk of chocking or damaging its neck.

Pic related, its a half choke but i dont have one as i can still hold him back when he pulls so a regular thin chain collar is enough

I find walking in a harness is best   

If he pulls enough to be uncomfortable I wouldn't be walking him on a shortened lead. Agree with Saz, I would use a harness and a fleece lined collar, with a double ended lead attached to both for control.

Can you make a clear list of the behavioural problems that you're having with him? Why is time limited?

I have 15 week old pup and I find that walking with a harness is amazing he walks pretty well on it, when we first got loki I thought oh.dear lord what did we do he's not listening he won't stop biting, but he's so good with other dogs now, walks properly, he's still a bit nibbly but no where near as hard as it used to be, I found this site so helpful, I post here alot, and everyone is amazing!! Chaos will be the best friend you've ever had!! I know loki already is mine.

You could also try a halti. This wraps around the muzzle and also around the back of the head. Worked wonders for Meg as she used to pull on a collar and a harness. Go to Wilko's pet section and get a spray (I forget what it's called) to clean up when he toilets in the hall. If you use bleach or floor cleaner, the dog will still be able to smell where he has been and will use that place regularly. This spray will not damage carpets but will get rid of the smell so they don't wee there.

BTW, the humping bit can be a sign of him trying to dominate.

Great suggestions, can also vouch for halti's being a great training tool. Humping isn't actually all that often dominance though, more often it's anxiety/excitement/excess energy!

Ill look into a harness, would this one be okay? It looks very nice
I could get some leather saddle oil that softens it if its rough


He improved so much over the last 4 days. He is very eager to learn and please. I taught him to sit in 10 minutes!

He doesnt do it every time yet but about 70% of the time! In 10 minutes! im very impressed by him

Considering this is my first dog im very proud

You should be proud   

They really are very clever dogs, they can also be very stubborn so watch out for that. I use a similar harness to that but others use padded ones and other makes. The thing with the harness is to ensure it doesn't rub anywhere and it gives you good control when out walking. I'm sure others will make harness suggestion too.

Have you looked at the softer, padded ones? Leather might be a bit harsh and therefore uncomfortable for him.
Pete.

Hmmm... Affordable suggestions that also look nice?

The ezydog harnesses are cool!! I just have a simple black one with white stitching, but I will get an ezydog one when he's old enough.

Think that harness may rub him, I use Trixie harnesses, cost me £10 on Amazon and has done 6 months so far without a tear on it fleece lined and sturdy. I also used el perro collars, they're wide set enough to support the thick neck too!

I think harness is good but wait till the leather one till his fully grown. Maybe try it with the shortest metal chain? It works for me with the harness for better control and jump prevention i use different lengths depending where we go. Good luck with everything and I promise you soon you won't be able to imagine life without him   

Chaos_The_Rescue wrote:Ohhh no its not a choke chain! Its just like a normal collar but made out of a thin chain!
I would never use a choke chain, maybe a half choke as a last resort since it only tightens a bit so your dog doesnt have a risk of chocking or damaging its neck.

Pic related, its a half choke but i dont have one as i can still hold him back when he pulls so a regular thin chain collar is enough

I think we need to clarify something here. The items being discussed are " check chains" they only become choke chains if used improperly. There is even a correct and incorrect way to put these collars on. I don't use one on Bacchus but have used them on previous dogs ( not staffs ) because of the ease with which they can be put on and taken off not because of any training benefits.

Decided on this


It seems like the most humane way to stop pulling, its very soft and it got high ratings on amazon. People say it works from day one.

Link: http://tinyurl.com/pzbdhwu

Opinions?

Also discovered that my pup loves taking baths and doesnt mind hoovers.

Glad i kept him

I think it's a better option than the leather one. Try it with a collar and a double ended lead and switch between the two as and when needed.