Happy day Alfie can stay

First topic message reminder :

Hi All,

Just wanted to thank each and everyone of you for all your advice (i know ive been a bit of a pain on here lol) but due to circumstances out of my control I am regrettable re homing my little Alfie. As you can imagine I am absolutely devastated but wish him a long and happy life.

Ive enjoyed tak=lking with all of you - thank you x

Im not gunna change my mind but what if
My landlord tells me to get rid?! I really need a solution to this now before he is left again

Why you can't lock him in the crate? How many hours do you work? You've got weekend,you could crate trained him.

If he's introduced to the cage properly and you can build it up over time, in theory he could be locked in it. Then again, he sounds like he'd have some separation anxiety. An extra walk or extra-long walk will help. The dog walker idea is a very good one; even if it's not everyday, it'll help. And Mat's suggestion of a training line is great. Alfie's recall may not be good, but with a training line, you can get them from Amazong pretty cheap, like 50 foot. He can run around for ages, tire himself out, while still being able to have control of him.

I work full time so i cant really keep him in a crate for that long. I just dont know where i can put him in the house now? I got up early today fpr an extra long work but this obviously didnt work?

Tara wrote:he sounds like he'd have some separation anxiety. An extra walk or extra-long walk will help.

I genuinely think this is the problem summed up in one sentence from Tara.

Logan has unbelievable separation anxiety, worse than I've ever seen. So I personally can't lock him in anything or anywhere. I feel Alfie may have this too. All your problems remind me of Logan at a time.

Exercise is vital, if Alfie is tired out he will be satisfied to be on his own. Then crating, toilet training and any other problems will be so much easier to deal with.

This is the way I had to do it myself. My problem is Logan barking but with enough exercise he is a dream to live with. Without....total nightmare.

I did this morning though Mat? He had a good 45-60 mins

But this is the first day of your new setup, it will take a while before you see any difference at all. Spend this weekend trying to work out what you wanna do with crating etc, I still suggest kitchen during the day, bedroom at night.

Another thing, I think you said Alfie was like 10kg once? Therefore you could pick up a sensibly priced extending lead for him, as you won't need to buy an expensive heavu duty one. My gf got one for her dog for about 12 quid as she's a lightweight dog too. I'm getting one for my monster tomorrow. I really can't stress enough the difference walking on a long lead in an open area changed Logan as a dog. His behaviour has came on leaps and bounds since then.

Thanks Mat i definitely will try this. Everytime we take a step forward we have a massive one back. Dont get me wrong I understand these things tale time im just frustrated about my floor no1 about what my landlord will say ( he said pets were fine as long as they didnt wreck the house) and no 2the cost for a new floor. As you can imagine his operation is going to be cheap and i didnt expect to have to fork out for a new floor. Im just worried what will be next? I get that hes probably bored and anxious when hes on his own but i wont be able to keep affording repairs. Its not going to be easy to persuade erika he can be trained either after this

I love him to death and i know it will be worth it its just this stage!! Lol

Hopefully if you get somewhere with crating etc there won't be too many more "next times".

I wish I'd taken some pictures of Logan's moments I could show you lol. He used to enjoy pulling my skirting board off, used to not like my curtains and decided to pull them off. He was also good and eating plugs off the end of appliances. Doesn't do any of this now thankfully!

Only way to stop them is see what needs done and get stuck in to it!

U can get really large crates, make half of it comfy and the other half lay newspaper down for pees n poops. Freeze a large kong everynight with something tasty to keep him occupied.

Do u have a friend or neighbour that can pop in everyday to let him outside and check in him ? Or even for them to take him for a quick walk...if not, are u able to pop home in ur lunch break ?
If not, u mat want to consider a dog walker/sitter person. Someone who can pop in, make a fuss of him, stretch his legs abd a quick walk or play.

It's basically a service which enables fullyime workers to be able to have a dog.

A crate will really help though, his own little safe haven x

EllieSmith wrote:I work full time so i cant really keep him in a crate for that long. I just dont know where i can put him in the house now? I got up early today fpr an extra long work but this obviously didnt work?

Where was he when he wrecked the floor? And the training line will help, he can run around then but you still have control. And don't fret that it hasn't worked, it's only been one day. Think how much extra energy he has to let out, it'll take a little while for that energy to be released.

I keep him im the kitchen with a baby gate because he cant be trusted yet with toileting and chewing so he was in there when he did the floor. Im just glad this trainer is coming on monday, at least now she can see the extent of it. I am going to see if i can find a lead tomorrow and give him a good blast on it!

Thank you to whoever changed the name of this thread

Try leaving a radio or tv on for him. We did this with our old boy Zaccy and we do it for Obi now. Makes him feel like there is someone else around no silence or strange noises.

treacle4775 wrote:Try leaving a radio or tv on for him..

Why has none of us thought of this yet lol! Nice one, great advice.

I did this with Logan when he has been left alone before.

MatLogan wrote:

treacle4775 wrote:Try leaving a radio or tv on for him..

Why has none of us thought of this yet lol! Nice one, great advice.

I did this with Logan when he has been left alone before.

I always turn MTV on the tv when I leave the dogs, and turn it up slightly louder than I would have it.

Glad he is staying, did you look into the dog walker ?

Good idea! By the way just wanted to say massive thanks to everyone for their advice, i must seem a miserable cow but im just frustrated, trying to convince everyone its the right thing to keep him but getting grief for it

I have looked into it but not sure if i can afford it yet, crates, trainers and new floor is going to skint me this month lol

EllieSmith wrote:Thank you to whoever changed the name of this thread

Hope it really works for you Ellie , I used to leave Tilly on the couch watching CBeebies (but she's grown out of that now) Tommy on the other hand couldn't be trusted so he gets Radio 1 in the kitchen You just have to try and see what works

Ellie Obi was a nightmare before we got the crate. Ok we've had him from a pup but the crate wasn't introduced until he was about 7 months old. Unfortunately my husband came home from work to find the new kitchen had been eaten. He'd already done the dining table legs and chairs, the tiles off the floor, the wall, the skirting board but the nibbles in one of the units sent OH over the edge so a cage it was. We put the cage in the kitchen and over the weekend we let him walk in and out at his leisure. Put his bed in there all his toys and a water bowl. Come the Monday he had to go in it so I put his breakfast in there left the radio on for him once he was in of his own accord I shut the door told him I wouldn't be long and left minimal fuss. He didn't care he was munching his breakfast.

It will take time but i'm sure he'll be fine.

How long did you leave him in there for?

He's in his crate for about 5-6 hours he goes in at 8.30 in the morning with his breakfast and then he comes out when my husband gets home any time between 1 and 3 in the afternoon. As long as he's had a long walk in the morning then his has his breakfast he'll probably sleep. My husband says Obi is always asleep when he comes in lol. Get him a stag bar for the chewing and with the combination of the radio i'm sure he'll be fine

The thing is i dont get in until half 5

Can your housemate help? You might think it will never changed but it will and you might feel like giving up but we are here to change yor mind .
Give him chance ,every thing is new for you.

She also works full time, i get in before her in the evenings (luckily) lol

Ok that amount of time isn't ideal but as long as he has a long walk in the morning he will probably sleep most of the time. Let him have toys in there that he can chew and the music or tv will be a comforting distraction.

When you get home let him out then do what you would normally do walk him feed him play with him. It won't be forever once he's stopped chewing your house up then he won't need the cage.

Get some Johnson's anti chew spray it's the only one i've found that stops Obi chewing stuff. He's still a baby and he's not had the best start to life but he will get there. It will take time believe me it's not going to be ok in a weekend but with your love and perserverance he'll be one fine staffie and i'm sure your housemate will come round. I don't know anyone that has not fallen in love with a staffie after spending time with them.

I brought the johnsons anti chew spray and sprayed it yesterday lol onviously didnt work haha

Give it time you won't get instant results which I know you don't want to here but over time he will settle he's still a baby and could possibly still be teething with his back teeth.