Belle
Minnesota
Posts:16
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| 04/20/2009 9:40 AM |
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I am desperate to keep my almost 2 year old GSP female. She is a wonderful dog but she has a lot of problems. I don't know what to do. She is AKC, spayed, and been with us the whole time. We got her from a breader but we never checked out the breader to check for inbreading. Which I don't know if that is a problem with GSP's. She is very high energy, whines all the time, still piddles in her kennel, over eats, and over drinks. I don't know what to do with her. My husband is at the point of putting her down and I know in my heart that she is a good dog but at what point do you say enough is enough. Is it possible that she has ADD or something like that? Or is it simply that she needs to be on a farm where she can just run free?
I've never put anything on the internet before but I am so desperate that this seemed like my only option. PLEASE HELP!!! She is my baby and I don't want to get rid of her but if something doesn't change it either her or my husband. |
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
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Posts:1618
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| 04/20/2009 9:45 AM |
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| How much exercise is she getting? These dogs want a lot of attention but require lots of exercise to burn off the energy. If you can play ball with her or frisbee or maybe take her running or swimming? Mine will get all whiny when they want out. Does she spend alot of time in her kennel? |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)  
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Belle
Minnesota
Posts:16
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| 04/20/2009 9:53 AM |
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| I've tried playing fetch with her but she won't retreive. We have one other dog that is a GSP/ lab mix. She's the one that enjoys playing fetch. We live in MN and my husband is a cop and I work in Food and Beverage meaning we are gone a lot more than either of us like. We have an outdoor kennel but this winter was way too brutal to leave them outside or even take them walking. I've been walking her since it's warmed up but then all she wants to do is drink all the water and eat snow. It seems like this endless battle. When she is outside in kennel then she digs endless and whines even more and that turns into a yulp and eventually into a death cry. |
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JCK
SH
Posts:44
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| 04/20/2009 9:54 AM |
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How many walks a day is she getting? How far are these walks? Does she get any vigorous exercise?
If she's getting a lot exercise and still having these problems, I don't know what to say. But, if I had to guess, it sounds like she may need a more active household.
Good luck, and please let us know more about your situation. |
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JCK
SH
Posts:44
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| 04/20/2009 9:59 AM |
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From your second post, it sounds like she's bored. These are active, hunting dogs and need both physical and mental stimulation. I run my GSP mix a couple miles most days, which keeps her happy and me in shape. Other people hunt with their dogs.
I think you will need to find a physical activity for your dog that she enjoys. It sounds like she's got a lot energy and no productive way to burn it off.
If you don't have the time or desire to handle an active dog, I'd try to find a local GSP rescue organization. They may be able to find a more appropriate home for your dog. If you take her to the pound, she will almost certainly be euthanized.
Best of luck.
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Belle
Minnesota
Posts:16
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| 04/20/2009 9:59 AM |
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| In all my desperation I will now voe to break out the 1980's bike that I have and start taking her for a bike ride everyday. I am unable to take her twice a day as I usually don't get home until after dark. My husband wants her for hunting but I guess since I bought her, bonded with her, it's up to me to make sure that she is getting everything that she needs. I absolutely love her and know that she is going to be a wonderful dog but the puppy years for GSP seem to be never ending. She does better when she has something in her kennel with her but she destroys everything we put in there. Including the toys that say they are indistructable. |
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Marie
Wisconsin
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Posts:2721
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Willowglen
Fort Collins, CO
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Posts:216
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| 04/20/2009 10:13 AM |
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Your comment about all the water drinking and snow eating would make me think a trip to the vet is warranted, just to make sure all is normal. Since she is spayed, the piddling could be a result of that (I'm not sure what age it is usually seen at, but my mother's 6 year old spayed lab started that around the age of 2 or 3 and a cheap, once a week med has fixed that problem).
Hopefully the bike riding will help with the energy level. Good luck! |
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Christine
Willow Glen GSPs & Weimaraners
www.willowglengsp.com
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Belle
Minnesota
Posts:16
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| 04/20/2009 10:22 AM |
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| What about the whining! It's enough to make me crazy... Once my alarm goes off in the morning it starts and she doesn't calm down until I take her outside but if I'm not home she will sleep in until my husband gets up and then when he gets around to letting them out. They are almost perfect with him but with me she is absolutely horrible! |
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DesertRoseKennel
MH
Posts:1033
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| 04/20/2009 10:23 AM |
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I concur with what everyone else has said, but have one plea/comment:
PLEASE DO NOT PUT THIS DOG DOWN. It isn't fair to her. She isn't getting what she needs. If you come to the conclusion that you can't give her what she needs, and I don't say that cruelly - GSPs are too much for lots of people - please, please, please contact a GSP rescue and give her to someone that is able to provide what she needs.
Jean |
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"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed"
www.desertrosekennel.com |
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Kerplunk105
Bucks County, PA
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Posts:713
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| 04/20/2009 10:24 AM |
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As mentioned, if she is drinking a lot of water and having accidents, it sounds like a trip to the vet is needed.
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Elizabeth
Leena RIP 11/08-9/17/09
Bliss, the Labrador
Tegan, the Weim/Labrador
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7855
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lauralee
Plainfield, CT.
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Posts:449
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| 04/20/2009 10:41 AM |
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I would say she is whining because she is bored. My dogs will also do this if they haven't been out for awhile. Keep in mind that a tired GSP, is a happy GSP !!! It is your goal to make her tired, everyday,,, that will be your goal.. I think it's a great idea to get the bike out, this will make her tired without exhausting you in the process. Start slow, get her in a trot for a couple of miles, then in a week or so, extend the mileage, and get her into a even gallop. The key is to make her tired, and I bet you will have a quieter, happier dog on your hands.
If this isn't something you can do, than I think you would probably be better off to find her a home that would be better suited for her. |
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Belle
Minnesota
Posts:16
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| 04/20/2009 10:45 AM |
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| Please don't get me wrong... I would never, ever put her down. I love her way too much for that. Notice, I have reached out to this board for help because I want to keep her. She is the most beautiful dog I've ever seen and her eyes are enough to make me melt. I am getting a lot of great ideas... I never thought of deer antlers. We have tons of sheds laying around so she will get one tonight when I get home. Please keep the advice coming! I know that I need a lot of training and that will help me train her :0) |
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Mydogiscrazy
Chapel Hill NC
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Posts:323
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| 04/20/2009 10:48 AM |
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Hang in there Belle. She is still young and has time to learn better behavior and training.
Get her more exercise and lots of top notch toys- something to stimulate her mentally and something she can play with your other dog. Sounds like she also wants to be with you, these dogs love to be around people. Let her be.
Good luck and hang aroud the forum some more for advice, sympathy and laughs. |
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
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Posts:1618
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| 04/20/2009 11:08 AM |
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| I agree that she is bored. She needs more exercise as an out for all that energy. They also want to be with their people all the time. If your husband wants her for hunting then that could be a daily thing where she is learning obedience and her hunting skills. They love to learn. Good luck and just try to find a game she likes and wear her out. Will she chase a ball or frisbee? You can teach her recall with a long check cord and some treats. She'll learn when she returns it to you she gets a small treat and lots of praise. |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)
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Pointer Fan
Westminster, Colorado
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Posts:954
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| 04/20/2009 11:47 AM |
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| The overeating, overdrinking and piddling in the kennel make me wonder if she may have diabetes. Not all that common but it does occur. I would start with a vet trip and a blood workup. GSPs do crave companionship but the fact that you have anothr dog should help with that. |
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carlower1
Kansas
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Posts:1253
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| 04/20/2009 11:47 AM |
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Belle if you go bike riding with her get something like the Walky dog!!! these dogs can be too much for you to have her on a leash and you hold onto the bars. A walky dog hooks up under your bike seat and then has a bungy cord type attachment that hooks up to a harness for the dog, then she can run beside you while you peddle.
I do this with Wachter and we get a LOT of exercise this way, mind you it will normally take about 3 - 6 miles of biking (depending on the wind velocity) to wear him down.
As for the whining when the alarm goes off... These dogs are velcro dogs, if someone is up and about they NEED to be part of the action... Being cooped up in a kennel while everyone else is off doing something is heartbreaking for them and the worst punishment you could ever think of.
Carrie |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/20/2009 11:48 AM |
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I can only repeat what has been said...
I would start with a visit to the vet to make sure there are no physical reasons for all her behaviors. Then add more exercise, training, good toys, and your company and attention. These dogs thrive on human companionship, mental stimulation, and exercise. Take all or any of these away, or down to a level of some other breed that may be fine with it, and you may well end up with the problems you are having.
The reason why Jean asked you not to put the dog down is because in your very first post it sure sounded like you are contemplating it as a last resort. And I second Jean's plea to not put this dog down...there are other options, such as rescue organization or the breeder. Are you still in touch with the breeder? Could he/she help you rehome the dog if it comes down to it? Can he/she advise you?
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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singltrak
Las Cruces, NM
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Posts:1149
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| 04/20/2009 1:10 PM |
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Couple of other things...without repeating everyone else's thoughts! 
1) Do you have a nearby GSP club or all-breed club that could help with some training/obedience/field work? Perhaps a nearby field trainer. She doesn't sound like a bad dog, just one that "needs a job." One thing that I always try to tell my puppy people is that Shorthairs are very creative and if you fail to find them something to keep them occupied, they will create their own degree of "fun". Sometimes that can be destructive as heck! I lost two pairs of pricey cross-trainers, a 2 foot circle out of a new mattress, several sofa pillows and assorted things to my first GSP. Then, I found obedience/puppy manners classes and we didn't look back from there.
2) All GSP puppies are cute...OMG, they are adorable. They can grow into obnoxious adults if you are not the Alpha b*tch in the house. You say she behaves for your husband but not for you. That could very well be because she has no respect for you and thinks she can be Alpha. I'd suggest that you be the one to take her to obedience class and biking, and you be the Alpha. I'd be willing to be you'll see a change.
Good luck and let us know how things are going?
Phyllis and furtribe
www.singltrakshorthairs.net/ |
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Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
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