DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 02/27/2012 11:10 AM |
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A friend had recently contacted me saying that they knew someone that needed to find a home for one of their 3 dogs (6yo Yellow Lab - Rufus) because they were moving. My dad was actually looking for a dog as a companion, so I was thinking this would be a great fit for him. Prior to meeting Rufus dog I had asked if anything was wrong with the dog (health wise and if it was socialized with other dogs). I got the answer that all was well and that there would be no problems. So I went out to meet Rufus with Dexter to see how well they got along. They were able to get along very well and he is a very friendly dog. Ask more questions, like what kind of training has been done and if he was afraid of anything. The only training the dog had was just sit and shake (potty trained of course), and was afraid of fireworks and most likely gun shots. Not too big of a deal, those things can be taught.
Everything seemed to be great until we brought the dog home last night. He is apparently terrified of hardwood floors, and doesn’t understand how to walk on them. As soon as he’s on it he digs his claws in and it looks like he’s walking on ice. It does look like he needs a trimming, and it looks like it’s been a long while sense he’s had one. Do you think I should take him in to get them trimmed seeing as they look thick and long? I’m sure trimming them would help, but what else would you guys do to get Rufus acclimated to walking on hardwood floors? And do you guys think this would be too much work for a single retired guy? |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7843
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| 02/27/2012 11:54 AM |
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| I had a greyhound who hated tile floors. We think someone drug her across a tile floor and scared her. She got over it on her own, we just let her figure it out and didn't force her. It might help if you scatter a few throw rugs around with the rubber backing so they don't slip until the dog gets used to the new surface. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3134
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| 02/27/2012 12:24 PM |
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not sure if I would attempt the trimming on my own or not... I have always started with pups and not older dogs...
The wood floor issue is cracking me up...we took out our carpet and put in laminate and then wood stairs...it took the dogs a couple runs up and down the stairs to get used to them but they didn't dig in like you mention...
I was going to suggest the same thing as Bev did, lay down some rubber backed throw rugs till he is used to the floors and then slowly take them away one by one...
I wouldn't think that a 6 years old lab would be too much energy for someone retired (but that depends on the dog and person)...I think havig a pet helps some people have something to do and feel needed once they retire... |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 02/27/2012 2:02 PM |
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I think I’ll give it a try to the best of my ability while we have him. We will be taking him down there this coming weekend. I’m not sure how much it will help with the limited time that we have, but it couldn’t hurt. At least he’ll be more comfortable walking around. Felt kind of bad for him really. I’ll let my ol’man know what your guys thoughts are when I get there. Sounds like a good idea to me, almost like a potty training method.
I was a little worried at first thinking that my dad might have some issues taking in that type of . Here was his response:
“Fear of Hardwood floors? I don’t know if I can train him but we can work on it while you’re here. It can’t be anything that over time he won’t get over on his own. What do you think? I don’t care about being gun shy, but I do care that if he sees a gun he doesn’t run for the next county. As far as tricks he don’t need to do no frigging tricks cuz his master don’t do tricks either. As long as he can play search and rescue dog . (find the remote boy, come on boy find it). Over weight is ok I was going to use him as a food taster anyway. I don’t want to poison myself with food left in the frig for to long, so I’ll use Rufus as my royal food taster. I am after all the King of my Castle. As long as he will make a good friend and companion we will get along just fine. I like a good petting myself every now and then so I understand his need for affection.”
I thought it was a pretty funny response. So I guess there’s really not too much to worry about. Thanks for all your input!
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stlbirddogs
Near St. Louis, Missouri
MH
Posts:147
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| 02/27/2012 7:34 PM |
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I've had a few fosters that were afraid of hardwood floors, one had never been indoors so was afraid of any kind of smooth surface flooring. I put some throw rugs spaced out across the floor and she'd walk on those, then slowly moved them farther apart. For a while she would jump from rug to rug until she finally figured out she wasn't going to fall into some black hole in the floor.
Most I don't force, they figure it out. Seeing the other dogs walk across it helped a lot, and also wanting to be with people. They had to cross it to get to the couch. |
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Breeze - GSP
Dusty - Vizsla
The Brat Pack: Heidi, Hershey,Tank, Spot & Zero |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 02/28/2012 7:39 AM |
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We put some mats down last night and it really seems to be helping a lot. I did the first night have to force Rufus to walk across because there wasn’t any other way to get him to the door so he could relieve himself. The leash help at fist as a nudge to get him to go, but after a little work last night I was able to get him to walk across the mats and some hardwood flooring without the leash. Already I think he’s made some large leaps and bounds when it comes to walking on the floor. I did think it helped him seeing Dexter running all over the place on the floor.
Thanks for all your input, it helped a ton!
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:3164
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| 02/28/2012 8:10 AM |
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I'm still laughing at your father's responses above  Good to hear you're working through it together. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 02/28/2012 12:28 PM |
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| Yep! He seems pretty excited to have him around. I think it'll be a good fit. |
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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:87
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| 02/29/2012 8:44 AM |
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| I would take the dog's dinner and toss it all over the floor, and say nothing. The dog will get hungry enough to eat and then walking on the floor will be self rewarded by getting fed. I bet a few days of that, and the dog will be fine. |
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:87
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| 02/29/2012 8:44 AM |
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Double post |
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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DrWiffel
Prior Lake, MN
MH
Posts:175
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| 02/29/2012 10:57 AM |
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| LOL Couldn't hurt, but laugh on that one. I sure that would be another helpful tactic, but it's hard to do something like that when you'd have another dog who's not scared of the hardwood floors vacuuming up all the spilled kibble. |
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