Posted on 07/02/2013 4:45:34 AM PDT by CSM
As many of my FRiends know, I was considering adopting a rescue dog named Buford. The foster brought him by yesterday and at the time he was generally just checking everything out. He is a coon hound and all nose! He is a very beautiful dog, so I'll try to post his pic in the following post. The Vet estimates his age to be between 3 and 4. He is about 75 lbs, but seems much stronger than that!
He seems to be a very smart dog and he does like to be around people. He makes it very evident when he wants attention, which is quite frequently. He has already figured out how to open the screen door and go outside and he knows how to let me know that he wants to be let in. Overall, I would rate his personality as very sweet, but very independent (almost to a point of stubbornness.) I suspect that with patience, this aspect of his personality will adjust as he gets more confidence that we are a pack.
However, there are some behavior issues and I need some advice/help. I had previously raised a dog from puppyhood, so it was much easier. I figured that an older dog could still learn, but I also figured that some instincts would have kicked in. I had no idea that Buford had absolutely NO training whatsoever.
The first issue that has been difficult is his "house training." He continually wants to "mark" his territory indoors. It is easy enough to stop that immediately and take him outdoors. Then he will mark territory outdoors, which is good, however almost immediately upon returning indoors he will find a spot and fully urinate and I am unable to stop him to get him back outside. I need some advice as to how to turn this situation around. The biggest challenge for me is his size and strength, it is much easier to stop a puppy mid action and get the puppy outside. This stronger dog, with stubbornness, simply won't move!
Secondly, he actually wants to climb onto tables, not just "surfing," but to actually climb onto and stand on. He hasn't been successful yet as I have been able to keep him off the tables, but he actually wants to climb on the coffee table to get over to me. I will continue to work on this one, but I am wondering if anyone has any hints for a faster resolution than just patiently teaching.
Thirdly, I don't think he has ever had a name. He doesn't seem to respond to his name and he seems to have no interest in learning a name. However, he does respond to whistles, finger snaps and he has already learned my firm "no." What is the best way for him to learn a name?
Finally, he has absolutely no patience. For example, if he wants attention and you don't immediately pet him then he paws and then will jump up on me. Of course, my pushing his chest down has become easier and easier and he will soon be over that "jumping up" problem. Another example is when I was having my dinner. He was very persistent in trying to get to the food on my plate, so I pinned him down with his leash so that he was forced to lay down and he fought that hard for about 5 minutes, finally he gave up and laid down at my feet nicely. However, I need to figure out if it is possible to teach a dog patience.
So, to summarize, where I need help is: 1. House training an adult dog that has never had any training. 2. Eliminating table climbing! 3. Teaching him a name. 4. Teaching patience (might be eliminating his desire to dominate his new pack)
Thank you Friends for any help you can provide. I will also be consulting some good training books that I used for my previous dog. If anyone wants a great source, check out "Great Owners, Good Dogs."
That is a very nice story, thank you for sharing it.
Well, my coffee table is not scratch resistent, but it is an old hand-me-down so it isn’t too much of a worry. Luckily for Buford, I am just a single guy that doesn’t care much about interior decorating!
;-)
It sounds to me like Buford has found the perfect home, and you have found the perfect dog. I’m still grinning at the vision of Buford sitting on your coffee table waiting for you to notice him.
Yes, that is him! Thank you for posting the pic. I also created a FB page for him with his story. It is just getting going, so there isn’t much yet. If you are interested, his official name is Buford Pawpaw.
;-)
After watching a story on Black and Tan Coonhounds on Animal Planet this AM, I was reminded of a game I devised for one of my Golden Retrievers. She had been injured in an accident and had slipped a disc in her back. She lived 10 more years, but she was forbidden to engage in jumping and hard chasing retrieves.
To amuse her, I devised the “Bird” game. I kept a frozen duck wing in my freezer at all times. One of us would restrain the dog and cover her eyes (she liked to peek) while the other would tiptoe out of the room and hide the wing someplace in the house. Then we’d let her go and she would “track” our scent until she found the wing. She’d bring it back, and we’d start all over again.
The only time I could trick her is when I’d take it upstairs. She’d stand and the foot of the stairs, sniffing the air and looking confused. Then a light bulb would go off and she’d scramble up the stairs, find the wing, and bring it back.
We played this game for years. She never tired of it.
On the other had, my next Golden wasn’t interested in the game at all. He didn’t like to retrieve, and he refused to pick up anything with feathers on it. The difference could have been that I was using a freeze dried (purchased) wing for him. The scent probably just wasn’t there for him.
retrievers. She had been injured and had slipped a disc in her back and had been partially paralyzed for a time. Her doctors at the Vet School in Madison had decreed that she could no longer jump, retrieve balls, etc., as it was too much strain on her (now recovered) spine.
To keep her amused, we devised the “Find the Bird” game. I kept a duck wing in my freezer at all times. When Terra needed amusement, or attention, I’d pull out the wing and hid it in the house and let her go search until she found it and brought it back. Since this was an indoor game, there was no danger of her overdoing it. She would play for hours, if I’d let her.
One of us would hold her back and cover her eyes while the other would sneak off and hide the wing. Then we’d let her go and she would “track” until she found the wing and would proudly bring it back And we’d start all over again.
The only thing that would confuse her would be if I took the wing upstairs. She’d stand in the hallway and look around (obviously lost the scent). Then you’d see the light go off in her head, and she’d charge upstairs and find the prize.
My more recent Golden didn’t like this game at all. He didn’t much like retrieveing, as a matter of fact. And he refused to put anything feathered in his mouth. He had other good qualities, but retrieving was not one of them.
I like that idea and am going to give it a shot in the future. I have finally figured out that for walking that I should quit fighting his nose. Now I let him smell as much as I possibly can, without intruding on people’s yards, then he is a much happier and much more exhausted dog. At the same time, I less frustrated and less fighting a pull. He is actually more responsive to the leash while he is “scenting.”
We are learning and will keep working on it!
Reminds me of when I learned that my dog could walk all on his own! We took Max to work every day of his life with us. Customers still look for him in the corner office. Our small manufacturing plant is situated on several acres of landscaped property. Bushes, grass, rabbits, squirrels, and traffic abound.
Getting out of the car and going into the employee entrance was always a battle with Max with him pulling me off my feet at times — heading to sniff under a bush, or over to an employee on break. My biggest fear was that he’d dart around the building to greet a passerby (with, or without, another dog) or jump out into the street to get creamed by a passing truck.
I usually had things to carry besides the leash — books, mail, purse, etc. One day I just dropped the leash and said “heel”. To my amazement, he behaved like a model obedience dog and trotted alongside, or just ahead of me. I never tried to drag him into the building (or into the car) again.
It was like he said, “Look, Mom. I can walk all by myself.” In many ways these wonderful beasts are a lot like 2 year olds.
Another nice story, thank you for sharing it with us.
Hi all, It is the time of year that I generally try to reflect on my blessings and I now realize that Buford is to be counted among them. I decided to go back and read my original post and I wanted to thank you all again for your great posts on this thread. I appreciate your words of encouragement and I now recognize that your input really helped me get past the original frustrations that I was having with Buford. It was all worth it! Buford has become a great dog.
One of the best things that Buford has brought into my life is that he has forced me to meet most of the people in my neighborhood. He seems to be famous. In fact, he even got an invite to thanksgiving dinner at one of my neighbors! He did great at that gathering, even to the point of co-existing with their cat! There were many folks there and a couple of beagles, so I was very pleased that he was calm and relaxed for our entire visit!
He now has free run of the house while I am away at work, but when I return we do have a very specific routine that works for both of us. He no longer climbs on tables, including the coffee table. It took a while, but he finally figured out that it is OK to sit on the couch with me and now he has a complete understanding of the difference between hard and soft furniture.
I also found a great product that resolved his pulling issue during our walks. I use the CannyCollar, which allows me to let him have the freedom to exercise his nose, while still giving me complete control whenever I need it. We are still working on him getting extremely excited when we encounter another dog on our walks, but there has been some improvement. We will continue to work on it and I am confident that we will resolve this one someday.
If any of you are interested, Buford does have a Facebook page. It can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/buford.pawpaw
I’ll post his most recent picture in the next post. As an indicator of how wonderful Buford has become, I was trying to take a picture of him wearing a Santa hat and beard! Talk about progress! A year ago I was trying to keep him off of the coffee table, getting pulled around the block and trying to keep him in my yard. Now, we are in a situation where he listens so well that I thought I would try to have him “pose” for a picture! Even though it wasn’t successful, it still shows how much we have grown together.
Going back and reading the posts on this thread, one really stood out. It is an amazing thing to recognize the “lightbulb moment” that RegularCountry mentioned early in the thread.
RegulatorCountry Said, “Once the lightbulb goes off in his head, that dog aha moment, is incredible to see, they’re overwhelmed with emotion. Mine started crying and whining, and would run up to me for weeks afterward just to lay her head in my lap and look up into my eyes.”
Some dogs are good sports about apparel and will humor you, some even love it and won’t go outside without their sweater or whatever. But, a coonhound will likely just look at you as if you’re nuts and try to get that stuff off, and that’s what I see in that photo, lol. “What is this thing, do not like.”
I’ve got dog bandanas that I picked up at a Life Is Good store on the Outer Banks, with velcro so they’ll tear away if snagged to prevent possible strangulation. They’re flame orange with white dog paw print and the words “Outer Barks.” That’s the only thing my two will allow, and that’s because it means “go.” They’re going somewhere and they love to ride. Start running around and the hound bays just from seeing them come out.
Glad my experiences and advice has been in some way helpful. Buford is a beautiful animal, and sounds like he’s trying mightily to please.
How wonderful! Thank you for the update.
Aww...that is a wonderful picture of an adorable boy.
I felt so happy reading your update. Buford’s facebook page is a riot.
Enjoy your Christmas together, boys!
Buford is just gorgeous, as always.
Doggie Ping to CSM’s #149
We just got back from a walk and met another neighbor and her little canine pal. She was just gushing that Buford, “is so beautiful, he is just so beautiful.”
Of course his reaction was simply a, “yep, I know I’m a ladies man!”
Then we turned a corner and the band of small poodles were out, they love to bark back and forth. This time a couple of them pushed the gate open and were able to get out of the fence. Thankfully, everyone got along just fine and the owners noticed quickly and helped me corral the crew back to the home base.
Buford’s reactions to both situations made me glad to have sent the update this morning! He really does have a lot of different sides to his personality. Today seems to be a “goofball” day!
After all these years I thought only dingos ate babies........Hopefully you broke him of the habit.
I love stories that end...”and they all lived happily ever after”!!
Thanks so much for the update! I love, love, love the skeptical look that Buford is giving that Santa hat.
I’m so glad everything turned out well for you and Buford. He is one handsome boy!
What a handsome boy!
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