There’s a theory when you are trying to adjust a behavior with your child that as you change one behavior, they may act out in another way. I think the same theory holds true for dogs.
I have been working really hard with Delilah to get her to sit when I am working in the kitchen. She has been doing really well with it, trouble is she is acting out in other ways and it is becoming very frustrating.
Three days in a row I have come home to scenes such as this
And this
Two days in a row, she ran away from me on our hike and investigated some neighboring houses on her own; totally ignoring me calling her.
I’ve had to put her on the thirty foot lead, until we are past the “danger” area.
As luck would have it, today my sister I went to a psychic fair. I wanted a card reading, the woman I choose was also an animal communicator. After we discussed career and relationship she said is there anything else you want to know about.
“That dog.”
She asked a couple of questions,”What kind of dog? What color? What’s her name?”
Then she picked up a little glass ball and closed her eyes and she smiled.
She is tearing things up because she is bored.
She is running away on the trail because she is tracking…a prowler. According to this medium, the coyotes are getting more brazen and are leaving the woods and checking out the surrounding houses.
“Is the house white?” she asks. “I see a white house with stone steps.”
I told her I have no idea what color the house is, because I don’t leave the woods and apparently I don’t pay much attention either.
This afternoon when we went for our walk, I paid attention….to the white house.
Ohhhh I wish I could have been there with your mom. I would like to have that Dawg Tawker lady… tell MY mom a thingy or two!!!
LOL Frankie, I bet you wanna tell your mom a thing or two!!
The things they do when their bored! Good luck!!
Wow the coyote’s would sorry me, I have heard they will go after dogs.
Thanx for stopping by my blog the other day but somehow my link is reverting people back to my old blog so here is the correct link, hope you come by again.
http://mistyshoreschesapeakes.wordpress.com/
Thanks for updating the link, I added you to my blogroll.
Yes the coyotes are brazen. The neighbor’s dog (a chow mix) ran away one night and came back without half his tail. 🙁
The psychic said they are going after larger dogs now. I can so see Delilah challenging a coyote for a deer leg. 🙁
Having another dog for company is supposed to keep them from being bored. How old is Delilah?
That’s what thought Big Al! As best we can tell she will be six in December. I hate to crate a dog that old.
I guess I better up my house-keeping skills. 😉
Dogs do tend to act out when they are bored. I know you walk them a lot, but maybe Delilah needs more vigorous exercise? Is there any safe fenced are you can run her (a school yard maybe)? Or maybe rather than just a run, give her a job and work on fetch? We find our dogs are less likely to get into trouble if they are pooped. 🙂
We always worry about coyotes, especially when we are at our cabin during winter. Don’t need a dog/coyote fight. The coyotes up there can be very brazen. My husband has seen them out on the trail while hiking the woods and some are quite large. That is why our dogs are always on e-collars when hiking/hunting in the woods. Need insurance on the recall.
I’m fairly certain she will settle down when daycare starts up again. It’s just waiting for the training center to open. 🙂
Coyotes scare me too, I am looking for a collar that only vibrates but so far I haven’t found one. I’m not sure if that will deter her though.
I forgot about the doggie daycare. When is that going to open again?
Sometime in September, it cannot come soon enough for me!
Freaky!!! I wish I had gone to the psychic fair!
LOL we wish you had too!
That’s pretty cool. How was your card reading–as on target as the dog reading?
I imagine you have some pretty good mentally stimulating toys around, but maybe you could try making some more–easy ones are pupsicles (beef broth frozen in an ice cube tray, each cube with a string, then hung up from something) and muffin tin teasers (treat on the bottom of each cup of a muffin tin, then a tennis ball on top of each so dog has to work to get them). May stem the boredom enough to cut down on the trash chewing!
Those are great ideas, thank you Kirsten!!
how fascinating! an animal medium.
I love the muffin tin idea from Kirsten! genius!
I had never heard of the muffin tin game.
Yes, they are animal “communicators” not sure how much they actually communicate especially if the animal is not there. :0
You got some great boredom busting ideas. I hope one of them works for Delilah. We always feed Honey from a food toy (a Premier Tug-a-Jug or a Kong Wobbler). She enjoys the challenge or working for her food a bit and needs a good nap after breakfast.
I’m also a big fan of K9 nosework too. It works the sniffer side of the brain.
Glad to hear Delilah is doing so well with the sitting while you’re in the kitchen. Take your victories where you get them. 🙂
Thanks Pamela, I am going to be checking out your nosework section. I think it would be good for Delilah.
If I lived near coyotes, I don’t think I’d let my dog out of the house. 🙁 You should try a few more mediums, and average out the answers, too. 😉
I hear you! Our yard is fenced in (which I’m sure wouldn’t really deter a coyote) but we are not on the edge of the woods, if we were I wouldn’t let them out by themselves.
As for the medium, you are right I will consult with others. 🙂