I have two very different questions. First the "easy" one. I have a 9 month old dobie. Her ears were cropped at 8 weeks and posted as soon as the ears were healed. Her left ear has stood for months. Her right ear is another story. It has been tested up to two days and stood but then flopped over. Back up into posts for another month before testing. It would always stand initially when taking post out to change. A couple of weeks ago during post changing ear flopped immediately. Did that for a couple of changes (every 2 days, she is a master at shaking her head and the bottom coming out. The post is seated deeply into the ear and taped with three strips. She doesn't dig or scratch, just playing, shaking or rolling and getting ear caught under her head gets the bottom out every 2 or occasionally 3 days no matter what. She clearly has less bell than her left ear) My question is when should I test again and for how long? It has been close to 4 weeks since I have tested it.
Second and much more difficult question. First, my girl is "different". She has autistic like behaviors. (This is my 11th doberman and she is NOT like any others, nor any of my other dogs) I sent her to a board and train for 7 weeks with a very qualified trainer. There are many, many breakthroughs that I wasn't sure would ever happen. I would be writing a book if I went into all of it. She (to date) has been the most difficult and challenging dog my trainer has had. With that said, the biggest thing that is NOT going well is her crate. I started her in a crate at night from age 8 weeks. It went fairly well until she was about 5 months old. She started waking up earlier and earlier and potty needs wasn't the reason. (She was not in the room alone) It got to the point NO ONE was sleeping.. I can leave her out of the crate and she will sleep on the living room carpet all night and not make a peep. The first couple of nights back from the trainers (where she slept in a crate) were ok. She fusses anywhere from 1 minute to ten minutes when I first put her to bed after last potty run of the night. She slept til about 5 the first couple of nights which is when I am up anyway. Then she started waking up in the middle of the night and slight fussing but would go back to sleep.
It has been increasingly earlier and earlier. A couple of nights the vocalizing (she has very unusual and grating vocalizing) starts about 1 am and simply doesn't quit. I have a fan and a google nest playing music (jazz which is what the trainer plays) going all night. Walking back in the room (no one is in this room) to comfort does NOT work, only makes her more frantic. She has had plenty of exercise and she IS tired. It's all I can do to wake her up to take her to bed as she has fallen asleep in the living room with my husband and myself in the same room.
When I get her up in the morning she is trained beautifully that she has to be quiet and stay for the crate door to come open and then waits for "ok" to come out. ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I should note she also has developed major eating issues. I used to feed her in the kennel with the door open, put treats in here and there. It does NO good to put a kong or anything else in the kennel. She will not touch anything in the kennel. I also have a K9 Balistics bed so it is soft but she can't chew it. So suggestions of making it a fun place aren't probably going to work here. Thanks again
Second and much more difficult question. First, my girl is "different". She has autistic like behaviors. (This is my 11th doberman and she is NOT like any others, nor any of my other dogs) I sent her to a board and train for 7 weeks with a very qualified trainer. There are many, many breakthroughs that I wasn't sure would ever happen. I would be writing a book if I went into all of it. She (to date) has been the most difficult and challenging dog my trainer has had. With that said, the biggest thing that is NOT going well is her crate. I started her in a crate at night from age 8 weeks. It went fairly well until she was about 5 months old. She started waking up earlier and earlier and potty needs wasn't the reason. (She was not in the room alone) It got to the point NO ONE was sleeping.. I can leave her out of the crate and she will sleep on the living room carpet all night and not make a peep. The first couple of nights back from the trainers (where she slept in a crate) were ok. She fusses anywhere from 1 minute to ten minutes when I first put her to bed after last potty run of the night. She slept til about 5 the first couple of nights which is when I am up anyway. Then she started waking up in the middle of the night and slight fussing but would go back to sleep.
It has been increasingly earlier and earlier. A couple of nights the vocalizing (she has very unusual and grating vocalizing) starts about 1 am and simply doesn't quit. I have a fan and a google nest playing music (jazz which is what the trainer plays) going all night. Walking back in the room (no one is in this room) to comfort does NOT work, only makes her more frantic. She has had plenty of exercise and she IS tired. It's all I can do to wake her up to take her to bed as she has fallen asleep in the living room with my husband and myself in the same room.
When I get her up in the morning she is trained beautifully that she has to be quiet and stay for the crate door to come open and then waits for "ok" to come out. ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I should note she also has developed major eating issues. I used to feed her in the kennel with the door open, put treats in here and there. It does NO good to put a kong or anything else in the kennel. She will not touch anything in the kennel. I also have a K9 Balistics bed so it is soft but she can't chew it. So suggestions of making it a fun place aren't probably going to work here. Thanks again
