Please please help. How can we become

[Robindianne]

better dog parents?

Our lovely dog Gizmo isn't "bad enough" to get DH and me off our rears to get consistent with him. He doesn't bite but does chase. He minds us (sit, stay, come, leave it) SOMEtimes. Well now he chases the cats who are in the cat room protected by a gate. Please help me/us with the motivation to get consistent with his training We've done obedience training (he passes with flying colors), Packworks (another type of training), passed again, had a behaviorist come out to tell me what we have to do. What's the key to getting motivated instead of throwing money we don't have at people to do it for us when we don't keep up the practice? I already feel mean, lazy, etc. and feel like DH is too (regarding our pets). We spend a fortune on the best food (people grade), vet, allergy shots, pills, accupuncture for them but don't spend the time training. We want someone to do it for us and hand us back a well-mannered dog. I know We are lazy.

Can you help? Please?

 

[Magic Mom]

Trained dogs are happy dogs. And by you not setting clear boundaries for them, you are causing to them to live in stress.

No one can motivate you but yourself. You have to decide if they are important enough to spend time and energy on. If they aren't, then why have them?

 

[msmayor]

Unfortunately, no one else can help but YOU.

Its no different than parenting a child. If YOU don't make the effort to discipline and follow through with teaching at home, your children will not learn. Its no different for a pet.

You must take the tools others give you and utilize them. Or pay the trainer to come and live with you 24/7.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

better dog parents?

Our lovely dog Gizmo isn't "bad enough" to get DH and me off our rears to get consistent with him. He doesn't bite but does chase. He minds us (sit, stay, come, leave it) SOMEtimes. Well now he chases the cats who are in the cat room protected by a gate. Please help me/us with the motivation to get consistent with his training We've done obedience training (he passes with flying colors), Packworks (another type of training), passed again, had a behaviorist come out to tell me what we have to do. What's the key to getting motivated instead of throwing money we don't have at people to do it for us when we don't keep up the practice? I already feel mean, lazy, etc. and feel like DH is too (regarding our pets). We spend a fortune on the best food (people grade), vet, allergy shots, pills, accupuncture for them but don't spend the time training. We want someone to do it for us and hand us back a well-mannered dog. I know We are lazy.

Can you help? Please?

I would spend my energy looking into rehoming the dog instead at this point. You do not sound like "dog people".

If you find a terrific family for the dog, he will be happier and so will you.

 

[Robindianne]

Thank you for all of your replies! I appreciate (needed to) hearing them ALL.

It is like raising a child. We successfully (and with consistency) raised a healthy happy child. We have been given tools we aren't using (like when we buy gym memberships and don't go kind of). And I like the thought that dogs are happy when they are trained, and even that we should think about rehoming him if we aren't willing to take care of him properly. These are things I know on an intellectual level but it's SO good to hear. I have been using the excuse that it's DH's dog and he won't even walk him every day. Well that's not a good enough excuse. Also the excuse that he's happy because he sleeps with us. Well that doesn't mean he's happy. Just that he knows we love him.

Perhaps I need to keep in mind that it is like raising a child and I must do (on my own if need be) what it takes to do it right. And if feeling like a martyr or self-righteous -not saying I will, but if I do) motivates me to do it alone well, at least it will get done. I'd never let my kid suffer with "well it's your kid".

OK. Can I post back with updates to hold me to it?
Thank you all.

 

[NMAmy]

Here's your payoff to get up and be consistent with training. Unlike children, dogs grow up really fast. Once they're trained, for the most part, you're done. My dog knows what she's supposed to do and when she is supposed to do it. It makes her happy to know what to do and it makes me happy to have her behave correctly.

She's 5 and I haven't had to do much in about 3 years--she's got it all down pat.

 

[hiwaygal]

We want someone to do it for us and hand us back a well-mannered dog.

Ummm...you know that won't work, right?

Even if you can find someone to train him, dogs need consistency and repetition to learn and RETAIN their training. Some things they will retain, but a lot of stuff needs to be reinforced regularly.

The other thing that can happen is, you can have someone else train him and he will listen to them but not to you.

It doesn't take much, 15-20 minutes a day is enough. More if you feel like it. You can even go to three days a week...but it is important to keep it up!