Bad Habits Being Shared

Ashley, I actually think you have managed your dogs better than you think! I just met a lady with a Sheltie yesterday who says the dog won't let ANYONE leave the house without going apes**t. That includes the plumber who was in the house two minutes and left to get another tool. It frustrates her but she didn't seem to want to put in any time or effort to try and train/countercondition her dog.

As far as adding the puppy, although Brooke is an adult, adding her has changed a few things here, both good and bad! She and Ally had a few tiffs (it looked like a very brief cartoon tornado, Ally ended up on the losing end, ie on the bottom, both times). They happened because Ally goes nuts when the vacuum turns on, and also briefly when I leave them in the backyard and close the sliding glass door and walk away. She barks fiercely while jumping and then usually does a 180, still barking. Well, she did this while right next to Brooke soon after Brooke arrived, and Brooke thought Ally was attacking HER. So she went after Ally. Scared the bejeesus out of me. But it only happened twice, and after all these years of me trying, Brooke has trained Ally NOT to bark at the door when I leave! She thinks Brooke might start something again, so she has stopped that behavior. A miracle.

Now that they are friends and all is forgiven, Brooke barks at things Ally used to ignore, like the Chihuahua two doors down who barks some. So now Ally has followed Brooke's lead and they BOTH bark at him. Not so good.

I think if you are working with a very informed and intuitive breeder, as it sounds like you are, you will be way ahead picking the right personality dog to blend with your two. Time alone training the puppy and having fun with the puppy to develop its own unique personality will be key.

I'm excited you might have a new addition, maybe sooner rather than later!
 
I would say you are planning on getting another puppy for all the right reasons. Now that you are settled in your new home it is probably a perfect time.
 
I think it is possible to prevent some of the bad behaviours, but obviously not all of them. Deska is reactive, sound sensitive and a barker. Tully is actually pretty perfect, except for some dog reactivity and in the car. I made sure I raised her independent of Deska as much as I could. She had one separate walk every day until she was 1yr old, was separated while I was at work several times a week until she was 9mths, and I used the modified NILIF as soon as she hit adolescence. Despite all they will still copy each other's barking at something. I think the big difference though is I can curb the other one pretty quickly because they haven't picked up the emotion behind the reaction, they are just copying because it sounds like fun.

So yes I think you can prevent a pup picking up the sensitivities, but you aren't going to stop them copying behaviours. It might be easier to manage raising a pup separately with 2 of you - for just me it was a lot of work. And really Tully is pretty close to perfect so raising a dog independently does work if you want to curb behaviours.
 
Look at it this way, you could get a puppy who teaches your older dogs naughty things. Diva and Birch taught Justice and Ember many naughty things.

Seriously 4 shelties here and different behavior things I have had to work though with each one of them. Right now I am working though resource guarding issues with Birch. I have never had to deal with that before in any dog I have ever had. How did that happen? I know all about it and how to counter condition it and it still happened.

Things are going to come up with dogs. They are individuals. You can not prevent everything or avoid everything. You learn from experience, try not to make the same mistakes twice(likely you will make a different one:wink2:) and if you do see the handwriting on the wall of a behavior issue starting up you don't ignore it, you take measures to change it.

I know of no perfect dog. One that has never had an behavior issue in their lifetime. No matter how well they are bred, raised, socialized and trained. Some owner/trainers just handle issues as they come up, better than others though management and training. I know you have the training ability to handle whatever comes your way.

PS please don't ever ring my doorbell! The horror!
 
The other thing to consider would to be to get a young adult that is secure in itself and exudes confidence.
 
Lexi learned a few things from our first sheltie, Angel, like guarding the back yard from everything even us.

But Pyper is a whole new individual. I can't say she's been influenced by Lexi's bad behaviors. She's so laid back and sweet. She hardly ever even barks.

I wish for you a sweet puppy, like Pyper, who looks at the other two like they're nuts when they go crazy over the doorbell ringing, etc. The trade off is you have to work to get them excited over agility.

In the end though, Pyper loves agility as much as Lexi, but is so calm at trials you would think you couldn't get her awake in time for her runs.

You'll get the puppy that you need. I'm sure of that!
 
I thought you did a good job with your dogs. You are sensitive to them enough to know that Bentley wants to be a big ole couch tater. You aren't so blind that you see their imperfections. (Like me- MY dogs are Perfect!:wink2:) Hold on a minute, my nose seems to be growing.

Anyway, I think you'll be good with your new puppy- as long as you don't name it Probe. I do believe even a dog has the right to resist being named Probe.
 
Thanks everyone for the support. I just want to be the best dog owner I can be--I feel better after reading your responses.

Jess041 said:
Wait, so it is a car name? It's Volvo isn't it.

JK. I think I already have a guess if it's a girl name. But I'm not going to guess. I'll wait for the "Introducing..." post to find out! Ok, now I've gotten myself excited about a puppy that might not even exist yet :lol:.
Click to expand...

It's not a girl (at least that's not the plan)...so you better keep guessing! :biggrin2:
 
corbinam said:
Thanks everyone for the support. I just want to be the best dog owner I can be--I feel better after reading your responses.



It's not a girl (at least that's not the plan)...so you better keep guessing! :biggrin2:
Click to expand...
Ford.

Oh and Sca says Lexi needs to come to another Sheltie gathering so she can see how easy she has it with brother like Bentley rather than a Spitfire.
 
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