my loner-puppy

Question
I have a 4 month old female German Shep/Husky mix. I've had her from birth and only about a month ago gave her mother a new home elsewhere. Her grandmother is still here, she's a full Husky, but she stays outside. Tag, my puppy, I have recently brought in the house from being an outside dog. She's been in the house since about the beginning of December '06. So far she's been pretty good, she's housebroken fairly easily- surprisingly to me, and she loves my two children. She loves attention, is a little afraid when I try to play-rough house with her, and I crate her when I leave the house and the first time she was scared, but since then she's walked in by herself like a good girl. She gets treats for good behavior and I have a "spanking spoon" I use to *gently* swat her bottom when she does bad things. (This seemed to work well for my friend's pet Rott, to keep the hand-fear down). So for all her good points and good behavior I just can't understand why she is very much a 'loner'. She has 'her spot' by the back door where her food and water are at, and that's the door she goes outside through. She started staying by that door, laying there all the time. She wags her tail and perks her ears up whenever me or the kids comes around her, but when I try to get her to come in the living room to lay in there and be with us, she just refuses. I've tried treats to lure her in... she'd just as soon not get the treat. I've read your other answers and was wondering if you think I should try the 6-foot leash thing to attempt to get her more comfortable laying in here on the carpet with us? She's only ever messed in here twice, and she was caught and taken quickly outside both times, and she hasn't had any accidents since. However, she's only really come in the living room to hang out a few times since then.
The next issue, when she actually DOES come into the living room is that she chews on stuff... one of my son's hotwheels, the phone cord... and she has lots of toys and bones that she knows are hers because I praise her when she chews on those.
So, anyway, my basic question is do you think the leash inside trick will work with her? Maybe for both issues? Two birds with one stone kind of thing?

Thanks a lot, and I have learned some new things from your other answers as well, just wanted to let you know you're time is appreciated.

Christina

Answer
Hi, Christina. The first thing I want to say is to throw away that 'spanking spoon.' You should never hit a puppy or dog for any reason (well, other than if it's attacking you!). Hitting is not something they understand. If you need to correct a dog, you should do it in a manner that they understand; do it in a manner that's similar to the way another dog would correct them. For young puppies, gently taking them by the scruff and lifting their front feet up off the ground while gently 'shaking' them often works for most issues. Yelping just like another puppy would do if bitten too hard also often works. A squirt bottle filled with 1/4 to 1/2 white distilled vinegar and the rest water also often works quite well for puppies & dogs of all ages. For older puppies and adult dogs, the prong or pinch collar is often the best way to administer a leash correction because it simulates the correction that dogs give each other by mouthing their necks.

Ok, back on point; some puppies go through stages where they don't really care much about being up your butt all the time. Some dogs are naturally more independent, and, although they enjoy being with their owners, they don't constantly beg for attention. That's one thing to consider. The other thing is that maybe it's too warm in your living room and that's why she prefers to lie by the doggie door vs. the carpeted living room. Huskies tend to prefer the outdoors, and German shepherds have been bred to withstand the elements as well, so a lot of times, they're just not comfortable being indoors during the colder months. Lastly, maybe it's because she always seems to get in trouble when she's in the living room, so she just doesn't go in there.


I do think that tethering is a good idea, especially at her age where she is probably just entering her first teething stage (the next one will be around 9-11 months). Tethering will get her comfortable with being near you, give you the ability to keep her away from things she should not gnaw on, and allow you to immediately take her outside if she shows signs of needing to go to the bathroom.

If she does start to go for something to chew on, that she should NOT be chewing on, you should say "NO chew," and divert her attention to an appropriate chew toy, and then praise her when she takes it! If she goes back to the inappropriate item, repeat. Do this three times, and if, after the third time, she goes back to the inappropriate item, tell her no a last time, and either put the inappropriate item out of reach or move her so she cannot get to it, and give her the appropriate chew item again.


I would recommend that you enroll her in a basic obedience course so that you can learn how to teach her new things, as well as learning how to correct her the right way when she does something wrong. You don't want her growing up to be afraid of large spoons, or raised arms, and by using a so-called 'spanking spoon' or hitting her with anything, that's what could happen. She will learn to run when you raise your arms or even pick up a large spoon, in order to avoid being hit, even if you did not intend to hit her. Try to stay away from the training classes offered in pet stores; instead, call around to the local trainers in your phone book and see if they will let you come out and observe a few of their classes (without your dog). Then you can make your decision based on what you see.

Good luck with her!