I have a behavior question I need some help with, that's causing ah.... issues.
My dog just turned ten, and in the last six months, she's developed a rather... gross gourmet taste in... well, I'd call it food, but it isn't.
Any tips on helping reinforce to an older, and blind, dog that the litter box isn't an all-you-can-eat buffet? She's respected the rule about leaving it alone for most of her life, but recently, she seems to have forgotten that rule exists, and I can't use anything in the box or around it that will upset my cat, who is already fickle enough and has bladder issues. I'm open to anything right now. Oh, and the squirt bottle doesn't work, as she doesn't get it. I can't block off that area without it being massively inconvenient to the household.
I'm also looking for a new working dog! I find out in two weeks if I am accepted to my Natural Resources Management course, and if so, I'll be permitted to have a working breed with me in advanced training (about 12 months from now). They don't recommend a specific breed, but DO recommend it be able to clear 18" obstacles (.5m) so it can clear fallen trees on the trail with minimal assistance.- Have you had dogs before? What breeds? I currently have a Border Collie x Chow, but in the past I've had Labs, Beagles, a JRT cross, and have worked with Akitas. My current dog is very social, so I don't foresee a new dog being an issue.
- Are there any breeds that have already caught your eye? If so, why? I've been looking at setters, pointers, retrievers, and shepherds. I really like their working ethic, and they seem able to meet the requirement on jumping. I'm a huge fan of the Belgian breeds, but cannot stand labs. (Other retriever-types okay!) **I'm open to any other breeds outside my preferred groups if they fit my other requirements.**
- How much time a day do you have to devote to training your dog? The dog would be with me 24/7. I would not be able to train it during class beyond basic reinforcement (7.5 hours a day) but would be able to work with it at all other times.
- What kind of grooming needs are you prepared to handle? Medium to high. My chow mix is medium maintenance and it hasn't caused issues over the years time-wise, even with a larger classload.
- What kind of temperature range will the dog be working in? A breed who can handle both high heat and a little cold is crucial. Local temps range from 25f (-4C) to 90f (32c), depending on year. I'm prepared to pay grooming and clipping costs if necessary, or can equip a short-hair with a sweater. If I'm wearing a sweater, a short-haired dog needs one.
- What kind of energy level are you looking for? Medium to high. The bigger emphasis is on Stamina: I need a dog that can go for about 3.5 hours, take an hour break, and go for another three hours. We could be on our feet/paws the entire time, but we could also be on "Cabin Duty", watching the lodge, so the ability to relax (or engage in something mentally challenging during a "slow day") would be necessary. I expect to be rotated into cabin duty twice a month for a day each time. Weekends, the dog would be able to relax, when not doing obedience work.
- What do you plan on doing with your dog? A lot of trail monitoring and clearing, as well as safety checks and other park ranger or resources management duties. Outside of class, we would be working on obedience/agility. On days involving felling trees, I'll have advance warning and the dog will not be present. Some tugging ability might be useful. A bit of a guard instinct would be nice, as I will otherwise be working alone during that part of training.
- What size dog are you wanting? Medium to Large, but NOT giant. A giant breed would not be feasible to keep on-center. I like the 50-80 pound range: big enough to be a legitimate help, but small enough for me to carry if they get injured on the job.
- What age dog are you looking for? 8mo-3yrs, starting out, since I plan to be working with the dog for between five and eight years. I'd be willing to take on a slightly older (up to 6yrs) dog who was in great health and shape.
- What kind of livestyle do you live? (Active, couch potato etc) ACTIVE. I'm on my feet 8-10 hours a day. The rest of my waking hours are spent working online on homework and other items. I love to be outside.
- Anything else important to know? Cat friendliness isn't considered a priority, but they need to be okay working with other dogs, and cohabiting with other dogs. If I get paired up with someone else for a day, having a dog that is already predisposed to not getting along isn't going to work out. Of course, I'll be enforcing non-reactivity from the start! Oh, and training ability, while depending on dog and handler, needs to be naturally high? If that makes sense? I can work with medium, but a non-responsive or slow-learning breed really won't work, as before class starts I will need to have great-to-perfect recall.
I know this is a lot to ask, and I've been thinking about it for a while! I'm open to any other breeds outside my preferred groups if they fit my requirements.
