Help!! Dogsitting

I am dogsitting.  My Brother-in-law left his dog (a very large German Shepard) with his parents while going on an extended trip.  My in-laws have a small condo with no yard.  The dog was driving them nuts.  So tonight I volunteered to keep the dog at our house.  This could last for months.  The cat is not amused.

I haven't had a dog in years.  It has been suggested that we take the dog to a dog park to let him run around.  I have never been to a dog park.  What is the etiquette there?  How do you know if your dog will behave well with other dogs?  This is a big dog and I don't want to risk him hurting another dog.  Perhaps we should wait until we and the dog get to know each other better before trying this.  I am a bit lost here...

We are getting a dog park in our town soon.  I am so excited.

From what I understand dog parks are for dogs to be able to run around and play without having to be on a leash.  Perhaps you could take the dog to the park keep him on a leash and just see how he reacts to others that may be there.  If he acts aggressive keep him on the leash if he seems just curious and just wants to sniff out the others it may be ok to let him loose.

I have 2 dogs that are very curious about other dogs.  my big dog wants to chase them and play.  On the 4th of July I took the little dog to a town center and he was so well behaved it was amazing.  He didn't bark once and just watched all the other dogs and sniffed a few butts now and again LOL  Other dogs barked at him but he just looked at them and walked away.

Hi clharr,

Well first, can you just walk the dog - like in your back yard and see how he does on a leash?  I would just walk the dog around and around and around in the back yard - practice turning and keep talking to him. 

As far as the dog park goes, I would take a drive over (without the dog) to the dog park and check it out.  You don't want this new experience to be a complete surprise to both you and the dog.  Some dog parks have 2 sections - one for big dogs and one for little dogs.  I'd say first go at an off hour - like during the day if you could - but doggie people go at all times.  I would not bring a toy to throw around until you are sure of how he behaves.  Sometimes dogs can be aggressive about their toys.

German Shepards are a great breed of dog - if you work with him at home and maybe up and down your street first to get him to know you and you to know him, you will probably be very succcessful.

Also, before you go to the dog park, make sure you have his collar on him with all of his rabies/vaccination information (all those little tags on it).

Good luck, I hope you have a great time with him.  Think of this experience as a gift!

Well, we have learned a few things over the weekend.  First, the cat is much less of a problem than we thought it might be.  The dog is afraid of her.  The cat is old and bad tempered.  Any time the dog gets too close, she attacks him.  He has learned to avoid her.

The dog is pretty good on the leash, goes where you want if you pull hard, doesn't try to take off after animals across the street.  We haven't encountered other people walking dogs on our walks yet, so we don't know how the dog will react to a dog he can reach.

A new problem has surfaced.  The dog is clearly misogynistic.  He behaves quite well for my husband, but is getting aggressive with my daughter and I.  He bit me (not too hard) when I reached for his bone yesterday.  I am more than a bit miffed that he is more afraid of my cat than me.  Maybe I need to scratch his nose a few times.  Any recommendations on sites on dog training?  If this keeps up, we are going to have to put him in a kennel, or keep him locked outside all the time.

Wow - that is scary!  Even a "soft" bite can be a serious warning.  You, your daughter and your husband may all need to attend an obedience class with the dog, so he recognizes the authority that ALL of you should have over him.  Once you establish the dominance pattern, he should not show that sort of aggressiveness toward the females in your home.  But it is important that you ALL attend with the dog, so he learns that you are ALL the "pack leader" in his new home.  We had to deal with the same behavior from our little chihuahua!!  (Dogs definitely do NOT recognize size!)  ha ha...

Also - ask them about the dog park issue.  Some dogs are actually MORE aggressive when on a leash (they feel they are protecting you, as they are "attached") - that is usually why they require the dogs to be off leashes while in the park.  Some parks may have different rules...

I am glad the dog has a place to go for a few months - you may have to work with him  a bit, but he sounds like he's in a great place.

Good luck! 

lisa

I have often thought my husband needed to attend an obedience class... 

We don't want to spend a lot of money on a dog that we will only have for a few months, so we bought Dog Whisperer books and I read up on how to be a Pack Leader.  I took took the dog on wrestling matches that some people might call walks.  I came back with my arm and back sore form trying to force to walk beside me instead of pulling.  (Cesar say the pack leader must go first).  But I think it is working.  He doesn't even threaten to bite me any more.  The cat might be top dog, but I am moving up in the pack.  And I am getting some nice arm muscles.

Good for you!!!  I have watched the Dog Whisperer once or twice but not looked at the books.  I am glad they are helping.  Arm muscles are good.  I think that its great that you are working so hard with the dog.  He and your brother-in-law will be better off for it.