Guap (sheltie2.5yo) - Our relationship needs rebuilding.
In the last year I’ve undergone a divorce, quit my job at failing company, moved to a different state, etc. Lots of enormous changes. My dog, Guap, has done extremely well considering all that has happened. We use to live in a house with a yard and a dog door, so even when I wasn’t home he had the freedom to go in and out. Now we live in a one bedroom apartment.
He’s extremely well behaved. No accidents inside. No destructive behavior. Very friendly to strangers. Is socialized. He goes to daycare at least twice a week when I’m at work. I walk him at least twice a day. I’ve finally begun to get my life on track and want our relationship to be stronger. I’ve had a sheltie prior to him and we had a very close relationship/bond! Unfortunately, Guap has gotten the short end of the stick. I thought best to start with some training. He already knows the basics really well. Sit, stay, up, down, take it, etc.
Symptoms
Will ignore me. (How should I properly handle this? It only happens 30% of the time.)
Avoid eye contact when I’m trying to give him attention.
Goes to other room that I’m not sitting in.
Is super friendly to everyone else.
Seems to lack self-confidence.
I might be over coddling him.
I bought a toy for him, he plays with it when I’m not home, won’t let me know he likes it when I’m home.
He’s reluctant to play with me when I try. (In the apartment)
I can tell he’s mad at me?
If we sit on the couch and watch tv, after 5 minutes, he will get up and go to his bed in the other room and stare at me. I will tell him to ‘come here’ very positively and sometimes he’ll come back, but sometimes he won’t. I will go get him put him back on the couch and were fine again. It’s like he wants to be wanted. I’ve let him do his own thing too, where I don’t put him back on the couch, but that has really solved anything.
I try to just ignore the unwanted behavior (like when he ignores me), but sometimes I take a overly positive approach, neither seem to yield different results.
I know he really wants my attention, because when I leave for work he jumps up on me and immediately wants to play. Though VERY cute, is very frustrating for me because I tried playing with him many time the previous night when I had time.
I can tell he’s craving my attention, but when I give it to him he does the stone cold shoulder.
How do I get around this?
Maybe do training at the same time everyday, so he knows that this time is dedicated to learning.
Maybe I should get a clicker….
My efforts haven’t been successful and I’m beginning to get frustrated.
I really want to build our relationship.
It’s almost like we have no relationship except for me to walk him and take care of him. No formal training time or play (because of all the stuff I’ve been going through). It’s like we don’t know how be playful with one another. It’s strange.
In the last year I’ve undergone a divorce, quit my job at failing company, moved to a different state, etc. Lots of enormous changes. My dog, Guap, has done extremely well considering all that has happened. We use to live in a house with a yard and a dog door, so even when I wasn’t home he had the freedom to go in and out. Now we live in a one bedroom apartment.
He’s extremely well behaved. No accidents inside. No destructive behavior. Very friendly to strangers. Is socialized. He goes to daycare at least twice a week when I’m at work. I walk him at least twice a day. I’ve finally begun to get my life on track and want our relationship to be stronger. I’ve had a sheltie prior to him and we had a very close relationship/bond! Unfortunately, Guap has gotten the short end of the stick. I thought best to start with some training. He already knows the basics really well. Sit, stay, up, down, take it, etc.
Symptoms
Will ignore me. (How should I properly handle this? It only happens 30% of the time.)
Avoid eye contact when I’m trying to give him attention.
Goes to other room that I’m not sitting in.
Is super friendly to everyone else.
Seems to lack self-confidence.
I might be over coddling him.
I bought a toy for him, he plays with it when I’m not home, won’t let me know he likes it when I’m home.
He’s reluctant to play with me when I try. (In the apartment)
I can tell he’s mad at me?
If we sit on the couch and watch tv, after 5 minutes, he will get up and go to his bed in the other room and stare at me. I will tell him to ‘come here’ very positively and sometimes he’ll come back, but sometimes he won’t. I will go get him put him back on the couch and were fine again. It’s like he wants to be wanted. I’ve let him do his own thing too, where I don’t put him back on the couch, but that has really solved anything.
I try to just ignore the unwanted behavior (like when he ignores me), but sometimes I take a overly positive approach, neither seem to yield different results.
I know he really wants my attention, because when I leave for work he jumps up on me and immediately wants to play. Though VERY cute, is very frustrating for me because I tried playing with him many time the previous night when I had time.
I can tell he’s craving my attention, but when I give it to him he does the stone cold shoulder.
How do I get around this?
Maybe do training at the same time everyday, so he knows that this time is dedicated to learning.
Maybe I should get a clicker….
My efforts haven’t been successful and I’m beginning to get frustrated.
I really want to build our relationship.
It’s almost like we have no relationship except for me to walk him and take care of him. No formal training time or play (because of all the stuff I’ve been going through). It’s like we don’t know how be playful with one another. It’s strange.
I think playing games with your dog is the best way to really bond with them! Treats are a bribe but games are just good pure wholesome fun and bonding!
