The Honeymoon is over....

[melonie]

Cleveland woke up this morning in a 'mood'.
I noticed he wasn't his usual wiggle butt perky self right away.
I figured he'd had a bad nights sleep, or maybe was just feeling off.

He has been a bit crabby all day. All toys and chews are put away after he grumbled a warning at Mac & Winnie over a chewie.
He has searched the house for bones, toys etc. He did sneak a tissue cardboard out, but I let him shred it. So I think he's also bored. I did let him have the chewies and stuff in his crate today.

He has been clingy, and has wanted a lot of attention.

I've obliged and sweet talked him a lot today.
I sympathize with the dog. Poor fella was in a shelter last summer, found a good home, then given up again.
A lot of change for the little guy.

However.
He has also had to spend more than the usual down time in his crate today because he has also been confrontational with Mac.
They had an argument over something. It wasn't an object... they were all wrestling and I think it got out of hand.

Tomorrow he will get to go meet Judy finally. We were going to do it today but we're having blizzard like weather. (again) Hopefully the car ride and visit will help break his mood up.

Also, last night Tootie was making her way to my bedroom when Winston and Cleveland spotted her.
In an instant there was a cat dog fight. Neither of the dogs were even scratched, the cat was a bit slimy, but no teeth marks thankfully. The cat seriously just needs to not run. Milo just sits there and looks at the dogs like he owns them, and they lose interest. Tootie spazzes out and that gets that good old prey drive going. Luckily a squirt bottle filled with water does wonders at breaking attention.

It's a lot of work managing two dogs who get along, but will piss each other off easily. But it isnt the end of the world. No way would Cleveland do well in the kennels, so we'll just keep it up, and I'll keep looking for triggers so we can avoid fights and spats!

[adoptapitbull]

Crate and rotate, my friend. It's both a blessing and a curse, but it works! I'm sure you'll be able to handle whatever these pups throw at you!

[melonie]

I'm sort of crate and rotating.
Treats, chews, etc are a crate item. When Winston and Mac play, I crate Cleveland. When Winston and Cleveland play I put Mac in the bedroom. Cleveland and Mac want to play and I have let them briefly, then I find something else for them to do. I also have not let all three dogs outside at once. Mac can become a jerk outside so I only let Winnie and Cleveland out at the same time.

Cleveland is right now worried about my cat Milo. He knows where he is, he just can't see him. I sectioned off the hallway so the cats have a dog free zone. But Milo is like Garfield in a lot of ways. He torments the dogs, doesn't get bent out of shape, and is too fat and lazy to hurry anywhere. So he is sitting on the other side out of site meowing every now and then, and Cleveland is on the other side just waiting.

[suziriot]

It actually sounds like they don't need to be C&R, but just need close management. Cleveland may be feeling insecure about his place in the house/pack. I recommend doing some bonding and interactive exercises with Cleveland, without the other animals around. Some good one-on-one positive training, when you focus just on him. Sounds like he is toy motivated, and pretty smart. So training with games and toy rewards should help him feel more secure as well as relieve his boredom. He sounds like a smart and driven dog who needs a job to do, lol!

[sugar]

I hate when the honeymoon is over. Can't we all just live in honeymoon-happiness?

[melonie]

Cleveland woke up today in a better mood. *yay*

I did spend some time with him playing last night. I snuck a bit of training in with it.
Suzi is right, this dog needs a job! If I could teach him to do laundry that would be awesome! But he is kind of short

He is really good at finding things so I think today I'm going to show him random items then go hide them.

Winston is very easy to please. He loves snuggle time the best, he could care less about playing ball, likes to play tug and stuff but not for very long. He's a cuddle bug through and through. (and a bit lazy)
Cleveland wants different types of attention at different times and I've learned that he will become vocal (he does this growly talk) when he wants to play, and when he wants to snuggle he remains mellow. He is not lazy at all... doesn't have a really high energy, but he isn't content to just lay on the sofa most of the day like Mac & Winnie!

[suziriot]

Cleveland sounds a lot like Otis! Always getting up in everyone's business, looking for trouble, needing to be entertained or snuggled or wrestled with, depending on his mood. But he also responded VERY well to training. He loves having "work" to do.

[melonie]

I ended up working on 'touch' with him, and 'drop it' last night.
He loves his toys, and tries to me with his ball, but he doesn't want to let it go and that hurts the fingers.
He caught on quickly to drop it, but he is a booger and still teases.

I can't wait for nicer weather so I can get outside one on one again with my dogs.

[maryellen]

melanie teach cleveland service dog stuff- turning on/off lights, pick up slippers, remote, newspaper, etc.. it will give him a job to learn and you can use him as a maid .....

[melonie]

Cleveland would likely do a better job at maid duties than my children

I need to work on his drop. Also need to teach him how to be a bit less aggressive when he is playing with me. He over reaches for a toy and has gotten a finger a time or two. He's very toy motivated and he gets to the point that if I take his toy away he will focus 100% on it. I don't give it back until I can get a sit, or if he is sitting, a shake/high five to break his focus. Then he gets it back.
I watch his body language to gauge his attitude over the toys... if he isn't happy tail he loses the toy, because when the tail stops wagging he will get possessive of his toy.

[marc]

^ can't get jackie to learn drop it or leave it. she's doesn't generalize well at all.

we did teach her touch so we use that for fun with pencil. the trainer i work with suggested teaching her to touch post it notes...then put them on stuff to have fun with her.

[melonie]

I brought some new toys home tonight... 2 for each dog, and all got the same kind... While Mac and Winston will play for awhile, and move on to other things... Cleveland has been engaged with a toy since I gave them to him.
It's a bit comical to watch. Dogs are so smart, and I think with the right kind of motivation, can do just about anything.

[loverocksalot]

What Maryellen said. Rocky is somewhat like Cleveland except Rocky is not big into toys. But a big time attention getter who needed a job. I taught him many of the different things maryellen suggested and then some. I would start with putting the toys away. After getting the drop. If I were you I would walk around with clicker in hand and as soon as he drops a toy click and treat eventually putting the word to it. Now he is at the point he gets excited when he hears the word "time to Work" Although now that he is 5 he does not require as much work time.
@ Marc haha a trainer we went to had us doing touch with post it notes. I had to switch to plastic coffe can lids as rocky woul touch then eat the post it note.