My Max

Dondons.maxGS · #1 04-02-12, 03:34 PM

Hello GS lovers, I am a newie on the forum.
My Max is a 3 and a half years old and I rescued him 2 years ago. He is a lovely dog, and has no tail after he had it amputated while he was in the RSPCA centre.

He is very small, most other GS dwarf him but he is usually only intimidated by smaller dogs!

He is a great family pet, great with hubby and children 14 and 11 years old but the neighbours hate him as he barks quite a lot when we are out....HELP!!!!!!

Donna

Willo · #2 04-02-12, 03:56 PM

Another handsome fella who's obviously fond of a swim too!

Broxi Bear · #3 04-02-12, 04:00 PM

Hi and welcome

Nice looking GSD, as for the barking when you guys head out, have you tried leaving on the tv or the radio, that is what we do with Cooper, not sure if it works but I have asked our neighbours and they say that they have never heard him bark while we are out.

sami · #4 04-02-12, 04:09 PM

Hello and welcome, he might be small but he is perfectly formed.

Mazz · #5 04-02-12, 04:13 PM

If we are going out for a couple of hours, to do shopping and such.
We take Jazmin for a good run/play, let her calm down a bit, them put her food down.
We also leave treats around the kitchen for her to find.
Do you leave a stuffed kong or treat ball for him to play with.
We also leave the radio on for company for her.
Hope this helps.
I'm sure someone will be a long soon, with more help for you.
Good luck. BTW your dog is beautiful.
Mazz

adey · #6 04-02-12, 04:25 PM

Great looking fella

Dondons.maxGS · #7 04-02-12, 05:09 PM

Hi guys, thank you for the lovely welcome and comments very kind!!!
To update.... I do leave the radio on. (my husband always questions me about this!) telling me it's unnecessary. Men what do they know!!!!!!!
Max will have a good "walkies" in the morning and evening, also several toys laying around the house. I may have made a rod for my own back as I do tend to mummy max a fair bit as I take him usually we ever I go so when I leave to go to work he doesn't like it.
Also think my neighbours are miserable gits and dog haters xx

wildmoor · #8 04-02-12, 06:10 PM

I take mine for a run before work and leave activity toys, the girls have a radio on in the kennel.

My girls went through a stage of barking a lot and I used an out door bark control but then i found out my neighbours were tormenting them so I put cameras up recording 24/7 and made the clampits aware via their housing officer - needless to say my dogs are now quiet

LindaM · #9 04-02-12, 06:30 PM

Hi nice to see your lovely Max. Does he manage OK without his tail?

As for barking do you know (I know it's difficult) how much he is barking. Does he bark non stop whilst you are out. We lived next to a dog that barked all the time when it's owners were out and stopped the minute their car arrived on the car and it was pretty awful. They only went out on some evenings and I think with him it was to do with being separated from them. They had no idea he barked as he stopped the minute he heard their car.

Perhaps he barks when he hears noises so is barking intemittently which I reckon a lot of dogs would do.

In fairness I don't know how much my dog barks when there is no one in. I think most of the time he is fairly settled because I crate him when we are all out and he has been used to that from being a pup and likes to be in there. If he has been upset his water might be tipped up and bedding ruffled up which doens't happen very often so I reckon he is fairly settled.

I read somewhere (can't remember) that leaving the radio on can sometimes cause stress because the dog can't hear when it's owner is coming back home. I personally leave the radio on as it is an indicator for his routine when we all leave the house. As part of that routine I don't fuss him or talk to him in the run up to leaving him and that helps.

With previous dogs I could say 'see you later' and no probs, but not with my GSD. Sorry a bit of a rambling post.

Linda

Dondons.maxGS · #10 04-02-12, 07:07 PM

Hi Linda, thank you for your advice.
As from a few weeks ago I have stopped him having the run of the house while he is alone. He now has the hall way upstairs (where his bed is) and downstairs hallway. We have set the camera up a few times and the silly thing only records for half an hour but in that time we watched Max trotting around (which was funny to watch) and NO barking.
Thank you everyone for your responses, will no doubt be back tomorrow moaning about something else ha ha xx
Donna xxx
Ps. Just to add max is only left for 5 hours maximum. Is that ok???