Weim whining when left alone, and more

[Irena]

Hi guys,

Here is a question to you all. There is a lady on our Latvian board that owns a Weim (she is in Russia), and she says the dog won't stay at home although they tried to get him used to staying alone since he was a puppy (because they have jobs and studies etc). Yet, the dog barks and whines when they leave. The only solution they have found effective is muzzling him while they are gone.

I gave my recommendations (try crate training in a very positive way, rush in and pour water when he starts it, get an anti-bark collar, run him REALLY good before leaving), and I am clueless as to what else to offer. BTW I don't know if they run him good before they leave, I'm waiting on a reply from her.

Anyway, this got me thinking. Audry is the IDEAL dog to live with, but I am beginning to think this is because she doesn't have so much "drive" and isn't maybe a typical "crazy" and "hyper" Weimaraner? She does go bonkers at walk, and runs like mad in circles, but she calms down quickly, and I never have problems with settling her down.

Simultaneously, someone on another Weim board (MSN Weimaraners) posted yesterday about a Weim on a treadmill, as they tried that because their Weim spends time pacing and nothing else seemed to work. Being on the treadmill wears him out well, they say.

So what is all this about, and can a Weim be something in between? Great to live with, and yet lots of drive? Or is that not really possible or necessary to combine in one dog? What is the typical Weim character? What are your Weims like, to live with and to work with? If you can share?

[marjolein]

Mine have loads of drive, but are well behaved at home. I don't allow constant barking, whining, walking around the room, coz I can't stand that. So when they're inside, they're in their baskets mostly. I think it's all about training Irena.

[Irena]

Thanks Mar!

Have a look at these threads:
www.wcgkc.org/board/board_topic/1451487/103033.htm

And
groups.msn.com/weimaraners/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=35139&LastModified=4675530705627847429

Those sound like such typical problems for our breed, it is scary. Even though I don't know what the owners do to help their Weims get the excess energy off, I don;t know what I would have done myself with a dog that won't stay calm and has all these problems. To me, this is very, very scary.

Please give your input on this.

[marjolein]

Well, I think it's very difficult to comment on behavioural issues like this, without actually seeing the dog in his own environment. It can be due to his character, but more likely to the behaviour of his owners. Of course this can be very complex and in situations like this, I would always advice a behaviourist. Someone who comes over to your house to see what's causing the problem.
I would never ever use a threadmill for my dogs. I think it's lazy and if you don't want to put your time in a dog, then don't buy one. Just my humble opinion.

[Sylvia]

I don't think as well that a threadmill will work
It is mostly that the dogs has to work with the brain...
So a good training where they have to use their head with is much better I think.
With only let them walk on a threadmill they only get more condition, and that would be the only reason to do that, NOT for replacing the walks, training and so on

Well and being alone.. Have you any idea how they learned it as puppy to be home alone?
Because it is quit normal in the most cases that a dogs barks or whines when you are not at home for a long time... It is training you have to do and not leave in he morning 8 a clock and come back in the evening 6 o's clock and then thinking that the dog stays quiet and calm...
You train it by going away for a short period in the beginning, or drinking coffee by the neighbours (like I did. LOL ;D)
But I think in the most cases the people have thought to simple about training them to be home alone...

[Astraios]

Just my humble opinion but I would have thought that the more exercise given to a dog that wont settle, the more energy it will have in future, it would be getting them fitter and fitter giving it more energy ultimately.

I would think its brain work that the dog is looking for and the owner teach it to accept 'settling' but as I say this is just my take on it.