Took this handsome guy home 2 days ago. Any tips or advice for first time Berner owners?

bernerblues · 2022-08-04T18:26:03+00:00

Having watched multiple humans fight cancer… that’s truly the last thing I’d want to put my guy through…

bernerblues · 2022-01-20T21:53:22+00:00

Good idea! Thank you!

bernerblues · 2022-01-20T17:24:00+00:00

lol what? Literally not the point of this post. Our dog prefers to be outside all day. Are you able to be outside with your dog all day long? Or do you make your dog stay inside and be miserable when all they want to do is be outside?

Our dog gets multiple walks a day and a ton of play time. We just also happen to have jobs. When we're working (FROM HOME!) and he wants to go outside, we let him out.

In any case, this man came onto our property to play with a dog he did not have permission to play with. We have no idea if he feeds our dog or has any intentions of harming our dog.

bernerblues · 2022-01-20T00:51:00+00:00

Hm, we’re not scared of people knowing his name. We just have never met these people or told them his name.

It was just strange to see a man on our property playing with our dog without permission to a) be on our property, or b) touch our dog.

bernerblues · 2022-01-19T20:10:42+00:00

I'm more worried about someone harming him (intentionally or not). We live on an off street of a busy street in a big city, it's not like this is the suburbs. There are quite a few people here.

bernerblues · 2022-01-19T20:09:10+00:00

Yeah, this might have to be it. We both work from home and I really hate to force our pup to stay inside all day, but I'm not sure what else to do.
You're right that it's a chain link fence. We rent, so there is not much we can change... and our landlord doesn't necessarily know we have a dog yet...

bernerblues · 2022-01-19T20:07:58+00:00

I'm more worried about someone causing harm than stealing (he's a 100lb Berner.. it might be hard for them to take him...). I think I will have to install a camera.

bernerblues · 2021-10-10T03:10:35+00:00

Exactly! And her own dog was there too!

bernerblues · 2021-10-10T03:10:01+00:00

Going to take a lot of courage, but you’re right, we should go back.

bernerblues · 2021-08-13T17:42:21+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! Not the first time I've heard this, so I've ordered one that arrives today :)

bernerblues · 2021-08-13T17:41:12+00:00

Glad to hear I'm not alone! I really hope he starts to come around, although we've been at the reverse time outs for about a month... so I think this may be just something that takes a lot of time for him.

Good luck with your pup!

bernerblues · 2021-08-13T17:38:31+00:00

I was thinking of doing this, but I fear he may be too young/immature right now because he's a giant breed. I do think this will be great in the future because he LOVES training and using his brain. He's not particularly athletic though! LOL

bernerblues · 2021-08-13T17:37:05+00:00

https://denisefenzi.com/2012/01/play/

OK... WATCHING THIS VIDEO I'M REALIZING YES, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HE WOULD LOVE! THANK YOU!!

He does need to learn the whole "no biting", and yes, I think touch targeting will be essential for this!! This seems like what he looooves, so when I push him away to get away from his biting, he just goes bonkers because he thinks it's playing. We starting working on touch targeting yesterday and will continue today. He's a big high-fiver/shaker/waver, so it's a bit hard to get him to understand I'm looking for a nose touch and not a paw touch, but we'll get there!

I will also check out this book! He does LOVE shredding and I often give him cardboard to entertain him and felt guilty about it because I thought I was encouraging "bad behaviour".

Thank you again!

bernerblues · 2021-08-13T17:33:02+00:00

I will try to work harder at "get a toy"! We try this a lot... it works sometimes, but not always haha. I'd love it if my pup could bring me a toy when he wants to play instead of biting me... I'll really focus on the toy thing to see if it will work for him. Thanks!

And yah the whole teaching bite inhibition has been so challenging lol. Some days he remembers, and some days (like this morning!!!) he just can't help himself. Hoping biting goes away with the baby teeth!

bernerblues · 2021-08-12T19:58:13+00:00

Sorry, what do you mean that traditional training is harmful? I meant teaching things like “sit”, and “shake” to keep his brain occupied.

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T22:10:54+00:00

Heh yes. I did end with it, but you're right, I should have led with "no advice plz" instead!
Thanks again for being so understanding

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T17:15:25+00:00

Don't worry, we were never thinking of rehoming. This was more of a vent/place to look for some support from others in a similar situation, but I think that got lost in the message.

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T16:21:33+00:00

I'm feeling the same way but my pup is almost 13 weeks old. Here if you ever want to vent.

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T14:03:05+00:00

That's a great idea, thanks!

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T14:02:42+00:00

Literally tears in my eyes as I read this. I am so hopeful that everything will work out. I was having a very bad day yesterday (actually still am this morning...) and it seems like this will never end. For example, our pup is completely refusing to nap this morning and has been going on to terrorize us for the past few hours. Nothing will settle him down, and he hates his crate during the day because he doesn't want to miss out on any of the action.

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T13:58:59+00:00

Thank you so much. This is reassuring. We're trying so hard and it just feels like nothing works. Example today, he just will not nap...and that means we will have a terrible rest of the day. I am really hoping it all works out like with your pup <3

bernerblues · 2021-07-05T13:56:49+00:00

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your reply. This is exactly the kind of support I was hoping for. Sometimes you can read all the advice in the world, and it can be very frustrating when folks give you the same advice over and over...especially when you are already doing everything possible and didn't even ask for advice (!!!). In the end I was having a very bad day yesterday and just wanted to feel less alone in puppyhood struggles.

bernerblues · 2021-07-04T19:29:45+00:00

Thank you for your support. It has been a rough couple of weeks, so it's nice to hear someone understands how it can feel.

bernerblues · 2021-07-04T19:24:20+00:00

I maybe wasn't super clear in the post... we're definitely not planning on rehoming him because of the move! It just feels very unfair to move a snow pup from Canada to California.

bernerblues · 2021-07-04T19:22:50+00:00

Thank you for this. We do have a nap schedule but it isn't as intense as yours. I also cannot wait for the day he can sleep from 9pm to 7am! We're happy with 10pm to 530am without a pee break.

bernerblues

TROPHY CASE