Back from Vacation!

DebBrown · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: Back from Vacation!

Hello Everyone! We're finally home again and getting resettled. Charlie has definitely missed us and is glad we're home. He spent a week with my daughter and then a few days at home with my son who had returned from college.

Some interesting notes... First, Charlie refused to sleep in his crate at my daughter's house. We went to alot of trouble to drag all his "stuff" over there so he'd feel at home but he refused to go in his crate and slept on the kitchen floor. Any ideas why this would be? We are planning on taking him on a trip this summer and I was assuming we'd take his crate and be able to confine him as necessary. Rolling Eyes

Second, he came home smelling just awful. I remember reading post about people who adopted dogs from shelters, etc. talking about the nasty doggie smell. Well, I'm pretty sure that smell is a mixture of anxiety and fear. The first thing I did was give this doodle a good bath.

He also didn't eat much and is making up for it now being quite a chow hound.

Now that we're home we're starting a landscaping project. As of tomorrow, Charlie will be restricted to our side yard. We thought this would work out fine but now we've found a nest of bunnies there. Exclamation

He is EXTREMELY interested in them and is currently on other side of the fence from them. I'm not sure what to do. Should I fence off the bunny area? Try to move them? There must be half a dozen little guys snuggled together. I was hoping that once the next was disturbed, the mother would move them but they are still there. Crying or Very sad

Deb

hmz819 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

Welcome home. Not sure about all the odd behavior.
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annabelles mom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject:

Welcome Home - hope you had a great time

not sure why Charlie would ignore his crate - does he sleep in it at home all the time?

as for the bunnies, you could fence around them, but they are gonna start moving about as they get older and prob will come thru the fence, I dont know if you move the nest and babies if the Mama will find it or go back to it if she does find it, I would def wear gloves if you move it so not to get human scent on nest or babies
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sdrudge · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject:

Welcome home!! I am not sure about the odd behavior. Sorry I can't be of any help.
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MaxandMe · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject:

welcome BACK,,,and did CHARLIE sleep in his crate while you were on vacation or was he possibly let on beds etc???
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DebBrown · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

Charlie only slept in his crate the first night. After that he refused to go in. We bribe him with liver treats and my daughter knows the routine. She said he wouldn't go near the crate and ending up sleeping on the floor in the gated kitchen. He did NOT sleep on anyone's bed.

I was surprised because I thought he would want his crate as it is something familiar in a strange environment. Rolling Eyes

Now I'm worried about summer vacation. I felt good about taking Charlie to the beach because I intended to crate him if he was to be left alone. I sure hope he cooperates!

Deb

annabelles mom · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject:

sounds like you might need to start re-training on the crate if you want to use it on vacation, Charlie has other plans Laughing

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DebBrown · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

Mary, the weird thing is that he loves his crate at home. By 9 or 10pm he is standing by his crate waiting to be put to bed. Confused

I need one of those dog ESP people to find out what's going on in this doodle's head!

Deb

blueteal · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject:

Welcome home!!!!!!!!!
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lmtoth2 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject:

Do you think he had a problem with the crate because he wasn't with you? It's possible.

Be prepared - if he's in a different house he may not want to be away from you - you may have to let him stay in your room or something...
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annabelles mom · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

mtd885 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject:

It seems that crate training is just like any other training, you have to do it in different environments with varying distractions. Perhaps if you were to bring the crate on routine visits and crate him for part of the visit he'll feel safer having had his crate moved from 'where it's supposed to be' (in his head). These Doodles seem to me to be SUPER SENSITIVE to their surroundings and attachments. Abby is 9 months now and we do not close the crate door at night any more. She goes in and out on her own. We'll bring the crate with us on vacation next week, set it up and see if she uses it on her own in new surroundings. I'm curious to see what she does now Smile

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