Lonely Rottie

[rottiluver]

I'm in classes during some of the day, so Diesel unfortunately has to stay at home for that time period. Which he hates and always cries when I leave. I have another dog but he's 13 yrs old so isn't much company while I'm gone. When I'm not in school I always stay with him, and he's always been a sook about being left alone, but of course that's my fault Any time I grab my purse he's running to guard the door so I don't forget him. It's a sin.

He loves having other dogs to play with, so I've been wondering if getting another rottweiler would be benifical to Diesel while I'm gone. I would love to get another one, but do you think it would it help his situation about being left alone?

[majicka]

I have 3 dogs..the great part..they play with each other and generally amuse each other.

When my Bruno was still alive, I would only have my coonie shep Brando crated because I KNEW that Bruno and my labx Brazen wouldn't fight or get into trouble. They generally just slept while I was away. Id leave Brando out with them on occasion (he likes to be in his crate when I'm out) and he did fine.

Now that my pack has changed, Happy (puppy) and Brando are crated when I leave. A number of reasons, Brando is trying to refigure out where he is in the pack and Happy is a 5 month old pup. It gives me peace of mind to know that while I am away Brando and Hap have no interaction. I don't trust those 2 together unsupervised. They have squabbled over a treat or chewie in the past. I do however trust Brando and Brazen together, but I'm more comfortable having Brando crated while I'm out.

You need to ask yourself if you would honestly feel comfortable letting 2 large dogs have roam of the house and access to each other while you are not there to supervise. So much could happen between 2 dogs, especially a larger dog and a pup. A pup unsupervised can get into tons of trouble all on their own. 2 unsupervised dogs could lead to worse.

You can try stuffing kongs with yummy stuff (alternated layers of peanut butter and kibble or pieces of broken up treats) and freezing them to give your guy something to do while your out. If he's uncrated try hiding treats in easy access places to give him something to do. I also have a habit of leaving the TV on for them. Maybe you can take him for a nice long walk or xteneded play session before class so he's dog tired?

[PinkMartini]

I had the same problem, but kongs have worked wonders !!!

I stuff one in the morning before I leave and my girl dances around me as I do it. Then I say "ok, let's go downstairs for kong" and she runs downstairs with her little but wiggling. I gate her down there, which is my first floor, where the front door is. She's is so serious about her kong, that she doesn't even look at me as I walk out the door .

She's almost 9 months old and I've been doing this for the past two months. So far, there's no signs of her losing interest, and it makes leaving the house so much easier. I feed her less breakfast, and make up for it in the kong. Sometimes I alternate layers of kibble and peanut butter, but most of the time I put some treats and/or kibble in the bottom and then stuff canned food to the top.

________________
PinkMartini

[brunie's mom]

I honestly do not think that you should ever get another dog as a playmate for the first dog.
Dogs do not need playmates, they need their owners working, training and spending time with them. If YOU want another dog, that is the reason to get another dog. You must realize the that there is twice as much work, training, time and money needed. The dogs may like each others company, and they may not...this is why you must be prepared.

In your case, you are already having problems with Diesel, he is having fear issuse and he is only a year old. You have a 13 year old dog also??

I would wait till the older dog is gone and then when Diesel is about 3 or so and has alot of his training done and he is mature....then think about adding a female dog.....but only if you feel you have the energy and time.

Keep Diesel exercised and busy and he will not have time to be lonely. A nice frozen marrow bone, should keep him busy for hours on the days when you are away for longer.

Gina

[HerculesMomma]

I have thought about this for the same reason. However, I would never trust my dog with another adult dog loose in the house (I think my dog is dominate with other dogs). So my only alternative is a puppy and I'm just not ready for that. It would be very difficult on my lifestyle to get a puppy - hence the reason I adopted an adult dog in the first place. In addition, I'm still figuring my way around Hercules and we haven't even been together yet for a year. I feel I could use a little more time to adjust to him and figure out some more dog training things before I add a huge challenge of a puppy. Then I think about it - if I did get a puppy, I would probably have to crate her for the first year of her life. Not much of a companion for the old boy if she's in a cage. Of course, with all of that said, the thought still peaks my interest constantly.

But I too have found the Kong works wonders when I leave. This morning I got the crying again for the first time in a while. But when I whipped out that kong he knew what was coming and stopped right away. I've given them to him when I've been home before and it typically takes him about a half hour to get the stuff out of that thing.

Just be concientious of what you give them in that kong and don't make the same mistake I did. I attribute much of Hercules recent weight gain to what I was putting in that thing and apparently I was not reducing his kibble enough. My vet recommended switching from treats to possibly cereal to stuff the kong (obviously don't use high sugar cereals like cocoa puffs! ). We now use yogurt to layer with the cereal instead of easy cheese. So far he likes cheerios, honey combs and my newest discovery of animal crackers.

[Ilovemypuppy]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

I honestly do not think that you should ever get another dog as a playmate for the first dog.
Dogs do not need playmates, they need their owners working, training and spending time with them. If YOU want another dog, that is the reason to get another dog. You must realize the that there is twice as much work, training, time and money needed. The dogs may like each others company, and they may not...this is why you must be prepared.

In your case, you are already having problems with Diesel, he is having fear issuse and he is only a year old. You have a 13 year old dog also??

I would wait till the older dog is gone and then when Diesel is about 3 or so and has alot of his training done and he is mature....then think about adding a female dog.....but only if you feel you have the energy and time.

Keep Diesel exercised and busy and he will not have time to be lonely.

Gina

Excellent advice...I also use the stuffed Kong when I have to leave Bailey and it works like a charm...even though she never worries about my leaving her...it's just that leaving means she gets a special treat and something to keep her busy.

[Judi W]

I encourage maturity and responsibility in my dogs as I do not want a dependent and perpetual puppy brain in an adult dog's body. Acquiring a puppy when your existing dog is imature will simply delay that process. Spoiling and encouraging dependency is not beneficial for the dog.

Daytime is pretty much nap time for dogs and there is no reason to believe they must be entertained at all times.

[rottiluver]

Well you all make good points, I haven't been looking for another dog or anything the issue just crossed my mind, and of course I would LOVE to get another one! But, I'm not, or at least not yet. I've been planning on waiting till Diesel was a lil older and my courses were completed. Just wanted to know what you all thought of the matter. I've been exercising him before I leave as much as I can, and I normally just throw around some of his low-cal treats and raw carrotts when I leave. I never tried the kongs, I'll have to give them a shot! He actually loves all other dogs, I think I have the puppy classes to thank for that. And yes he doesn't like strangers, it seems like a trust issue with them. Although I am trying hard to get him out of that, but does that mean I shouldn't get another one because of that issue??

Thanks for the advice.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by rottiluver

And yes he doesn't like strangers, it seems like a trust issue with them. Although I am trying hard to get him out of that, but does that mean I shouldn't get another one because of that issue??

Thanks for the advice.

It does not mean that you should never get another dog....it means that you should have all of Diesels "issues" solved and gone before you even think about adding another dog.

If you got another dog now...and as you say Diesel has "trust issues" with people...the new dog may learn from Diesel the same bads things.

Then you would have 2 dogs that are not good with strangers....not a good idea.

Try to spend more time with Diesel...give him more walks, training, etc...and leave him with a Kong or a raw frozen marrow bone to keep him busy. Just leave the house without any fuss or muss...do not prolong the goodbye. I always say "I'll be back" and "Take care of the house". and close the door...without looking back.

Gina

[spidey]

The fact that he cries when you leave doesn't mean he spends the entire time you are gone pining for you, nor does it mean he is lonely. As others have said, the reason to get another dog is because you want another dog, and have the time, money and energy to look after it properly (which means spending time alone with each dog every day), not because you think your dog is lonely. Given the history you've told us here about Diesel, you're probably not ready for another dog yet.