Hi all! I have a nearing-4 year old GSD named King. We got king when he was about 1.5-2 years old, from a family that didn't train him, and let their kids do whatever they pleased to him. Also, sorry for the lengthy post in advance!
My dogs and cats
In case I reference any of the names in this post, these are my dogs. I have 4 dogs and 2 cats. King the GSD, Dude the old pitbull mix, Charlie the Yorkie, and Peggy, the 3 legged Yorkie terrier, as well as Gemini the kitten and Momo the fat tuxedo cat (he doesn't do much). King and Charlie have a bad relationship. Charlie constantly antagonizes and tries to fight King, despite their size difference. For this reason, we have to keep them separated at all costs-or there will be blood.
Separation Anxiety
When we first got King, we started crate training him, like we have with all of our dogs. He does great in his crate, and will often go in it, even if I offer him my bed. But when he does take the chance to lay on my bed, he likes to chew my covers and pillows and such. He also destroys any all toys that he has. I've been trying to train him to not do that, and to behave a little bit more, but I'm lost as to how to stop him from chewing. I know that it's most likely due to his anxiety, because he only does it when I'm not looking at him or not in the same room as him.
Small dog-Big dog feud
King lays in his crate, and sometimes Charlie will run to the door and bark at him. Naturally, King will start barking back, either because he doesn't like him, he's defending his territory, or both. I've noticed now, that King will now bark at nothing because he is used to Charlie constantly antagonizing him, and I feel bad. It's like he has PTSD of it-if you understand what I mean by that. So, if you were in this situation, what would you do?
Leaving the room
When I leave the room, even if I only step 1 foot out of my door, King starts whining. When I leave for school, I can still hear him whining as I'm closing the door, and it makes me feel so bad for him. How can I make him feel safe and happy, knowing I will be coming back to him eventually?
King in the yard
Additionally, when King is in the yard, he is constantly barking at the "neighbors" (I live next to a convenience store, as well as a mechanic shop). He doesn't listen to me if I try to train him outside, and the only things I can get him to do are to come to me, and to sit. How would you go about getting him to stop barking at the "neighbors" as well as getting him to listen to me while outside.
King's friendships
Sometimes, if King is whining towards the end of the night, I'll let him out one more time before I go to bed. Usually whenever he does whine though, I let him outside and make sure he has food and water. This is when he runs to my kitchen or living room and finds his friend Gemini. An unlikely friendship, sure, but it is a friendship. King will climb on my couch and lay with the kitten, but often times I have to get him off because I'm not sure if he will start biting at the cushions and such-because if he did, I fear what my mom would do to me and King.
The relationships with King and my other animals are as follows: (n = don't get along, y = gets along)
King - Dude = Y
King - Charlie = NNNN
King - Peggy = Mostly Y, sometimes N if she's near my grandma(she's very protective of her)
King - Gemini = Y
King - Momo = Y/N, They don't really mind each other, but Momo has a bad temper and doesn't like to be bothered so if King comes near him, he hisses. No fights come of it though.
Final Questions
How can I help King overcome his separation anxiety? Pheromone Collars?
How can I get King to stop chewing and destroying my bed, as well as his toys?
What is the best course of action regarding King and Charlie?
How can I get King to listen to me while he's in the yard, as well as stop barking at the neighbors?
What does normal Dog and Cat play look like? I certainly don't have a problem with them being friends, but I want to know how much is too much and when I need to intervene
Last but not least, thank you so much for reading my post, as well as a big thank you for any and all help you can give me!
One last thing; I don't know is this is specific to my dogs behavior, but King likes to flip his food bowl over and sometimes water bowl over, and eat off the ground. Is this normal?
My dogs and cats
In case I reference any of the names in this post, these are my dogs. I have 4 dogs and 2 cats. King the GSD, Dude the old pitbull mix, Charlie the Yorkie, and Peggy, the 3 legged Yorkie terrier, as well as Gemini the kitten and Momo the fat tuxedo cat (he doesn't do much). King and Charlie have a bad relationship. Charlie constantly antagonizes and tries to fight King, despite their size difference. For this reason, we have to keep them separated at all costs-or there will be blood.
Separation Anxiety
When we first got King, we started crate training him, like we have with all of our dogs. He does great in his crate, and will often go in it, even if I offer him my bed. But when he does take the chance to lay on my bed, he likes to chew my covers and pillows and such. He also destroys any all toys that he has. I've been trying to train him to not do that, and to behave a little bit more, but I'm lost as to how to stop him from chewing. I know that it's most likely due to his anxiety, because he only does it when I'm not looking at him or not in the same room as him.
Small dog-Big dog feud
King lays in his crate, and sometimes Charlie will run to the door and bark at him. Naturally, King will start barking back, either because he doesn't like him, he's defending his territory, or both. I've noticed now, that King will now bark at nothing because he is used to Charlie constantly antagonizing him, and I feel bad. It's like he has PTSD of it-if you understand what I mean by that. So, if you were in this situation, what would you do?
Leaving the room
When I leave the room, even if I only step 1 foot out of my door, King starts whining. When I leave for school, I can still hear him whining as I'm closing the door, and it makes me feel so bad for him. How can I make him feel safe and happy, knowing I will be coming back to him eventually?
King in the yard
Additionally, when King is in the yard, he is constantly barking at the "neighbors" (I live next to a convenience store, as well as a mechanic shop). He doesn't listen to me if I try to train him outside, and the only things I can get him to do are to come to me, and to sit. How would you go about getting him to stop barking at the "neighbors" as well as getting him to listen to me while outside.
King's friendships
Sometimes, if King is whining towards the end of the night, I'll let him out one more time before I go to bed. Usually whenever he does whine though, I let him outside and make sure he has food and water. This is when he runs to my kitchen or living room and finds his friend Gemini. An unlikely friendship, sure, but it is a friendship. King will climb on my couch and lay with the kitten, but often times I have to get him off because I'm not sure if he will start biting at the cushions and such-because if he did, I fear what my mom would do to me and King.
The relationships with King and my other animals are as follows: (n = don't get along, y = gets along)
King - Dude = Y
King - Charlie = NNNN
King - Peggy = Mostly Y, sometimes N if she's near my grandma(she's very protective of her)
King - Gemini = Y
King - Momo = Y/N, They don't really mind each other, but Momo has a bad temper and doesn't like to be bothered so if King comes near him, he hisses. No fights come of it though.
Final Questions
How can I help King overcome his separation anxiety? Pheromone Collars?
How can I get King to stop chewing and destroying my bed, as well as his toys?
What is the best course of action regarding King and Charlie?
How can I get King to listen to me while he's in the yard, as well as stop barking at the neighbors?
What does normal Dog and Cat play look like? I certainly don't have a problem with them being friends, but I want to know how much is too much and when I need to intervene
Last but not least, thank you so much for reading my post, as well as a big thank you for any and all help you can give me!
One last thing; I don't know is this is specific to my dogs behavior, but King likes to flip his food bowl over and sometimes water bowl over, and eat off the ground. Is this normal?