Waiving The White Flag

Yes, it's true.  I've waived the white flag.  I've admitted defeat.  I don't know how to train my dogs!  My dogs have out of control moments that I don't know what to do with!  So, I finally broke down and hired a professional.  I have hired a former head dog trainer from Petsmart who now just does dog training on the side, but at your home.  I didn't sign up for a class again, because I didn't think a class would do anything.  My dogs needed a trainer to see how they behave when we are out on our walks and encounter a dog, or a bike, or a stroller for goodness sakes!

Our trainer's verdict:  Our dogs are scared.  I'm a little person with a high pitch voice, ergo, I don't sound like I can protect myself and my "pack" when we encounter something scary.  Therefore, the dogs erupt out of fear.

Plan:  Dominance training.  The word "dominance" sounds so harsh, but so far it's been working well.  Essentially, we are focusing on establishing me and the hubbs as the dominant ones - not the dog.  The homework involves a lot of stays and heeling based on eye contact.  There isn't much verbal praise at all and no affection in the training part.  Oh, and no treats so far either.  The dog is being trained to seek us out for their cue to move forward or be released from a stay.  Already I'm seeing improvement, but we're still only a few days into practicing, and we haven't done a ton with the dogs walking together either.

Bark About It!

Our Buddy Boo-Boo

There's always something to bark about!  Just when we thought Copper's barking was getting better, he finds something else to bark about.  He has now started barking at cars that drive past us at a decent speed.  Annoying?  Yes.  Embarrasing?  Yes.  Impossible?  No.  

With all of our training problems, I try to get inside the brain of my little four-legged friend.  So, let's imaging that as we're walking down the street enjoying the warm sunshine, the cool smell of the morning, and hearing the birds singing in the background.  Yes, sometimes it really is as idyllic as that!  Either way, out of nowhere, a huge semi pummels past you at 100 miles an hour!  For a little guy like Copper, cars whizzing by seems like a semi-truck sometimes!  I truly believe he's scared, and maybe a little defensive too.  I think his barking is a startled reaction to this scary disruption to his fun walk.  

So, what did I do when I noticed this pattern?  Went to the web.  I did some research and similar methods to other problems came up.  Essentially, distraction is key.  Whenever I see a car coming, I will try to turn into a driveway to go another direction.  If I can't change directions, I will tell Copper to "go to the bathroom" or go "this way".  I'll use common commands he hears a lot that have no negative connotation for him.  I also will keep him close to me so that he can't run toward the car.    

As with most of our issues with Copper, he is getting better, but not perfect.  I have seen some improvement, but it's something that I have to be consistent on.  And, I bet it would work a lot better if I had treats with me, but that's just a lot to carry on a walk with two dogs!  

If it's not this, it'll be something else I'm sure!  

How does that work?

Funny, you devote a whole blog toward the bad behavior of your dogs, and yet they have both passed their Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) Test?  How does that work?

Well, let's see, probably the biggest issue is laziness.  Ok, I don't think I'm an overall lazy person, but sometimes I am.  And sometimes, I'm just plain busy.  Dog training gets pushed to the wayside sometimes.  Let's be real, people!  I work, I clean my own house, I run errands, I cook my own meals, I try and have a life:  my whole life can't be focused on dog training alone!

I will say, though, that taking the opportunities I do have to train my dogs is well worth the time.  I also have really enjoyed any of the training classes or events I've gotten to do with them.  I would love to get back to a point where they are behaving at a CGC level again and I think they are honestly almost there.  I'm just thankful that I can enjoy my pets and know that there's always room for growth!

You never know, until you know...

You never knew it was something to watch for until you were told...

our pretty lil girl

I took the dogs in for their annual shots and vet visit about a month ago and we got some interesting news about Sara Beth.  The vet was only able to find this because we had sedated her to have a dental cleaning done.  During the normal check up, she was too excited and figity for the vet to notice the bump on her neck.  However, when she was sleeping and on her side, the vet could see a golf-ball size lump in her neck.

Yup, a lump.  Darn.  Well, we had the test done on it to see if it was cancerous or something really serious.  Turns out it is what the vet thought it was.  She has a build up of saliva in her neck because either the gland or gland's duct is damaged.  The vet called it a Salivary Mucus Seal.   The lump doesn't cause her any discomfort or pain, and because a dog's neck is usually flabby anyway, it's visually not noticeable.

There is a small chance the lump could go down if the swelling is caused from an infection.  Otherwise, the lump is permanent.  The next step would be to see a specialist and decide if we wanted to do surgery to take it out as well as repair the gland/duct.  However, at the present moment we are doing what the vet referred to as "benign neglect", which is what most people do:  we're leaving it be.  Until it presents itself as a larger problem or gets really large, we will leave it be.

Who knew that this could happen to a dog?  We certainly didn't.  So, if you notice an extraordinarily large bump on your dog's neck (we're talking golf ball size at the least), you might be dealing with a similar thing.  I'm thankful for good vets and that our little princess is okay!

Failed Attempt #999: The Thundershirt

Here's a post I started back in the winter....and just realized it!

Well, it feels like attempt #999. We have tried so many different techniques with the little buddy boo boo to work on his leash aggression. I have been so curious about the "Thunder Shirt" and wanted to see if it would help at all with Copper's issues when he sees other dogs. I was a little hesitant because I first saw it advertised on an infomercial. Then I heard about a local pet store in town that sells it and has a great return policy, so I decided to go for it.

While the dogs looked extremely cute in the "Thunder Shirt", it did not seem to soothe either dog. We tried it in multiple situations and attempted to phase it in. For example, I first had Copper wear it while we were watching a show that had dogs in it. Copper still barked at the television. Then, we tried it out on some outings on the block, and it still no success. I supposed Copper's issues may not be anxiety anymore, but rather a defensive reaction to dogs instead.

We even attempted the "Thunder Shirt" on Sara Beth who definitely has anxiety issues when riding in the car. However, she still panted frantically and drooled in the car as usual.

I have heard of other dogs who have had success with this new product on the market, so I wouldn't rule it out as an option. We were able to return it with no hassles and got some leads on attempt #1000. Just know that there are good return policies on the product in case you want to try it out with your dog.

Counter-Intuitive Thoughts On Dealing With Dog Aggression

Even though the dogs are behaving "better", I still wouldn't say they could pass their Canine Good Citizen right now (ironically, both dogs have this certification and have regressed manners-wise).  I'm always wanting to get their behavior better and better.  I recently came across this blog/website and it has some really good articles on it:  Here's a snapshot of what I was reading about dog aggression:

"The key to making a dog feel less afraid or upset about exposure to the stimulus is by making the dog feel better about the stimulus. That's the goal of classical counter conditioning and desensitization protocols which treat the root of the problem. These techniques are counter-intuitive - the presence of the trigger, rather than the dog's behavior, must be the reliable predictor of reinforcement. Essentially, we're giving the dog what he wants (toys, food, etc.) at the instant he sees the other dog or person, continually until they're out of sight, at least in the initial stages of training. It doesn't matter what my dog is doing - I don't care if he's sitting, lying down, standing, or if his hackles are fully raised. Yep, I'm going to feed him even if he's noticing the dog and not giving a full-blown reaction, maybe if it's a soft growl or muted "woof," I'm still feeding him."

Here's where I found this article:  http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/myths-about-dog-aggression-part-vii

If dog aggression isn't your issue, there are tons of articles on other dog and puppy training issues!

New Environments; New Dogs?

Well, it's been a while since I've posted.  That doesn't mean that we haven't had dog training struggles and joys in the meantime.  Realistically, it just means that I haven't been able to take the time to think and blog on it.

Since the last post, we have moved out of the condo!  Yay for not living downtown!  Our dogs love it too!  They seemed to settle into the new house almost immediately.  I honestly think the downtown setting was too much stimulation for them.  Too many noises.  Too many new people.  Too many other dogs.  Too many unknowns.

Gotta Love the tongue sticking out!

Our new place is on a one acre lot that, while not fenced, is surrounded on three sides by large trees and heavy brush.  Our dogs have been really good about staying nearby us when we go out to do business or play.  We don't have sidewalks and we live on the end of a dead end street, so it is in general, pretty quiet.  It's almost the opposite of living in downtown Nashville.

This new place is dog utopia, right?  Well, almost, but not fully.  We still have issues with leash aggression on walks, but this time, it's the dogs in the yards initiating it.  We also deal with people who don't fence their dog in and just let it roam in the yard.  I must say, though, I've been impressed with how well my poopies have reacted to the neighbor dogs so far.

Here are a few things I've learned and been reminded of in this new environment:

*  No living environment is perfect, so you constantly have to train your dog and adapt to the new challenges
*  Dogs love to run.  Well, my herders do at least!  They have excelled because they have the space to run and get their energy out.  We still go on walks and to the dog park for socialization, but if the day is busy, we have the yard to run around in.
*  You have to know your dogs' limits.  When we are on a walk, I know there are certain houses that we cannot go past without an eruption.  If I can, I'll turn around and go another route.  I praise the dogs when they calmly walk past a house with a barking dog.  I always want to set my dogs up for success, not failure.
*  I'm going to become an expert at removing ticks this summer!  Each dog has already gotten their first tick bite.  Yuck!

Happy Copper