| OK, how dumb AM I? Wait, don't answer that!!! | | | | easy to figure out how to motivate and reward |
| My 9 year old Cardigan Welsh Corgi Gizmo, also | | | | good behavior. In my days of being REactive, by |
| known as Schizzle, needs some anger | | | | the time I offered the cookie, it was too late, |
| management classes when it comes to the three | | | | Gizzer was in a frenzy, and he couldn't even stop |
| boxers next door. They are not great dog | | | | for food. This training proved useful for all of my |
| neighbors, since their owner leaves the three | | | | dogs, not just Gizmo, so it was a good thing. So, |
| dogs out to do as they please, and what seems | | | | I spent just 15 minutes in the backyard, regular |
| to please them the most is tormenting my dogs | | | | kibble in my pocket, with all four dogs. None of |
| through the fence. Gizmo is a classic reactive dog | | | | them knew what I was up to, and it was a great |
| when it comes to the boxers, acting like a totally | | | | training time. The boxers were nowhere to be |
| different dog, working himself into a frenzy about | | | | seen (or heard, in this case), and Gizmo was able |
| these boxers. He started taking out his frustration | | | | to focus on me rather than the boxers and the |
| on the fence, grabbing with teeth, pulling off bits | | | | fence. I stood in the middle of the yard, and called |
| and pieces of wood before I can get out there to | | | | Gizmo to me in a very happy voice. He came to |
| stop him. The hole in the fence is nearly big | | | | me willingly, and WOW! His face just lit up when I |
| enough now that he can get his head and | | | | offered a small handful of kibble for his good |
| shoulders through, and he launches himself into | | | | behavior. Within minutes, all four of my dogs were |
| the hole thinking he can squeeze the rest of him | | | | racing to me the minute I called. They thought |
| through (think Pooh bear stuck in the tree). I think | | | | this was just great. |
| that won't be far off, if I don't figure out how to | | | | Once I gave the treats, I ignored the dogs, or |
| put something over that hole that he won't just | | | | they would hound me for more treats, and |
| chew again. I really thought that putting in a | | | | eventually they would come to me, get their |
| privacy fence, and leaving a 32 inch empty space | | | | treat, and gradually wander back to their previous |
| then leaving the already existing chain link fence | | | | activities of grazing, searching for non-existent |
| between Giz and the boxers would do the trick | | | | rabbits, etc. Then I stepped up the training. Calling |
| because they wouldn't see each other, silly me. | | | | the dogs to me in the middle of the back yard is |
| Recently, the neighbor has been leaving obnoxious | | | | one thing, but having them all race to me at the |
| boxers outside more and more. And Gizmo has | | | | back door is entirely different. Calling from the |
| been getting in more and more trouble, and any | | | | back door means that they might have to come |
| outing outside usually has me standing in the rain, | | | | inside the house, and inside means no wrestling, |
| the sun, the heat, the cold, whatever, blocking | | | | barking, and acting like crazy dogs. Outside is far |
| Gizmo's access to that hole. Then he runs around | | | | more fun on a sunny day! |
| me in a wide arc, just out of my reach, spitting | | | | I moved to the back deck, called dogs individually |
| as he barks because he's frothing in his frenzy, | | | | and as a group to come to me for another 5-10 |
| barking at me, at the boxers, and out of | | | | minutes. That went very well. So I stepped inside |
| frustration that he can't get closer. The scenario | | | | the back door, and added the next level of |
| ends with me herding him into the house, because | | | | difficulty. I called Gizmo to me inside the back |
| I will not let my dogs stay outside and bark like | | | | door, and he raced to the deck, and hesitated |
| fools. It gets really old, and I was about to | | | | just for a moment before he came inside, his |
| restrict Gizmo to walking in the front yard on a | | | | motivation for food took over, and he came in |
| flexi leash and not let him in the back yard. That | | | | the house to get his treat. I praised and praised, |
| made me mad, because if my neighbor would | | | | gave the treat, and then left the door open so |
| make his dogs behave, and not leave them out | | | | Gizmo could go back outside. I wanted them to |
| there to bark all day, I wouldn't have this problem. | | | | know that coming inside the back door does not |
| My dogs can be out, and if his dogs are not | | | | always mean that outside fun time is over. Within |
| barking and lunging at my fence, Gizmo can | | | | two days, the difference was remarkable. I have |
| behave and not have a hissy fit. But "Boxers | | | | four dogs behaving much better and really |
| without Manners" is the real world for so many of | | | | showing the good manners I know they have. I |
| us with doggie neighbors. | | | | also have a REactive Cardigan who turns and |
| SO, I've tried over the last couple of years | | | | comes running when he hears the back door |
| spraying water on Gizmo, the citronella collar (our | | | | open. |
| yard was mosquito free from all the cloud of | | | | Now, having gushed with pride at the good |
| citronella, but it didn't deter Gizmo), bitter apple on | | | | manners my dogs are showing, I will admit that all |
| the fence (I guess it gave it a nice spicy flavor), | | | | this training was sans-boxers. The first time we |
| tossing a penny can, hollering, chasing, grabbing | | | | were out and the boxers came rushing the fence, |
| him, scolding him and telling him how obnoxious he | | | | Gizmo started on his trek to the fence hole. |
| is. All the wrong things, and all the things that | | | | That's so automatic for him. BUT, standing in the |
| come naturally when being a REactive owner | | | | middle of the yard, I was VERY conscious about |
| during a bad situation. Well, none of those have | | | | not raising my voice in reaction, but the second I |
| worked, surprise, surprise. Once he gets into that | | | | heard those dogs, I called Gizmo to me in a |
| frenzy, there is absolutely NO stopping him, and | | | | friendly tone, and the instant he turned his head |
| he can not even hear a word I'm saying. | | | | to me, I clicked. Of course, he ran right over for |
| Last week, I just got sick and tired of the whole | | | | the treat, but he was still obviously agitated about |
| thing. Gizmo was grabbing the fence and I took | | | | the boxers. As he gulped his treat, he turned to |
| his collar and turned him away from the fence, | | | | dash off, and again, I said his name in a friendly |
| and his teeth brushed the palm of my free hand | | | | tone. Success again, he came right back to me. It |
| as I brought it around to pick up the dog. That | | | | was a real thrill to see how smart my dog was, |
| was the final straw. My dog did not mean to bite | | | | and also a real blow to my ego to realize how |
| me, and he certainly did not break the skin or | | | | long I've been dumb about this. I only put Gizzer |
| commit an act of aggression toward me. But he | | | | in this stressful situation for a minute, and called |
| was so caught up in his frenzy that he was going | | | | him off of his frenzied run for the fence three |
| to pull that board off the fence, and nothing was | | | | times. Then I gave him the remainder of the |
| going to stop him. I thought and thought, and | | | | kibble from my pocket and we walked into the |
| wondered what I could possibly do to save my | | | | house together, where even more kibble was |
| sanity and keep Gizmo out of the proverbial | | | | waiting for the good dog. Since we started this |
| "doghouse." I work on behavior modification in all | | | | training and positive reinforcement, I can't believe |
| sorts of dogs and some of those dogs required | | | | the difference in the dogs, and in myself. Letting |
| serious behavior modification, and I'm pretty | | | | the dogs out into the yard was so stressful for |
| successful at it for dog's sake! How do I do that? | | | | me, always wondering when the boxers would |
| Oh, yes, with positive reinforcement to teach a | | | | come flying out of the house and run to the |
| new behavior. DING! The light bulb moment! Duh, | | | | fence, and wondering how long it would take me |
| I'm the classic case of a reactive owner, reacting | | | | to get Gizmo in the house. Now, the instant I |
| to my reactive dog. I teach people how to stop | | | | open the back door, I rarely have to call anyone, |
| being reactive and be pro-active in all kinds of | | | | and I'm practically knocked over by four dogs |
| situations. And yet, I missed the obvious in my | | | | racing to be first in line for cookies. |
| own dog, and myself, and I didn't recognize the | | | | Thank goodness my dogs are all chow-hounds, |
| problem I was harboring literally in my own | | | | and plain dog kibble is a high-value treat. And |
| backyard. I wasn't thinking of the situation as | | | | thank goodness they can't count, so they don't |
| being a "behavior" to teach, I was thinking about it | | | | see that I'm withholding some of that kibble from |
| as a frustrating situation, and just didn't do too | | | | their meals. |
| much about it. How's that for missing the | | | | I wanted to put my experience in writing for a |
| obvious? | | | | couple of reasons. First, I wanted to be able to go |
| Now that I have self-diagnosed my failure, where | | | | back and read again and again to remind myself |
| to begin? I'll digress and say that I do not give out | | | | that it's natural for me to think REactive in a day |
| many treats at my house day to day, we usually | | | | to day setting. I think I'm very proactive in a |
| reserve those for training, and my dogs are not | | | | formal "training" session where I am focusing on |
| used to getting treats for basic, household | | | | one dog and teaching behaviors. |
| behavior these days. Right or wrong, I just don't | | | | Second, I thought that maybe others would see |
| mess with treats much on a day to day basis, | | | | themselves, not that a sassy senior Cardigan |
| unless it's a small cookie when I leave the house. | | | | Corgi chewing holes in a fence will relate to many. |
| As youngsters, or being new to the house, treats | | | | But, the thought process of slowing down, moving |
| are dispensed when learning the acceptable | | | | from reactive to proactive, and taking a step |
| behaviors in our family. But with four adult dogs, | | | | back could prove to be helpful. I let this situation |
| the most recent being Gizzer arriving three years | | | | go for two years, and if my stubborn corgi (and |
| ago, daily treats for routine manners have gone | | | | all the other dogs for that matter) can learn to |
| by the wayside. | | | | change his behavior because of a simple change in |
| I needed to figure out a way to be PRO-active | | | | MY behavior and training, I think there is hope for |
| with Gizmo. Hmm, that isn't too difficult, the dog | | | | just about anything! |
| would do backflips for a breadcrumb, so it was | | | | |