-
Help for a new behavior that popped up when another one was modified.
Hi Guys-
I’ve missed this amazing group of dog trainers. My muggle job is hopefully easing up in January and my new year’s aspiration is to be a more active member of this great community. To that end, I would love to get some feedback from you all on a recent case.
My client moved to a suburb from the City about six months ago. Since the move, the dog (2 year old down south rescue, mixed breed) has become occasionally reactive to other dogs, even dogs she knows and has played with well in the past. Vet check and pain check have been done- clear. Dog was always “prey driven” to chase rats on lead in the City but usually got on well with other dogs at the NYC dog parks. I’ve had the conversation about how a dog can become more dog selective as they mature into adulthood. However, due to the varying nature of the reactivity and lack of rest and relaxation this dog is getting (see porch time below) I’m inclined to think the reactivity has more to do with trigger stacking and less with dog selectivity.
Client’s dog now loves to hang out on their suburban front porch as much as possible in all but the most inclement/very cold weather. Client’s dog has had less day napping and additional time watching squirrels and greeting neighbors and mail carrier from the porch since the move. Body language on the porch is usually relaxed, hip rolled but alert head, scanning or laying on side, but perhaps one eye or ear periscoping to neighborhood sights and sounds. We are trial and evaluating less time on the porch to see if that can increase day napping and reduce overall trigger stacking. Over the last few weeks, clients have noticed increased day napping inside and overall increased relaxation (and being less reactive on walks) correlative with less porch time. However, now that there is less porch time, and even though there is more napping, the client’s dog is spending quite a bit of time standing by the door waiting to go out on the porch. This new behavior is concerning to the clients.
Here is what I suggested about waiting at the door:
1. Break up standing behavior at the door with find it (scatter feeding etc.) and snuffle ball and/or other food puzzles that get her using her nose (she is easily redirected with food or attention away from the door but does go back if the food or attention stops)
2.open the door for “porch time” when she is NOT standing at the door, if she is standing by the door, do something else,go in the kitchen, do some tug, etc. before letting her on the porch (I talked to them about being careful not to create a chain of the same behaviors).
3. try breaking up the current porch sessions and see if that results in less standing by the door so instead of one long session and then no other sessions that day, have a few shorter sessions. If that leads to more standing by the door, stop.
4. track when the behavior occurs (what time of day, before or after a porch session, how long she was outside on the porch for the day etc.)
Do you guys have ideas for other questions I should ask? Other ideas about porch time/waiting at the door? Since the dog really seems to enjoy this time, they don’t want to remove it entirely.
The rat chasing has been replaced by squirrel chasing. So for now we have also instituted pre-mac flirt pole for back yard orientation to squirrels (see a squirrel, if you pay any attention to mom/dad, you get the fun flirt pole game you love, then released to go back to squirrels- the idea is over time, dog will pay more and more attention for flirt pole when dog sees squirrels)…They are also working on building up a reinforcement history for a new recall word and we will start building recall with distractions soon.
Looking forward to hearing about any thoughts you might have.
Thanks
Abbie
-
8 Replies
-
Hi Abbie! @abbie
Welcome back! We’ve missed you. There is so much info in your post and it sounds like a lot of change. So no wonder the increase in reactivity, I’m thinking.
I like the idea about not giving porch time when she stands at the door. But, still giving it to her, since she enjoys it. Is she given extra enrichment on the porch? How long are they choosing for a porch session to be? It does sound like there are a lot of triggers going on in this environment. I have a Dane client with periscoping ears, so I totally agree. Increase that daytime rest time, even if it’s not a nap. It still helps!
How is her diet? Just curious, with her age, maybe she has changing dietary needs, too. Virginia has a great current post about “hangry puppies”, which I think can carry over into adolescence and adulthood. Maybe time to reevaluate?
Also, I love the squirrel TV=flirt pole chase time idea. I may try that!
I’m sure others will jump in, kind of dead except for a few holiday posts here, but I just wanted to give you my support and welcome you back! Hope the other job lets you remain with us longer. Good luck with this case, keep us posted! (((Hugs!)))
-
Hi @abbie ! I’m glad you’re being sensitive to not building a chain of behaviors around the ‘standing near door’ behavior. Just want to be sure nothing the dog views as positive is happening when she’s at the door, i.e., no re-direct using a food scatter or tug, etc.
How frequently are treasure hunts and food puzzles employed during the day (not doled out when she’s standing near the door)…?
Do you think it’s possible the growing reactivity has more to do with being on leash — and frustrated — in her new environment? You mentioned she used to play well at a dog park. But that’s off leash activity. It’s not uncommon for dogs to display ‘reactive’ behavior only when on leash, including dogs who have a history of free-for-all play at parks and day cares.
Might doggie play-dates be a possibility in her yard?
Looking forward to learning more about this doggie. ????
-
Hi Abbie!
I missed seeing this post yesterday – sorry about that. Great to have you back. You gave excellent details for your case questions – thank you for that; it’s really helpful to get a bigger picture of the whole situation.
These owners are so committed and you are coming up with great solutions. I think everything you are suggesting and advising is on the right track, especially with regard to being aware of behavior chains at the door.
If you are looking for additional structure for this client and dog, and a check to ensure all the dogs’ needs are met, take a look at Kelsey Weber’s SEEDs. You might get some additional ideas there.
For a dog who is prey driven it can be hard to find a substitute for that need, so the only additional suggestion I have is to channel it… see if they might be interested in participating in Barn Hunt games if those are available in your area.
-
@virginiad @bernerlabreclectus @catherine Thanks for all these great suggestions. Yes, I’m happy to be back. It my New Year’s aspiration. I’ve been working out here in the wilderness…
So I tried to post on my Ipad but for some reason it didn’t work so this post will be a bit shorter. I don’t think this is leash frustration as this occasional reactive behavior happens off leash with well known dogs too but I’ll look more into that as they are now having her wear a sweater on walks and I’m not sure what effect that has. I need to ask more questions about that like why are they having her wear a sweater (its been barely under 40 degrees where we live) and does she have any problems with “getting dressed” etc.
Barn hunt would be a great idea if guardians were into it.
Here is what I notice in her body language (I see you guys are using the shorthand of BEET around here). Her body is not stiff, it is neutral but alert, so not standing tall and not weight forward but ears up, head forward, eyes scanning the environment and then orienting to movement. Tail was in a nice slow and low easy wag until she oriented to the dog next door, then movement stopped (I think?). When we did some loose leash walking practice in the back yard, there was a dog in the yard next door and when she noticed it, she seemed to push weight back not forward with a head turn and guardians said she does not try to interact with that dog. I’ve asked them for videos so I hope to post if I get any. The yard is not fenced and because they have had some unexpected reactivity with known dogs (both unleashed) recently, they are hesitant to try any play dates. However, I’m hoping to practice LAT enough that I can use my stable dog and then leading to parallel walks and eventually an off leash encounter (only after Shelter Play Alliance protected greetings first). I hope that they are willing to work with me long enough for that.
And yes thanks Virginia for reminding me to clarify to client’s to not reward door waiting with food scatter or puzzles. The idea is to be pro-active when she comes in from porch time with scatter feed and snuffle ball before she goes to wait at door and will hopefully then nap instead of going to wait at door.. When redirecting with some behavior (touch, or even just going to get her) and do something else and long term calming project like kong or chew bone could then be used.
Anyway, Happy New Year everyone and I’ll keep you posted.
-
Hi @abbie , thanks for the clarification about some dog issues occurring when she was off leash as well. Love your idea to introduce parallel walks with your stable dog and look forward to future updates.
Since you mention she is often scanning the environment, I wonder if it’d be helpful to introduce and regularly use Leslie McDevitt’s pattern games during this dog’s walks so that she has something calming to focus on, and something else to do besides scanning …?
-
That’s a great idea – pattern games can really help!
-
-
-
-
Sometimes these changes crop up as dogs leave adolescence, and the move is a big deal too.
I Iook at this developmental period as a time to cement socialization skills. I’d probably want to have more, rather than less dog interaction. Is there anyone in your area who has well playgroups or pack walks? A good scenario would be for the dog to meet dogs in a group one on one, and then gradually join the full group. I do this with my playgroups (dogs on long lines for a few weeks) and it’s nerve racking. But, I’ve seen “iffy” dogs thrive with the groups.
That being said, I’ve also worked with coming of age dogs, who developed aggression. Heartbreaking. At that point I tell the client I’m not qualified to work with it and refer to a behavior specialist.
-
Thanks Cynthia. I live in a more rural/suburban place so finding dogs for playdates is not easy, but I agree that if we can get her used being comfortable when she does see dogs that would be good and incorporating pattern games is definitely in my plan next, 1,2,3 for sure maybe some ping pong too.
-
Log in to reply.