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Traveling/moving abroad with dogs
Hi!
I currently have a young (2 year old) male BC mix training client who we are doing some desensitization and CC with to improve his dealings with dogs outside and strangers (guests he doesn’t know) entering his home. The owners are a 30-somethings couple who are moving first to Germany (November) temporarily and then London after the new year.
Since the dog has had issues with strangers entering the home, we’ve worked on instilling a Go to Mat protocol and settled Stays, with one owner managing the door and the other with the dog on leash. To greet the guest (only if dog wants) we’ve worked on him hand targeting the guest (who has been me) and then back to the owner to settle with a treat. It’s been going decently!
We’ve been also managing them getting the dogs out in fenced back yard (they will be in apartment in Europe) while the neighbor dogs aren’t out. They try to coordinate with the neighbor about times they will be out in yard. I have mentioned that they can also use visual barriers between fence since his barrier frustration/fence aggression displays are intense with the neighbor dogs. Since they sold their home and will only be in it for 6 weeks more, they aren’t doing much else about this.
We have also taken field trips to nearby parks, bringing along his mat to settle (if owner wants him to settle) and walk around. We went to a nearby dog park (stayed outside of the dog park) and worked a bit on walking around while there were a few dogs playing inside the fence park. The playing dogs were curious about us and came up to the fence multiple times, but we were able to practice successful U-Turns away at his “decision points” without any displays or barking/lunging. It was really awesome. His sister dog was also there and maybe provided some calmness?
I apologize for all the details about training this far, but I would like to help these people prepare him for this last 5-6 weeks of training; getting him within closer proximity of dogs without “blowing his top”. I’ve been reading and trying to use some of Grisha Stewart’s BAT protocol, but without picking actually decoy dogs; instead going to parks where they are known to be and taking our chances in secluded areas and decreasing the distance incrementally (like at the dog park scenario). I see them usually twice weekly for 30 sessions.
- Any advice on how to prepare this dog mentally for an 8+ hour trip to Germany! What I know this far is that he and sister dog will each be in kennel (they are revisiting crating protocols to get them comfy again); I’ve recommended them to talk to their vet about using Adaptil spray on blankets, etc; they will be arriving before their dogs. He will be one of 5 dogs together (his sister next to him hopefully). What else should they bring?
- I have also recommended/insisted that they begin muzzle training him. So far they have not. I know he has no bite history, which is good, but she worries about him biting if he’s stressed. He already is being walked on a head collar(before we started), but they didn’t desensitize him slowly and just slapped it on and he doesn’t love it. Argh. I will revisit this again with them.
Other things to know: once he meets someone and likes them, he accepts them enthusiastically. He is food motivated, but as a good BC mix, can be a bit demanding, ha.
A recent development: they are insisting on (although I said, “oh no! please reconsider”!!!): last weekend, he got a bark collar that vibrates if he barks. The collar was on the table when I entered and he barked excitedly when he saw me and it went off! He barked incessantly at the collar shaking up on the table. They told me they know I don’t like it probably, but have decided to use it since they will be in an apartment and will get kicked out if he barks. I am empathetic, but I tried to discourage it and said this could make things worse for his progress he’s had with training this past few weeks!
Another success, they took him last weekend to a pet shop to get a drop-in nail trim and were in line with a bunch of people and their dogs and he did great. Also did great for the groomer.
What can I say? This keeps me worrying about this sweet dog and also celebrating his successes, but I know he’s out of my compassionate hands on November 1! I have recommended they find a positive reinforcement trainer in Germany to work with before leaving the US.
Can anyone give me advice as to what some next steps should be or any advice for the plane ride over? Thank you, thank you!
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8 Replies
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Oh my, that sure is a lot going on, @bernerlabreclectus ! I’m glad this couple has you in their corner. A few random ideas/thoughts:
Suggest client speak to vet at least to explore a medication that may help make the flight less stressful. If they want to plan for this, they should test-run it before the actual flight to be sure it doesn’t have any paradoxical effect on dog.
Also, have they considered the more regular use of medication, beginning NOW so there’s time for it to get ‘on board’ before these two major life changes that could be stressful for the dog?
Mention that the bark collar may not be legal in other countries. (Maybe not applicable if just a vibration collar.)
If you find out where they’ll be in Germany, I may be able to dig for a training recommendation.Just fyi, Germany has strict limitations on the use of a crate (may not be applicable in your clients’ case)
I’m not sure on this, but in certain areas of Germany, it may be compulsory for a dog to wear a muzzle when out in public. They should research this so they can desensitize in advance.
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@virginiad Oh thank you for bringing up the bark collar being taboo over there! And the medication component. They will definitely need to hear that! Especially because, to me, he is already improving so much but I can already see a regression on the way since he had that reaction to the collar going off when he wasn’t wearing it.
We’ve only been working since the end of July, and they are gone November 1, so I told them getting with a trainer over there ASAP would help so much!
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I hope they’ll keep you in the loop after they move @bernerlabreclectus . I’ll be rooting for them from afar and would love to hear updates!
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Hey Paula, thanks for all the details on this case. Wow, it is a lot for sure. Many folks don’t recommend medication of any kind on a flight as sedation is risky when unsupervised. I’m not sure, but the flight desk people may check? The first flight will be hard, even with training ahead of time. I think the real work will be preparing the dog for the trip to London, after he’s had that tough flight first. As much desensitization and counter-conditioning of the crate they can front load and keep up, the better. All meals in the crate (may need to start with door open) for example. Adaptil is a good reccommendation… if it works for the dog. CBD may be an option, but they should try it out well ahead of time and know how it will affect their dog, and how long it lasts.
So far as finding a trainer, Germany does not allow vibration/shock/prong/choke collars and they are very regulated over there. They could face heavy fines if caught. The best case is to get the behavior and training they need, now, to avoid being stuck with unwanted behavior then. The good news is, that because of the regulation, they will find trainers there who are skilled at positive reinforcement methods.
https://www.npr.org/2021/10/05/1043276625/life-is-good-if-youre-a-dog-in-germany
npr.org
Life is good if you're a dog in Germany
In Germany, dogs ownership comes with heavy regulation, including a dog tax - but owners say both they and their dogs experience the benefits.
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OMD, thank you for the npr link. I love how the Germans feel about their dogs! That’s amazing to be able to have that nation-wide of a change for the positive. Funny thing, it mentions that random people will tell you to train your dog better, butt their nose in off they feel your dog isn’t listening to you…I grew up in a small town during summers (OK it was a summer camp, for families, founded by the German-America social club called the Turners) and random adults would scold you if you were being difficult or naughty. So, that is how I grew up, and it worked! (Ha ha.)
I also listened to the short file you shared and it mentioned that if a dog bites or is reactive/aggressive, they work to get better training for the dog and that they do not blame or euthanize dogs there, it is almost always considered to be the fault of the people! They even said they have a Dog tax and and even steeper dog tax for guard/security type dogs.
Sounds like a win-win situation for dogs! I’m so happy that this sweet boy will be over there. Too bad it’s just for a few months until they go permanently to London.
Yes, I have heard great successes about Feliway (feline version of Adaptil) being used on a trip to Poland with a client’s cat, so I have started asking clients with any possible anxiety (and even pet sitting clients who are unsure if their pet will be OK with their absence) to all their vet about the use of these products. The cat client is a vet tech who swears by them.
Thank you for sharing, @catherine ! I enjoyed the clip so much.
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Great, Paula! Glad to be helpful. Please let us know how this works out, as you are able.
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I definitely will! ???? It takes a village…right?!
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That it does. Glad you are part of ours!!
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