Thanks!

Are you solely capturing behaviors incrementally to the final behavior or are you luring as well?

If Loki is walking closely to the bowl successfully in several directions, look at it then then look away, I would introduce the verbal cue.

I like your ideas. I work in a shelter with highly aroused dogs. I work on a lot of impulse control. Sit stays, waits, leave it, and I am working on pattern games and find its with treat scatters – that helps decompress. I constantly reward what I want with a reward marker and treat. If 4 paws on the ground with mouth closed – keep…

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I love pitties!

My dog guarded everything, but not from humans but from my other dog. I always noticed her head would pop up and be very still with whites (whale eyes) in the eyes showing. Those were always the first signs. It was challenging getting her accepting of other dogs. I believe these problems are also resolvable but for some dogs, not 100 percent.

Thank you for putting my question out there. Yes the dog is on meds prescribed by the vet by recommendations of the behaviorist<font face=”inherit”>. I am digging into this trainer’s philosophy to better understand it. My niece absolutely understands the dog must be supervised at all times. Her husband wants to rehome the dog but she won’t…

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I have a question – my niece has a pit mix that is around 6 years old that has severe separation anxiety. He destroys the house when put in a room when she leaves (tearing into the drywall, holes in the doors and floors, does not do well in the crate). I recommended a veternarian behavorist that does online consultations and gives a full report…

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Great idea!

I see some fence fighting at the shelter where I volunteer. We have 2 “ dog parks” if you will that are areas connected by a shared chain link fence. The dogs in those parks are screened to make sure they don’t fence fight, but it happens. Unfortunately these dogs do not know cues such as a solid recall, and I do hear volunteers scolding the…

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Yes Paula – capturing the dog before he shoves into the other has worked for me in the past.

Thanks for sharing that! I have a pushy dog with an older dog.

I am showing my pup dog videos on my iPad. That seems to be working nicely so far. Treating for watching and not responding. The smaller screen is better and I am hoping to work my way back to the tv. Will probably use a computer monitor next.

I want to add when I lure him away, I wait about 8~10 seconds before receiving a treat as not to chain the events c

He is not barking at cartoon animals or animals that are frozen on the screen. It’s hard since there is seemingly always a moving animal on tv and I have a dog that LOVES to be with us! So the progress isn’t great so far! I do get up and lure him to a treat looking the other way but the poodle in him loves to bark!

That’s a great tip to share!

Not sure if this is a tiny detail but keeping my puppy on a leash for 2 months while in the house really helped with some of the points of contention you listed. It kept him away from my adult dogs and helped with the jumping. I could reward for calm behavior since he learned he didn’t have the run of the house. Btw I love Stella and chewy meal…

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I love the idea of still pics on the TV. Thank you for your suggestions. Will get on it!

Thank you! Great suggestions!

Awesome – thanks

Does anyone have suggestions on helping me stop my 13 month old Berniedoodle from barking at any animal on TV? He is barky anyway but this is over the top. We work on his barking constantly on walks or when he sees another animal outside – he will leave it and down go the blinds again! My husband likes old western movies and it’s a shame our pup…

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Thanks! Just ordered the book!

Awesome! I love when owners are open to putting the punishments away!

I love the engage disengage game. The pup sees the “trigger” under threshold, mark yes or clicker, pup looks at you and reward. Keep doing this then after 4-5 successful times give a treat scatter “find it” for a fun reward game. It works wonders on walks. Obviously you will continue this exercise closer and closer to the bark trigger as you…

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Thank you for all of your input – I really appreciate it. I will check out your recommendation Catherine!

Hi All! I know I ask a lot of shelter questions but scenarios pop up that I need clarification from experienced trainers.

‘Here is a short background: The shelter where I volunteer has 3 dog parks or fenced areas where the dogs can run off leash. We have 3 groups of dogs and each volunteer takes their group in their assigned park one at a time.…

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I also would suggest finding a local shelter and providing classes for the volunteers. It’s a great way to practice and give something back if it fits your schedule!

Thank you for your insights. My initial reaction is reactive dogs to outside stimuli should not look out of windows. My poodle gets barky with certain people and dogs walking by but always responds to a leave it. But correct and good point – when I am not there, I am sure there is a lot of reinforced barking!

Hi all! If a dog is inside constantly staring out of a window and barks at everyone passing by – I know to teach a leave it and an over aroused dog that barks should not be staring out of a window correct? Are we setting them up for failure by trying to mitigate the behavior by allowing them to look out the window? But then again, I feel like…

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Hi! I have an anxious poodle and 2 Berniedoodles. We move around all the time. We shift from 2 places in Florida back to Virginia and also North Carolina at times. Catherine’s suggestions are great. Keep the routines and structure and your pup should adjust fairly quickly! Also if pup is treat motivated, throw treats when you arrive at new…

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I usually take a multiple choice exam slowly and choose try to answer what I can without my notes. Then I go back over it again and refer to notes, homework etc. I find taking your time and relaxing is the best way to think. There is a chemical in the brain that is released through anxiety that prevents us from thinking clearly. Use your time…

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That puppy is sooooo cute! I bet she would love blowing bubbles as a reward too! Chasing bubbles!

Thanks Ruth!

Oh thank you! Also my foster dog was adopted 2 days ago! Playing the engage / disengage game with her was such a game changer with her triggers! It didn’t take long for her to stay under threshold while looking at triggers that made her react just a few weeks ago.

Like the side to side and curved body!

Thank you for posting this. I am not always confident about reading dog body language.

Hi Catherine – The method of calm for dogs I was asking about is called The Trust Technique- James French. Are you familiar with this?

thx?

Thank you. I can see how effective that game is. I wonder if I incorporate a “ find it’ cue before the dog retrieves the treat from the bowl, we can graduate from the bowl and strictly to that cue as I am doing now. When someone unknown comes around, they may drop treats on the ground and I walk over and tell her to find it. If it has the same…

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Oh thx! Can you describe the bowl game? On walks – if Nala sees a trigger I say “find it” and throw a few kibble pieces on the ground which she loves. She now is starting to look at me when she sees another person on a walk for that treat scatter. People scare her!

Yes thanks. I have had her 2 weeks and she is getting extremely territorial with people coming into the yard and house etc. I am having others throw treats to her and I am treating as well. I guess she is getting comfortable on her property. I think it will take a while to counter condition her triggers.

Yes – I suggested having short classes for volunteers but the other trainer shot it down. That’s ok. I will do what I can with what I know to impact the dogs I work with. I am now fostering one of the dogs (and I have 3 dogs of my own!) and working with her cues, impulse control and triggers. I’m treating heavily when she sees something…

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Thank you so much!

Also loose side to side movements with the head. Good bite inhibition.

It looks totally mutual to me! The older dog on bottom keeps pawing for more!

I started shelter work volunteering 3 months ago. I have a few questions:

1. The paid staff does not all allow any enrichment in the kennels. The dogs are in the kennels about 22 hours a day. The fear is the dogs will resource guard a kong, or whatever enrichment they need if left in the kennel. We are seeing a few dogs not dropping a toy for…

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Adorable!🥰