This dog is driving me crazy!
Great expectations run amok
Mary Jane bought the cutest Yorkie-poo puppy at the pet
store, but she cannot housetrain Monkey or keep the little rascal from
stealing cookies from the baby or chewing everything he gets his teeth on
including ankles.
Steven researched breeds and bought a Labrador Retriever from
a reputable breeder. But Toby has far more energy than Steven ever
imagined, and he cannot keep up with the pup. Last week, Toby destroyed a
door in his attempt to get outside to play with the kids, and the week
before he slipped out the back gate and was picked up by the dog warden. That
experience cost Steven a $75 fine and $10 for board at the shelter, but at least
Toby was wearing his license tag and could be identified.
The Drews like to jog before work and hike or bike on the
weekends. Sarah always liked the droopy look of a Basset Hound, so Mark
bought her a pup for her birthday. Snoopy couldn't keep up with Sarah and
Mark on the trail, so he stays home alone while they enjoy their outings.
Last month, year-old Snoopy soiled the new kitchen tile, so now he's tied
in the yard while they are gone.
The stories go on. The Hortons' Dalmatian
is nothing like Pongo; the Hammonds' Newfoundland drools and sheds on the new
furniture; the Cummings are getting a divorce and neither one wants the dog; Sue
Jackson bought a pup at a charity auction and doesn't like its personality; the
Smiths bought a German Shepherd that is timid instead of bold; and the Stassens
bought a Golden Retriever mix pup that is dysplastic. They all had great
expectations, but something went wrong.
The Contract
Bringing a pet into the home from any
source implies a contract with that animal to provide it with food, water,
shelter, training, and companionship. The dog is more than willing to fulfill
his side of the bargain because he knows from whence his kibble comes. Dogs have
been human companions for thousands of years; along with the instincts and
behaviors that make him canine, each and every puppy is born with an affinity
for domestic life in a human family.
The contract is strained when human
expectations of the dog differ from reality. To prevent breech of contract, the
dog owner's best bet is to consider that his pup or adult dog has the potential
to become the perfect companion under the right circumstances and then to
begin to orchestrate those circumstances.
At this point, it does not matter if the
pet came from a puppy mill or a reputable breeder, from a retail store or the
boss's sister or the female dog allowed to have just one litter owners must
build the human-animal bond with the dog they have, not the dog they wish they
had. So forget the past. Use the dog's origin to explain its behavior, not as an
excuse to ignore the problems until they become insurmountable. A pet store
puppy may be hard to housetrain or hyperactive, but once he enters your home,
it's up to you to figure out how to deal with the behavior. A field- bred Golden
Retriever or Springer Spaniel might have a working drive that makes you crazy,
but if the dog is yours, so is the responsibility to deal with the behavior.
Recognizing potential
Each dog behaves according to its genetic
makeup. That genetic tendency can be surmised from its ancestry purebred or
mixed and accommodated through training and opportunities to behave as
nature intended. In other words, a Basset Hound or Dachshund may not be a good
jogging companion, but either can be a delightful house dog, great for walks in
the park, fine for tracking critters, and fun for a child to show in 4-H or AKC
junior showmanship. On the other hand, a rowdy Labrador Retriever or Dalmatian
may be too much for the children to handle and difficult to keep in the yard,
but both are responsive to daily exercise, consistent obedience training and
firm discipline. The trick is to be alert to the possibilities even if you are
appalled that Toby is a tornado of energy (and almost as destructive) and Snoopy
would rather lie on the couch than join you in practice for a cross-country bike
tour.
Genetic potential is only part of the
formula. Each dog has a behavioral potential as well, potential that can be
shaped with firm and consistent training. Fortunately, dogs are resilient; they
can adjust to firmness and consistency beginning today even if they haven't
experienced either in the past. The adjustment period may be rough, but the
results are worth the effort.
What to do
So how does all this translate into
well-behaved-dog that meets family expectations? First, you may have to adjust
those expectations a bit to accommodate the individual dog's personality and
character. Then you have to seriously tackle each problem, perhaps going so far
as to make a list of what to deal with first and the alternatives for doing so.
For example, if Monkey isn't housetrained and bites ankles, both serious
problems, try for a solution that can help with both behaviors. A crate can
help. Feed her in the crate, then take her outside to a bathroom spot. Use a
word or phrase that she will learn to associate with doing her duty at that
spot, such as Go potty or Do your business. When she's successful,
praise her and give her a special treat such as bits of chicken or cheese,
Cheerios, or popped corn.
If she doesn't do her business in five
minutes, bring her back inside and put her in the crate for 10-15 minutes, then
try again. No playtime until she's successful. Do not allow her the run of the
house until she is housetrained. If she's confined to the room you are in, you
are unlikely to get any rude surprises and can pick up on her cues when she
needs to relive herself.
When she nips at ankles, say a stern
No!, pick her up, and put her in the crate for 10 minutes. If she persists
in the behavior upon release, repeat the discipline.
Begin obedience training right away, and
insist that the entire family participate. Although it is helpful to go to a
training class, it is not always necessary if you are determined and have a good
book to help. Carol Lea Benjamin has two books written for rescued dogs, but
they are appropriate for training any dog and cost less than $10. Titles are
"The Chosen Puppy" and "Second Hand Dog". Job Michael Evans
book "The Evans Guide to Housetraining Your Dog" also helps build the
bond with a dog and thereby solve other behavior problems. Karen Pryor's
"Don't Shoot the Dog" puts a new slant on positive motivational
training by shaping desirable behavior rather than punishing undesirable
behavior. Dozens of other books can be found at libraries and bookstores, so you
are likely to find one that meets your pocketbook and your training philosophy.
Obedience training has a settling effect on
the dog and gives you the opportunity to redirect its focus. If Monkey will
respond to sit and down, you can use those commands to calm her down
and avoid the ankle-biting that occurs when she gets excited. If Toby will obey
sit-stay before you open the door, he is less likely to bolt out after the
neighbor's cat or the children's ball.
Dealing with hyperactivity
Breeds and mixes with high energy levels
can be destructive as well as pesty. Pointers, retrievers, herding dogs,
terriers, coonhounds, and many other breeds have a strong work ethic and a
psychological need to stay busy. If you don't give them a job to do, they'll
find one and it's highly probable you won't be pleased.
Vigorous dogs need toys, daily walks,
playtime, and other opportunities to burn off their energy. Frisbees, tennis
balls, Buster cubes, Kong toys, etc. all help, as does playtime with other dogs.
Making the dog part of daily family life helps, too; instead of closing him in a
crate or basement when you head out the door, take him along. You can teach him
to sit or lie quietly while you watch Paul or Mary play soccer or walk him in
the park while the kids attend a craft workshop or nature program. If you stop
for a burger or ice cream cone, give him a taste. Being part of family
activities gives him something to do and to look forward to and will make him
more amenable to good behavior.
When you can't take him along, make sure
he's had some exercise before you leave him alone and that he has some fun
things to keep him busy while you're gone. A Buster cube filled with a half-cup
of kibble saved from his breakfast and a Kong toy stuffed with kibble or cookies
moistened with peanut butter or honey are great favorites. By the time he
ferrets the food out of the toys, he'll be tired enough to sleep. You'll come
home to intact furniture, and your dog won't be afraid to see you come in the
door.
If your pet is destructive, see how many
ways you can devise to keep your household safe. Crate the dog, pick up the
wastebaskets, put mousetraps under a layer of newspaper on the counters or
sofas, spray surfaces with bitter apple or a vanilla and water mixture, or put
baby gates in the doorways. If he's pesty, see how many ways you can devise to
maintain your sanity and begin to appreciate his affectionate nature. Teach him
to lie down on his own rug and stay put, play with him in short spurts several
times a day, get involved in obedience classes and competitions to take
advantage of his tight bond with a member of the family, or play hide the
treat and find the toy games to keep him occupied.
More on obedience
It isn't easy
Changing inappropriate pet behavior
requires patience, persistence, consistency, a sense of humor, patience, and a
sense of humor. And patience.
First thing to throw out the window is the
idea that a dog will automatically learn what you want it to learn. Close behind
that myth is the notion that the dog understands intuitively what you mean by
no, sit, stay, come, and other commands. The dog may be
an expert at reading body language and at communicating his mood to humans and
other dogs, but he is not bilingual. Canine, he knows; English, he doesn't.
First thing to do is connect an action with
the word. Sit to a person generally means make a lap and park your
backside in a chair, but sit to a dog means nothing until you connect
it with a behavior. Whether you teach the behavior first as with clicker
training and then add the cue word or teach the word while you guide the dog
into the position, you still have to teach and reinforce that sit always
means lower your hindquarters to the floor. It means the same thing in the
car as in the living room, the same thing in the back yard as in front of the
door, the same thing when you are alone at home as it does when guests come for
a party.
Changing expectations
Studies have shown that a dog's failure to
meet owner expectations puts the animal at high risk for surrender to a shelter.
If the dog you got turns out to be a dog you don't particularly want, change
your expectations so you can enjoy his good traits and fix or ignore the bad. If
he's a couch potato and you wanted a hiking companion, get a second dog that
fits that need and enjoy them both. If he's a boisterous, energetic character
who tries your patience, play with him, dog- proof your home, and teach him some
manners. If he's too bold or very shy or barks too much or dominates some family
members, buy a book or contact a trainer for help. Stick with it you'll be
glad you did.
