My dad had to drop by to pick something up so I decided to try out the sit-stay in the kitchen I've been working on. Most days I put the dogs on a sit-stay in the kitchen, which is within sight of the door but not right next to it. The front door opens onto the living room, so conceivably a visitor could come over and sit down while the dogs sat and stayed in the kitchen but could still watch all the action. I don't think I could successfully train them to actually exit the situation entirely. So every day I do the stay, then go out the door and come back in, then go give them a treat and release. I give the cue "kitchen!" so they run to the kitchen without too much confusion. I've gotten so I can go out and in the door, but haven't been able to add the knock yet. Interestingly Dottie is the real stinker at this one, Gustav just sits patiently and has yet to break his stay. Dottie needs lots of reminders.
So today I instructed my dad not to knock, that I would just let him in. I was watching for him out the window, but totally missed him! So we weren't off to a great start. The dogs barked while I crazily jumped up and directed them to the kitchen in a less-than-calm manner. I knew they wouldn't be able to pull this off, so I had Justin stand in front of them and give treats. They got past him anyway and barked a little and rushed my dad, so I sent him out again. Good old dad! We tried again. This time I put the dogs on the stay and opened the door myself, holding out my traffic-cop hand. Dad sat down on the couch and I released the dogs. He had Gustav sit and gave him chicken. Gustav loves my dad, so I wasn't worried about aggression. Dottie still let out an errant bark, but was quickly quieted. We did this a few more times and the dogs held a stay in the kitchen until he was let in and sat down each time! Yay! I was feeling cocky and proud so I ran Dottie through her tricks (bang!, go to bed, spin, place, targeting, head down, through-the-legs). I was feeling pretty great. Dad was impressed and I was bursting at the seams. Good dogs!
Gustav wagged his tail low and slow, but he was pretty intent on my dad. After Dad sat down Gustav pushed his head onto dad's lap and dad pet him. I was a teeny bit nervous. Gustav has always liked my dad and has never been aggressive to someone who he has chosen to approach, with one exception. The first behaviorist we met with stood sideways with treats. I let Gustav out of the car on leash. Gustav took the treats, then bark-lunged from behind the behaviorist. It was weird. He took the treats from her side, but went out of his way to do his bark-lunge from behind, even though he easily could have retreated.
Justin was a little nervous about Gustav's pushy approach with my dad. He pointed out that if Gustav changed his mind about someone, he was in very close proximity to do some damage. I don't know how I feel about it. It's true, it's a little scary. On the other hand all his body language is relaxed, if alert (read: alert for treats, I think), and he's never been aggressive to anyone in that situation. Also, like I said, he likes my dad even though he hadn't seen him since before we decided he's aggressive. Gustav used to be loose and free with lots of guests, even parties. We hadn't had a problem. But we got spooked when he got a little weird and he hasn't had experiences like that since. So I don't know. How do you learn to trust a dog who's broken your trust? To his credit he hasn't actually bitten anyone. He sure can be scary, though.
So! Great entrance from someone they haven't seen in a while. The band boys come over tomorrow, I'll give it a try then. Someday I hope to have a knock, then the dogs run to the kitchen and I can either let the person in and sit down, or just pay for the pizza without a big fuss. I have to admit, it's pretty impressive watching them sit in the kitchen. Dottie was so beside herself she let out a sad whimper/squeal, but she managed to hold the stay. Good girl!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
That was a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT very very cool.
ReplyDeleteI think time heals a lot of things. Well.... time and counter-conditioning and desensitization and chicken...not being in a hurry to get anywhere too fast.
Thanks Kate! I feel like Gustav has two modes: stranger or family. He seems to love people or hate them, it's just a matter of transitioning people into the "love" category.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you over at theotherendoftheleash, as well. I'm really intrigued by shaping relaxation body language. I wonder what would work best as a starting point, play bow, paw up, squinty eyes, open mouth, etc? Gustav is not the quickest on trick learning :), so I want to pick something kind of easy so I can get to work generalizing it.
How are your dogs?
I finally have time to devote to my guys. Fostering dogs with 'dog/people/fear/resource guarding issues is really all consuming and while it's sooooo cool figuring out what makes them tick and they are ALWAYS so eager to learn and communicate...my guys get left out in the cold. Well not exactly but most of the work is using my guys to help shape the cues faster. So they get to work but it's just not as much fun.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to meet Gustav! and Dottie! they sound like such a fun pair. Attitude and all!
Even TTouch can do wonders in those tense moments. There's one where you use two fingers counter clockwise in little circles along their back in slow but in random spots that's also can be a snap out of that pre-drama mode. Kinda like if you're in a witchy mood and someone comes up to you and gives you a shoulder massage...sometimes you forget what you're all worked up about.
With fosters I always watch them play and interact with my guys. I use the cues that they show most often as a starting point. Reward them in the second they use them in the context with another dog. It's faster to go with what comes naturally to them... What sort of calming cues do your guys do to eachother in play ? or to you? or when they're getting their belly rubbed?
Some sounds of words will make their ears go all relaxed. What do you say to your guys when you're all cozied in for the evening relaxing? That's what I also go by. Wags LOVED to hear WOW. His ears and bum would start to wiggle.
Hope I'm not rambling on too long! I can't wait to hear what you come up with! Each dog will teach me something new.
I remember after a Patricia McConnell seminar on emotion one thing was the lick lips...to tell eachother to chill out...I remember walking my two beagles in a hurry to work and saying 'quick pee" "quick pee"....and as if in slow motion I remember stopping to watch both of them lick their lips at ME!" I burst out laughing and now I do it to them as often as they do to me!
Somehow when you're not looking too hard, they tell you what you need to know.