Sigh. Me again. Looks like I'm kinda taking over this thread....sorry all. Anyhow. I'm starting to figure Simba out, recognizing his "manic" overstimulation and seeing the jumping up, nipping, etc as puppy behaviours that we are working on and are actually getting better as the days go by. Still a bit stumped on how to deal with the growling/ collar sensitivity. Basically he doesn't like to be pulled by the collar away from something he wants to do. For example, today, he was rummaging around in the (open) shelves that are in the bottom of my computer desk. He pulled out a prize (the keyboard vaccuum). In the meantime my daughter (she is 17) discovered the dog and went to pull him away from the shelves, he growled at her as she reached for his collar - or maybe he thought she was going for the "prize"? He is pretty good in the situation where he has purloined item in his mouth and we want it back and we take hold of it and try to (gently) pull on it. No growling in that situation, at least I don't think so - just "jaws of steel". Usually we can get it from him with a treat. It's the bit where he is after something and you try to restrain him or pull him away from it that seems to be the problem. Hence some of the issue with the vet when they were trying to restrain him to examine him, etc. Is there a way to "train" him out of this? For now I think what we need to do is to keep one of those short training leads on him at all times in the house - to aid in controlling him when he wants to jump up on people or furniture, or to pull him away from intriguing contraband. I am going to advise that my sons do this when they are at home with him when we're gone to avoid (hopefully) confrontations between them and the dog. I know they are not going to be supervising him as carefully as they should and so will likely come upon him doing something bad at some point. But if they have the leash to use to get him away from something that should help. But....will we have to do this forever? Anyone else have issues with this, or have been able to train a dog out of this problem? Or is there an article on this site that deals with it? Sorry I keep asking questions....you all are so kind to be patient with me. Thanks so much for all your help - you're all champions in my book!!!
Re: Growling Lisa I can't help you with a solution....but Im sure that it wont be like this forever because you are so on it....and your opening says some things ARE getting better as the days go by.....You have had such a baptism with fire,you are bound to feel a bit worn down. Help and advice will start coming in today....the 'lead' in the house sounds a good idea,I've heard it mentioned a couple of times ,the others may have some ideas how to make it work the most effectively for you. You are doing great,you'll crack it for sure and you'll be ready for that holiday when it comes round! X
Re: Growling I would try to de-sensitize him to having his collar touched. Work out what is the smallest approach a hand can make to the collar without getting a reaction and click and treat the 'no reaction' (or a positive reaction). Gradually build up so you can briefly touch the collar, then grasp it with two fingers for a millisecond, then eventually a whole hand, then putting a tiny bit of pressure on it. All the while clicking and treating a neutral or positive response to each new step (do a bunch of backward steps too - don't make every move harder than the one before). Try to take tiny steps and do not push him to far that he growls - you want to set him up for a win. He has either learned that growling will prevent something he doesn't like (being dragged by the collar perhaps) or he has had a very bad experience associated with a hand on his collar. So needs to learn that collar touching is not bad but good. Use really, really good treats - something he loves.
Re: Growling Rachael's answer is the way to go. The Kikopup youtube channel has a good video about teaching pups not to nip at approaching hands, the same technique can be used here. In the meantime, the 'houseline' is essential for a dog like this. It gives you control without having to escalate a conflict. Pippa
Re: Growling Caught in the act! I was taking pics of Simba "sans cone" for the brief window that he had it off, and my daughter said, "take a video!" So I did, and you will see below the growling behaviour I have been describing. Looking at it, I''m not sure if it's the attempt to get something out of his mouth, or that she put a hand on his head, or both, that triggered it. Looks perhaps like resource guarding? He doesn't have a problem at all with us putting our hands in his bowl when he eats. So it seems to be related to things he has (not food wise) that we are trying to get from him? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOM087ecwfE Anyways...Simba in action. He was trying to rip the duct tape off the cone, and found the leash I had attached for control purposes around the house. I didn't want him to chew on it, necessarily, so you can see what unfolded. BTW my hubby has been so good with all this. Normally his response to a growl from Simba in this situation would be much more forceful and aggressive sounding than what he does here. I'm teaching him all that I'm learning here (really, I've never been one to be really aggressive around dogs and he isn't either, but as a male he's definitely more prone to react more strongly than me( and he is really trying to stick with the program. The search for the clicker continues....looking to order one today. Thanks again everyone. PS Like his new collar??
Re: Growling The collar looks very flash!! I did not think that Simba's reaction too you in that vid was horrendous, but any warning growl should be heeded. Try not to set him up to produce the growl. Each time there is a situation in which you approach, he growls, then you retreat, he learns that growling is a successful tactic. I would just completely avoid trying to remove things from his mouth by holding and pulling. I'd be trying to teach him to relinquish things voluntarily by swapping for a treat. When you swap an item for a treat, label the behaviour by saying 'give' (or whatever) the instant he lets go. You are basically teaching him a cue for letting stuff go. It will take a while before you can get a response to the cue alone. In the meantime just see it as swapping for food and giving a name to the behaviour you want. Credit to your husband for staying chilled You don't really need a clicker (though they are a great training tool). Just substitute a short word like 'yes' for a click.
Re: Growling Just a couple of ideas I had when watching your little clip. It might be better to attach the house line to a harness. It wouldn't get into his face and entice him to chew on it and the other advantage is that should he ever get tangled up in it there is less chance of injury to his neck. The other thing that sprang to mind immediately is that I would not physically try and remove the line from his mouth but teach him a command like 'leave' or 'no' instead.
Re: Growling Thanks everyone! The offering a treat for the purloined item seems to work "most" of the time.... But sometimes he is standing there, item in mouth, nose on treat.... and I can almost read his thoughts: "Now how can I get this and keep my item?" The problem comes, I think, on situations like the one in the clip - my girl doesn't have a treat handy (I have kibble in my pockets at all times! At times I feel like the Great Treat Dispenser) and/or the item is of such high value that the process of running to kitchen to get treat to give dog might result in destroying item - you have to get it from him quickly. Case in point: hubby and I in bed, Simba in our room, padding about....I hear him beside me, check the bedside table....glasses are gone! Needless to say don't have kibble handy in my bed, can't run downstairs to get them, can't engage in a tugging contest (not that I do that usually)! And those glasses cost around $1000 to replace. All's well in the end - he was holding them quite softly (no jaws of steel, phew!) and I was able to take them from his mouth with no damage to glasses (saying "give"). We're thinking of trying a chain-type leash for the houseline.... Any thoughts?
Re: Growling Hey well the give command sounds like its working,when you needed it it worked,bet there were a few expletives when you realized he had them! What's made you move onto thinking about a chain house line,has he chewed the other? X
