Hi yet another behaviour issue I've thought of. It's never ending. I was wondering if anybody had any advice, tips, links to anything about desensitising a nervous dog to being touched by people they're unsure of ? BAT helps you teach your dog to get close to strangers without panicking but not what to do next. For example our nice neighbour down the lane who if he's outside when we pass stands in the middle of the road so we can BAT him. We can now get to within touching distance of him no problem. S&S show no nervous reaction whatsoever. They will lie next to him while we talk but I know without a shadow of a doubt if he moved his hands towards them they'd bark like mad. A similar thing now happens with quite a few people I know. I can't find advice on how to take the next step. I could have a guess but I need to get this right. :-\ It would also be a major help with the vet situation. As usual I need help. :
Re: Touch Not sure I'm going to help you get this right but a thought...... It was suggested last week to train stay commands when your dog is tired and more likely to stay anyway. Picking your time was important to not turn it into a battle. Soooo could you use someone they know but not well at a time they are generally more relaxed, in a calm location to start with. Then if that works you could change one variable at a time maybe person or time and gradually build up a memory bank of calm interactions with different people in different places? Also I love that you now BAT people ;D
Re: Touch Gosh, don't know. But that's great progress! Could a stranger ever get them to approach and touch the stranger, perhaps using a treat or toy. You know, the usual stuff - down on their level etc. I thought it was standard to get a nervous dog to approach a person, rather than the person reaching out for the dog? Although not sure where I got that from - something my vet said, I think.
Re: Touch It's a difficult one with my two. Surprise, surprise. They actually react worse if a person crouches down to their level !!! No idea why. :-\. They like to be different I suppose. You've both given me good ideas to start thank you. Need them tired and relaxed, or as relaxed as they get, and a person holding I think a toy might be best. That will encourage them to go to the hand. Now I just need willing victims, I mean volunteers. . It's not easy I feel bad getting family to stand about never mind people I'm not related to. [quote author=bbrown link=topic=5660.msg71856#msg71856 date=1398772336] Also I love that you now BAT people ;D [/quote] It is quite funny. I shout stand still while I BAT you. I get some odd looks. I don't do it to complete strangers though and I say please if they aren't related.
Re: Touch When people crouch down are they face to face with the dog? Have you tried a side on approach or even someone sitting on the floor with their back to the dog? Sorry if you've tried all this already I'm not a Cesar Milan fan but I did see him do a lovely interaction with a very nervous dog where he just sat quietly with his back to the dog in a very bare room so no other stimuli or interest until the dog worked its way towards him from the side. Good luck !!
Re: Touch Thanks Barbara. I haven't tried those ideas will give them a try. The people who crouch down to them are usually ones that won't believe me when I say my dogs are very nervous and don't like people too close. They seem convinced that they are different and my dogs will like them or they can fix them. If only. :
Re: Touch You could try doing what I do with my ducks. They are very skittish animals by nature and do not like to be touched, approached or stared at. I just sit quietly in a chair. I scatter treats on the ground around me, some treats close and others further away. I read a book. The ducks decide how close they want to get, but eventually they eat all the treats. After a few goes I do this same thing again with my hand hanging down and some treats visible in my hand. Now and then I let a treat fall from my hand. Eventually the ducks will come to take a treat from my hand (this takes a number of days). Gradually I make it more challenging by doing things like moving my hand to get more treats, and scattering the treats on the ground closer to me. Eventually I dispense with the chair and can crouch on the ground. Eventually the ducks are coming to me when I go out the back door, demanding treats. Eventually I can stroke them under the bill as they hoover up treats. The keys with ducks (and dogs) are: still and quiet, let them come to you, powerful treats, patience and time and no sudden moves.
Re: Touch Thanks Rachael I will give that a go. The people we have made good progress with are ones I know quite well so they wont mind following my instructions. Just hope they don't mind holding stinky fish treats. ;D I'm hoping, as with all the work I'm doing on their behaviour, if I can build their confidence with people I know but they react to it will eventually help with complete strangers. :
