Contant Vigilance
Be it a squirrel, a rabbit, a bird, or a leaf blowing in the wind. One of these days he's going through the picture window. When we go for a walk, this dog is constant in his vigilance. He is always scanning to see if anything is moving. I've had a little bit of luck with telling him to leave it but sometimes that squirrel, rabbit, bird or leaf is just a little too close and I have to fight to keep him from dragging me along for the ride. I've been trying to take more walks for them and me for the exercise but sometimes just the thought of his constant vigilance is a pain. My thought is that this can't be good for him either to be on constant guard. I've tried distracting him by getting him to focus on me. He is craning his head to look around me, distract him by poking him on the butt...doesn't faze him. The psst of Dog Whisperer doesn't work. Any ideas on how to stop this? |
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Garfunkel and Tiggy are twins separated at birth.  Wayne won't even walk Tiggy on lead, he says she's a pain and he's right. She has to rush ahead to look in every gateway or over a low bit of fence and she is constantly scanning the environment for cats to chase or dogs to rush up to. Luckily no squirrels here.  So far I have had limited success with the following. 1. I taught Tiggy to love a squeaky ball (I bought a JW pet company squeaky rubber ball, as it survives the chomping for a while) I can squeak one and throw the other at the park and as long as other dogs stay away ie they don't love squeaky balls Tiggy focuses on the ball. Warning you need two otherwise they drop one miles away and by the time you run and get it they're off chasing a dog. I can also squeak it in my pocket when she's on lead and she will usually look at me. 2. I play a game I call "let's go" Tiggy knows when I call lets go that I am going to run in the opposite direction. I call it in a really excited voice and then take off in the opposite direction from the cat or dog and she comes with me. 3. I have spent lots of time in the back yard lately with Tiggy off lead and practising focussed walking. This involves me handing out really frequent treats when she is close to my side. She is getting the message that staying close and looking at me brings yummy things like cheese and sausage 4. I bought the book Chase! Managing your dog's predatory instincts by Clarissa von Reinhardt. It has some good ideas about training in it. And I felt better knowing that I'm doing some stuff right but that some dogs have such strong instincts that it takes lots of work to help them manage their drive. Good luck, let me know if you come up with any successful strategies and pm me if you want me to clarify anything. |
Simon's Mom wrote: Be it a squirrel, a rabbit, a bird, or a leaf blowing in the wind. One of these days he's going through the picture window. Any ideas on how to stop this? I don't have any ideas as to how to stop it--our first sheepie Duffy DID jump through a picture window when we lived in an apartment in Arkansas!! We were not home at the time--:evil:  I received a call at school that he had jumped through the window and that we would need to make arrangements to MOVE! The picture in my mind of course was a hurt sheepdog--but he was fine-not a scratch on him. We did move and made sure that we had the blinds closed every time that we left the house. This was 'back in the day' when crates were not the norm--He never showed any signs that he was contemplating it when we were at home--I think he was protecting his turf--and it never happened again.Hope he doesn't follow through at your house! |
| Rudy does this too, and I've got no idea how to stop it. We've tried. We have a second story picture window that I'm convinced he'll one day break through. Scares me to death. He's crated during the day, so that is a bit reassuring. Walks are impossible and there are other, even more troubling issues, that go along with it. Our one hope is that since he's a very nervous dog at all times our vet is planning to try him on some calming medication. We go on the 26th of this month, and I am counting the sleeps. |
| Rosie has always been high anxiety from birth...now she has Cushings and next week we confirm which tumor..pituatary or adrenal ....vet refused calming medication when she was young...we have just dealt with it...can't take her on walks...can't stop at a rest stop with her, crated her the first year...my biggest problem with both Maggie and Rosie is the dog commercials...they both go crazy everytime a dog comes on...I try to change channels but don't always catch it...you'd think over time they'd figure out it's a TV! Can't watch planet earth with them around either...get real tired of the barking...Maggie otherwise is laid back and even lightning doesn't bother her...her biggest fault is she is too submissive...rolls over tummy up to everyone and every dog...she's scared if I move an object somewhere in the house or bring in something new. It's not enough I'm trying to deal with Rosie's Cushings and her eye has a problem indicating another tumor...Maggie fractured a tooth last week and on Tuesday Rosie will be in for an 8 hour test and Maggie will get a teeth cleaning and tooth extraction! At least Maggie is covered with AKC Insurance as Rosie is costing lots right now. The sad part is with all of this the average dog only lives 18 months with Cushings...my main goal right now is to make Rosie very comfortable and as happy as possible...her anxiety used to really make me frustrated and at times angry...now I just deal with it and love on her more than ever before. |
| Perhaps Garfunkel is part Greyhound...... |
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