Post by Dobereich on Oct 30, 2011 0:37:32 GMT -5
Hi All,
This is just to clarify a bit. In Monica's above post this is how we have been approaching people. She is not allowed to just run out and bark at people at her own will. I make an effort to ensure I am not showing any feelings that maybe adding to her anxiety. We will hear someone come in, get up from the office go out (she is by my side on a leash) I will greet the customer, I don't say anything to Rio she is not on a command just at my side. If the person comes in slow and is relaxed, talks and goes about their business, she will give one bark and a growl I then say sshhht if she continues I will ask for a leave it. She is then looking at me and will settle. This is fine. How ever if someone comes in quick or approaches us first her posture will become fearful hackles up and refuses to leave it. Growling/ barking. I try not to make a big fuss and explain to the customer that I am training and trying to socialize her. But she will still remain ''distrustful'' of that person that moved to quick and will continue with the head low and growling. Now I have 2 small children that move quick, we have cats/dogs and horses and she is 100% fine with all of that. If I take her out to the mall/park or what ever she is fine no fear full behaviour to the strangers we encounter, she is not thrilled with them but she doesn''t continue to growl or bark at them. I can't have my customers afraid to come in the store and if I leave her in her bed or crated it feels like we are avoiding the issue all together, (she will still bark from the crate, I come and just shut the office door and shut the light off if she doesn't stop) To get her used to strangers coming in should she not be out and about seeing them? She can not see people from my office where the bed is. I feel like I should be addressing this now while still a pup. I have never owned a dog that would continue to growl at a stranger after you have told them to leave it. Sorry for the book again but I do appreciate the help as I want her to be a well rounded adult that can be with me in the store with out me worrying about her biting someone. I don't mind the bark 'hey mom someone is here'' but then she needs to leave it.
In training class does your trainer have you all trade dogs for a bit? Alternate positions on the stand (you stand beside or in front of another dog and the person beside you stands by your dog, etc)? Does the other students in the class touch/pat the dogs while they are on a sit stay?
You need to set Rio up by having people come into the store who will interact with you and her in training if and when possible. For example; Arrange for a stranger through your trainer or a knowledgeable dog person to come in...maybe they can call ahead and say that they are walking in the door first so that you can be prepared. When the person comes in you greet them, tell Rio to sit stay, and acknowledge her sit. give a treat. then speak to the other person and while Rio is watching give that person a treat. Do a circle to reposition Rio, walk again to approach that person and have Rio do another sit in heel position. This time you give the verbal praise and tell her to stay. The other person is to give the treat. Then you engage in talk again and repeat this exercise 3-6 times. You get someone new to do this as often as possible.
If she doesn`t want to take treats from the other person, have them give you something that you can share with her, or give them her favourite toy. the idea is to show her that you have accepted this person and she is to as well.
It might be possible that Rio thinks that she is running off your customers, the same way dogs think they run off the mailman for example. Person comes, she barks, they leave, mission accomplished. If this is her motive then you might see the behaviour get worse until she understands that you don`t want the people to leave and its not her place to over-step you. Just having people stick around for more then 5 mins afterwards might be enough.
If I were to work with a dog in person I would understand that dog`s motives and reactions, perhaps even see that they are completely different then what their owner interpreted, therefore requiring a completely different approach. So I want to make perfectly clear that my advice here is given based on the pup`s behaviour as you presented it. Its really not advisable to enforce training techniques over Internet talk. Nothing takes the place of good qualified obedience classes. The operative word here being `qualified`.
The best advise i can give everyone who owns a puppy that is going through fear stages is; keep exposing them to the things they are unsure about until they become sure. Failure comes when you allow the situation to defeat you. A Dobe can learn about anything someone is willing to teach it. So the onus is on the owner to seek training that works for both you and your puppy. If you are using a technique that isn`t working, I`d give it the 3 strikes your out policy. If you don`t see improvement then you need to find another technique, and keep trying until you find what works best.