dog training tips and questions

[1 Old Man]

Just throwing things out to see if any of it relates or sticks.
Maybe someone else will chime in with better or new ideas
that might help you. I want you to have success.

 

[ponytug]

Just throwing things out to see if any of it relates or sticks.
Maybe someone else will chime in with better or new ideas
that might help you. I want you to have success.

Thanks! I appreciate the help and ideas.

Always happy to learn.

All the best, Peter

 

[QRTRHRS]

Any suggestions for a dog that is petrified of thunderstorms? She is a 70 lb boxer (68%) mix and is easily scared though she has gotten a little more confident since we brought her home last January. She is about 15 months old. We have had other dogs that were nervous during a storm but none were this bad. If a storm is happening or in the forecast I keep lights on to try to minimize lightning flashes. Thunder especially if the house shakes is the worst for her.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Any suggestions for a dog that is petrified of thunderstorms? She is a 70 lb boxer (68%) mix and is easily scared though she has gotten a little more confident since we brought her home last January. She is about 15 months old. We have had other dogs that were nervous during a storm but none were this bad. If a storm is happening or in the forecast I keep lights on to try to minimize lightning flashes. Thunder especially if the house shakes is the worst for her.

I had a Lab that was terrified of thunder storms she would shake and whine hours before it show up... she died at 13 years old and it was still the case... all I can think of is baby steps and exposure ....

 

[Rockbadchild]

Nobody all that close, and she pulls the fire alarm with enough accuracy, that in the few times when I don't see it, I tend to believe her.

We have enough wildlife for there to be lots of legitimate alerts. Two months ago, we had some work done here, and the contractor remarked that he had watched a fox walk right by them, and up the slope, and a day later that a bobcat had leapt onto the roof while they were working nearby. As we didn't hear the bobcat, I'm inclined to think that the nocturnal thumps on the roof are probably mountain lions. So, yes, probably lots of legitimate alerts.

On the barking front, I'm really just trying to cut down the indoor house explosions, for my sanity. Hence the work on "settle"/"you're ok". Outside, I'm working on the prey drive to turn it down/off for our cattle, for the safety of both.

Don't get me wrong, I adore the dog, and vice versa. The durability and strength of the prey drive just seems to take a lot of work, and at some point, I do wonder if there are better ways to help her.

All the best,

Peter

When a command is given it need to be absolute, you need to have the ability to make it absolute via leash or shot collar, it is not a proposition if you let them break the command you open the door for it. So that's one, have the basic nail down. When giving a command like sit you should be able to walk in a other room or turn your back on her while having a squirrel walk by without her break it until you say so.... it also should be immediate like she could be in mid chase and if you say sit she should sit... now you can't only discipline the dog to get what you want you will get the result but out of fear and without enthusiasm, not what you want, you will get the willingness and the joy with the rewards and that with food and play so while you are training incorporate play as a rewards along with food (play should be involving the dog and you like tug of war or these balls with a rope so you can you can play and throw but keep her close and play together not just throw she is playing with you not the toy)

I also recommend a warning word, mine is Haw haw, that's her warning, No comes with pressure.. so if she barks I can say ''quiet'', she barks again I can say Haw Haw she doesn't listen now its a No and she gets pressure (shock) it works well with a shock collar but that's because we did the steps necessary with the recall and other commands like sit for the shock collar training.

So in recap is once you have the training method nail down you can expand to any other command, but the basic need to be nail down.

Like even myself I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

 

[Happy in NC]

When we got our current dog( rescue) he decided he was going to chew an expensive shoe.
I reprimanded him then tied the shoe to his collar for an hour. He never touched another. Nothing else for that matter unless we actually handed toys to him.
He's a very well trained loving dog. Wife takes him to hospitals and children's home as he is certified therapy.
My tip of the day

 

[ponytug]

When a command is given it need to be absolute, you need to have the ability to make it absolute via leash or shot collar, it is not a proposition if you let them break the command you open the door for it. So that's one, have the basic nail down. When giving a command like sit you should be able to walk in a other room or turn your back on her while having a squirrel walk by without her break it until you say so.... it also should be immediate like she could be in mid chase and if you say sit she should sit... now you can't only discipline the dog to get what you want you will get the result but out of fear and without enthusiasm, not what you want, you will get the willingness and the joy with the rewards and that with food and play so while you are training incorporate play as a rewards along with food (play should be involving the dog and you like tug of war or these balls with a rope so you can you can play and throw but keep her close and play together not just throw she is playing with you not the toy)

I also recommend a warning word, mine is Haw haw, that's her warning, No comes with pressure.. so if she barks I can say ''quiet'', she barks again I can say Haw Haw she doesn't listen now its a No and she gets pressure (shock) it works well with a shock collar but that's because we did the steps necessary with the recall and other commands like sit for the shock collar training.

So in recap is once you have the training method nail down you can expand to any other command, but the basic need to be nail down.

Like even myself I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

I agree. Animal training, 101.

Currently working on transferring skills learned on collar to off collar, and smart dogs know the difference.

It is a work in progress here.

All the best, Peter

 

[Rockbadchild]

I agree. Animal training, 101.

Currently working on transferring skills learned on collar to off collar, and smart dogs know the difference.

It is a work in progress here.

All the best, Peter

For the shock collar on off thing focus on the reward, keep it on until she is consistent only then take it off and again focus on the reward… I didn’t have this problem I believe for this reason…

 

[1 Old Man]

I have put in 6 to 8 months of consecutive training and she was flawless but then after a few weeks I will notice she will start testing her limit, break commands or be slow at it (not doing them immediately) so I will get the shock collar out and we do a short session of training and play then she will be back on tract for a few weeks.

Yes, this. I think it's normal for the pups to test limits. I also think it's imperative
the pups know who the alpha/boss is.....reminding them makes for a peaceful,
and enjoyable life. Once the basics are down the refresher is easy.

 

[Jstpssng]

Don't ask me how he got the sleeve of my (formerly) good wool coat





Through this little hole.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Any suggestions for a dog that is petrified of thunderstorms? She is a 70 lb boxer (68%) mix and is easily scared though she has gotten a little more confident since we brought her home last January. She is about 15 months old. We have had other dogs that were nervous during a storm but none were this bad. If a storm is happening or in the forecast I keep lights on to try to minimize lightning flashes. Thunder especially if the house shakes is the worst for her.

We have the same problem with our little 10# mix-breed family member In addition to thunderstorms she heads to the back door even if she hears a gun shot off in the distance. Just about any unusual loud noise puts her in a panic.

Nothing I've done so far has resolved that problem, so if someone does have a solution, I'm all ears and willing to give it a try.

 

[alexpops]

There are times in a pups life where they are particularly impressionable & fears can get embedded for life. I think it's at 6 weeks & 10-12 weeks. We had a 100# male german shepherd that wasn't afraid of anything ... EXCEPT thunderstorms ... lasted his whole life. Other dogs ... no big deal. With him, we used to let him into the kitchen 1/2 bathroom & he'd tuck himself between the toilet & wall & wait out the storm. Same with a Bassett Hound we had ... Storms & fireworks, basically he found a hallway he'd hide in till it was over. Best I've found is let them find a place they feel safe & let them hang there without making a big deal about it & they "may" get over it in time. The Bassett improved after a few years, but the Shepherd never did. They sell "thundershirts" which are supposed to help, but I never used them. In a worst case scenario, you can have your vet give you tranquilizers for when it gets really bad -- tornado warnings extended thunderstorm forecasts (they regularly do that at 4th of July). With the tranquilizers it helps to give before they are panicky as they may not eat whatever you wrap it in.

 

[Eagle1]

My 140# Karakachan had to be under my feet or tucked next to me in bed for thunder. Same dog would face off to any predator up to and including bears.
Others in the same pack always wanted out to fight the evil thunder and lightning.
One of his pups is the same way, needs a safe space the others in the pack right now just pay it no mind unless it is really close then they want out to make it leave.
Guns shots just mean pay attention.... always hunting season for something around here. Yote and hogs are year around.

 

[garry1p]

My 13lb Bichon barks at lightening, gunshots and fireworks as long as she is inside and feels safe.
When outside she heads for the door and as soon as she is inside she starts growling or barking at the sound.

 

[1 Old Man]

Our GS pays no attention to gunshots or fireworks. But a thunderstorm
with that low rumbling and vibration sends her under the dining room table.
If it's just rain, she has no issue with getting wet. Crazy to watch her chase off
a yote or uninvited guest, but then freak out at times over the weather.
Reassuring voice, petting, being positive and calm......doesn't seem to help.
I think it was a learned behavior or event that happened before she came to
live with us.
I'm not going to drug my dog. I'll sit up with her during a storm if need be.
Really hoping one of the "dog whisper" guys comes up with a solution. Seems
it affects many different breeds, large & small.

 

[alexpops]

https://www.amazon.com/ThunderShirt-Classic-Anxiety-Heather-X-Large/dp/B003YYLY0O/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vjKfn2JtsdxD5nGF7mmG36MQlWON3XybTeFpiyel9utCgAXR4R2qUrobk6n9stB0SoIq6DuBFqlqFu9DoZWC-1jP1azWDYVVOWHfUmA9d5NjNLu7rdYkwShaHRoZVt-KK5-TPhWextQHFzKXnib9Q8DwkRu79rl3xnlMoWn99MwLIdjWPbLdOLdQGsfla5jZ9QzlBuCNptp_Z7aIynxxt5xSYUlUOxOqMinmZ6Kzs9b-txfQ3nGRMgtgdNUQV_Vi4aPUdVQQVMjRbTdYIO9nqOf5xogIel5qqmH0_Mops-4.4yH-R0AX58kodBzcnYORMLGHWXQ39taQX-Qe6Xf6HMg&dib_tag=se&keywords=thundershirt%2Bfor%2Bdogs&qid=1764969759&sr=8-1-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.9fe8cbfa-bf43-43d1-a707-3f4e65a4b666&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[Eagle1]

Ever try to put a shirt on a 140# dog that don't wanna? One that likes it outside when it is below zero at that?
Wife tried once with a smaller GP, 20 minutes to install shirt, less than 5 seconds for it to be shredded once the hands let go

 

[alexpops]

Ever try to put a shirt on a 140# dog that don't wanna? One that likes it outside when it is below zero at that?
Wife tried once with a smaller GP, 20 minutes to install shirt, less than 5 seconds for it to be shredded once the hands let go

LOL ... Like I said ... I've never tried it, but offered it up in case anyone wants to try it.

 

[Jstpssng]

The first thing I do when I bring a new pup home is make sure that it isn't gunshy...
Can't have a defective lab!!!!
I pulled into my driveway the day I brought Keeoonik home, let him out and ran a mag through my MarkII. He stood between my feet and was baptized with spent casings raining around his head.

My first two dogs weren't afraid of anything. They'd come running to gunshots. I carried a .22 pistol as a dog call. One day we were working and there were some rabbit hunters shooting off in the distance. I never knew for sure but she disappeared and presumably went to investigate.

I don't know why I end up with such bloodthirsty dogs but my current pup is headed in the same direction.

 

[CalG]

I've read, but never had to use the method.
But to TRAIN OUT gunshyness, get your dog actively engaged in something pleasurable, Like EATING, then fire off a mild round. (I'm sure an air gun would work, they are LOUD)

The idea is to associate something pleasurable with the loud sound.

Might work for some, but my eldest son's wippet is a lost cause. It doeas not care a hoot for eating, will go multiple days and not touch her food. Doesn't really like to be rubbed or petted.
She ran off last summer while we had her. A thunder clap, and she went more than 3 miles AWAY from the sound. Fortunately she had a phone number on her collar and we got a call. I never would have found her.
Just a really dumb dog, but boy can she run!