If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Observation
Wondering if other trainers have also noticed this...
There seems to be a phenomenon that happens with shy and fearful dogs when they're about to have a socialization break-through. They may have been very focused and obedient in class, but one day you just can't get their attention no matter what you do. They're just about obsessed with other dogs, or other people, or both (depending on what they've been afraid of). I normally tell the owners not to worry about it, and that the interest in others is more important at that point than the obedience... and I don't ask them to do anything since they'll fail at that point (even on a sit, in some cases). The most recent was Samson. Last week he did nothing but bark, bark, bark at every dog he saw. It was a high-pitched bark, with his tail waving a mile-a-minute. He wouldn't even meet my eyes or his owner's eyes. Normally I'll use a water pistol on incessant barkers, but if it's their first attempt to communicate with other dogs, I let it slide. When it's happened with other dogs in class, it only lasts usually for one session. It seems to signal that they're about to venture out from under their owner's chair for the first time. This week, he was at ease for the first time with the other dogs in class, and even played a little. And his focus was great. His confidence improved with people, too. We were able to get a lot more out of him in class than ever before. They don't always bark, but they do always lose interest in everything else but the object they used to fear. The most dramatic was Ali. She was a rescue who walked slowly, kept her head down, and was aloof (in a pleasant way, not aggressive) to people and dogs. You'd get a little lick and a tail wag as a greeting, but for an 8 month old, she was very sedate. One day she pulled her owner into the training area - up until then, she had to be coerced to come in. Her e*pression and body posture were so different I wouldn't have recognized her on the street. She had been an easy dog to train, but that day she would do nothing but watch people and dogs walk by. Since she was the only dog who showed up to class that day, I told her owner to forget obedience - let's go walk around the store and let her meet and greet. What a social butterfly! She wanted to jump up on everybody, which she had *never* done before. She greeted every person and every dog in an outwardly friendly manner. When it was time to leave, instead of running out the door, little miss Used-to-Do-Whatever-Mama-Said planted her feet and refused to move. She wanted to stay! From that day on, Ali was a friendly, confident, happy dog - and we had no further problems with her in obedience. Have any of you noticed this? Samson's owners were embarrassed last week. I gave him a sticker for it, and told them that there was a dramatic and wonderful change coming. And he didn't let me down. :} PetsMart Pet Trainer My Kids, My Students, My Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dfrntdrums/m...age/index.html Last updated June 27 at 10:00 a.m. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Leah wrote:
Wondering if other trainers have also noticed this... Not a trainer, not do I play one on TeeVee, but... There seems to be a phenomenon that happens with shy and fearful dogs when they're about to have a socialization break-through. Never happened with Khan. Pretty sure at this point that it won't ever happen that way. He evaluates on a case by case basis whether a human is okay or not. The biggest difference has been that he's deciding far more frequently that the human poses no threat, and he's deciding it much more quickly than he used to. BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. Suja |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Leah wrote:
Wondering if other trainers have also noticed this... Not a trainer, not do I play one on TeeVee, but... There seems to be a phenomenon that happens with shy and fearful dogs when they're about to have a socialization break-through. Never happened with Khan. Pretty sure at this point that it won't ever happen that way. He evaluates on a case by case basis whether a human is okay or not. The biggest difference has been that he's deciding far more frequently that the human poses no threat, and he's deciding it much more quickly than he used to. BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. Suja |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Leah wrote:
Wondering if other trainers have also noticed this... Not a trainer, not do I play one on TeeVee, but... There seems to be a phenomenon that happens with shy and fearful dogs when they're about to have a socialization break-through. Never happened with Khan. Pretty sure at this point that it won't ever happen that way. He evaluates on a case by case basis whether a human is okay or not. The biggest difference has been that he's deciding far more frequently that the human poses no threat, and he's deciding it much more quickly than he used to. BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. Suja |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Leah wrote:
Wondering if other trainers have also noticed this... Not a trainer, not do I play one on TeeVee, but... There seems to be a phenomenon that happens with shy and fearful dogs when they're about to have a socialization break-through. Never happened with Khan. Pretty sure at this point that it won't ever happen that way. He evaluates on a case by case basis whether a human is okay or not. The biggest difference has been that he's deciding far more frequently that the human poses no threat, and he's deciding it much more quickly than he used to. BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. Suja |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. I'm wondering what the *ages* are on the dogs Leah's describing. Sometimes, fear issues are connected to, and/or exaggerated by, developmental and hormonal issues. So perhaps some of what she's seeing is due to maturation coinciding with training/socialization... T'other thing that occurs - just playing Devil's Advocate/thinking logically- is the question of what *external* factors might have affect dogs on the days when they suddenly display different behaviours. For example, a dog might act fearful/subdued in classes because of something unnoticed by humans such as the noise the ventilation system or PA makes, or large numbers of shoppers in the store. If, by chance, the vent system was off, or there happened to be no other shoppers around, that could make the behaviour disappear. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. I'm wondering what the *ages* are on the dogs Leah's describing. Sometimes, fear issues are connected to, and/or exaggerated by, developmental and hormonal issues. So perhaps some of what she's seeing is due to maturation coinciding with training/socialization... T'other thing that occurs - just playing Devil's Advocate/thinking logically- is the question of what *external* factors might have affect dogs on the days when they suddenly display different behaviours. For example, a dog might act fearful/subdued in classes because of something unnoticed by humans such as the noise the ventilation system or PA makes, or large numbers of shoppers in the store. If, by chance, the vent system was off, or there happened to be no other shoppers around, that could make the behaviour disappear. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. I'm wondering what the *ages* are on the dogs Leah's describing. Sometimes, fear issues are connected to, and/or exaggerated by, developmental and hormonal issues. So perhaps some of what she's seeing is due to maturation coinciding with training/socialization... T'other thing that occurs - just playing Devil's Advocate/thinking logically- is the question of what *external* factors might have affect dogs on the days when they suddenly display different behaviours. For example, a dog might act fearful/subdued in classes because of something unnoticed by humans such as the noise the ventilation system or PA makes, or large numbers of shoppers in the store. If, by chance, the vent system was off, or there happened to be no other shoppers around, that could make the behaviour disappear. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
BTW, real progress has taken over 2 years. Something like this, you most likely won't see in your training class. I'm wondering what the *ages* are on the dogs Leah's describing. Sometimes, fear issues are connected to, and/or exaggerated by, developmental and hormonal issues. So perhaps some of what she's seeing is due to maturation coinciding with training/socialization... T'other thing that occurs - just playing Devil's Advocate/thinking logically- is the question of what *external* factors might have affect dogs on the days when they suddenly display different behaviours. For example, a dog might act fearful/subdued in classes because of something unnoticed by humans such as the noise the ventilation system or PA makes, or large numbers of shoppers in the store. If, by chance, the vent system was off, or there happened to be no other shoppers around, that could make the behaviour disappear. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I see it all the time. The dog has simply made a good association with
the training location and is now open to interaction. Lynn K. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|