Bad behavior

[LunaBear87]

Anyway, I'm having a real big issue here with my 2 boys. My fiance and I are really tired of how they always run to the door whenever anybody walks by, and quite frankly I'm also tired of them always attacking me whenever I get up off my couch to go do anything. Does anybody have any suggestions of what I can do to curb them of this behavior? My fiance wants us to get a shock collar for them to try and curb them of this, but I don't really want to go down that route if I don't have to... Thanks..

 

[Caro]

I'm afraid this is the sort of problem that arises with two adolescent dogs of similar age. One on their own you may be able to break but at least half the problem is they are feeding off each other's reactions. A shock collar isn't going to help.

I would start with the NILIF program for both of them. The idea being it will teach a little self control. That also means access to each other is treated as a reward, so to be together they have to do something - maybe a sit or drop and "look at me". This will have them focusing on you first in a calm manner before they feed on each other.

The other thing you can do is leave a short leash on them inside. When they play up lead one of them away, without speaking, so you can separate them (or if you are both around lead both of them apart). This should teach them that everytime they play up they get separated. Leave them in time out for a short time and then when you bring them together get a command and "look at me" out of them to ensure they are calm. I would only be leaving them together if they are calm. If it means separating them a lot then that is what you need to do. It won't be forever, you just need to break this pattern of behaviour when they are together. As they are adolescents it may take a little longer, but you are setting them up for better behaviour in the future.

 

[corbinam]

I have a lot of the same troubles. We live in a busy neighborhood where the houses are close together. Bentley goes crazy when anyone walks by or if dogs are let out into the backyard. Lexi could care less, except for when we get up to correct Bentley, then she goes crazy as well.

The only thing that I've found that helps is to try as best we can to restrict access to the triggers. I use an x-pen to gate off the door to the backyard so Bentley can't see as well. With Lexi, I try to get her playing with a toy while my husband deals with Bentley if he goes crazy.

I know we will all be much happier when we move somewhere where the houses aren't on top of each other. That's not much help, I know, but wanted to let you know that I'm dealing with some similar behaviors.

 

[LunaBear87]

I'm afraid this is the sort of problem that arises with two adolescent dogs of similar age. One on their own you may be able to break but at least half the problem is they are feeding off each other's reactions. A shock collar isn't going to help.

I would start with the NILIF program for both of them. The idea being it will teach a little self control. That also means access to each other is treated as a reward, so to be together they have to do something - maybe a sit or drop and "look at me". This will have them focusing on you first in a calm manner before they feed on each other.

The other thing you can do is leave a short leash on them inside. When they play up lead one of them away, without speaking, so you can separate them (or if you are both around lead both of them apart). This should teach them that everytime they play up they get separated. Leave them in time out for a short time and then when you bring them together get a command and "look at me" out of them to ensure they are calm. I would only be leaving them together if they are calm. If it means separating them a lot then that is what you need to do. It won't be forever, you just need to break this pattern of behaviour when they are together. As they are adolescents it may take a little longer, but you are setting them up for better behaviour in the future.

This sounds like what I might have to do. I know that Luna is only barking at the door because Ash runs to the door to bark at the door, while Luna just chases after Ash to bark at him for barking at the door. Then whenever I get up to try and get to the door, that's when they both lunge at me while barking at me. Problem is, that I'm one person and whenever I've tried to separate them in the past, Ash still has found a way to get into the room to still try and instigate
things.

I have a lot of the same troubles. We live in a busy neighborhood where the houses are close together. Bentley goes crazy when anyone walks by or if dogs are let out into the backyard. Lexi could care less, except for when we get up to correct Bentley, then she goes crazy as well.

The only thing that I've found that helps is to try as best we can to restrict access to the triggers. I use an x-pen to gate off the door to the backyard so Bentley can't see as well. With Lexi, I try to get her playing with a toy while my husband deals with Bentley if he goes crazy.

I know we will all be much happier when we move somewhere where the houses aren't on top of each other. That's not much help, I know, but wanted to let you know that I'm dealing with some similar behaviors.

I wish that I could try your method out, but I really can't. My fiance and I live in an apartment complex, and we just don't have the room to put an x-pen in here with us. Glad to hear that it has been working out for you though, and thanks for the suggestion. xD

 

[take4roll10]

Anyway, I'm having a real big issue here with my 2 boys. My fiance and I are really tired of how they always run to the door whenever anybody walks by, and quite frankly I'm also tired of them always attacking me whenever I get up off my couch to go do anything. Does anybody have any suggestions of what I can do to curb them of this behavior? My fiance wants us to get a shock collar for them to try and curb them of this, but I don't really want to go down that route if I don't have to... Thanks..

I have the same issue. I live in an apartment and every time my neighbors go in and out of their apartments, my dog runs to the door and barks like a lunatic.

Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution yet. I've tried dragging her off into another room, teaching her to lay on her bed, etc, etc. Nothing has worked with her.

I can tell you that a shock collar will definitely not work. Shelties are too sensitive for a harsh correction like that. Plus, your dogs will probably not associate barking with the shock. They'll most likely associate the people walking by with the shock and it will only make them more aggressive.

I did schedule a session with a trainer and am hoping she can help.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Toffee goes off like a rocket when the idiot neighbour above us (I hear EVERYTHING they do... ) plays hard core ball with his 90 pound Husky/Lab mix...

So recently I started to put the leash on him when that happens, with no fuss, no correction. Just so he can't reward himself with the chasing! I am at the stage now that I can say oh go and find your frisbee... he goes gets his frisbee and we play and have fun for thirty seconds..

The next step, if I can be consistent with this should be that his response to idiot upstairs playing ball in his hallway (instead of walking his out of control dog) Toffee should automatically go and get his Frisbee... It's a work in progress but seems to take, we have shorter crazy spells!

What I am doing is trying to set up a positive emotional response to the stimuli instead of crazy herding the ceiling behaviour of the past...

He still gets set off, but he now can focus on me when I say go find your frisbee

 

[BarbV]

I'm in the same boat as well.

Dogs go crazy whenever my son enters the bathroom, go nuts over a car across the street when the owner presses the unlock button (beep!), squirrels on hydro lines, doorbell rings (that's the worst, because I can hardly answer the door for howling shelties). And god forbid that I try to print anything from my printer......

I've had some limited success with the Pet Corrector that I've been experimenting with. Problem is that you need to have the spray bottle close by, and then be ready to reward/praise when they settle. I've had better success mimicking the sound with Ceasar's "schhht" (similar sound as the Pet Corrector) and a hand movement (without any Caesar kicks).

Its the rewarding part that his hard.....I just don't have rewards strapped to my PJ's so that when he does settle, I can do instant rewards.

So its back to basics, I think and forced training. That is, setting up scenarios where I can control the rewards and retreat. That means having people come to my door when I'm ready to put dogs into a stay/sit and then only opening the door when they are ready.

 

[Aearoniel]

The best thing I ever bought was a manners minder (or treat and train), it is an automated treat system which is remote controlled. It comes with a DVD to show you how it can be used in these situations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDOiJsjaLTA

From the video once you've got the place set up the doorbell or noise outside will become the cue to got to their places and lie down calmly.

I use mine in all sorts of situations including Agility (contacts, weaves including speeding them up, down stays and sending the dog ahead of me "go on")

Much much better than a shock collar.

 

[SheltieChe]

your problem is concentrating on how to correct those issues you do not like.
"Think left and think right and think low and think high.
Oh, the things you can think up if you only try!" Dr Seuss
What DO YOU WANT your dogs to do when you get up from the couch? Now lets say your answer " I want my dogs to go to their mats" then you start training " go to your mat" command, separate of course from you sitting on the couch position, best in low distraction area...
Now training both dogs at same time is very difficult, so you might start with the one that is most anxious one and just put second one in the crate... or your fiance trains one and you another.
Or you could just train strong down position and every time before you get up from couch ask for down and reward for couple minutes of stay, then release and play some nice game of chase with them, then give them buster cubes to exercise their brains for dinner...
If you do not want to train- manage by leashing, tethering to the wall or furniture or crating AND heavily rewarding for the behavior you want... nobody said that dinner has to come in the bowl... you can put that dinner in your pocket and every time before you get up from the couch ask for down and give some kibble...it is very hard to run zoomies when you in down position...
additionally how about taking your pups for nice long run/ jog/walk before you settle on that couch? Tired dog is gooood dog...
unfortunately living with dogs means training 24/7 either you train them to do what you want or they train you to do what they want...

 

[rosesandlace]

It is hard to stop them from barking at every little noise and distraction as it is in their nature to do so. My two have had fits of barking at the back door this evening every time the winds gust because it makes them uneasy. I understand it must be much more difficult when you live in an apartment complex and people are passing your door on a regular basis.

As for the jumping at you when you go to move off the couch ... they can be trained to restrain. My female likes to jump up and grab my shirt in her teeth when I get up or go to move away. I understand that it is her herding instinct - but it is an undesirable behaviour. I have been able to hold her at bay by teaching her no by putting up my hand in the "talk to the hand" position and repeating "no Brandi - no biting at my clothes" ... she still follows me and barks but she understands that "the hand and no" means no jumping up and chewing.