Marley guards the door

M

marleys mom

Forums Novice
Hi. I'm new to this forum, but could use some advise. My Marley is a playful 18 mo. old & is a beautiful dog but quite a handful. We've both been to dog training and I even had him board away for a week for training, but there are still issues I can't seem to correct. In the house he is well behaved as long as no one comes into or leaves the house. He knows when someone is getting ready to leave the house and starts pacing, spinning, barking and throwing himself against the door. He especially watches my daughters every move. It is quite an event and it scares children and adults too. Can someone please give me advise. I've tried all kinds of tips.
 
Is Marley crate trained? Do you put him in a crate when you leave or leave him out? I wonder if before you are ready to go you could put him in his crate with an especially good treat (you can stuff a kong with lots of yummy things and freeze--makes it hard to get to everything at first).

If he's not crate trained, you could still give him a Kong when you leave. Or, a lot of people on the forum (myself included) set up a little treasure hunt for my dogs when I leave. I hide little pieces of kibble all around the house and now when I leave I say "Okay go get it!" and the dogs take off running before I even leave the house!

The idea is to make your leaving the most exciting thing in the world.
 
Welcome to the forum.

Shelties can be possessive and are very watchful. I do what Ashley suggests when Dad and I go out together. I stuff a Kong with peanut butter and then a cookie and give them to Emma and Liam as we are leaving. This only happens when Dad and I go out together, which is usually on Sundays for church. The other times, they are very good and just stand and watch. Now, when I come in it is a different story.

They do react when someone comes to the door and I need to really work with them on this.
 
Many shelties do this - one of their flock is breaking away and it stirs up all kinds of instincts. My male does the most amazing spinning, barking, foot-stamping trantrum when I leave.

I also do the treasure hunt when I leave. My dogs absolutely adore it. Its a great way to give them their breakfast and it distracts them from my leaving. Just plant the food around the house/yard just before the last person leaves. Then you leaving is actually a happy thing and by the time they have found all the food they have forgotten about your leaving. I've been doing it since mine were young and while my male still throws a mini tantrum if he doesnt get his food its not the seperation anxiety it once was.

If I am in a really big hurry I will throw in some food as I go out the door, or leave a couple of kongs if they have already had their treasure hunt. Distraction is the key.

When you come home ignore him for the first 15min, go and do other things. He will be really excited you are home, that's only natural, but it is really important not to interact with him when he is in this heightened state. I leave a squeak toy at the door so my extra barky male has someting to put in his mouth and he is happy to just squeak away in excitement.

Btw - Marley is probably still in adolescence. Its a pretty difficult time for dogs and owners, most of us have been through it. So I wouldnt worry too much about being a handful, they usually calm down.
 
Thanks for all the tips. Keep them coming. He is crate trained and it calms him down when he goes in there. Just this week I tried the toy with peanut butter, which does help. It's just that Marley knows that my daughter is the first to leave in the morning and he thinks he owns her, so the drama starts early with him.
My vet just prescribed Reconcile, for separation anxiety, but I'm not sure if it would do any good.
I've heard that Sheltie's need a job, what would that be. He does pick up new things pretty easily.
 
1. Put him on a leash or crate when someone will be leaving. Do not rehearse behavior you do not want.
2. What is the behavior you want to happen when someone at the door?
3. Train for it.
Lets say you want your dog to go to his bed and stay there. So get a leash, collect your family, put your pup on a leash, get him to sit/ down in a bed, keep feeding. One of family pretends to leave goes to the door... keep feeding and see if pup stays in, if success let the person step outside and come back reinforce dog staying in bed. Dogs do what is reinforcing. If dog is not holding sit/ stay, divide into smaller increments. Reinforce for staying when person 5 feet from the door, next session 4 feet, next session you might get lucky and person will touch the door handle. Keep small few minutes sessions through the day and keep going. Helps if dog is hungry so you might skip meal and keep giving meal kibble as reinforcement for sit/stay...
In a meantime take the dog outside so he can not see people leaving or take dog in another room and play tug, just do not rehearse behavior you do not want.
 
Ok I just tried the treasure hunt game for his dinner and he loved it. Monday morning we're doing it again. I have high hopes. Thank you.
 
marleys mom said:
I've heard that Sheltie's need a job, what would that be. He does pick up new things pretty easily.
Click to expand...

Actually, a treasure hunt is sort of a job. The more and more you do it you can start making the treats harder to find (under a pillow or blanket, etc...) so Marley has to start using his brain and his nose to find them. Physical and mental exercise are both tiring--so that really helps.

Many of us on the forum are involved in specific "jobs" with our dogs. For example there is obedience, agility, flyball, and therapy dog stuff. You don't necessarily have to do any of those, but you would be surprised at how much a sheltie enjoys working with you, and at how it will increase the bond you have with Marley.

If you don't want to do anything specific (or costly) you can give your dog a job by going hiking with him, or taking long walks (I've seen people buy those little dog backpacks that make the dog feel like he is working). All of those things will tire your dog out and stimulate him mentally, too.
 
marleys mom said:
Ok I just tried the treasure hunt game for his dinner and he loved it. Monday morning we're doing it again. I have high hopes. Thank you.
Click to expand...

That is awesome! Keep it up! The key is to be consistent. The more you do it, the better the association he has with someone leaving.
 
Good job, already and welcome to the Forums!
I get Toffee to look for stuff before I leave, as well.
The drama is kept at a minimum that way lol
I agree with Sheltie Che, train for the routine. Always reinforce the good behavior!
 
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