|
Post by Summer Magic on Mar 30, 2006 10:58:04 GMT -5
Hi
Since I've been on this forum I have learned more and more about dealing with Magic's behavior problems. You all have been very supportive of my attempts to correct her biting and lunging at people and have given me some great advise regarding how to thwart her behavior. I happen to talk to a friend of mine who had a GSD that she had similar problems with. She did hire a behaviorist to help her. While I am not opposed to a professional behaviorist, I just don't have the $$$ to shell out for one right now. Her suggestion has helped me immensely and I wanted to pass it on to you.
Magic is still muzzled and is still on all of the other restrictions we have discussed before with one exception. She has been tethered to me for three days and can not make a move without my knowing it. It's been a little hard on me (trying to figure out how not to trip on the leash all of the time) but it's been a real eye opener to Magic. If the phone rings and she even stands up I have her right at hand and make her lie down and stay while I reach for the phone. If some one comes to the door, I can do the same. Make her lie down and stay while mom goes to the door. She has settled down a great deal and I'll keep her tethered to me as long as she reacts to either stimuli. I kind of like the peace and quiet.....
|
|
|
Post by willow on Mar 31, 2006 10:28:09 GMT -5
Like we say around here..."whatever works". What about outside? Were you told to repeat the tethering there also? Let us know how she is once she is no longer tethered to you. The problem I have with tethering is like you said...the dog or leash can become entangled in your feet/legs if you are not careful (and if the dog becomes excited, even if you are careful!) Plus, tethering is fine for a small dog, but I was once pulled off my feet on a gravel path by a GSD (and she was not that big!) when she saw a deer and took chase before I could utter a word to her, And of course, when the dog is tied to you, you can't just let go of the leash. It felt like I flew through the air 15 feet before I skidded in the gravel and I had some nice road rash. Needless to say I cussed out the advocates of "tethering", because no one told me this could happen, and I have never done it again. I also try to warn other's about trying it outside.
|
|
|
Post by Summer Magic on Mar 31, 2006 12:56:26 GMT -5
When I take her outside for potty, there are people around the house here in Florida so I do tether her to me. She is allowed to have 5 feet of leash inside my own yard for her to find the perfect spot. If there is any infraction or I think she may react I have hold of the rest of the training leash and can correct her immediately. If I go outside of the house without her, she is crated. It wasn't easy getting used to having to take care of the dog before I step out in the yard. Now I have a routine down, I don't forget to take care of her when I have to go to the shed to get something out of the freezer or turn on the sprinklers (which only takes a minute) But that minute may put mom in jeopardy.
Just today I have removed the muzzle and she is close to me all the time, a growl or a head up and perked ears gets her a sssst. or a stop! She never gets up and doesn't do anything except put her head down again even without the muzzle. Her exercise has been kept to a high level, with free lance heeling and we are working on some dance steps so she's always looking forward to something when I get up from my computer chair. She never knows what is going to happen next.
|
|
|
Post by Aussienot on Mar 31, 2006 20:47:24 GMT -5
I am still working my way through the epic Leerberg DVD on Aggressive and Dominant Dogs, but he too recommends tethering a dominant dog to you for several days. It takes all choice of movement away from the dog, which is supposed to be a powerful operant conditioner.
(And I'm thinking, yea right, like I'm going to tie a 90 lbs handler-aggressive sheppy to my waist).
Ed only demonstrates it in the house with a skinny young GSD and with a Corgi so maybe risk factor that Willow experienced should be noted.
|
|
|
Post by Summer Magic on Apr 1, 2006 18:51:33 GMT -5
Yea a big dog does pose a problem with pulling the handler off their feet. But Magic only weighs 28 pounds and I can actually pick her up by the scruff and butt hair and make her do what I want her to do. It's working for us and I'm glad. She does seem to have given up on a lot of her reactions and had gone to doing other things to irritate me. (like chewing her feet) which I am interpriting as frustration.
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Apr 2, 2006 9:25:30 GMT -5
I once tethered Reign to me on a 10 foot lead on the beach. You know that there are seagulls on the beach right. Well the ten feet gave him enough room to get momentum before taking off. I hurt my hand because I grabbed the leash and went for a belly ride. Thankfully, we were on sand. I am laughing now, but I wasn't laughing then... I think though that you will be OK with 28 pounds. It is the lunge you have to watch out for. I am glad things are going well. As to the feet biting, yes I agree that that is frustration or boredom although you seem to be keeping her nicely busy and exercised. Don't make a huge issue out of it or she may do it for the negative attention. This is something that can become a habit fast. I would distract her some way and maybe even give a spritz of something nasty tasting (I forget what it is called...bitter something) on the paws.
|
|
|
Post by willow on Apr 2, 2006 13:39:48 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Nicole on Apr 2, 2006 18:33:52 GMT -5
|
|