Quote:
Originally Posted by Keeshondmummy
Like i said Im not an expert I don't even own a dog yet! but if the dog is uncomfortable with her (to me i think is likely since dog doesn't behave the same when OH is around) working on that would be necessary anyway. I have grown up being told that hierarchy is important to all animals and whilst i understand a lot of it is total rubbish, all pets need to have a set *place* in the family. whether you call this a hierarchy or not is entirely up to you but I think it makes a much better adjusted pet in the long run.
Professional help I absolutely without a doubt agree with  |
Don't worry, I wasn't having a go at you
It's just that these views are traditional in dog training, but there really is no evidence to suggest it. Any idea of a hierarchy or family 'place' is purely a human construction, as there is nothing to say dogs base relationships on this. Of course, I think a dog should learn human-appropriate manners, and certainly we are in 'control' of our dogs, but when behavioural problems arise, I whole-heartedly believe they are not down to imbalances in family place/rank or status.
Quote:
Originally Posted by madhatter27
the point about him being stressed from the start and just being pushed to the limits now i think is very valid as although as nutty as they come he is also very sensitive and has always tended to avoid my boy as a baby which i assumed meant he wasn't bothered but maybe it was more of a not happy, gunna steer clear move.
thank you again for offering your own thoughts.
|
Yes, dogs show these signs in subtle ways to humans. Avoidance is huge and would immediately indicate to me that the dog wasn't comfortable with the situation. But you are where you are, so don't dwell on it too much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by madhatter27
your above advice is v. helpful in terms of correctors, thank you. at the moment unfortunatley i am giving in as if i take my boy up stairs and play out of dogs way he shuts up after 10mins or so which is miles better than if stay downstairs. i know i shouldn't be making it easier for him but it means i dont have any pleasurable time with my baby if we stay downstairs  training sessions and kongs i haven't thought about, hes lab x collie and v. smart and does like clicker training etc and we do have a kong somewhere. i will deff try this as the lab side of him makes him a food lover so stuffed kongs etc he would love. i am looking into behaviourists at the moment |
It's great that you have done some clicker training with him, as this could be a huge help. Clicker training can be used in some simple desensitisation exercises, to build a more positive association between your dog and the baby.
The Look At That game, for example, is great. To start, have your dog and baby in the same room, and every time your dog looks at the baby, click and give a high-value treat (cheese, chicken- only pea sized). Keep doing so until he gets into the game of looking at the baby for a reward. You can then add in a cue 'Look!' and point to the baby, then reward when he does so. This will help him associate the baby with more positive experiences. Using the 'open bar/closed bar' approach is good too, i.e. whenever the baby is around, the bar is open! He gets food and toys, you can feed him his daily meal food in training, substituting some for the higher-value pieces of training treats. When the baby is not in the room, the bar is closed. You can bring the baby closer to him during training sessions, but be careful with this obviously.
I also think it's important to give him a safe area. A nice crate or teaching a 'Go To Mat' cue would be nice, so he can rest somewhere he associates with being a fun and rewarding place. The presence of the baby can be a marker or precursor for happy things. You are trying to change his underlying emotional response to the baby.
Sorry, I know I said you should really get a behaviourist in (which I still think) but after reading you have done some clicker training, I got excited!
23-08-2011, 05:13 PM
13Likes
Linear Mode
