Knock, Knock.   Who’s at the door?

Is your dog a nightmare when people come to the door, or a dream?  Mostly it depends on what you are doing following the knock or ringing of the doorbell.  Running to the door yelling, “I’ll get it!” will likely inspire your dog to do the same.  Knock, knock does your dog charge to the door, unleashing a frenzy of ferocious barking.  Frustrated and angry, you yell at your dog telling them to be quiet – to no avail – while you try to grab their collar and open the door to greet your guests.  What an embarrassing moment!

Let’s try Classical Conditioning Training:  Classical  conditioning means giving your dog an association between two stimuli.  In the case of the Knock or Doorbell sound which means an arrival of a stimuli, you’re going to convince the part of your dog’s brain that controls emotion that someone at the door means wonderful stuff when “I go lie down and remain quiet”.

Step 1:
Have your dog on leash, preferably a distance from the door, and a large supply of very high-value treats.

Step 2:
Instruct a family member to ring or knock on the door only once, immediately feed your dog the high value treats before they start barking.  Repeat several times so that your dog associates ring or knock with instant treat.  This is called “Conditioned Emotional Response” or CER.

Step 3:
When your dog is consistent with CER, now increase the criteria with performing the same task off leash, repeat several times so that there is no hesitation to start barking.

Step 4: 
Add distance and repeat the process now treat at an item as in a designated rug or dog bed away form the door.  Repeat several times with knock or ring of bell and treat you dog while lying on the designated spot.

Step 5:
Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog, until they go to the designated spot and wait for their treat after they have heard the stimuli at the door.

Step 6:
Now practice Steps 1 through 5 with real visitors coming to the house.  Remember each time you increase the stimuli or the criteria you need to back off and treat the early signs of the desired behavior until eventually the Classical Conditioning is met with the desired behavior associated with the stimuli.

This process will take a long period of time so be patient and practice the technique everyday in sessions of 3 times in a row until it’s routine for your dog.

Cold Weather Tips

Here are some suggestions to keep your dog comfy, cozy and healthy when the winter wind blows:

• If you own a shorthaired dog, provide them with a warm sweater for those cold winter walks.
• Keep your older dog’s bed raised slightly off the floor and away from drafts.
• Your dog may look for a warm resting place, so keep a fire screen around the fireplace hearth and a wood burning stove.
• Using metal water dishes outside in winter may be a risk, because your dog’s tongue could stick to the frozen metal and the water can easily freeze over.  Consider a self-warming dish.
• Space heaters pose a triple threat; your dog may chew on the cord, burn itself on the heater, or knock it over and cause a fire.
• If your dog enjoys playing in the snow, take the normal precautions against frostbite and watch for cracked pads or tiny cuts in the feet.
• Don’t a let your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck.  Along with the potential of losing your dog in an accident, winter adds the possibility of frostbite.
• Road salt can burn your dog, so check the paws, mouth and belly after a walk.
• Keep a towel and an old throw rug by the door.  Following outdoor activity, dry your dog’s chest, underbelly and feet.
• The outside dog must have a well-insulated doghouse that has deep, clean bedding and is free from drafts.

It is important to consider your dog’s needs especially with the cold temperatures that we are receiving this season and to keep your dog safe and healthy.  

Medical Causes for Behavior Problems

Not all behavior problems are the result of a lack of training, exercise, leadership or discipline.  There are many medical causes for behavior problems, as well.  Housetraining issues can be due to urinary infections and aggression can be a reaction to pain caused by injury or illness.

There are also some behaviors which do not have physical causes, but mental, such as obsessive disorders.  A popular internet video shows a dog attacking its own foot.  This is a very good example of an obsessive behavior problem.  Problems such as this may or may not be modified through exercise.  The dog that exhibits a similar behavior after returning from walks, leadership or discipline may have other needs in modifying the behavior.

A qualified professional will recognize when a behavior problem may have a medical cause and will make appropriate referrals before attempting to modify the behavior through training.  A sudden change in behavior should always be evaluated by a veterinarian before beginning a training or behavior modification program.

Stress in Dogs

One of the biggest concerns that the experts have with television shows is that many of the dogs on these shows show signs of significant stress; some even go to the point of biting in fear or aggression.  While most people are able to recognize overt signs of stress such as barking, growling and baring teeth, dogs give numerous other subtle signals of stress before they resort to more impressive displays. 

Some of these signals include:

• Yawning
• Low or backward ear carriage
• Whining
• Repeated licking of the lips or nose
• Increased and sudden shedding or dandruff
• Low tail and body carriage
• “Whale Eyes” exposing the whites of the eye
• Increased respiration after little to no physical activity

If a dog is repeatedly exhibiting these signs during training, it is time to re-evaluate the training methods, the environment, or the owner/trainer’s behavior.  Is the environment too stressful?  Are the methods or equipment causing the dog pain?  Is too much being demanded of the dog too soon?

Human and dog-friendly training doesn’t simply mean the absence of a painful correction; it also means that the dog is able to learn without undue stress.  A dog that is stressed to the point of aggression, fear, or shutting down is not learning and any training attempted while the dog is in this state will be wasted.