The Dish by Darcie

Here’s a nifty training tip for dogs that love to bark or greet people at the door with too much enthusiasm. Our Tilli likes to walk around new guests and let out these occasional huge Tilli barks. She doesn’t know why she’s barking but it seems like the thing to do. Of course the guest doesn’t know either and that can be a little disconcerting. So we trained Tilli to leave the room when guests arrive and then come back a little later.

Every time the doorbell rang someone would take Tilli into another room and give her some of her favorite treats. Now when the doorbell rings, Tilli runs into the other room, on her own most of the time, knowing that she’s going to get some treats. We then let her greet the guest after we’ve introduced the guest and let them know that she might bark a time or two. With this routine she doesn’t feel the same need to bark though.

It’s funny to watch the doorbell ring and there goes Tilli running into the other room!

Here’s a simple idea that many people seem to forget when training their dogs. When your dog is doing something you don’t want him to do, let your dog know what the correct behavior is. For instance if your dog is putting feet on the counter to see what yummy goodies there might be, rather than yell “Get Down”, walk into the room and when your dog’s feet hit the floor, say “Good Dog” and treat your dog. The idea is to show them the desired behavior, feet on the floor. So often we see people tell their dog what not to do, but never reward them for doing the right thing.

Dogs, and people for that matter, need to know when they’ve done good. Make sure you’re letting your dog know at the exact time that the good thing happens.

You’ve gone to the park for a nice walk with your dog. A man you’ve never met runs up and not only jumps on your head but he grabs you by the behind and sticks his head between your legs and tries to knock you over, wrestling and panting the whole time. What do you do? A. Know it’s just a game and go with it, panting and grabbing back. B. You’re so surprised that you don’t do anything, just let him keep molesting you. C. Try to get away or hide behind your dog. D. Slap him silly hoping to teach him a lesson about grappling without permission. Or E. Kill him instantly. If you chose D, Dancer and I are with you. It’s a perfect reaction to an unsolicited attack. And the good news is, these attackers probably won’t mess with you again. Not in this lifetime anyway.

I know it sounds silly when you tell is like this, but it happens all the time, to people and to dogs, and it’s not funny at all. I have this theory. If a person or a dog with no manners runs full steam ahead into me or Dancer, we get to protect ourselves. Hold her still while he molests her because I’m scared she hurt him? Not! Dancer doesn’t start these little sessions of slap and tickle, she ends them. She doesn’t like to fight, she doesn’t like to be molested. She does like a nice run with another dog who takes the time to greet her properly. But mostly she just likes to be left alone to run and walk with me.

A few years ago a woman asked if she could “use Dancer for an afternoon to teach manners to Jack”, a Jack Russell. (Dancer has a widespread reputation as a bitch who doesn’t take bad manners from anybody and is often asked to help other dogs learn not to approach a strange dog head on and full steam.) She has never started a confrontation but she will quickly eliminate any future bad manners at least where she’s concerned. I tell whoever wants to use her that she’s put a tooth mark or two into a few dogs who wouldn’t quit, I’ve never seen her hurt anyone more than that.

This Jack was a nut and cute like most Jack Russell’s. He was an exasperating little guy all the same. That afternoon, the dogs tried to calm him without success, were afraid of him, or they snapped but missed. He thought it was a great game. He was fast. In like lighting for the assault, then away again. He was all over our Golden girl Kari. Kari didn’t seem to care at all, she was the dearest dog, nothing fazed her. Kari just kept walking while this Jack was doing bad things to her head. We felt sorry for her and wished she would tell him where to go. She didn’t so we took her to another part of the park.

When Jack met Dancer, he thought he’d met a wonderful playmate. She was fast, he didn’t think she was as fast as he was. He was wrong. In for the molestation, then zap he was gone. Dancer gave him the same three lightning fast warnings that any dog with good manners and good sense would understand. The eye that says, “don’t do it”, the raised lip, then the growl. Jack wasn’t listening. In he came for the feel, out he went with Dancer close on his heels. Next time he wasn’t so lucky. He came in for the tuck and as he flashed away, she had a mouthful of his butt hair. What fun for him! One more time, he came in fast as lightning. This time she was waiting. He was on his back and she was standing over him showing him her pearly whites, big time. After what she must have considered a sufficient time, she let Jack up. Jack looked at her and pouting went away to pick on someone else. He never did try Dancer again. He didn’t learn to leave the other dogs alone either. Poor Jack. We were afraid some day he would molest a dog who wasn’t interested in teaching lessons. That dog will bite to maimed him at his owner’s expense or kill.

At the dog park last week, a puppy ran about 30 feet to jump on Dancer’s head. She put her feet over him, held him for a second or two, and showed him her teeth. The puppy jumped up and ran back to mommy and daddy. Puppy thought maybe he’d try it again, but decided not to. Good puppy. The people were a little nervous but seemed to realize that their puppy just learned a good lesson. Life lesson learned now go and live a good happy life without attacking other dogs before you say hello. Dancer trotted away not holding a grudge. A little further up the trail, a dog about Dancer’s size ran up and jumped on her head. She’d seen him coming and was doing her best to give him calming signals to slow him down. He apparently didn’t know what calming signals were. The woman with him screamed, “No! Get back here!” like he was going to kill Dancer. I laughed calming and quietly and said, “It’s okay. She can take care of herself”. The woman stopped then walked away with me. Dancer had the other dog on his back, then let him up almost as quickly as she had the pup. Dancer had made her point. The other guy ran happily along the creek never minding Dancer at all.

The third was someone we knew. His little lab, not a pup, ran right up under Dancer’s belly and lifted her high in the air, no warning, no harm meant. Too late. Dancer slapped him on his back and he hollered. I don’t know if she put a nip on him but I don’t think so. Our friend said wow, that’s never happened before and I could tell wanted to get his dog away from us. His dog thought he’d try Dancer again. I said, “Let him be,” and she did although she kept a close eye on him. He decided not to jump her again. What his owner may not have realized is that his dog had learned something in an instant that might save his life in the future. If his dog had done that to a truly aggressive or mean dog, his dog might be dead or badly injured. It takes only an instant.

Dogs don’t like to fight. They like to play with other dogs or with their people. Dogs learn manners from each other as puppies and continue to learn as they play with other dogs growing up. If they don’t get this interaction or don’t play with dogs who won’t allow bad behavior, they won’t learn what they need to know. It would be great if all the dogs at the dog run were happy go lucky and each in their ignorance thought every head and tail was for trouncing with out permission and the trounced never saw it as anything except A. There’s going to be that dog who has no intention of teaching the little Jack anything. That dog is going to choose E, and that is going to be a very sad day.