2 over-stimulated dogs

Question
Hi Shelley-

I writing to ask you about my two dogs who are having a really hard time living in NY.

I have two male dogs, one who is 3yrs old, 75 pounds and a black mouthed curr- and one who is 8yrs old, 85 pounds and a great pyrenees/collie mix.  Both are adopted, but I've had then since they were each 6-8mnths old.

Walks are extremely difficult with them.  They wear gentle leaders, and the older dog will heel (the younger dog will walk in front of your knee)-- until we see another dog.  When we see another dog they loose all control.  

This has been going on for almost a year.  We have met with a trainer-- it seems like they are just too overstimulated.  We have been working with treats: we have them sit and look at us while a dog passes (and then they're rewarded)- or sometimes we hold a treat while walking past a dog... and sometimes these things work... but too often they don't (I really think we have a 50-50 success rate).

Because the boys are large dogs, people are afraid when they loose control.  The older dog thrashes like a toddler, and the younger will lunge and bark.

When we see a dog down the street- and the boys start to react/bark/jump- we will turn around to mark their bad behavior- and then attempt to walk toward the dog-- but this doesn't really calm them down.  Often they are so worked up we can't pass the dog, we have to cross the street.

They are particularly excited with small yappy dogs.

I'm not sure what other options we have to work on their behavior-- we've hit a wall with training.  They are responsive, and obedient-- until there is another dog.  Do you have any ideas?

Answer
Hi Brooke,

I understand that you want to build on what you've accomplished so far and I made quite a few recommendations to help you do so.  The purpose of distracting is to train your dog to ignore the other dog and stay calm.  By crossing the street and distracting you are teaching your dog a new behavior. You would slowly reduce this once you have your dog under control and able to sit and focus before you try it on the same side of the street that the advancing dog is on.

If you don't want to cross the street to avoid the over stimulation than have your dog sit for the treat and focus on the treat using a specific command as the other dog walks by.  This will also work in the long term.  It has to be a VERY special treat..like chicken or a turkey dog cut into pieces and only used for this specific purpose.

You will also want to work with your trainer to teach your dog to look at you and stay focused on your eyes no matter what else is going on around him.  This way you get and hold his attention.

I am very aware of what life in NYC with a dog is like. I was an original founding member of dog runs in NYC parks and did dog training as well.  Your dogs have been over stimulated when encountering other dogs so instead of continuing in this mode, you want to teach an alternate behavior.  You can't do that if they continue to be over stimulated by the same encounters.

Please contact Stacy Aldrich.  She's a marvelous trainer and I'm sure she can help you with this issue. Or find a trainer that uses the clicker method.  It is a highly successful training method.  Check out Karen Pryor's books and tapes.  Also Ian Dunbar's books and tapes.

Prevention and continuity are the keys to success, in training for a new behavorial response.

Best of luck,
Shelley Davis
www.bednbiscuit.com
Where City Dogs Run Free!

Hi Brooke,

Thank you for writing to me about your dogs.  The first thing I would recommend is to walk each dog separately. I know this is a hassle but they are not only stimulated by their new environment, but by each other.  To train them to be calm and centered on a walk, it will never happen unless you work with each one at a time.

You can also try putting them on an herbal remedy such as Pro-Quiet and also some rescue remedy.  The city itself is over stimulating and they are not used to it. Try putting a ball of cotton in each ear when you are walking them to muffle the sounds.  Take streets that are the most quiet ones you can find.  Change your patterns so they don't anticipate what's ahead.  Cross the street before they notice another dog coming at them.  At this point, do not try to walk past another dog, cross the street.  Make your dog sit and work with a very special treat..used only for this training task to distract and center them.

I would also suggest working with a different trainer who does clicker training.  Try calling Follow My Lead and work with Stacy Aldridge.  She's a great trainer.  

You can also go to www.dogwise.com and check out their books and tapes which offer a wide variety of positive reinforcement training advice.

Taking an agility class with one dog at a time will not only give your dogs more confidence but will help them center and calm themselves.  Extra exercise would also be helpful.  

If they get along with other dogs off leash, the dog parks are a great way to socialize and exercise.  A tired dog is a good dog, as we say!

Individual training is the way to go in this situation plus some of the other suggestions that I've made.  

Best of luck.

Shelley Davis
www.bednbiscuit.com
Where City Dogs Run Free!

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