dog behaviourist update

[electricland]

The long-awaited appointment with the dog behaviourist was last night. Went really well! Some highlights:

- Blue is a nice dog. (We knew this, but it's good to have outside confirmation.) Many of his behaviour issues are down to being a 2-year-old. He will eventually grow a brain, but probably not for another year or two.
- Even though I got him from the breeder, having bounced through several households he is functionally a rescue dog, and that also plays into the behaviour.
- She's not quite sure what's up with the separation anxiety, but we have a bunch of stuff to work on: here-you-stay-in-this-room-while-I-go-downstairs, practice tying up and going into stores a whole lot while on walks, leave for a few hours a day with some frozen bones to occupy him, etc.
- Lots and lots of work on manners, in the house and out. No bouncing around barking mindlessly and building up adrenaline. No greeting other dogs on leash. In the presence of other dogs, cats, squirrels, etc., give lots of space and keep him working.
- Italian meatballs are yummy.
- Tying his leash to my belt to free up my hands works astonishingly well.
- We'll be trying a citronella collar.

In other news, AAARGH TTC STRIKE. (Probably.)

Comments

[ozreison.livejournal.com]

We have a hyper puppy dog as well (part Lab part Greyhound, of all things), and we've been having fun with her as she's slowly calmed down over the last several years.

Giving her things to do has been a must for ages. She gets bones of several varieties, has lots of heavy duty chew toys that can have treats hidden in them (like Kongs and the like), and she gets lots of attention from us when we are home in the form of games, walks, etc. She's finally (6 years later) started to just lay down and flake out while we're around in the house, and not chase the cats all the time, and act more like a dog as opposed to a jumping bean on a hot plate.

There's a leash you can wrap around your waist, btw, and it gives enough lead for the dog to walk beside you. I can't remember the name of it, but I find it way more comfortable than attaching a leash to a belt.

And there's a new bone that we found at Zehrs in the pet food section that's gauranteed to last an hour... Busy Bone I think it's called. At $6 it's a bit prohibitive for regular use, but Sami seemed to adore it when we gave it to her, and it kept her attention completely until it was done.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I think I've seen those leashes -- must look into them, especially for the tie-him-up-a-dozen-times-on-a-walk thing.

Lab/Greyhound mixes don't seem like they should be hyper! Well, I take that back. I guess I've seen some pretty hyper Labs.

Thanks for all the advice! It's nice when they do calm down, isn't it?

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Am sending you both good thoughts and the hopes that the process goes well.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Thank you! So far, so good -- will keep you posted!

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

Good indeed! *hugs*

[suzannemarie.livejournal.com]

I'll be interested to hear how the citronella collar works for you. I've been curious about them. (The sonic collar I've been using for the past couple of weeks or so has shown some promise.)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I will! I'm not going to start it until after I get back from Rome -- I'm using my cousin Jen's, which she got for her much smaller dachshund Tilde, so it needs a new strap for the collar, and apparently you have to start with a fair bit of supervision. (It didn't work on Tilde, incidentally -- she just barked with grim determination until the reservoir was empty.)