He's Such A Good Boy! (Radar)

[centrop67]

Well, it's been almost a year since I brought home Radar from the shelter, and I have to tell you, the positive changes in his behavior over the last 6 weeks have been tremendous. He's almost two years old now - based on the shelter age estimate that would put his birthdate at ~12/1.

The Good
* Crazy hour has changed from every day for two-three hours to almost non existent.
* His grasp and response to basic commands have been relatively consistent - sit, down, stay, drop-it, and leave-it is all within his knowledge, and unless he's being stubborn, I get an immediate response.
* We've switched to a "gentle leader" for walks, and even though he was never a really bad puller on walks, it's helped with the reactivity a little.
* He has transitioned from in his kennel when we are gone to being trustable outside the kennel when we're not home.
* Consistent fetch - wow, it took him longer than expected to get this. He will chase, retrieve, and drop it for another throw really well. Another great exercise tool for me beyond the walks and tug.

The Bad
* Reactivity - people on scooters/bikes/skateboards, other dogs, motorcycles - still working on it.
* He still wants to jump up when greeting people.

The Ugly
He's developed a lick granuloma on his rear paw. This has an underlying mental issue (OCD, stress, separation anxiety) that we are going to address the best we can. It's one of the reasons why we've started trusting him outside the kennel. I've also made arrangements to work from home on Thursday afternoons, which is one day that he spent the most time alone based on our work schedules.


Again, this forum has been an outstanding resource of information and support for someone who didn't know anything about this breed before diving in head first. Thank You.

[Stacy_R]

WOOT! The good list is so much longer than the bad and the ugly!!
Good boy, Radar!!

[racingiron1]

Great picture! Thanks for the update. So there's still hope for our rescue, Hilde, who is about 6 months younger and seems to have a very similar story. She doesn't really have a crazy hour, but we do give her an outlet every day for all the pent-up energy. She does jump on people when greeting if they give her the high-pitched talking and excited body language, but she's slowly getting better. [Anybody have any tips for that? I have tried stepping on the leash, which prevents the upward movement, but what about when she's off-leash? I'd like her to learn that it's not acceptable rather than just physically prevent the act.]

We also use a crate when she's left alone, because she has pretty bad separation anxiety (destroys large books, antique rugs, DVDs, etc.). There is evidence of frequent/compulsive licking in the crate, but no big problems from that (yet). I really hope to get her out of that crate someday.

Good luck with Radar's continued improvement. I'd like to echo your thanks to the forum for all the information and support. We also dove in head first, but we're committed to making the best home we possibly can, and folks here have provided invaluable help.

[Sugars Mom]

Ya for Radar, good work so far There always seems to be something to keep working on tho...

Sorry to hear about the granuloma Hope your schedule change helps.

Re: Hilde jumping up
I say ha! You think its hard to teach her not to jump up to greet...try teaching the people she is greeting not to use the high pitched excited voice...they can be just as hard to teach!

[johninny]

great great photo. great up-date; so great to hear the progress and the additional goals. Radar is a beautiful dog.

[feraloup]

YAYYYY! Radar! So happy to hear of the good progress and that Radar has such a dedicated family to help him grow and blossom!

[centrop67]

Thanks everyone.

As an added update, it looks like we're going to adopt a sister for Radar this weekend. She's a beautiful Mal looking dog (longer hair and almost no mask) with what looks like the perfect temperament for Radar - slightly submissive, but not frightened and interacts well with other dogs. Albeit, she's very skinny right now.

http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=MIAD.A1559870

I am really trying to get a handle on the logic that goes on at the Miami Dade Shelter. They're having an event this weekend, so we cannot get the dog until then. They have some kind of quota for the number of dogs they're bringing to the event, and Gypsy is one they MUST bring.

So, I have to appear at the event right when it starts to have a chance at a adopting her. Right now, their large dog kennels are doubled-up. Wouldn't you think they'd take any opportunity to make room?

I have experience in the introductions, though not with a dog like Radar, so I welcome knowledgeable ideas on the subject. My plan is to have Gypsy (Name will probably change) checked out by my vet before exposing her to Radar.

I will bring Gypsy into the back yard and then have Radar come out to greet. One question is should I put a drag line on Radar or not? I need to have control, but I don't want initiate part of Radar's trigger (leash) for reactivity.

Thanks for any help.

[johninny]

Stephanie - Lyons Family - went through this recently with Odin, whom i think is a bit dog reactive. in the end, she had no problems [ most DS love having their own as house friends ], but she had a well-considered program ready that i think she outlined here in the summer. she knows much more about these things than i do [ i do not remember her plan ], but i would read what she and ChristieM have written on this and, if not contradicted by them, would consider introducing them in a neutral environment [ not your yard ] with Radar on leash and G with someone else that Radar knows and loves [ like your sig-other ], then have them travel home in same vehicle so that Radar will figure out on the way home that he has a new housemate if he has not already done that [ since each dog will have an important human companion/representative]. that way his first thoughts in the yard are less likely to be territorial and more likely to be aimed at showing her the way around his wondrous kingdom.
GOOD LUCK. sounds good and sounds exciting for all involved. [ and don't get me going on all the policies that shelters have that seem so insensitive and even detrimental to the welfare of their dogs.]

[AdoptableDebbieDog]

Jumping! Boy that's a subject I know a lot about! Especially when it comes to greeting people. Watch out!

It took months and months of training and consistency but WOW what a difference. My training took place at the Foster Dog Alliance in Rockville, MD but of course practice at home and trying hard not to put me in situations where I'd be prone to jump were very important.

I learned with a combination of two different methods

1) Clicker training. Once I had consistently learned to lay down (and with clicker training had progressively learned to settle on a mat), while on leash I'd get a click and treat for seeing my trainer from across the room and not jumping up. She would very slowly approach and then pause, often approaching from the side and never looking in my eyes to keep things calm and avoid getting me revved up. My threshold was pretty obvious. When she'd get to about 3-4 feet away I'd spring up and try to jump on her. She was very good at sensing my movements so she'd move out of range at the same time my foster mom would use a cue such as TOUCH! (a targeted come where I touch her two fingers with my nose) to reel me back in and get me settled on my mat, laying down. At the beginner she would never actually fully approach me (not giving me a chance to jump) and we'd work incrementally with breaks in between. It got to the point where she could fairly quickly approach to within 3 feet and then we'd really work on closing in. I'm a love bug. When calm and laying down I'll lift my back leg signaling to go for a belly rub! To help me bridge the gap, right as she was approaching and getting ready to touch me, I'd get tons of treats, treats, treats to occupy me at the point I'd be most likely to lose it. Over weeks of training we kept working on the "jump zone". She'd approach from the side, often only moving an inch at a time (during that time she was calm, her body language was calm, and she didn't talk). It was also great practice for my foster mom who had just started learning clicker training with the Foster Dog Alliance: clicking and treating at the correct moment, watching my body language to call me back the split second I broke (whistling, calling my name in a variety of voices, etc. to call me back if I didn't respond to the cue "touch", and resisting the urge to yank my leash to get me to come back. An important part of my clicker training/positive reinforcement training has been getting me to make choices to do the right thing on my own).

It got to the point where I'd see my trainer from across the room and automatically lay down! Still took lots of practice with a variety of people and situations.

At home I'd greet people/potential adopters outside in the lawn (people coming in the front door is a pretty high stimulus - took longer until I could more fully master that). I'd often break once (as soon as they hit the 3 foot threshold) but that was often because the person approached too quickly, looked into my eyes, came straight at me, or unknowingly flailed their arms) but then it was all loving. My foster mom would often ask the person to stop petting me after a few minutes, so I'd have a chance to stand up and move around - before I chance for energy or anxiety to build. Note that I was never held to the ground.

I'm now capable of walking up to a person and greeting!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Method 2: turn your back to me and ignore me. Jumping is fun!! Humans make noises in high pitched voices inviting more jumping. Their body language invites energized play! They think that saying "off, off, off, or down down down" will get a response but in reality an energized jumpy DS is just getting attention. The more this happens that more it paves the way for more jumping.

At home, when someone entered the door they were asked to stand in the corner with their arms crossed in front of their body, standing like a statue. I'd jump on them once or twice, and learn that nothing happened.
Their calm body helped me calm down and I'd learn that if I sat or laid down I'd get the attention that I wanted.

This can also be used in a larger area (my training facility) but not quite as effective as a wall as i can run around to the front.

If jumpy Debbie can learn calm greetings I think that over time any dog could learn. Keep in mind that fearfulness, aggression, and protectiveness where not issues with me in my greetings.

I also wanted to mention that these methods helped me meet my goal of being able to go to adoption events! On the other hand, for several months my foster mom chose to not take me to any adoption events. Putting me in stressed situations where I'd be prone to jump and having so many people say "that's ok, I don't mind if she jumps on me" was counter productive to my training.


:dswink"

[AdoptableDebbieDog]

Radar and your Humans!

So much progress and great things going on! Good job!

Good job making a list! Having a DS can be a whirlwind that sometimes you might not realize the true progress made (or new things that pop up in the process). By paying attention to things not going so well, or "wow, I thought that would work by it didn't" is indeed valuable feedback.

The Ugly
He's developed a lick granuloma on his rear paw. This has an underlying mental issue (OCD, stress, separation anxiety) .

Poor Radar! Poor you! I truly hope things improve. The best I can do is to give a couple suggestions that helped me reduce stress/anxiety/boredom:

1) Frozen filled Kong. If I was given a frozen filled Kong when my family was leaving it made such a difference. As you noted, licking can be soothing and licking a kong can be soothing. Also, it occupies the mind so that if I can stay calm during those first parting minutes it was a huge help. Being frozen makes it last a lot longer. A non-empty Kong is a sign of stress. Stressed dogs don't eat, even if it's really yummy.

2) Through a Dog's Ear. It's a classical music CD supposedly slightly altered to be calming for dogs.

3) Run/Walk - Good exercise in the morning left me tuckered out. Walking with lots of sniffing actually mentally tired me out too.

4) See my upcoming post in "whatever" on click/treat. Clicker training was invaluable in teaching me to calm myself.

5) Food puzzles/food toys. Because I'm active and high energy it was suggested that I work for all my food. Most of my food was put in a sturdy, hard plastic puzzle where I'd have to use my nose or paw to open the enclosure, revealing my food. Also, I like two sturdy food dispensing toys. They keep me busy! One is a ball, the other is bulb shaped. The remainder of my food was given to me in filled bones/kongs.

Radar really is such a good boy! Keep up the great work!