[nagdu] Doggy B.O.

Tue Feb 28 04:27:33 UTC 2012

Hello Mark:

How we love our shepherd kids. Anyway, it seems as though he just doesn't relish the thought of your hands in that area--maybe try some behavior/obedience exercises? I taught Bailey a command which means "stand up", for example. If Bailey were exhibiting this behavior, I would tell him to stand up, praise him, etc. After a while, I would add the "rest" command to make him stand still. So then, if he rebels and sits down despite my giving him the rest command, that would be when I would give him a correction and start over. I would do this until I could wash the area with him standing. I never let him do anything without permission--if he started walking away after I told him to "rest", that would be means for a correction, followed by praise when he displays appropriate behavior. I never let him get away with trying to dictate what he wants. On a further note, have you tried cleaning him while he is laying down? Bailey's skin rash is near that general area, so when I wash it, I just have him lay on his side and make him "rest"; however, Bailey is a very accepting dog once he realizes that I mean business and will keep at it all night until he complies. That area is very easy to reach when a dog is laying on its side--unless he is in pain, you shouldn't have to hold him down or anything, thus leaving both hands free. Bailey is very easygoing for the most part.
Shepherds have their quirks and can be stubborn, but that makes it all the more fun in my opinion--I consider it an impressive feat to not only win over a shepherd, but to master it as well! Muhahahahaha (cue evil music in a minor key).
Sincerely,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark J. Cadigan
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 12:27 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggy B.O.

Robert,

His response is to sit down, and refuse to stand up. He will just stare at you doing his little doggy laughing. If I force him to stand up I don't have a free hand to wash it. If I let go, he walks away. He doesn't make any noises or byte or anything bad like that.

I will be able to get it when I am grooming him because if he stands up, I can spray it with him little hose in the tub. If he sits down, he will sit in the sudsy water and the tub has a sort of tie down so I don't have to worry about him walking off.

Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Hooper" <hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggy B.O.

> What is his response when you try to wash the area? If he won't let you 
> use a wipe on it, how will he respond when you try to bathe it?
> I guess I'm confused by the "won't let me" part--does he squeal? Bite? 
> Bark? Try to run away? Some dogs are just uncomfortable with their 
> handlers trying to do something and will try to get out of it by 
> dramatizing--especially shepherds. I remember at TSE, we had to practice 
> giving our dogs pills--they were Vitamin E pills. Bailey didn't like my 
> hand down his throat, so he would squirm and wriggle and make it seem like 
> I was making him do something horrible. However, after I communicated to 
> him that I didn't care how much he complained and did it anyway, he 
> eventually realized that if he accepted it quietly, things would go better 
> for him--usually with lots of praise after the pill was swallowed. Many 
> people have told me that shepherds are drama queens. This seems to be 
> true--at least in Bailey's case--he can make a stepped on tail sound like 
> a severed tail. Bailey has also had the runs before, getting some 
> chocolate pudding under his tail. This did make him quite aromatic. 
> However, I calmly laid him down and cleaned the area with a warm soapy 
> rag. The dog shouldn't be "not letting you" do anything--you are its 
> master; however, if you believe that the area is actually painful and that 
> he is not just trying to get out of an uncomfortable experience, then 
> never mind. Just some food for thought.
> Robert Hooper
> Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
> The Ohio State University
> 0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
> 653 Cuyahoga Court
> Columbus, Ohio 43210
> (740) 856-8195
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of Mark J. Cadigan
> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 11:34 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Doggy B.O.
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Thanks everyone for your response, I will ask the vet. I think it may be 
> an anal gland or skin issue. I am going to take him to the groomers 
> tomorrow, and see if I can solve it by washing him. The issue arose on 
> Friday when he got extremely sick and had the runs wicked badly, for some 
> inexplicable reason. I am hoping it is an issue of having some stuff stuck 
> in his thick fur. He won't let me brush near or use one of those pet wipes 
> on the area in question. I am hoping that if when I bathe him if I pay 
> particular attention to his belly, the inside of the back legs, and under 
> the tail, I will hopefully alleviate the smell. If this does not meet with 
> success, I will bring him to the vet.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
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