[nagdu] Indoor Behavior - So Confused

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Hi Ava,
Sounds like your family aren't observing - and enforcing - all the rules 
pertaining to Cocoa.  It is THEIR fault if they choose to leave a bag of 
chips on the floor.  If it is on the floor, it is fair game.

Do you have a yard where you can wear out Cocoa when she isn't working?  I 
tired dog will just want to sack out and sleep and not run rampant all over 
the house.

I would go back to basics with her.  She'll be with you on leash at all 
times when possible.  Otherwise, she'll be on tie down.  Ignore the whining. 
Dogs hate to be ignored.  Nice, gentle, quiet praise when she is quiet in 
behavior or vocally.  Tell your family that these are the rules and, if they 
want a well behaved dog in the home, they MUST comply.  Like a united front 
of parents with the children.  And, make sure there's CONSISTANCY at all 
times.

Do this for a couple of weeks before starting to wean Cocoa off leash and 
tie downs.  Make her EARN her freedom.  As far as begging at the table. 
Well, keep her out of the eating area, period.  Not even on leash under the 
table.  Your dad can still slip her tidbits - which you want to avoid.  It 
has been my experience that once a dog learns to beg sucessfully, you can't 
break the habit.  I found out this the hard way as a kid with our pet dog. 
In recent history, a friend used to feed another friend's guide dog and that 
led to bad behavior in restaurants.  The habit was never broken for the rest 
of the dog's life.

So, if yur family wants a well behaved dog in the house, they better follow 
YOUR rules for the dog - no exceptions.  Period.  No discussion.

DO make sure that the dog is getting enough food at her mealtimes.  DO make 
sure she has ample opportunities for active play and don't rely soley on her 
work to exercise.  Run her around in the yard and toss balls to her to run 
after.  If she is tired, full, and empty, she'll want to sleep and not get 
into trouble.

HTH and good luck.  this is what I would do.  And try to find the source of 
the behavior change in the first place.  Make sure she has no health issues. 
When your parents try to blame you and your handling, turn it right back on 
them and how their behavior is fostering the problems in the first place.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <avapup.7 at gmail.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 1:31 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Indoor Behavior - So Confused


> Hi,
>
> This is Ava with Cocoa, my 8 year old owner-trained guide dog. Cocoa's 
> work outside the house is beautiful, and she absolutely has the best time 
> working.
>
> But a new problem has come up, one that I haven't dealt with since she was 
> about a year old, and I just don't know what to do.
>
> Cocoa has seemingly forgotten most of her indoor manners!
>
> Tonight was more or less the last straw with my parents ( I live with 
> them ). Cocoa found a bag of opened chips on the ground, where my visiting 
> sister's boyfriend has set them, and just shoved her giant Lab head into 
> the bag and began eating. Needless to say, no one was pleased and I was 
> blamed. And blamed. And blamed.
>
> Cocoa also barks outside, no more than other dogs, but my mother says she 
> can't be doing that anymore. She said I must get one of those anti-bark 
> citronella collars.
>
> Cocoa gets very excited, and will jump in circles at the prospect of being 
> fed or going on a walk, sometimes making the rug over our wooden floor 
> crooked she bounces so hard. She will steal things off dressers and 
> shelves.
>
> She also begs for food, I've never allowed it but my father has always 
> allowed it, to the point where he will toss leftover food down to her. 
> Luckily I have kept her weight at an ideal 68-70 lbs. She doesn't beg from 
> me, but does from the rest of my family -- and I get blamed.
>
> My father had surgery a month ago and Cocoa was so anxious -- he is not a 
> good patient -- my mother has me call the vet and had Cocoa put on Xanax 
> for two weeks. It did help, as I think she was picking up on the general 
> high level of anxiety and tension in the house.
>
> Cocoa is also whining a LOT ever since my father's surgery. My mother at 
> one point wanted me to put a muzzle on her to make her be quiet. I 
> absolutely refused. As long as Cocoa is with me, she is generally quiet. 
> But she's picked up the habit of whining incessantly in the car as well.
>
> The thing is, I'm being accused of being a bad dog handler by my entire 
> family. They wont listen when I explain how she behaves around me versus 
> how she behaves around them. No, my mother is convinced SHE is the only 
> one doing a good job with making Cocoa behave, and that I'm never 
> consistent with Cocoa.
>
> I'm very confused. I don't know what to do to please my family. I offered 
> to keep Cocoa with me on leash/tie down/gated wherever I am. I offered to 
> keep Cocoa on leash with me 24 hours a day for a week or so, as this 
> worked with one of our prior pet dogs who was quite hyper in the house. 
> They haven't told me what they think of either idea yet.
>
> I don't think it's so unusual for a pet dog to see an opened bag of chips 
> on the floor and stick her head into it. But, Cocoa would never ever do 
> that outside the house. She is well trained not to take food while 
> working. And no, it's not good she did it last night at home, but I wasn't 
> even there when it happened. Yet I became a big ordeal, and I again was 
> blamed.
>
> Can anyone please, please offer me some advice on how to get Cocoa back to 
> observing the indoor ground rules which were set for her as an adolescent?
>
> Is there anything I might be able to tell my parents to reassure them I am 
> taking care of this issue? I doubt they'd ever threaten to force me to 
> find a new home for Cocoa -- she is my guide and my girl, after all -- but 
> they are angry at me, frustrated with her, and I just want my hyper Lab to 
> behave as well at home as she does while working.
>
> Please, can anyone help? This is awful, having my mother believing I am a 
> bad guide dog or just plain dog handler/owner. I am in my early 30's by 
> the way, having had to move back home years ago because of money.
>
> Thank you for anything, any ideas you might have.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ava and Cocoa
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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