[nagdu] Indoor Behavior - So Confused

Wed Sep 12 19:36:06 UTC 2012

I am a firm believer that any behavior can be altered.  Of course the 
severity of the behavior and the duration will have a huge impact on how 
much effort it will take to change the behavior.  Still I say if it's 
important and you're willing to put in the time you can teach an old dog 
new tricks.

JMHO
Julie
On 9/12/2012 11:30 AM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
> 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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>
>
>
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