[NAGDU] Seeking Advice on Behavioral Issues

Sun Oct 20 16:00:26 UTC 2024

If this behavior started when your dog is older it could be a thyroid problem. That can be tested for and medication given. That helped with one of my dogs who started doing that after he was retired. I agree with your memory Al, dogs won't know what you are correcting them for if you don't catch them in the act. This same dog, before his thyroid stopped working properly was known to sit at attention and point to a chocolate cake on the counter as though he had treed it. He never tried to jump for it or on the counter. I don't usually give leash corrections for that sort of behavior but I do make loud noises and make it clear that particular behavior is forbidden.  

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Al Sten-Clanton via NAGDU
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2024 5:35 AM
To: Tracy Carcione via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Al Sten-Clanton <albert.e.sten_clanton at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Seeking Advice on Behavioral Issues

Hi, Tracy and all.

Let me know if I remember this wrong, but I think one of the instructors of my 2018 class said the dogs don't know what you're correcting them for if more than two seconds has passed since they did the dirty deed. How long did it take to correct your dog after he jumped on the counter?  Sheldon has done this from time to time, though a lot less than at the beginning.  (He's more apt to snarf things when my wife is near the counter than when I am.) I have corrected him forcefully in the past, but I don't want to keep doing something that doesn't work.

Best,

Al

On 10/20/24 08:03, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU wrote:
> It is odd that she would start jumping on the counter at this point in 
> her life.  It wouldn't hurt to check with her vet.
> Some people put a can of rocks or bolts on the counter near food, so 
> it will fall and make a big noise, startle the dog, and alert you.  
> But my Krokus used to grab stuff off the counter, and no loud noise 
> would have stopped him.  What stopped him was me grabbing him and 
> yelling at him very fiercely, having what my friend calls a "come to Jesus moment".
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Diane Graves via 
> NAGDU
> Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2024 8:55 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: rdgraves2007 at gmail.com
> Subject: [NAGDU] Seeking Advice on Behavioral Issues
>
> Good Evening all,
>
>   
>
> I hope you all are doing great!
>
>   
>
> I also hope some of the  seasoned guide dog users can give me some 
> advice on how to curve some behavioral issues which have recently surfaced in my Izzo.
> Izzo and I have been together for almost 7 and ½ years now. She has 
> always been a major “sniffer,” and she couldn’t be trusted to keep 
> away from food that was on her level. If it falls to the floor, it is 
> fair game. Of course, you’re asking for trouble if you place a 
> sandwich on a coffee table and turn your back for a second. This is understandable.
>
>   
>
> Very recently though she has taken to grabbing food off the kitchen counter.
> The other day I had a roll of sausage on the counter preparing to make 
> breakfast. The next thing I knew a family member advised that she had 
> the sausage and was going to town eating it. She has never done this before.
>
> I questioned myself, as there is a very slim possibility that I 
> knocked the sausage roll off of the counter when I was wiping off the 
> stove in preparation. I don’t believe that I did; I think I would have 
> felt the impact. But, I thought it was a possibility. I took the 
> remainder of the sausage from her, brought her  back to the counter 
> and gave her a stern leash correction. I then put her on tiedown for a couple of hours.
>
>   
>
> Later that same day, after she had been released, I was advised that 
> she had gotten ahold of a partial loaf of bread, which I am certain 
> was on the kitchen counter. Luckily there were only a few slices, but 
> I am puzzled as to why, after all of this time, she has started doing this.
>
>   
>
> Fast forward to today. She was caught eating peanut butter off of a 
> mouse trap. Are there any thoughts or suggestions as to how to correct 
> this problem? I am beside myself, and it makes me feel bad to keep 
> being so stern with her. But this behavior is not acceptable.
>
>   
>
> It’s really strange, because, other than the above behaviors, she is 
> acting normally. She is still eager to go to work, and travels our 
> daily routs as she normally would. I would really appreciate any advice.
>
>   
>
> Robin (Diane) Graves
>
> rdgraves2007 at gmail.com <mailto:rdgraves2007 at gmail.com>
>
> 317-238-9262
>
>   
>
> “TGIF: TODAY GOD IS FIRST.’—OS Hillman
>
>   
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.n
> et
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NAGDU mailing list
> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/albert.e.sten_clant
> on%40verizon.net

_______________________________________________
NAGDU mailing list
NAGDU at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NAGDU:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/joy.relton%40icloud.com