When dogs go bad - Part II A.K.A. A very important behavioural Blog

This blog follows on from: When dogs go bad - who's driving who mad?.

A while ago a lady – I’ll call her Sue - rang me about her German Shepherd Dog, Trudy, who she said she loved but was ruining her life.

German Shepherd Dog - a loyal companion FILE PHOTO

I listened to Sue’s story for over 30 minutes and felt a bit like an Agony Aunt. She said Trudy constantly pestered her for attention and never ‘gave her any peace’. She added Trudy ‘demanded’ to be played with by bringing an endless stream of toys and balls and dropping them at her feet.

She said if she tied Trudy up away from her (or her guests) Trudy would whine and bark incessantly. But most of her friends no longer visited as they found Trudy’s behaviour too intimidating.

But let’s change the situation. Let’s imagine a toddler who constantly threw tantrums. Do you blame the child? Most people would say it is the fault of the parents for not instilling acceptable behaviours.

So it is with our dogs. It is pointless blaming the animal for simply being frustrated, confused, and having not other ways to express their lack of stimulation – physical and mental – other than through destructive or OCD behaviours.

It turned out Trudy was getting almost no exercise linked to the fact on walks she was a nightmare – pulling on the lead, lunging at other dogs and attacking the fences of those in their gardens and so on.  

Here was precisely the situation I blogged about last time.  In this case we have a GSD, a terrific and intelligent breed but that can tend towards being highly strung, hardly even walking and no free runnng – so nothing like adequate exercise. A recipe for disaster.

It was when Sue volunteered she had engaged the services of THREE different trainers but ‘none of them had worked’,  that alarm bells rang. Three training approaches immediately said more about Sue’s lack of determination to follow through with what needed to be done rather than 100% of advice being wrong.

My sense was Sue expected each trainer would have a magic bullet to turn Trudy around. Training dogs is straightforward when started young and done right. But with a 5 year old dog now with ingrained habits, rehabilitation was going to take time.

Hearing the despair in Sue’s voice I felt I had to give it a go. Maybe this time she would act and have the necessary stickability to help Trudy become a happy and balanced fur pal….

During my visit I found Trudy to be as Sue described and I did various exercises, one to calm her. Sue was amazed that Trudy settled to such an extent we were able to have a conversation with her on her bed and not barking!

After my visit I thought Sue would appreciate some notes so she could take in what we had discussed. Here is my detailed follow-up email:

Hi Sue

Good to meet you and Trudy today and thank you for the information you supplied and for your openness about the situation.

Everyone knows how to lose weight – eat less and exercise more. However, knowing that doesn’t make dieting easy. A dog that has been allowed to get into bad habits is going to take time to turn around and it is vital you realise this will not happen in a few days. It will take time and patience on your part.

This is why I gave you guidelines. You also know how strict I was about your role.

You cannot expect Trudy to improve unless you change the way you handle her because:

'If you always do what you’ve always done you will always get what you always got'.

It is essential to be consistent. Example, if a dog is allowed on the couch one day and then told ‘No’ the next, how do they know what is Ok one day is wrong the next? Contradictions leave dogs confused which creates anxiety.

HERE ARE KEY REMINDERS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO:

Trudy constantly seeks your attention. Whilst you do need to give her attention,  from now on it must be on your terms. This means give her attention when you decide .

If she brings you a toy or ball – i.e. when she ‘demands’ attention (barking, pacing, bringing you a ball) ignore her. You must not give in to keep her quiet. If you do all you are doing is confirming to her that she is in control.

Quietly pick up the toy/ball and put it away. You saw when I put the ball she kept bringing to you out of sight that helped immensely. (You might need to use a water spray to get her to leave you alone if she is very stubborn).

If she wants to play and you have ignored her, after some time when she settles and is quiet, as a reward you can go to her and you ‘invite’ her to have a short play. This way it is you who instigates play, not her. Then after a short time you stop the game (put the ball or toy away) and she is required to settle again.

You are going to have to use ‘Time Out’ on occasions, tethering to show her she cannot constantly follow you. As she gets anxious when she cannot see you, put her tethered somewhere where she can keep an eye on you. You then go about your business and ignore her. Every so often AND ONLY WHEN SHE IS TOTALLY CALM, which means quiet and not panting, then go to her and praise her quietly with a soothing voice. Sometimes go with a treat, sometimes just your voice, plus touch her. Then leave her again.

If she is being ‘good’  i.e. quiet, do not ignore her for ages and ages. It is not a case of ‘leave them when they’re quiet’ – this is a mistake.  With a dog we need to reward a calm state so the dog learns the more it is calm the more rewards it gets. Rewards include food treats but -  AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, a big reward for her will be ATTENTION from you. Attention from you is key for your dog.

You give her positive attention by going over to Trudy for a ‘commune’. Do not stand and bend over. Instead, crouch down to be at her level. Talk to her and touch her. In humans we would call this behaviour giving  ‘Positive strokes’ or giving ‘Quality Time’.




There were some contradictions in what you said to me. Example, you said you feel Trudy pressures you for attention ‘all the time’. This in turn leads you to feeling resentful and not wanting to give her attention. Then you said “I don’t want to completely ignore her” !

Let me stress once more - you are not going to ignore her. What you are going to ignore are the ‘wrong’ behaviours – those when she is instigating demands which lead her to think she is in control.

It is key to give attention – but I stress, again, on your terms . If our dog (and actually humans too) feel totally ignored that is when they will play up.  Dogs/humans would rather have negative attention (example ‘shut up!’ ‘be quiet!’) than no attention at all. 




From now on when you give Trudy attention it must be on your terms and then - at the right time; the right kind; and in the right way; so:-




The right time -  when she’s being good i.e. calm.  

The right kind - positive use of voice + treats (sometimes just voice)

The right way  - down to her level and touch to re-inforce as you talk to her




Even Trudy can’t be anxious the whole time, so you need to be alert and on the watch for when she is in a calm state. It is then you go to her and reward her with attention as above.

Remember, you need to be doing the above often. And you cannot do it for just a couple of days. You need to be devoting time to do this as much as is reasonably possible between now and when I next come. 

Be strict with visitors. They must do as you need them to, namely ignoring her when they arrive and come in. Also they should be prepared for her to jump up. If she does they saying nothing but turn their back. 

   

For your dog to be happy and stable they must not be the ones giving them permission to do things, They are far happier when their human is in control which relieves them of responsibilities, worries and relieves their anxiety.

GSDs are often quite highly strung and they are inclined to get anxious. Only you can help her to be calm by showing her through attention at the right time what calm is. You are doing this to change negative conditioning into positive conditioning.

Stick with it - you have a great deal to gain, a happy dog and harmony in the house. The people you live with should be involved so you present a united front. They must not undo the training you're going to put in place.




It is totally unrealistic to expect her to lay around calmly all day and wait for a few minutes of play here and there. She must have regular exercise. Being such a big dog she needs at absolute minimum 45 mins and ideally an hour per day.

By the way, if she is asleep do not, of course, wake her up to praise her! Let sleeping dogs lie in that case:-)  Finally,  never leave her tethered if you go out.

 My best, Maralyn

When dogs go bad - who's driving who mad?

As a dog trainer, professional pet minder and sitter, I meet every size and type of dog. What is fascinating is not only how different dogs can be physically, but how their personalities and traits can be poles apart. When a Perfect Pet Sitter comes to stay 'your dog is our job' and we are with them round the clock. With our unique guarantee no dog is left alone all day when we stay. But lots of dogs are not so fortunate to have exercise AND company in their daily lives - and I wanted to focus on this today.

Imagine if you were locked in your home. But with no, visitors, no one to talk to, no exercise, no tv, no computer or phone, no books or magazines, no shopping, no driving the car -NOTHING - just four walls. But of course that never happens because we are blessed with the ability to choose what we do.

Yet think about dogs left home alone. The description above is exactly what it is like for them -  the equivalent of being trapped in solitary confinement.

DOGS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

DOING WHAT DOGS LOVE DOING - RUNNING!

No opportunities to stretch their legs and read the doggie newspapers – sniffing to you and me – is torture for pack animals such as dogs. They can (and in extreme cases some do) go mad. That’s rare, but lack of outside stimulation and too little exercise are the biggest reasons dogs develop OCD.

Frustrated dogs will often destroy the home if left inside. But if left outside, they can continually bark and upset neighbours, making the owners problem a problem for everyone else.

Kelpies Jack & Maggie, heeling
perfectly. My hands not on leads
(dogs were attached to me for safety)

Even a dog fortunate enough to get a full hours exercise a day is often still locked in for the remaining 23 hours. Put that way you start to realise just how vital that one hour a day is to a dog and why they are so happy when they hear ‘walkies!’

But the question is, why do people who actively want to have a dog in their family neglect their dog’s exercise needs? A common reason is a dog that is difficult on the lead. Owners dreamt of a well behaved dog trotting nicely at their side or sitting quietly whilst they have a coffee. Instead they can end up with any/or a combination of:

The Puller, The Sniffer, The Lunger/Attacker and the that old favourite – The Criss Crosser, a dog whizzing one side to the next being a serious trip hazard.

‘Walkies’ which was supposed to be enjoyable – over time becomes a chore. It eventually just seems easier to leave the dog behind rather than face the dramas.

Elly & Zara half way through a 1 hour
20 min walk, watching Amber swim

Zara & Elly thinking about 
joining Amber ....

The irony is that the less often a dog goes out, the more frantic, excitable and unmanageable they become when they do.

My Blog next week is going to follow on this theme and I’ll be giving three examples of pets I have been involved with and how the different approaches of their owners have resulted in vastly different behaviour in their dogs.

Until then, here are three actions to help correct a ‘bad’ dog:

1) Understand how the situation came about

Dogs get into bad habits usually because they have not had consistent training.

When an improvement to a dog’s behaviour is needed, a trainer will be able to point the way ahead. However, trainers do not possess magic wands and cannot, for example, turn a pulling dog to a perfect heeler in one session.

2) Have realistic expectations 

People don’t get overweight overnight and going to the gym once will not get them slim overnight either. It can take many months to lose weight with a regime of exercise plus eating the right foods. In the same way, being prepared to put time in to get a dog to understand what is expected of him/her is crucial.

3) Get the dog you always dreamed of

To love a dog is to meet its prime needs – exercise and socialisation - which means more than 10 minute amble around the block.

A frustrated dog is not a happy dog, and without daily exercise – enough to tire them out – a pent up dog is the outcome.  Treats and cuddles, no matter how well meaning, are not the answer. Just once a day giving a dog the exercise they crave = a happy, relaxed and contented canine. The rewards that come with having a well behaved pooch that can be taken anywhere are immeasurable and a key part of the joy of dog ownership.

Elly & Zara relaxed &
happy after their long run

What are your experiences of this topic? Love to hear from you with your stories. Email: 

perfectpetsitter@hotmail.com

10 top tips to find the PERFECT PET SITTER or PET MINDER

If you’ve read any of Perfect Pet Sitter’s references you’ll see clients confirming again and again that our 24/7 services (‘Live-in’ or ‘Home-from-Home’) are outstanding. But this Blog’s audience is world wide – so I want to give you my 10 tips to find a perfect pet sitter where you live.

Hugo & Finnegan, my 'golden boys', more of them later.....

1/  DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Obviously any dog minder, cat carer, or visitor coming to your pet must love animals – but is that enough? Pet minding is straightforward - when everything goes smoothly. However, if the unexpected happens, you need a carer with a cool head, commonsense and experience. So if you have the choice of an 18 year old with a ‘qualification’ or a mature person with a life times knowledge of living with and caring for pets, it really is a no brainer.

2/  PROFESSIONAL FOR PEACE OF MIND

If you really want the best for your pet, go for a professional sitter. A high percentage of their work is repeat and recommendations, so their reputation depends on providing ongoing, high levels of care. It matters to them to ensure happy pets - because happy pets = happy clients.

3/  CHECK OUT REFERENCES

If the Pet Minding service has a Blog featuring the pets they’ve cared for, look for a cross match between the blogs, and testimonials from the clients of those pets. And ask to speak to one or two of the referees.

4/  IS YOUR DOG THEIR JOB?  DO THEY CARE FOR YOUR CAT?

Ask how long they will be with your pets during the day. Example, when Perfect Pet Sitter is caring for dogs, over and above formal exercise we take them out and about with us just as you would. But further, we guarantee not to leave dogs alone for more than 5 hours. That 5 hour limit is important as it rules out using sitters in full time jobs.

Be wary of using someone who who has a full time job or out early morning to evening just looking after your dog ‘on the side’. Cat owners who work themselves might not mind. But with dogs, where’s the company your canine craves – and what about decent exercise?

5/  BOOK EARLY!

Don’t leave your pet’s care to the last minute - they're too important! Book early to avoid the desperate ring round ending up with that ‘friend of a friend’ (especially on a long term need). Apart from the fact they often drop out at the last minute, it is likely your beloved pet will not be high on their list of priorities.

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To take you through tips 6-10 I’ll use a practical example - a recent sit with gorgeous Golden Retrievers, Finnegan & Hugo.

Finnie & Hugo with me at Queenscliff Lagoon, NSW Australia

6/  PREPARATION

My hand-over with Hugo & Finnegan was smooth with no stress from these huge, furry teddy bears. But that didn’t happen by chance. Preparation is key, planned, and takes place by visiting owners and dogs well before sits begin – and I’d visited Finnie and Hugo four times before I came to stay.

Some sitters charge for this with others it’s inclusive, but your sitter should be willing to do this as pre-sit familiarisation meetings really pay dividends. They make the transition so much easier with dogs who then come to know you. They help owners too who see they don’t have to worry by observing how relaxed and at ease their VIPs are, in this case Very Important Pets, Finnie and Hugo. Is your sitter prepared to spend time getting to know your pets?

7/  IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE

Once Perfect Pet Sitter is booked clients complete our comprehensive Checklist. Then during pre-sit meetings, (ideally both at home and out walking if dogs) as well as getting to know all about our furry charges, we go through our check list which informs us of feeding and exercise routines, medicines, vets and much more.

As an example, Finnie & Hugo were to have two exercise sessions a day, but as they are big boys each walk was limited to about 30 mins. Does your sitter have an existing checklist?

8/  HANDOVER DAY

On handover day with Finnegan & Hugo I suggested my arrival was just before the the owners left. I arrived and immediately took Finnie & Hugo out for their first walk of my stay.  Then, whilst we were out, the owners set off for their trip.  

This approach ensures when we return to the house there is no upset as dogs have not had the drama of goodbyes. Because they know me and I’ve already been accepted as part of the family, they settle right away as all is normal from the get go. What will your sitter do to make the parting easy and non stressful?

My daughter with the boys -  who's taking who for walkies?!

9/  COMMUNICATION

We send as many emails or texts as owners request, from daily to every few days. Such communications are vital to reassure and keep owners in the picture.

It’s good to know while you holiday away - your dogs holiday at home. Finnie & Hugo went to all sorts of places and sometimes they even enjoyed three walks a day.  Frequent emails were sent to Finnegan and Hugo’s owners letting them know all the adventures their boys were having. Is your sitter happy to meet your requirements for keeping in touch?

Finnegan - you wouldn't think he's 11 years old

10/  WELCOME HOME

Every walk is recorded by GPS with many photos taken during each outing. This is all put together and on your return your receive a complete record of your dog’s time with us. Containing maps, pictures and showing all the fun that was had whilst you were away, it’s a photo album/diary all rolled into one. Pages show how long we were out, where we went, and time of day walks took place. These albums, presented on CD, are unique to Perfect Pet Sitter. How will your sitter prove they have exercised your dog to your requirements?

After a few days we follow up to see how the pets have settled – just occasionally reassuring owners if their pets are missing us all will return to normal very soon!

Clients often offer to give us a reference - and as writing references takes a lot of effort, the fact so many of our clients have bothered to do this for us says a lot! (Finnegan and Hugo's reference can be viewed on our Refs page). What references can your sitter offer, and are they recent?

So there you have it – 10 helpful tips to ensure you leave the pet you love in the best possible hands.

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FOOTNOTE: Cuddly golden teddy bears, Finnegan and Hugo.

One of our popular recent blogs was ‘Two Dogs - Twice the Fun or Double Trouble?’ (click here to read) But if I’d already stayed with Hugo & Finnegan before I wrote it, the title would have been ‘Two Dogs – Totally Tremendous!' Spending three weeks living in with these golden boys was a very special experience.

Time for sleep, Hugo would sneak into my room hoping I wouldn't notice him on my bed.....

I’m pretty easy going about what pets in my charge do. This means I’m happy to let cats and small dogs who are used to sleeping on beds share mine. However when going to bed and finding 45Kg Hugo (yes – he is 45kgs) taking up the whole of my bed, I had to draw the line!

It was a struggle to get Hugo to relinquish the spot but I managed. (Just as well Finnegan couldn’t make it onto the bed as well – if there’d been the two of them I’d have had to have slept on the couch!)

P.S. Did I let Hugo on my bed for cuddle in the morning? I’m not confirming or denying….