As an update.... We have basically done a hodge-podge of what everyone has suggested.
There came a time when the older dog stopped running, stood his ground and nipped at the puppy. The puppy immediately changed her behavior. We still need to correct her every once in a while when she gets too excited around him, but overall there has been tremendous progress. On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 1:57 PM, Dana <[email protected]> wrote: > > I am not saying your way does not work. This is just what I have done in the > past, and it has worked for me. This method does assume that both animals > trust the people holding them and *can* be reassured. I would agree that if > the dog is panicking you do not want to restrain it. > > On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 12:22 PM, Mary Jo Sminkey > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> >> >Then bring the puppy to where the older dog is still being held. On some >> >level the puppy is on the older dog's turf. If the older dog tries to >> leave, >> >hold him, gently, while soothing him. If the puppy tries to become hyper, >> >ditto. Hyperness on the part of the puppy gets mild reproof, but he >> >continues to be held and petted if that keeps him calm. Fear response from >> >the older dog gets reassurance. >> >> >> I personally would be cautious about anything that is really forcing the >> animals together...depending on the dogs, it *can* work...but other times it >> does not have any long-term success. We humans tend to want to rush things >> and see our pets getting along right away....a lot of times it just requires >> patience and letting them get used to each other on their own terms (that >> is, the older dog's terms!) Sometimes just letting a puppy mature can be all >> that is needed. >> >> What would concern me with this approach is not allowing the older dog to >> leave if they want. If you are dealing with a fight-or-flight response, the >> last thing you really want to do is take away the flight possibility. When >> you hear people talk about having a fear biter, this is precisely what >> causes it...removing the ability to flee brings up the fight (fear >> aggression) instead. Of course, a lot of owners will then correct the dog >> for the very natural and understandable reaction and then the animal >> basically goes into what behaviorists called learned helplessness. They >> basically shut down and just don't respond at all. It's really not what you >> want either, as it doesn't really remove the fear, it just controls the >> response. >> >> What makes positive reinforcement so powerful a tool in dealing with fear >> is that the dog chooses for themselves to engage. It's the difference >> between someone that's fearful of water deciding on their own to jump in, >> versus being pushed in by someone else...which do you think is more likely >> to conquer that fear long-term? It's the fact that it is hands-off that >> makes it so effective. The less you have to manipulate the animal >> physically, the faster they learn to control their actions on their own. The >> desire for the click and hearing it triggers such a strong primal reaction >> that can overcome the need to fight or flee. I'm actually doing some work >> with this with my own dog who has a lot of shyness issues. In one session, >> he went from hiding behind the couch when someone was in the room, to >> walking over and touching her hand for a click, whereas in the past, he was >> reluctant to even come near her to take a treat off the floor (let alone >> from her hand!) I started just clicking him for looking at her, then taking >> a step in her direction, and then you could just see the light click on in >> his mind, and he walked right over and touched her hand without my having to >> reward each step of the way. All I had to do was one session prior to that >> to train him to touch my own hand for a click, so he knew what behavior I >> was looking for. The science behind why the clicker works even better than >> just offering a treat by itself is quite interesting, but all one need to >> know is that it WORKS. >> >> If you are interested in positive reinforcement training, the Power of >> Positive Training is a great book for newcomers with basic theory and >> training information. You can pick up clickers these days from most pet >> stores or online supply houses. >> >> >> >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:296895 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
