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Dog Training FAQDog Training FAQDear Ty, I have a 3 yr old female Plotthound who gets so excited when you take her for a walk that she just bays and bays and bays. Can not get her to be quiet. Any suggestions? I think it is just the breed but, I am not sure. The other problem is she is so difficult to train. She just gets so excited that even the down hand command takes her for ever because her whole body wiggles, she bays, she just can not seem to become calm enough to settle in to the command. She came to me with medication to calm her but the meds made her to calm and she slept all day. She has come a long waybut, her excitment at even the slightest thing makes her a bit difficult for me. She is also very food driven. Anything that she wants causes excitement. Help! Thank youvery much. But, we have now developed another problem that has me dreading taking her in the car. She used to ride in the car okay but now she cries and cries and cries and it is making me crazy. She will not calm down. Now, a car ride means to Emma a walk in the woods . I take her to different places out here in the country. I also have another dog that is Akita Plotthound. I have had her since she was a puppy. I acquired Emma at 2.5 yrs old. She listens to the other commands like" go lay down, and sit", but still there is the wiggle in the butt when she is anticipating something she really likes. A bone, a walk, coming in the house, etc. I just sort of figured it out while writing this to you. Yes, it's getting something she wants that she just can't seem to get herself under control. The crying in the car is the worst. Now, she has also cried when she has to go to the bathroom when we are in the and when we get out she won't go unless it is in our backyard. Help!
Hi Virginia, In hearing more about your problem I am more convinced that your dog's problem is related to her nervous system. Something that is exciting or carries a lot of anticipation is literally an overload for her. I have often seen dog owners commit two different types of mistakes with this kind of dog: 1. They coddle the dog or give in. When the dog starts acting too excited they hurry up and give the dog what she wants, or talk soothingly trying to calm the dog down. Unfortunately, this only reinforces the behavior. The dog is looking for something positive through her crazy antics, gets it, so keeps up with the crazy antics next time. 2. The owner scolds or corrects the dog. Unfortunately this doesn't work well either. A dog with a weak nervous system is overcome by stress. Scolding or correcting the dog adds more stress and compounds the problem. If you are doing either of these things best to stop. A dog like this is tough to work with but it can be done. Your best bet is delayed gratification. Teach your dog to 'slow down' and process new information and stimulus. You can accomplish this in a number of ways. 1. Stay calm when you work with your dog. If you are hectic or frustrated this can add stress to your dog and compound this situation. When obedience training and such dont allow your dog to get a reward (whether it be praise or treat) until she has calmed down sufficiently.
2. Teach your dog a down stay. Read some of my articles for teaching down stays and other behaviors and making them 100%. If your dog has a reliable down stay you can use this behavior in the car so that she is under control. A dog who is under control and is under command will feel less stress and uncertainty. This will help her to be calm not only in the car but around the house. 3. In regards to your dog going to the bathroom only in the back yard this is somewhat normal. She has built an incredibly strong association with Backyard=Bathroom. (Be grateful she doesn't believe that Kitchen Floor=Bathroom) What you need to do is show her that she can go to the bathroom elsewhere and it is ok. The method I am going to suggest is going to sound weird, but it works. Use it the next time she needs to have a bowel movement. Take her to the park or somewhere where she normally doesn't want to go to the bathroom. Bring a match, the soft kind that you rip out of a book of matches. Rip out a match and insert it UNLIT and soft-side into her rear. I know, it sounds weird. But she will at that point walk around with a VERY annoying sensation in her rear. She will want to get rid of that sensation and the only way to do that is to push the match out. When she pushes the match out, she will also make a bowel movement at the same time. When she does, give her tons of praise and treats. Show her that it is ok to go to the bathroom here. Do this same method in a number of different spots. You will effectively change her association to where she can go to the bathroom. Dog Training Theory Let me know how this course of action works. Remember, be consistent and work hard. You can accomplish a lot with your dog. Good luck. Ty Brown Dog Training FAQ Back to Dog Training FAQ
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