This training blog is to show the progress, methods and potential setbacks of pulling a shelter dog deemed "aggressive". My goal is to educate you on the process and training techniques I will use with him can help rehabilate through postive associations and obedience training this dog and get him placed in the best possible forever home. You'll see that we take things slowly and work to address the needs we know about and those we discover as we go.
I am a Professional Certified Dog Trainer, Member of the IACP and APDT and a foster home and volunteer to Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love. My business is The K9 Coach.
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Wilson's Story:
December 28 -- Wilson time with me has come to an end. At least his time as a foster and trainee. He will never leave my heart and he will forever have a place to come home to if he needs it.
Wilson has come a long way from that wild-eyed stressed out dog I took to the park the first week. He's not reacting negatively to the sight of kids, but he still is a quite leary of strangers. It angers me that people can take a beautiful puppy and damage him in ways that change him forever. How can parents allow children to poke an taunt a dog. It's wrong no matter how you slice it but with a powerful breed it's just stupid. Yes, I said stupid. It's senseless. Its outrageous. They made him fearful of people and it takes him a long time to trust anyone. He is forever different than the dog he could of been, though he is still fantastic. I know he learned to trust me and was an absolute joy to have in my home. I am thankful for the experince Now, he has a new start and I know he will learn to trust his new family.
He's off to a new home of his own, in Morehead City. I wish I could go with him to the beach. His new parents are expereinced Dane owners, but learned over the last 2 days that even experience doesn't always prep you for the next dog. Yes, we spent time over two days getting Wilson acclimated.
I like Jackie and Mike -- a lot. They are the kind of people I could be friends with. I believe they will do eveything possible to give Wilson a loving home and to keep him safe and to continue his training. Wilson has issues from his past abuse that may forever be part of his personality. He may never be the kind of dog they can let off-leash at the beach, allow friends to pet, or grandkids to hug.
We spent an hour or so at Petsmart last night and they got to see first hand that he is very well behaved in public, but that everyone wants to pet him. And they are going to have to be willing to tell people, "Thank you but no he can't be petted right now." It was an hour well spent for them to see the reality. Not to mention Wilson go deer antlers, squeaky toys, and treats!
He loved the fact they kept giving him treats, but a 1/2 beat to long as Jackie tried to pet him too soon led him to grumble at her. Lesson learned. Slow it down. Really slow. He wasn't ready for that kind of intimacy, even from his new mom.
They assume a great responsibility in adopting a rescue dog. They are prepared for it and committed to it. They have promised not to let me or Wilson down. His future success is all in how they build a bond, establish leadership and give him love. He has to the tools he needs to be successful and I know that he will.
They have already called me to say he's riding well in the car, following the commands they give him, and has nuzzled up to Jackie to lay his head on her arm.... well at least when he stops chewing his new antler ....
Much love to you Wilson. Have a great life and I do hope to see you again soon with your new family! Maybe I'll vacation at the beach.......
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Best Buddies
Photo by Amy Breckenridge Smith |
December 19 -- Wilson is off to Club K9 for the holidays. I'm really going to miss him, but I'm sure Cosmo will miss him the most. It's a big test to see how Wilson does away from "home" for a week. The folks at Club K9 have all been informed about his issue with eye contact, and the need to let him approach them, to go very slowly and build trust, etc. He should however love playing with other dogs for the week.
He has a potential adopter coming after the holidays to meet with him. So we'll see how things go and maybe he'll have a new home for New Years.....
Yes, I'm just a bit sad -- but it's what we do. Sadly, we have to do it over and over again. And so begin's Zoe's journey training with me this week. 2 dogs in the house reactive to other dogs should be quite the challenge....
December 9 -- Wilson and Cosmo went on a little pack walk with a new friend Atlas Thursday. They both did really well as we passed people and dogs on the greeway. We also passed an elementary school with about 50 kids out for recess. You know kids squeal, run towards the fence, and make all sorts of rukus. Wilson got a little vocal, but it wasn't growling. Just mostly excitment. He was easily controlled and able to continue a sit/stay and down/stay across the street from the school. We also encountered a man who had a few "issues" shall we say. The man didn't quite understand that I told him he could not approach to pet Wilson. He kept asking if he was "nice". As the man got closer Wilson barked, and it startled the man a bit so he finally understood not to come closer. Wilson held his down stay a moment, before we turned to head back home.
On Friday he went for his eval at Club K9. He had an absolute ball. The folks there are great at helping to deal with a dog who has issues. They are very experienced at working with dog. Wilson loves other dogs, but it was the staff we wanted to be sure he would respect. They respected him and he did great! He came home and passed out!
He did really well at Starbucks on Sunday. You can still tell that when someone looks straight in his eyes for a 1/2-beat too long he's a bit threatened. But when they have treats in their hands and come in side-ways -- he's good to go! It will continue to be a requirement to manage Wilson's intros to people and watch his signals. I had a visitor over on Friday and Wilson did great having someone in the house for a few hours and greeted them easily for petting.
December 5 -- My goodness, it's been a while since we posted an update. Wilson is doing GREAT! He now weighs in at 102 pounds - that's up from 78 when he came in. He's very atheletic, but he's also a silly goofy dane puppy. He's rolled of the bed twice! Today, I couldn't help but laugh. He's stretched out relaxing and then plop, right on to the floor. He had no idea he was going to fall off. All I saw after was one paw stretch up in the air as if to say "I'm good, I meadnt to do that".
He and Cosmo as having so much fun together! Wilson is relaxed and happy. But both are still looking for homes of their own. Wilson has had several outings this week testing him with strangers and he's amost seeking out people on his own now -- and loves when they give him treats. Having treats on hand will be a continued exercise for a while and his future parents will always need to be observant and manage his greetings -- but he's ready for his forever home.
Here's a video of him trying to get my dachshund to play. They seem to be the funniest in the early mornings.
November 27--
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Avoiding Eye Contact With Me
Required to Down Stay |
Wilson hit the point in training that he decided he needed to challenge me. He's done exceptionally well in learning the basic commands, rules of the house, etc. As with every dog, he decided it's time to challenge authority to see how serious I am about things. It started with not coming in when called -- and I'd go get him everytime. Then it because a refusal to not lay down on command.
Last night, Wilson and his new buddy Cosmo decided that they needed a little rough-housing play-time in the house. Now if you have never seen a Catahoula and a Great Dane get wound up -- well you've missed some joy and some chaos.
I told them both to settle down, and to lay down. My rule is you do perform the command when and where you're told. Cosmo complied. Wilson decided he needed to go lay on the dog bed. Nope, you're coming back to the center of the room, and you're doing to lay Down. He did and in 2 seconds bounced back up and headed to the bed. Rinse and Repeat several times. Each time I led him back to the spot the command was issued and repeated the command. Then he tried to sit, or to stand. So we had a little exercise in discipline and authority. He finally stayed in place about 30 minutes before I released him. I missed most of the TV show I was watching -- but life lessons are more important.
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November 18
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| Wake Up! It's time for Mass O'Danes |
Lesson for the day -- don't get lulled into a false sense of security! Wilson was a grumpy-butt at Mass O'Danes today. Despite how well he has been doing greeting people for the last few weeks, he just really wanted know part of anyone today. Do you ever have days like that? I'm sure we all do. I'd rather get the warning rather than the reaction so that as the handle you have time to respond and address the behavior. The problems is that some dogs just lunge and snap. That's what happened to another foster dog today. After a few weeks in her foster home, today, she lunged at several people for no apparent reason.
So how do you address this -- well leadership has to be in place in all aspects of day to day life, and obedience training is a good foundation. Does it solve everything -- no, but it definately gives you a means of communication with the dog and a foundation to build trust and expectations.
Somes dogs will always require supervision & awareness from the owner to read their signals and respond to them before the dog takes matters into his own hands. In time they get better and better -- but a responsible handler can never take for granted what may happen.
Look for more information coming this week on my blog about reactive dogs.
November 15
Wilson made a new friend. A new board and train came to me this week who has taken to Wilson quickly. In part because Wilson is such a good energy when he greets other dogs. He knows to offer all the right cues that say "I mean you know harm -- I just want to play!"
This new dog is a bit uncertain around other dogs. So he can definately learn from Wilson how to play and relax.
November 11
Wilson gets some gentle pets from a little girl and some treats too to create a positive association. (This scenario was well managed, took 3 weeks to get to, and involved a very dog saavy little girl who is part of our rescue organization).
Giant step forward for Wilson!
November 8
It's official! Wilson is going up for adoption this week. Wilson is doing really well in his training. I'm having really no issues with him beyond typical puppy stuff. He's still cautious about meeting people, but he's looking to me (handler) for queues which is great! There is still work to do, and living with kids is not an option -- but he's ready to find a home where an expereinced handler can continue to work with him on his developmental needs and enjoy him as a puppy. If you have had a Dane puppy -- you know exactly what I'm talking about :-)
November 3 & 4
Days with no house accidents -- Caught in the act. Let's just say as soon as Wilson eats you better send him outside. No time to finish what you're doing.
His obedience training is going great. He's learned the commands and is able to do them with distractions and in public locations. What we're working on now is having him hold the commands and distance work. He's in that phase where he's figured out the leash and thinks if it's not on that all bets are off and the rules don't apply.
Petsmart yesterday was a big test. We got surrounded by 3 children in the fish alcove. Wilson was not distressed at all and was able to heel and walk right pass them to more open space. Another young boy (10ish) came rushing over to pet Wilson and I stepped in front of him and told him he couldn't pet Wilson, that he was in training. I took an educational moment to tell what happened to Wilson and to explain to the kid AND his mother, that they always need to ask permission to pet a dog.
Wilson wore himself out at Mass O'Danes today. Lots of people. Lots of dogs. I think he just reached a point of fatigue. He got a little grumpy near the end. He gave a couple of warnings to say he'd had enough to another dog and to one of our rescue members who was leaning lover him a bit too long. I'd rather him warn than to just lash out -- so that's good. But he was still corrected. He will get better and better over time, but like you and I we all have limits and we all need to respect that.
He has spent the last 2.5 hours napping in his xpen. He put himself there as soon as we got home.
Oct 28 - November 1
Days with no house accidents -- We are on a roll!!!
Sorry for not having a post this week. I've been crazy busy and have had to make a couple of trips to visit family out of town.
Wilson is doing great! On Monday, I had to leave the entire crowd crated for the day and have a friend come over to let them out. Wilson did well in the xpen and also was good with my friends. Wilson is actually laying in his xpen right now sound asleep. l love when they learn that they can just chill in their own space!
He and Vinnie play a lot. It's fun and entertaing to watch. I understand that while my friends were over on Monday, Vinnie actually hid in the bushes and caught Wilson with a surprise run and tackle. Wilson loves it -- it's a lot like watch a little boy idolize his big brother :-)
We're heading back to the park tomorrow and over the weekend to continue our work around the kids. I don't anticipate any problems, and think that we should be able to start looking for Wilson's forever home soon, with an experienced handler.
Oct 28
Days with no house accidents -- Four!
On Saturday we didn't do a lot of training -- everyone needs a break now and then. Last night, Wilson was enjoying TV time with the rest of my crew and when it came time to go outside for last call, I was greeting with a lovely display of teeth. He obviously doesn't know me well. You have to expect the unexpected with any dog and Wilson is no different -- he's challenging authority to see just how much he can get away with. Zero.
I don't recommend it for everyone -- but I clamped down on his muzzle with my hand and nabbed the collar with the other and pulled him off the bed. I could read in his eyes he had nothing to back it up. Every dog is different, every situation is different and must be managed accordingly. Never take an action if you are fearful or unsure of yourself. For other is may be better to leash the dog first or to find another means to call them off the bed. But they need to learn you mean business and their behavior like that won't be tolerated. Period.
We went to Mass O'Danea today. It was his first big outing with a crowd of other dogs, other people and children. He did great! I didn't allow any kids to pet him today, but we did allow pets from people who approached him with calm ease, no eye contact, and just allowed him to approach on his own. Many of them gave him some yummy hot dogs that I had brought with me. Wilson was so good that many times he just opted to lay down on his own and observe what was going on around him. He watched the kids and I think it's was a success to have children around that showed him he didn't have to worry about them at all. He met several new puppy friends and had a few games of bite-face too :-)
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Wilson attended Mass O'Danes for the first time
Photo by Jamie Smith |
Oct 26 --
Days with no house accidents -- Two!
There is no better trainer than the pack. I'm sure someone said that long before I did, but I don't know who. If not, maybe I'll be famous! Wilson absolutely loves Vinnie. They are truly buds and when I take them out together Wilson reads Vinnie's energy and follows suit.
Last night I was able to walk both of them through a shopping area side by side on a nice loose leash, basically with my pinky finger. I had over 250 pounds of dog walking alongside me!
We sat for a while and watch as families ate dinner near the fountain and children played. Wilson was able to lay down on his side and relax a bit. He didn't close his eyes, but he did allow himself to just hang out a while.
Later a mom and child came rushing past and he got a little grumbly, but was easily corrected. There is no lunging, barking, really any movement at all -- just a very low almost imperceptable rumble. We're working on it everyday.
Today, he met two new women, and a golden retriever. One was a client and her dog, another was a visitor to my house. Both went great! We controlled the greeting with the classic Cesar Milan "no touch, no talk, no eye contact" and allowing Wilson to approach with manners on his terms. After a few minutes, he loves everyone!
Oct 25 --
Days with no house accidents -- One! Very exciting (even though the day is not quite over.... I'm still counting it!)
It has been an awesome day! Wilson and I went to a park I had never been to before. The weather was beautiful and so was the park. Wilson worked his training commands while we were with a client. It was good distraction training for both dogs!
There was a children's playground that we walked a couple fo times and Wilson was able to keep his focus on me, and still do Sit & Down commands with children playing nearby. I didn't see the same stress I saw on Tuesdsay, but there is still work to do for sure.
Wilson got some play time with the clients dog Maggie today and they had a ball -- running, jumping, and rolling in the grass. He met Maggie's dad with overall ease. Maggie's mom on the other hand, lingered just a tiny bit too long on greeting and we heard a low rumble of discomfort. I asked her to give Wilson some space as I corrected Wilson. It was great to see her simply withdraw without panic or fear, just to stop and step back. This calm reaction goes a long way in helping a dog work through their stress. 5 minutes later he approached her for petting :-)
Oct 24 --
Days with no house accidents -- zero :-( I know you all are wondering how this is possible. He will do it right in front of you, and is completely stealth overnight. So when all else fails -- you can only blame yourself for the failure and try something else. Alarm set tonight at 3am. And he will be tethered to me otherwise until this is resolved so I can grab him by the leash and escort him out. Until today -- no amount of disruption would stop him once he started. Today, I had books in my hand as he started to pee in my floor -- I threw them on the floor, yelled like someone was killing me and he went straight to his crate. I think he figured out I don't like that.
We made it to Duncan Donuts today and he met a new friend, Star. He also approached my friend for some petting. There were no children there today, which is highly unusual, but it was a good day. He relaxed with us and just observed the scenery. No dialted pupils, no panting, just present in the moment.
Oct 23 --
Days with no house accidents -- zero :-( Seriously Wilson? You do it right in front of me!
The outing at the park went great. Wilson is definately a little reactive to children. We walked for a while through the playground while there was only 1 or two children. As more kids came we sat on a park bench and watched. He was very attentive and observant. As long as they were about 50 feet away everything was fine. We sat for about 15 minutes with kids doing what kids do -- running, squealing, crying, etc. As 2-3 children came closer to the swing set the hair on his back bristled up, he growled a little, and got visibly a bit more stressed (panting, drool, dialted pupils, etc). I offered treats which he had taken previously without any trouble, but he declined. After about 2-3 minutes, we just quietly moved on our way.
You never know if a training session is going to be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. The key is to read the dog effectively. You don't want to push too far but you also don't want to avoid the scenario altogether. I'd call it a success. We'll go back tomorrow.
Wilson is doing well in his obedience practice so he went to Group Class tonight. He is however quite the drama king and it really comes from just lacking confidence. He's very smart though and in two days has caught up with lesson 3 other participants are working on! I asked the prticipants in the class to approach Wilson and I as if we were passing each other on the street, and toss him some yummy treats and move on without petting. He liked that a lot. He also got to meet a new Great Dane Puppy tonight in class and did very well with the greeting.
Wilson is going to be just fine :-)
Oct 22 -- Training Begins
Days with no house accidents -- zero :-(
Wilson had a big day today! We went out for a walk. He was already walking nicely on a leash & he seems to enjoy going out for a walk. He also seems to know what "sit" means so it took less than about 5 minutes to have him anticipating that he should sit when I stop walking.
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| Done! After his first lesson in Down. |
Our 2nd outing today was to pratice the heel and auto-sit and to start working on Down. This was not something he wanted to do. Most dogs protest down on command the first few times. Wilson gave me the body block, a soft mouth on my arm, planted his feet, yawned, tried to scratch, and vocalized his protest. He tried everything he could to resist being placed in a Down. Clearly, this is a new concept for him -- having to work on command. I finally swept his front feet gently out from under him and placed him on the ground. He got a nice back rub and lots of praise but he was not a fan of Down at first. He rolled on his side, his back, anything he could think of. Off we go in heel again, auto-sit, and repeat Down -- same protests for about 5 iterations of the practice. And finally -- he caught on. After a 5 or 6 successful practices, we ended the training session with lots of praise and other back-rub! But his brain was officially melted. (If only I could get that sort of reward for a workout).
After Wilson had a nice long nap, we went on an outing. Wilson went to his first car wash. He's doing super well, and I decided to take him for a ride and to see how things would go at PetSmart. He was AWESOME! He was highly alert -- but was able to work. I was actually able to get him to Sit and Down at Petsmart, and to walk past several women working in the store with no issue. He got lots of hotdogs and lots of praise for doing such a good job. I wanted the whole outing to be a positive experience. We didn't do any meet and greets with passersby. We didn't encounter any children -- I intentionally went during school hours.
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On high alert at his first PetSmart Outing -- he was able to calm before we left
Previous Weeks Content.
The K9 Coach
Dana Brigman, CDT, IACP, APDT
980-339-8064
www.thek9-coach.com
www.facebook.com/thek9coachcharlotte
info@thek9-coach.com
The K9 Coach is a Professional Certified Dog Trainer Serving Charlotte, NC, Matthews, NC and surrouding areas.
My mission is a better life for dogs as members of a forever family.
My goal is create training solutions for the home owner, to rehabilitate dogs from shelters and rescues, and to prevent dogs from dying alone as strays or owner surrenders in shelters due to unnecessary aggression or behavioral issues.
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Tomorrow we go to the park after school just to observe his response and to have some positive rewards for the presence of children.
