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[Alpha Dog]

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[sissibear]

I am training my second seizure alert dog and you've made it so much easier. My 6 month old chocolate lab, Daniel is afraid of everything and everybody. If someone approaches us, he runs so fast that if it wasn't for the gentle leader, he would drag all 100lbs of me home. I live in an assisted living complex and people on wheels scares him to death. Will he grow out of this or is there something I can do? I've never seen anythng like it. Since he will one day be a service dog, he's got to get over this fear. And,thanks for helping me through school. You're great.
Sissibear

[Annie]

hello SSF.
please please please get these folks off the site who are posting wierd stuff. I get so excited when I think somebody has added to a post...and then I read just dribble...I know you fixed it last time...but they´re BACK
thankyou.
Annie

[Alpha Dog]

Hi Annie,
yes, I know, what a nuisance. I spend the morning banning and deleting those users.
I will continue to keep an eye out. We are looking into upgrading the forum to make it more spam prove.

Thanks for all your great comments on the forum, Annie.
You are truly a dog lover and expert!

[Tony Bruton]

We have 2 pups, an 8 month old
Blue Heeler and a 12 month (?) old Pit Bull mix. The problem is with the Pit Bull mix, Stella. We have had Stella approx. 3 months now. Both dogs are outside dogs. Stella chews up everything in the yard. She has destroyed shrubs, lawn sprinkler spray heads, lawn furniture, solar panels on solar lighting and anything else she can get her mouth on. I think she this dog was maybe abused as a puppy. She is very sweet other than the destructive chewing. She is not food agressive or agressive in any other way. I cant imagine that she is bored as both dogs play and chase each other ALL day every day plus we walk them 4 or 5 times per week. She seems a bit slow in learning the basic obedience commands but has the sit, stay (most of the time), drop and come down pretty good and still working.
I don't know how to go about correcting this problem. Has anyone experienced this problem. HELP!
TONY

[davidrochoa]

Pit Bulls that I have known have been very strong chewers. It is hard to find toys that can withstand their intensity.

First, even outside dogs need something to do. DAILY! There is a very intelligent, awesome, thirsty brain in there that needs to be stimulated. To a dog, chewing is like working a crossword puzzle or knitting to us. If not guided by us they will find something to do on their own, something we may not like. Exercise is a must for the energy level of a Pit. The yard is not enough. Does your bedroom or dining room give you enough exercise? Run with her, teach her to heel, heel while on a bicycle, anything to get that body moving. A tired dog is a good dog.

Second, Find some things that will last through this kind of chewing. Do not give them all to Stella at once. Get her interested in them one at a time. Use a word to describe that toy (ball, kong, rope, tire, etc)
Take the time to just sit outside with her. When she begins to chew on something that is not acceptable give her the "leave it" command and when she complies give her the new toy. Roll it, throw it, run with it, whatever.

Third, Now make the toy more attractive to her. Put her on down, stay and put the toy down across the yard. Release her and tell her to get it. If she does, make a big deal out of it. Make it fun. Little by little put the toy out of her sight. This is great practice for down stay. She must stay before the game continues. Demand precision. She can do it. Keep taking it a step farther until you are trying to find hiding places out of her view and she has to sniff them out to find them. Each time she is successful make it a big thing "Good Girl, what a good puppy, ALRIGHT! Way to go" Throw it a few times so she can chase it and celebrate.

Fourth, Now that she knows the word for one toy, introduce another one. Do the same thing you did with the last one. Now bring both out and go back to just rolling them in the yard and tell her which one to get. When she picks the wrong one just focus her on the right one, throw it again or kick it a little bit, repeat the name of the toy, whatever to draw her attention to it. Be creative, use your own ideas. She will soon learn that each one has a name. When she learns which is which you can take and hide both toys and tell her which one to look for. Don't forget the "party" when she succeeds each time.

Space all this out and with just a few toys you could make this last a couple of weeks or longer. Pretty soon that other stuff she used to chew on will look really boring to her. Because she is intelligent. Intelligent past what most people will ever realize. Believe me, if you spend time with her, she will astound you.

Good luck to you and Good Luck Stella

[Kate Jacobz]

Originally Posted by sissibear

I am training my second seizure alert dog and you've made it so much easier. My 6 month old chocolate lab, Daniel is afraid of everything and everybody. If someone approaches us, he runs so fast that if it wasn't for the gentle leader, he would drag all 100lbs of me home. I live in an assisted living complex and people on wheels scares him to death. Will he grow out of this or is there something I can do? I've never seen anythng like it. Since he will one day be a service dog, he's got to get over this fear. And,thanks for helping me through school. You're great.
Sissibear

Hi Sissibear,

Seizure alert dogs are such a comfort to their owners. Most people simply do not realise how beneficial they are. They can sense the onset of seizures and warn the epileptic giving them time to either sit or lay down so that they do not injure themselves during the seizure. Through licking they can bring a person out of a seizure - similar to when a member of the medical profession (be it a nurse or doctor or paramedic exerts pressure on the patient's chest with their knuckles). If trained well they can also take additional steps to further secure the safety of the person or acquire assistance.

To help Daniel I believe that the first step is to have him sit quietly beside you having your friends approach slowly and quietly and give him plenty of treats - in the form of food or his favourite toy and lots of praise. He needs to be properly socialised so take him with you wherever you go as much as possible. When it comes to wheel chairs have a person he is familiar with sit quietly in a non moving wheel chair and slowly encourage Daniel to move closer to it, do not pull him or force him closer, again rewarding and praising him for being a good boy. When he is well behaved around stationary wheel chairs have the person slowly move the chair backwards and forwards. Then progress to more movement.

I wish you well.

[Kate Jacobz]

Originally Posted by Tony Bruton

We have 2 pups, an 8 month old
Blue Heeler and a 12 month (?) old Pit Bull mix. The problem is with the Pit Bull mix, Stella. We have had Stella approx. 3 months now. Both dogs are outside dogs. Stella chews up everything in the yard. She has destroyed shrubs, lawn sprinkler spray heads, lawn furniture, solar panels on solar lighting and anything else she can get her mouth on. I think she this dog was maybe abused as a puppy. She is very sweet other than the destructive chewing. She is not food agressive or agressive in any other way. I cant imagine that she is bored as both dogs play and chase each other ALL day every day plus we walk them 4 or 5 times per week. She seems a bit slow in learning the basic obedience commands but has the sit, stay (most of the time), drop and come down pretty good and still working.
I don't know how to go about correcting this problem. Has anyone experienced this problem. HELP!
TONY

Hi Tony,

I had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was destructive when outdoors despite having another dog that he played with 24 7. However, in general, he was a very good dog. We put the problem down to him wanting more of my attention. I did succeed in changing this behaviour. It did take a couple of weeks and required gentle love and patience.

Never ever spank or yell at your dog. Many dogs interpret spanking and yelling as positive affirmation of their behavior (in their eyes any attention is praise and better than no attention even if it is negative) and often you are the one left feeling guilty for punishing your dog in such a manner.

Try to catch Stella in the act and then call her to you and have her sit by your side. When she obeys your commands praise her and show her some affection. Reward her with a game with her favorite tug toy.

You said that you walk your dogs 4 or 5 times per week. A dog really does require daily exercise and should be walked at least once a day. A walk in the morning and in the evening is really good for a dog and it also benefits you by improving your health (both mental and physical). The bond between you and the dog is strengthened and you will have a more obedient dog. If you can walk your dogs at least once a day at a good pace for at least half an hour you will help to tire them out and they will sleep and be less likely to be destructive. There are many benefits that come from daily walks.

Good luck.