|
|
Cheryl Lang
Posted : 5/17/2006 6:53:29 PM
Josh, I first posted this last July 11-14th. But, I can't tell you how to find them with the new Search system.
[size=5]Adolescent Mischief
I can smile at it: anger does no good.
[/size]
Quick background: I sit in a wheelchair 24/7/52 and live alone with 5 dogs, in 3 rooms and 2 halls of an inaccessible 8 room house. So, the schematics are not ideal.
MY 10½ months-old twins were whelped and have been raised in the family room. Their current "crate" is a 30" high ex-pen configured 2' x 6', with 2' x 2' panels clipped on top. It runs along in front of a couch and out from a recliner, with an 8' to 14" passage, depending on how they re-configure their "crate." In the corner, between the couch and the recliner, is a door which is open for ventilation in summer. The doorway is block by a chest with boxes on top, which contain doggy treats and toys.
Got the picture?
Your dog is about a year old: she is in adolescence. What? You don't think dogs go through a distinct adolescence –with attendant adolescent behavior.
The day before my nearly 100 pound twins turned 10 months old, I wrote a longer piece on this to post to ot-adogs at Yahoo! groups (before I realized Yahoo! lost our list, again). If you need another expert opinion, read "Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence: A Positive Training Approach." The book's author Carol Lea Benjamin is highly respected among dog trainers. Her writing is chatty and a bit too comedic at times. But, her method is aimed at producing a happy companion dog that you don't feel you have to hit with a two-by-four to get its attention. Believe me, in the months ahead, there will be moments.
I knew it was lurking around the corner. See, these are my 4th and 5th adolescents in three years. Like real kids: you don't just drop them off at 10 and pick them up at 22, all nice and calm and properly behaved. No! We have to suffer through our youngsters' adolescence. And, my suffering –times two– has only just begun.
One minute you are thinking how nicely they are maturing, getting big, learning to be obedient companions. The next, you discover some atrocious (or just plain galling) behavior has been perpetrated behind your back.
The night it happened. I fell asleep in the kitchen. Most likely, I had paused mid-reach because Deko had fallen asleep between me and the counter. When I woke hours later, Deko was still sleeping beside me in the same position. Their mom, Zelka, was keeping watch by the hall door.
You see, I always take an accounting when I wake up. Especially if the twins are not outside or locked in their cage. I had to turn around to see where Reubens was. He was stretched out on one of the three dog beds, head hanging down over the side bolster –sound asleep, so he would have me believe.
I was dumbfounded before my eyes reached THE TWIN.
What can I say?
The kitchen was strewn with white polyfill and green foam. The twenty-seven by forty, four-inch-high bed which had survived, intact and unscathed, the puppyhoods and adolescences of Izusa, Jin Ka, and Zelka was attacked, its heavy-duty zipper chewed through and brutally ripped asunder, the extra dense, two-inch foam's exposed corners had been rounded by chunks torn from them, and the end of the inner bag TOTALLY –gone!
This happened while I was in the room, albeit asleep! It is not separation anxiety. And, dont' confuse this stage with idle puppy chewing. This goes to a whole 'nother level with broader misbehaviors and psychology. This is a complication of adolescent, behavioral boundary testing. Other manifestations include turning a deaf ear to the voice of authority, aphasia on well-known command words, territorial challenges (your couch, etc., or hers), and … oh, yeah, stoicism.
Removing bedding, toys and other objects, will save you replacement costs: but, it won't cure the problem or "teach" the adolescent any lesson. (Double-sided, sheepskin mats are pretty durable, with no stuffing to pull out.) As ratty as it gets: leave it. Afterall, it is hers.
I don't believe that a dog confronted in an angry voice with the destroyed object clearly indicated, has no idea what you are angry about. But, don't count on contriteness preventing the next occurrences. A really unpleasant consequence, or Bitter Apple®, may deter some repeat behavior. But, the next time it will be a different target.
The good news is adolescence ends –in eight to ten months, in most working breeds. Although a few breeds are known for protracting adolescent behaviors until about the twelfth of never. You could figure on a lifetime destruction quota of about $5,000. (THE TWIN put about $125 on the tab that night.) A better approach is crate, or pen, her any time you can't watch her. Also, keep her busy in training games and shadowing you as you go about your activities, or chewing on something like Kong®, or rope, toys that do not perpetuate the satisfaction of pulling out "chunks" of something.
Ah, cheer up, it could end sooner. Zelka, was as bad as they get: Chairs, leather pocketbooks, her leash, sneakers. She even quick-as-a-wink stole a new, unopened bag of Jelly Beans: and, opened the heavy-duty, zip bag without any damage! Until, at sixteen months, she pulled over a stack of hoppers containing about seventy video cassettes. The racket had her shaking. I made her stay beside me while I righted it and picked up every cassette with my reacher. To this day, I don't think she's ever tried to misappropriate anything else.
The family room was their mom Zelka's adolescent domain. So, it has already been initiated with damage. Zelka was so bad I had to (long) leash her to my Poki Girl's old crate which is still opposite the twins'.
Don't jump down on me! unless you've had a rip-roaring adolescent Rott, and handled it from a wheelchair. I also had 2 young pups and 2 very compromised, senior dogs –and a timid cat who was not inclined to accept the new dogs, except the Cairn. How ever did I do it? Zelka got plenty of time loose inside and outside. I spent hundreds of hours, one-on-one with her. But, when I needed to be able to turn my back on her in the house, it was the best solution.
So, yesterday we were all in the family room. I was typing at the webtv. My ears picked up on the unmistakeable sound of a toy that I knew I had not given them. I twisted around to see Reubens (always "The Instigator") in the remote corner with a chenille, Christmas mouseman. My first thought was: It won't last five minutes.
I brightly asked, "What's you got?" He continued mouthing it. In a cheerful tone, I gave the command "Come-Show." They are all familiar with this but, adolescent deafness was turned on. He gave me no acknowledgement and continued mouthing the purloined toy. I put down my keyboard and encouraged my pack to go with me to the kitchen.
Having been called specifically, Reubens showed up last, mouseman in his mouth. The twins are not good at "Give" (my fault: the word is hard to say and I need to be more diligent at remembering to sub the Spanish word "Saca"). They are better at responding to my outstretched, cupped hand. Deko sometimes seems eager to give me something spontaneously, as will Zelka.
This instance, Reubens had brought the toy to the game. And, with adolescent deafness turned on, he was content just to carry it in his mouth. In fact, it is one of his traits: he likes to just hold, or carry, an object in his mouth indefinitely. One day he went out with a large piece of rawhide in his mouth. When they all came in, hours later, it was still in his mouth, still the same size, albeit dirtier. I have no doubt that he held it in his mouth the whole time!
So, "Come-Show" was not going to get a relinquish. At least, not before a game of "Pass Off!" It is so amazing to watch –I wish I could set up a videocam. But, you would need several at dog head height to capture the action. It is as fast, smooth, and silent as a pro basketball game! Deko, Reubens, Zelka and Izusa all have heads about the same height. It's an equal court except for Jin Ka, my Cairn. The amazing thing is: the game always ends with the object being brought over and presented to me! (Usually by Deko or Zelka.) For which I lavish praise and pats, never treats! and permit kisses –the twins' favorite reward.
Why not food treats? Because these are Service Dogs and they need to be reliable performers at all times. I doubt that I will ever be able to grab a treat when I need something removed so I can move freely in my wheelchair. With most breeds (even food-focussed Rotts), emotional bonding is the greatest performance motivator.
Anyway, I had the toy and put it up on the counter and turned to some local task. Minutes later [ ] out comes Reubens with another purloined toy! Happily, he showed it off and relinquished it. He got the lavish praise and pats and was permitted abundant kisses. After which, I went back to doing whatever. Believe it! Moments later [ ] out he comes again with yet another toy! He came directly to me, showed it off and relinquished it. He was rewarded just as lavishly as before.
Then, I hustled them all outside. I didn't know how many toys were within his reach on the chest but, I knew that I didn't want them all out on the kitchen counters.
I've admitted often that I am not a good task trainer. The "say the word+force the behavior+reward" approach just doesn't work for my abilities and situation. I've raised enough of my own Service Dogs to know that I run a fine line when trying to discourage unwanted behaviors without setting taboos against similar behaviors that will be desired when they are under my control. The method I've developed, and continue to refine, is messy, tricky, and time-consuming. But, oh, the rewards!
Notice that I did not chase Reubens, nor did I engage in the game of "Pass Off." Instead, I called my pack to follow me to another room, where I waited for the item to be offered me. While he is making  rogress towards the boredom of maturity, Reubens has not met with enough of a traumatic result to give up his thievery, yet. His twin is far calmer. They both know "LEAVE-IT!" means not only don't take it but also drop it and walk away.
Hey, it's way more fun
when you sign up or log in
|