Dog Community

Queen of the Castle

KC

Posted : 6/3/2006 11:35:01 AM

Hey folks, Well, some of you may remember me posting yesterday about a rescue dog that we were offered. We went to see her last night. She's a beautiful, 2 year old, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. At first we were lead to believe that she was skittish/neurotic and very difficult (she's been through 2 homes in 6 months since her owner died), but when we met her she was great! Calm and happy to meet us and very playful. She and Juneau hit it off very well. So, we took her home for a trial run. She's taken to our home very easily and she really responds to us well. I hope so much that she continues to be happy with us!! Now, she does have some pretty run-of-the mill behavioral issues that I hope someone can help me out with. I want to start the positive, consistent training right away to try to wean her off her bad habits. Here goes:

-she is VERY alpha with my other dog (Juneau—a 9 month old cavalier). She takes her toys and chew sticks and growls/snaps at her when Juneau pisses her off (Juneau is young and playful and loves egging her on). She doesn't really attack her….she just growls a warning and snaps. Her tail keeps wagging the whole time. The breeder had her in his house with two other pups for several weeks and there were never any problems. As such, I'm not worried that she'll hurt Juneau—it just seems somewhat unfair that she comes in and starts being all Queen of the Castle. Also, Juneau kept jumping off the bed last night—almost like she was intimidated that Scout (new dog) was up there—even though Scout was just sleeping peacefully. Should I try to correct this, or should I just let them work it out? Juneau doesn't seem stressed about it or anything—quite the opposite.

-she barks at strangers, or at just about any noise. Not, crazy, insane barking—but nervous, anxious barking—it also seems territorial to me. I guess I would deem it "nervous agressive." I am amazed at how quickly she seems to have "claimed” us and how protective she is already. How can we stop this? When she barks do we distract her? How? We have been saying "hush” in a calm, confident, low voice and making eye contact. She does stop when we do this—but not consistantly. The higher the stress—the less we can control her. Also, do we praise her when she stops? Won't she think she's being praised for the barking? Some miscellaneous things about Scout: she is very sweet and affectionate—when she's not bossing Juneau around, that is. She is motivated by food, it seems. Both of these traits might be things I can work with (withholding affection when she barks, giving treats when she behaves).

Thanks in advance for any help!
p.s. I'll be posting this in the training section as well.

Benedict

Posted : 6/3/2006 12:12:51 PM

Although I can't help you much with regards to the advice, I did read the post you put up about the dog when you heard about her, and it sounds to me like if you can get the training issues sorted she will be the perfect addition - that is great to hear.

I will say that in my experience, there are occasionally dogs who prefer not to be the alpha when it comes to other dogs. You will always be the alpha, of course, but there will be a pack order amongst the dogs as well. I had this experience years ago with a golden retriever and a GSD - my golden, though well behaved and happy, became 10 times more so when the GSD moved in and started bossing her around. At the time, my vet said that sometimes dogs can be like that. Perhaps this is the case for Juneau, although if it were me I would keep an eye on it - as I am sure you will.

I don't have any advice re: the barking, as since she has been rehomed it is not always easy to know what her circumstances were and therefore, why she is so nervous. I do hope you get it sorted, because she does sound lovely and I wish you all the happiness in the world with her.

Kate

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 6/4/2006 3:09:23 PM

Congrats on the new girl! I will leave your question to the more knowledible but I'd give her some time to adjust before you start worrying aboutt the barking. I'm sure she's nervous about the whole situation.
Give her some lovin' from me. She sounds like a good girl to me.

Else Godkin

Posted : 6/4/2006 4:25:38 PM

Congrats on the new family member. I wouldn't worry about Scout and Juneau and would let them work it out themselves. It sounds like Juneau may need some manners in how to approach dogs respectfully and Scout is just teaching her this. Only dogs can teach young dogs what is acceptable and what isn't. Teenager can be very boistrous and Juneau is in the teen period of her life.

chris

Posted : 6/4/2006 11:22:37 PM

I don't have anything helpful too tell you. But then again I never do lol But just wanted to say way to go with you takeing her on! Just don't give up on her it does take time and it will not happen over night!

KC

Posted : 6/5/2006 11:21:05 AM

Teenager can be very boistrous and Juneau is in the teen period of her life.

I think this is exactly what's going on....

KC

Posted : 6/6/2006 12:39:26 PM

Thanks for all the well wishes and advice, folks. Scout is doing really well. She does wake in the middle of the night barking sometimes--and that's hard, but we're dealing.

Right now we say "hush" in a calm confident voice and establish eye contact until she stops. If she doesn't stop after a few warnings, we roll her on her back and place a hand on her chest, saying "hush" while looking at her. This usually works. Sometimes she surreptitiously lets a bark go even when we have her on her back--not sure how to stop that completely. I know that people are torn regarding the alpha roll. I am open to other ideas--this just seems to work (at least some of the time) with her. Just saying "hush" becomes a problem when she doesn't listen to it. We're using the roll as a consequence to her not stopping because we felt we needed a way to up the ante, so to speak. She still barks a lot at home, though, so any advice/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

She's doing great on the walks--vast improvement here already. I have started bringing special treats on walks and I make her stop, look at me, and sit several times when we're out. When she looks at me, she gets the good treat. She's starting to focus on me more and more and I can tell that it's taking her focus away from her anxiety and nervous aggression. She really responds well to being distracted. We've even managed to pass 3 men and 3 german shepherds without a peep!! The previous owner resorted to a shock collar (she had a neck wound from it), which pisses me off because I think I've seen improvement after only 3 days from these techniques.

Anyway, an update for those interested and a renewed call for advice. I look forward to hearing from others on how they have dealt with this….

glenmar

Posted : 6/6/2006 1:18:46 PM

I'd rather see you back up the Hush command with a spritz of water in her face than use the alpha roll.

jeano

Posted : 6/6/2006 1:38:13 PM

First let me say I sure wish I had two King Cavs! They are so adorable! You are so lucky!

I don't know, is this really an alpha roll, or is it that she's in the bed and she's standing up and barking and you flop her over and rub her tummy and calm her down? You want to distract her in a big way, right? Try the spritz of water, like Glenda said, maybe it will be easier as well as get her attention. Is it a nervous barking, or an "I'm protecting you from stuff" barking?

KC

Posted : 6/6/2006 1:44:30 PM

Is it a nervous barking, or an "I'm protecting you from stuff" barking?

It seems to be both. She is def. protective, but she also gets all bug eyed and seems whigged at the same time. High strung little dog, protective type barking.

I think what we do would be considered an alpha roll, but the hand on her chest seems to calm her down--so perhaps we're doing a weird hybrid.

Perhaps I will try the spritz of water. I am a little concerned about scaring her, though. But then again, I'm alpha rolling her, which perhaps is more scary (although she doesn't seem very phased by it).

KC

Posted : 6/6/2006 1:49:26 PM

Glenmar and Jeano,

Would you reward her for stopping once she does? or will she be like "Sweet. I bark. I stop. I get love"???

Thanks for the responses, by the way!

jeano

Posted : 6/6/2006 1:50:33 PM

I could easily see myself putting a hand on her chest and saying firmly and confidently "HUSH." If she persists then gently flop her on the bed, I mean, you can do this with one hand, right? When she hushes praise her and rub her tummy.

It might just be that she'll eventually acclimate and stop barking at all the "monsters." Or she might need some benevolent leadership from you to help her feel safe.

ewin0210

Posted : 6/6/2006 2:18:59 PM

What I would do is use treat. If she barks, tell her hush while giving her a treat. Barking, in my opinion can be useful and normal. Allow a set number of barks that you permit and then give your command. Eventually start increasing the time between when you say hush and give the treat. Ultimately you should be able to phase out the treats. Its basically like training her to do a trick. Nice name for her, btw ;o)

KC

Posted : 6/6/2006 3:46:30 PM

Ok, so I bought 2 spray bottles at lunch. I'm gonna give this a whirl....

jones

Posted : 6/6/2006 6:28:25 PM

Well, I for one am not torn about the alpha roll - I flat out don't like it. Even the Monks of New Skete, who originally popularized the alpha roll, have retracted that advice. It was based on a false reading of wolf behavior and has no place in dog training as far as I'm concerned.

I am a big ole softy, I admit, but even the squirt bottle makes my stomach turn for this particular situation. There's no way I would use adversives on this girl until she settles in for at least a couple of months. She's been bounced from home to home, and now she's only been with you for one day. I think a little patience and understand would go a long, long way here. Barking in the middle of the night is a trial for you, I'm sure... but won't it be worth it to show your rescue that she's in a secure home with leaders she can trust? She's still getting used to a new house, with new smells and maybe strange sounds in the middle of the night. I'd be a little jumpy too. Most rescue dogs take at least a month or two to adjust to a new home.