Calming techniques?

[Montgomery]

Anyone have any different suggestions on calming/ attention tips?
I have tried a few things like having Rolffe sit and I stroke his chest. Although he loves this, if the stimuli that he is focusing on is more interesting than me, even this won't work.

Thanks for any tips,
Jill

[Anne]

If the dog is focusing on you a big yawn will often do it. Also to calm my dog I do long strokes the length of her body along the back. That seems to work a charm.

[Judy Chrusch]

I use the word "EASY"as I briefly stroke his head. Czar gets carried away when he gets too excited so I will stop him and say EASY and he settles right down then I'll say, "pay attention, watch me". He learned this in no time, sure beats yelling and ranting and raving and getting nowhere :D . I tried the stern, loud technique and he responds much better to a calm lower voice. But then their are those times when you may need to be firm to get your point across. That's done when needed. So teach him a view simple commands, use the same words and or phrases each time and all should go well.

Judy

[Muckdogs]

Check out the Flinks tape "Training Drive, Focus and Grip" by Bernhard Flinks. You can get it on www.????????.com. Although Flinks is a Schutzhund competitor, he has techniques that will assist you in building drive and teaching calming and focus. This will all lead into better obedience and a new way of looking at things.

[Judi W]

The thing is you must take action before the dog gets locked into a hard stare. Whether it is asking the dog to do something or initiating your "calming" stuff, it must take place at such timing that it interupts the thoughts the dog is starting. Personally, I'm into some quick moving heels and sits changing the direction the dog is facing and requiring them to focus on me. You need to watch your dog's body posture and ear set, etc. don't wait to see if he is going to focus hard, act first.

[Montgomery]

Thanks everyone.

I will try everything that I have read. Muckdogs, I will certainly look for the tape. I am on the ???????? site often, so I am sure to find it.
Judi, when out on a walk this exactly what I do. I completly agree with you on acting first. I guess that I should have been clearer. I am hoping to calm him and my other dog in cases such as play time is getting to playful. Or a cat wonders across the yard. They both get so excited at the front window, it gets really annoying. Should I instead be doing some quick obedience commands with them at this time?

Sorry, know I must sound like a fool asking such questions.

[alexav]

Originally posted by Montgomery
Should I instead be doing some quick obedience commands with them at this time?

You Betcha! And don't use the word "Fool" loosely...I have worked hard to attain that status!:D :p :D

[Carina43]

Just a thought - doing something that feels pleasant to the dog (like rubbing his chest) when you're trying to get his attention away from something else could actually be rewarding/reinforcing his inattention - seems to me that could be the case.

I totally agree with the "yank him to his feet and march off at a smart heel" method instead! Treats or a toy help too, if you use those kind of rewards in training.

Calming - this seems to work with dogs, it works with cattle and bulls when they are being shown at auction - pet or rub right where the bellybutton is. It really does work. If you're ever at a stock show, you see many of the handlers with a stick kind of tickling the bellybutton area of the cattle as they're walking them around the ring. I don't know why it calms them, but it does. :)

[Judi W]

It was not clear to me what kind of situation you were talking about. Household, free play, etc.

At my house, my big voice saying "that's ENOUGH" takes care of dogs acting like idiots.

[Judy Chrusch]

Jill, for now remove them from the window since this is where the excitement starts. Give them a correction such as ENOUGH or whatever you use, then go do some training then maybe some playtime, fetching the ball, after their training session. They could probably both use some consistent everyday training right now. That's what I do when my 2 year old male gets a bit bossy or disrespectful. I'm by no means a trainer or expert like our dear friend Judi W. I give advice that works and has worked for me so hopefully Judi will stop back and give you the expert advice but until then perhaps this will help:D .

And NO my dear, no one who asks questions should feel like a fool. You want to do the right thing and asking question will insure that:D. I see you say there's 2 that get excited at the window, how old are both of them?

Judy

[codglvr]

Two at the window being boneheads you say, well remove one and the other will usually calm much easier. I have one who instigates it and the other happily follows. Once I remove my instigator, it takes less of a booming voice and posture to remove the other and calm them both. Trying to remove both at the same time can at times lead to frustration. So I grab a lead, click it on my instigator who also happens to listen better, and remove her. Then I go click a lead on the other and remove him. I say simply "enough" in a tone that says do it now you little sucker or else, and walk away with dog in tow. We then will do some obedience with rewards to help decrease the tension and adrenaline in the dogs. My female is a busy body, so I keep blinds closed unless I am there to monitor he nosy nub.

[Judi W]

I know you all think I was being flip when I said I simply use my big voice to say "that's enough", but I was not. All dogs and owners need something that means "stop whatever you are doing right now and look at me".

Not all of life is made of formal commands and when I use that it means exactly that "enough" of whatever they are doing. I will then redirect - "hey, get away from that window" or "hey, knock off greeting the houseguest", or "hey you, get back"..........

It is an all-purpose string of words. I use a string of words to add emphasis and power and tone.

[Montgomery]

Geez Corina, that is a really good point. I guess from his vantage point I am rewarding him for his behavior. Thanks for pointing that out.

I just got back from a private class at the SPCA and I am so confused now. They do not want me doing any negative corrections what so ever. The instructor believes taking privileges away from him is the best from of correction. Such as not being able to go for a walk. Call me crazy, but if the behavior occured hours before the walk, how the heck is my nuckle-head supposed to know he is being punished? It seems like I am punishing myself, because if my dogs don't get their walks - they will burn off their energy in the house.
The other thing that really bothered me was the fact that the trainer was obviously frightened of Rolffe. He had to be muzzled the whole time he was in the class. I have a basket muzzle for him. She is trying to give him treats through the muzzle, oh good luck! Plus she kept bringing up the fact that I should fully expect Rolffe to turn on me eventually, because "you know how Rottweilers are". I was completly infuriated. Just kept going on and on about how all Rottweilers are bred to kill. Can you believe that?
So I don't think that I will be going back to the SPCA for anymore classes. What do you all think? Am I on the right track? I just don't think that a physical correction given correctly is all that wrong or cruel? Am I wrong?
The SPCA is charged me alot of money for these classes, three in all. They will only do each class once a month.

Augh!!! Can you tell I am a little frustrated!!!

Thanks for listening

Jill:)

[Carina43]

Hmmm, I'm no professional, but I don't think I'd want to go to a trainer who had that attitude towards my dog! Certainly some breeds have more of a propensity to be aggressive - and Rotties are one of those breeds - but her attitude smacks of ignorance, and she obviously has not read any of the breed standards (German, US, UK) about Rottweilers.

And you're right, not going on a walk isn't going to mean anything to your dog - except he'll be less physically tired out, and a bored or underexercised dog is going to act out even more! I'm not sure what planet she leaned about dogs on, but it's not the same planet I live on. :) Corrections (or praise) need to be immediate for a dog to make any connection at all.

I'm not sure whether whatever behaviour you are seeing is aggression or frustration. Just food for thought; I believe poorly managed frustration (like if the dog is just uninhibited and wants to go play, sniff, interact, etc) can quickly become aggression. So you may want to think about exactly how your dog is responding....

A really excellent book on how a dog's mind works is 'The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. It's very easy to read and should be easy to find. I think everyone who has a dog should read this book, it's one of my favourites.

[Montgomery]

Thanks for the suggestion on the book Carina. I am heading to Chapters tomorrow!
I don't think that right now he is acting out of boredom. I have not taken this "correction" advise from this trainer. So the dogs still get their two walks a day, plus play time.

I think that no matter how much this training cost me, it will be more effective to head to a class that has a training program that I agree with. Why does this have to be so difficult? So many of the trainers in my city go by a new philosophy of gentle training. Which is maybe great for some dogs, but personally I think that my dog needs to be corrected at times. I am not talking about physically abusing him, but I don't think popping his pinch is going to kill him. Only get through his thick adolescent skull.

He is doing really well now, but I believe in both my dogs taking training classes once a year for the rest of their lives, mainly for my sake! LOL! It's no wonder they can be such rascals when I have trouble keeping all the training in MY head!