Does your pup have separation anxiety? Are they constantly barking at the door? Do they pull at their leash when they see another dog and make it exhausting to go on your daily walk? Now’s the time to ask a trainer for some tips on how to use positive reinforcement-based methods to get the training results you want.
That’s why we invited a Certified Dog Trainer and Owner of Philly Unleashed, Nicole Skeehan, who specializes in dog training and behavior modification. Before Philly Unleashed, Nicole taught the shelter behavior residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Nicole also worked for New Leash on Life-USA as the Director of Behavior.
Her responsibilities included developing curriculum, speaking at conferences and events on behalf of the organization, and working hands-on with inmates and their rescued dogs and for the Pennsylvania SPCA as the Director of Animal Behavior and Training, retraining and rehabilitating fighting pit bulls and helping them adjust to life as family pets.
We’ve pulled some of the questions from the takeover and her responses for people to glean some expertise and apply some of their knowledge to their dog training.
Q: I have four little children, and my dog is constantly stealing food out of their hands, sneakily jumping up to steal it off the counter/table in front of them or however he can get it! It’s very frustrating, and we cannot get him to stop. Do you have any great advice for this? 2yo blue tick coonhound.
A: Oh man, I feel this one to the core. I also live a life of toddlers and a lab puppy that we lovingly call “our walking garbage disposal.” The best thing to do here is work on a strong “leave it” cue. And then practice it around the children. Here’s the trick, though, kids are often not strong or quick enough to control the dog. So with your pup on a leash, have your kids give the cue, and you follow through with the training part, so your kids are directing the dog, but you are facilitating the parts they can’t physically do. Also, a leash is your friend here. Put your pup on a leash and take him around the house with you, practicing “leave it” at every surface and around the children while they eat.
Q: I have an almost 2-year-old Chihuahua/American Staffordshire mix rescue. Whenever someone rings the doorbell, he barks, and if it’s someone coming to visit, he will bark at them endlessly. Our solution has been to bring him to one of the bedrooms, but we would love to make him calm enough to be ok when the bell rings and when we have company over. We usually stay away from inviting people because he gets so worked up. Any advice and or tips would be greatly appreciated!
A: Good question! Doorbell issues are among the most common things we trainers are called in for. There are a couple of things I would recommend:
1. instead of having your guests ring the bell, have them text you before they leave the car. Then meet outside and go for a 10-15 minute walk with the dog and guests and enter the house together. That way, the dog can look and sniff at the people. But also get some energy out while walking!
2. If that’s impossible, put your dog on a leash and work on a “settle” cue beside you while you sit with visitors. Give the dog a tasty (and long-lasting) snack like a stuffed kong or bully stick into giving him something to take his mind off of the stress of the guests coming in.
3. If these tips don’t work, it might be time to call a trainer. Many times, dogs react out of anxiety. And a certified trainer can take a look and make a plan to help you work through the issues!
Q: My husband and I recently got a mini bernedoodle girl. She is now nine weeks old. We have been working on crate training her for nighttime and when we leave for errands. She screams nonstop while in the crate and doesn’t sleep much at night. She’s also pooped in her crate the last two nights despite me getting up every 2-3 hours to let her out. It doesn’t matter if her crate is in our room or across the house; she screams. Any recommendations on how to get her to like or even tolerate her crate? We try feeding her in it and giving her treats, but she doesn’t seem to care about it either.
A: Crate anxiety can be very stressful for pets and parents. At nine weeks old, I still expect some crying when the pup is alone in her crate. And if you stay strong, most crate criers will self-soothe and start to resolve on their own. I often play crate games with the dog, feed them in the crate, and ensure they are very well exercised before putting them in the crate. Giving a long-lasting/edible chew can also be helpful to give your dog something to focus on while in the crate. You could also crate the dog very close to you while working around the house, eating dinner, or watching TV. You can talk to the dog, drop treats into the crate, and praise her when she starts to settle. If you’ve tried these things and the behavior is worsening or not resolving over the next week, it’s likely time to work with a trainer. Check out www.ccpdt.org to find a great one in your area.
And if you are looking for some crate games to play with your dog, check out this website. This woman is the queen of crate games!
Are you interested in more training tips? You can read the entire thread in our Facebook group here. We have expert takeovers every few weeks in our Facebook community. If you have a specific topic or theme, you want to learn more about, email whatthepup@spotandtango.com.
