Your Questions About Dog Training Behavior

Sharon asks…

Any Dog Behavior Experts Out There?

I have wondered about this for a long time, but I can’t find info about it on the internet. I am hoping that someone with actual dog training experience, and not just anecdotes, will be able to weigh in, but all answers are welcome.

I am not an idiot. I know that dogs cannot tell time. But our dog does a very curious thing. My husband comes home from work between 4:30 and 5:00 most days, and every day, sometime around 4:20, our dog goes and takes one or two of her favorite toys out of her basket and places them in the place where they play together when he comes home. She then hops into her spot by the window and settles down to wait. My question is how the heck does she know the proper time?

She understands when other things are about to happen because of cues. I walk her in the evenings, but I don’t follow a set schedule, so she just starts watching for me to change my shoes and grab the leash, and then she knows it’s walk time. But how does she know the other stuff?
I should add that we adopted her about 18 months ago. It took a while for her to adjust to the rhythms of our household, as it was very different from her previous environment. She was not abused, but she was crated for long periods of time before we got her, and she was used to her previous owner walking her at three very specific times of the day so she could relieve herself. She adjusted quickly to the new freedom, and to having a yard to go into when she needs to relieve herself.

I am just really puzzled about the other thing, because there are no set rituals in this house for when my husband comes home. I could be doing most anything, or I could even be gone, but she’s always ready with her toys when he gets here.

admin answers:

Animals are excellent at finding a routine and sticking to it. Your dog has determined that your husband’s routine is to come home at a specific time. Even though there is a range there of 30 minutes, your dog has indentified it. (I’d say he’s extra smart to have gotten it with that much range.)

When you say dogs cannot tell time, you are actually wrong. They can’t read clocks, but they do know what time of day it is. They can tell by the movement of light and other factors that we mere humans would not notice. Perhaps a certain car with a certain sound to it’s engine always goes by every day at 4:20, and your genius dog has noticed the correlation between this car and daddy coming home soon. It could be a very obscure clue, like a bird that always sings in a particular tree at that particular time. Or it could be simply the dog’s very powerful “internal clock” that runs their lives. I would imagine they think of the hours as “Get up time” , “Breakfast time”, “Time to go outside and check the perimeter”. Clearly 4:20 is “Daddy’s coming home soon time”.

Donna asks…

How do train a dog that has really bad behavior?

My uncle has this horrible dog about a year old, the dog is a rat terrier. He eats the door, table, shoe, heel of a shoe (if it’s a high heel), anything that’s on the floor, how do you train him? If you have any videos, links, anything, tips, please do.
Thanks,
Megan

admin answers:

If he does this only when people are out (especially the door), he may be ill-at-ease about being left alone, or bored.

Management comes first – not just so your uncle’s things won’t be destroyed, but also so the dog doesn’t get a chance to practice the behavior. Every time he gets to chew the humans’ stuff, he “learns” it’s OK.

So, a thorough cleanup and always keeping things out of his reach is needed.

If he ever gets hold of something he shouldn’t have, don’t chase him to get it — that really teaches him that grabbing your stuff leads to fun.

Then, give him lots and lots and lots of things he is permitted to chew. Make those things exciting by playing tug and keep-away (in either direction) with them, if they are a good size for that (don’t play tug with a small toy — even a dog with great control might get a tooth on your hand while doing that).

There’s even a taste/smell you can spray on his toys, to make them appealing and mark them as “his” –

http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-21343

Susan asks…

Over protective Dog training?

My dog has a tendency to bark when he hears car doors opening and closing outside, or people outside, which is normally good dog behavior, but we’re moving into an apartment complex where that sort of thing will be regular. Last time we lived in an apartment it didn’t seem to bother him as much, but we moved into a house again and it started again. I really don’t want to be “that guy” or a nuisance to my neighbors, so is there a way that is fairly tried and true to break him of this? I was considering clicker training.. If it matters, he’s a Shih Tzu Pomeranian mix, and about 4 years old, and has been with me all his life.

admin answers:

You probably do the dirty with your dog you could stop that for one

Lizzie asks…

Have you given your dog a medication for behavior?

My dog was recently prescribed a psychotropic (Elavil) for aggressive behavior after intense behavioral training was not completely successful. If you have given your dog a med, which one and how is it going? Not interested in your response if no direct experience, thanks in advance.
Not really what I had in mind, was referring to more of a true behavioral med given daily, but you win by default

admin answers:

I am not sure if this fits into what you are asking, but yes. My vet recommends giving her Ace during thunderstorms and the 4th of July.

My cream Pom (the one with the sensitive ears) couldn’t care less about noise, but my black one becomes a nervous wreck and shakes uncontrollably.

Charles asks…

Submissive Dog Turns Aggressive After Being Attacked – Good Obedience/Behavior Classes in the Austin Area?

My Dog was raised to be nice and submissive. She was attacked by a dog a while back and ever since she has become aggressive against other dogs. I live in Cedar Park (North Austin) Texas and am in dire need of a good dog training class. If you know anything or have experienced anything like this please help me out! She’s a good dog! I just need to find good classes. Thank you all for any type of feedback.