Elvis's Snort n' Swagger

There's a Black Lab that comes to doggie daycare named Elvis that nobody messes with. He's incredibly sweet but when he walks up to a sea of dogs they separate faster than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

If the dogs don't see Elvis, or if they get into his face and they're not wanted there, Elvis snorts. I think it's supposed to be a growl, but it's a snort and I've never seen Elvis have to escalate past this snort. Everyone backs down.

I've watched Elvis's ability to move dogs, large and small, for months. At first I thought it was the snort. I thought if I could record this snort and sell this snort, maybe as an iPhone app, I would make millions. MILLIONS I tell you!!!!

Barking dogs in your neighborhood?---Buy the Elvis Snort App! Having trouble with your dominant dog?---Buy the Elvis Snort App! Dogs at the dog park jumping on you?---Buy the Elvis Snort App! Your Boss being unfair at work? --Buy the.... Maybe not.

But before I got too carried away envisioning retiring with umbrella drinks on sandy beaches, I realized that oftentimes Elvis wasn't even snorting. He merely ambled through a crowd of dogs and broke up the melee. Elvis sauntered. No, more than sauntered, he had a purposeful swagger. He wasn't as mean as Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Whales, but the gait was right.

Elvis is the sweetest dog, he just doesn't want any of that crazy dog shenanigans near him. And sometimes if two dogs are getting too out of hand, he'll mosey over and just walk in between 'em, and the dogs stop, all calm like an' walk away. Nobody gettin' hurt like. He just walks by, [Spit] "You gonna pull 'em pistols or whistle Dixie?"

If I were to break up two dogs that were playing but getting too out of control, usually they would still be going after each other and in that goofy mood. All the other dogs joining in then too. I was as effective as a substitute teacher.

So I decided to act like Elvis. Mosey or swagger over like Elvis, all slow like. Not angry, not frustrated, definitely in no hurry. Not mirroring the two dogs who are getting out of control's energy, but maintaining that "Elvis energy." And...walk...with all that...confident...[snort]...energy...right...in between the dogs.

And it worked!

When I tried breaking up hyper dogs and I mirrored the fast energy I got no where. Other dogs around me also mirrored my quick energy and added to the frenzy.

However, when I moseyed through the two dogs like Elvis, the other dogs in the pack not playing, followed my energy and walked with me, circling a bit until the energy calmed. This was how to speak dog: Energy.

SNORT!

Fido Philosophy

People who keep training their dog one way and expecting a different outcome are going to end up with a dog in the dog pound. Thank you Dog-stein.

So a general tip I give these frustrated dog owners is from another great 20th century philosopher: George Costanza. "Do the opposite." Remember the Seinfeld episode where George did the opposite of what he would normally do? George realized that by constantly doing the same thing he's always done, he was getting the same results. So if he did the opposite of what he normally would do, maybe he would get a positive result. *

When I've told clients to apply this philosophy to their dogs, partially it's to lighten the mood. If you've ever had a dog that is constantly misbehaving, working with your dog can be in the least, frustrating. So when the usual dog issue arises and the blood starts boiling, think, "George Costanza!" Have a giggle, and figure out what the next step is, blood less curdled.

Here are some possible dog George Costanza moments:

• If usually your dog barks or whines at you during: leashing, feeding, or other excited activities--George Costanza--do the opposite (slow down, stop, leave)
  
• If you normally let your disobedient dog have treats all day without earning them--George Costanza--do the opposite (no treats, work for treats--sit, down, stay).
• If you normally let your guarding dog lay on top of you--George Costanza it--do the opposite (no over protective dogs ON you).
• If on your daily walk you stop your dog every time another dog walks by to combat reactivity--George Costanza it--do the opposite (ignore, ignore, and keep walking).
• If your little dog growls when people come near, so you pull him nearer and pet him--do the opposite (put him down, push him away--no cuddles for bad behavior).

May the George Costanza philosophy have you so happy you're doing the Elaine Dance.

*If you have an aggressive dog, hopefully you are wise enough to know that you can't "George Costanza it." The George Costanza rule is for mild dog behavior issues.

Table Surfing--Brohah

One of my dogs hops onto the kitchen table whenever there's a scrap of food that's been left for even a few minutes. He's gotten more daring as the years have gone by, despite our catching him in the act and clapping loudly, admonishing him, "BAD Fozzie!" Obviously the reward for this bad behavior is greater than the punishment.

I've read about putting mousetraps under newspaper and then baiting your dog. The snapping sound of the mousetraps scare the dog into never table surfing again. Fozzie is very sensitive to sound. He hates the sound of my iPhone alarm and runs away whenever it beeps. I thought this might be the right training for this sound-sensitive pooch.

I bought two traps, and I have to say, I was a little giddy--was this going to work? After years of stealing our lunches and having to be vigilant about pushing in chairs if there was food on the table, would this be the simple solution? Nothing painful for the dog--the traps never touch him. Just a "snap" and I'm nowhere near it so I can't be associated with it. What meaty sandwich will I celebrate with, leaving such a gourmet feast unguarded and helpless, chairs pulled out like I haven't a care in the world...? ...okay, cart before horse.

I put the traps below the newspapers and noticed the traps made little "mountains" out of the newspapers. I put the pieces of chicken in the "valleys." My 3 dogs where all around the table--the waters were chummed.

"I'm just walking up the steps. Just going about my business as usual." Yes, I really said this. And at the top of the steps I looked back and waited. The only thing missing was the score to, "Mission Impossible."

And just like Mission Impossible, Fozzie jumped up onto the table, navigated the traps and ate each of the mounds of chicken, then re-navigated back through the traps and hopped down off the table licking his lips. UGH! I tried it again. Surely he would set off a trap. And that's a negative. The traps were untouched.

What was I missing?

Ohhhhhh....I needed to put the food on the little mountains, actually on the traps.

By this time Fozzie was pretty full but my other two dogs had been watching him and learning. They were not table surfers, but now after watching what a great feast Fozzie was getting, and he wasn't getting into any trouble, my dog Archie climbed up onto the table and set the trap receiving the punishment meant for Fozzie.

So far I had reinforced the behavior in the one dog I had not wanted to continue this bad habit and by "monkey see, monkey do," my other dog decided to get in on the game.

If you are keeping score: Dogs: 3 Trainer: 0

Later in the day, after Fozzie's stomach was no longer full, I did hear a "snap!" The food remained in place on top of the newspaper and Fozzie scampered from the kitchen. I left the food and traps on the table all weekend and they stayed untouched.

Just sitting here typing, with fresh chicken pieces and the traps set, Fozzie jumped up onto the chair, whined and looked at me. I watched intently, yet didn't correct him. He looked at the food sitting on top of the traps and you could see his little wheels turning in his head. He licked his lips several times. And finally he jumped off the chair.

I'm not sure if this will have a lasting (forever) effect or if I'll have to repeat it. I'll have to see if Fozzie is smart enough to know that food on newspaper is "dangerous" or if all food on the table is off limits.

For now--chairs will remain pushed in and dreams of unguarded sandwiches are still a fantasy.

Wanted: Dog to Guard Squeaky Toys

“Jimmy won’t share his toys! Wahhhh!” Screams the indignant child.

“They’re my toys, I don’t have to share!” Jimmy retaliates.

“Jonathon Harrison Tucker, you will share your toys right now!” the Mom yells menacingly, “Give Tommy that Nerf Gun!” The Mom stands over the child in this scene, hands on hips, determined to change Jimmy’s attitude.

Some dog trainers believe you should assert your dominance over a dog, maybe claim the toy, and win the battle over the toy.

I’ve done this myself with one of my dogs and other dogs as well. It works to an extent--I do successfully get the object away from the dog. However, I haven’t found any lasting changes in the dog’s guarding behavior. I win each battle, but never the war.

I wasn’t the only person working with these dogs, as is often the case in most households, so even though I’d teach this method so everyone was on the same page and there would be consistency—I found little to no change in the dogs’ behavior, or worse, an increase in aggression.

In the cases of resource guarding where I’ve been called in, there's definitely one thing in common. Everyone is anxious about the dog’s aggressive behavior around his toys. You can hear it when they’re describing what happens when anyone or another pet gets near the dog’s toy. Some owners have called other trainers and were told to give each dog a treat while the object guarding is happening.

“Jimmy, here's an ice cream cone for you and your friends. Now will you share?” asks Mom.

“No! But thanks for the ice cream. I want more!”

“Okay, you’re still not sharing, but I’ll give you more ice cream.”

What’s my solution to this problem? Change the environment. Create a place where everyone can relax and not walk on eggshells. Dogs who misbehave don’t get toys.

Some dogs, depending on their breed, were originally created to guard and it’s in their genetics. I’ve met with several herding dogs with resource guarding issues. Protect the flock!/Protect this squeaky toy! They are fulfilling their breed by guarding their toys.

Some dogs are dominant and there’s a great multi-step plan for these guys, but it still begins with the path of least aggression: change the environment to create success.

“No Nerf guns Jimmy,” Mom says as she calmly puts away the Nerf guns.

“Wha….?” Jimmy watches.

“Let’s all go outside and play a new game,” Mom says.

“Yeah!”

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If you have any doggie issue questions, email Wendy at wendy@packbalance.com