pandemic puppy

[boxofdelights]

I got Dutch a few months before Covid-19 ran wild in the U.S., but she has spent most of her life under Pandemic Rules: no strangers in the house. My husband and son visit often enough that she considers them part of her pack, but no one else is allowed. She is almost three years old now, and thinks it is her job to enforce the rules, and, yep, she bit somebody.

We got a good trainer (recommended by the person she bit!) to come to the house. Sarah looked at her body language and started tossing her treats. Dutch started accepting the treats immediately. Some guard dog! The basic plan is to get lots of people to come over and toss her treats (while Nixie or I have her on a leash). I think there would have been other steps involved if Dutch had continued barking and ignored the treats, but no, she is highly food-motivated. Sarah was Dutch's new best friend within ten minutes, but she stayed for an hour, walking back and forth in the house, and in and out the doors, and talking to us about training. Sarah also suggested we teach her some new tricks, because obeying commands, eating treats, and movement all serve to lower the arousal level. So now Dutch will "Turn!" (clockwise) and "Spin!" (counterclockwise), though she still relies more on the hand gesture than the verbal command. Now we need a lot more people to come to the house and throw treats at her.

Comments

[sonia]

Whew, that sounds like the best possible outcome of a difficult situation. What a cute naughty dog!

[bibliofile]

If I lived closer, I would totally come over and toss treats at your doggo. What a cutie. Just needs more training! Like so many of us.

[lunabee34]

I'm glad you have a training plan and that it's working!

[omnia_mutantur]

Pandemic puppies (of any age) can be so challenging, I'm glad you found a good trainer to work with. We've been trying, but I suspect ours is going to take a long time to work through her fear of people/fear of being left alone, despite our best pandemic-efforts.

I haven't ever heard turn and spin used like that, and I'm totally borrowing it.

[boxofdelights]

Sarah said dogs are left or right "handed", so one direction will be easier than the other, but we should teach both. It's good for their proprioception.

[muninnhuginn]

I was going to type an admiring post--but our pandemic cat has just started biting my arm! I'm obviously not paying him enough attention.

[silveradept]

Dutch is a cute dog, and here's hoping the training and the socialization helps her become better around company.

[corvidology]

But she looks like such a darling.

I find myself wondering just what pets are going through as their owners start leaving the house again and spending lots of time at work outside the house.

... I'm guessing the cats are relieved! :D

[sasha_feather]

She looks so glossy!

[boxofdelights]

Her fur is like silk!

[jesse_the_k]

If only it weren't thousands of miles, I'd zoom right over with treats for the chance to pet her silky coat.