Introducing… Gizmo
Meet Gizmo, a 15-month-old pit-bull/pug cross. Gizmo is a rescue with a variety of problems that range from a lack of basic manners, to food obsession and food aggression. He also has a severe-bite history: If you look closely at the picture, you see his right eye is turned in towards his nose. He attacked and severely bit the human who did that to him.
I met Gizmo and his owner this past Monday. During the consultation, I watched both him and his owner very closely. I saw no signs of aggressive or reactive behavior in Gizmo, but his body language clearly showed that he was nervous, tense, insecure, and very anxious. When I asked his owner about their state of being, they admitted they were feeling those very same things. So, I took the leash and started working to help them switch their focus onto something more relaxing and pleasant.
I spent about two hours with Gizmo, working to earn his trust and respect. Then, when I saw that his owner was calm, I turned over the leash and had them do the same exercises with him that I had just finished. Because the owner’s anxiety had been quite high up to that point, the results were much better than I expected: Gizmo did a great job of checking in every few steps, and his owner was walking much more confidently, using less tension on the leash, and relaxing more. By the time the consultation was finished, both Gizmo and his owner were both happy and tired.
Last night was the first official training session. The weather was cold and wet, so we had no choice but to work indoors. Space was severely limited, so the session focused on the very basic tasks of focus, sit, and come. Gizmo’s ability to give eye contact is hampered by his damaged right eye, so he adjusted for that by sitting a bit sideways and looking at us from that position so we could see he was doing what was being asked of him. He and his owner did an awesome job with the lessons – which was actually quite amazing, as there are other animals in the home and their excitement levels were off the charts during the entire session.
Gizmo definitely has some serious issues that have to be addressed. But once the weather clears and we are able to work outside, helping him face and overcome those issues will be much easier. It’s hard to address big problems in a confined space that is shared with other animals, especially when those other animals are overly excited. But, I’m looking forward to the challenge; Gizmo is an incredibly smart dog who loves to learn, and I appreciate the opportunity to help him help himself and his owner, too.
Is Fido Bored?
It’s a fairly safe bet that almost every dog owner has probably experienced shredded shoes and clothing, chewed-up furniture [including cushions], and other really destructive behaviors from their dogs. I know I have – and I know how incredibly frustrating it can be, and how sometimes you just feel like there’s no hope of ever getting the dog to stop doing that.
But, guess what? There is a light at the end of the destruction tunnel!
In my experience, a destructive dog is a very bored dog. Just like humans do, dogs build up excess mental and physical energy that, if left unexpressed, can manifest in some very unpleasant ways, such as chewed up shoes, clothing, or furniture. So, just like humans seek physical and mental outlets for our built-up stress, dogs need a way to let go, too. If your “Fido” is being destructive, there’s a good chance that he or she is bored. Here are some ways you can help alleviate that boredom, and finally start gaining peace in your proverbial valley.
Give your dog a job. Carrying a weighted back-pack works wonders. Put a small, full water bottle in each side of the pack and have your dog carry it around for an hour or so. The weight of the pack forces the dog to focus on keeping the pack balanced, which is an excellent way to drain out excess mental and physical energy. By the time the hour is up, Fido will be too tired to get into any trouble.
Challenge your dog. If he’s really good at sniffing things out, you could enroll him in a nose-work course. If she loves to jump and catch things, you could get her involved in an agility course. Do things that challenge your dog’s natural skills and abilities; “feed the breed” as best you can, and you’ll have a very happy dog. A happy dog is a calm, non-destructive dog.
Exercise your dog. Letting Fido out in the back yard to run around and play is not exercise, and it most certainly won’t drain out excess mental energy. Leashing him up and actually walking him – that is how you exercise your dog. While you’re out walking, you can do a variety of things that mentally challenge him, such as changing direction or pace without giving him advanced warning, teaching him to heel, and the like. Large-breed, higher-energy dogs can be walked several times a day, every day, but if you’re not mentally challenging them, they may still be on the naughty list. They need mental challenges as well as the physical exercise.
If you want your dog to be happy, help them drain out their excess physical and mental energy. A happy, fulfilled dog won’t eat your shoes, tear up your furniture, or destroy your furniture, doors, walls, curtains or blinds, or anything else.
Have a great day, and remember to stay calm and lead on.
Happy Dawgs Obedience Training 