Jenga has hit his adolescent rebellion stage, so I've cut back his freedom and he's now tethered to me again. Here's the problem - when he's tethered to me, he suddenly becomes very anxious and fearful of objects he is normally okay with - my stools, my exercise ball, his crate door, brooms, etc.
I don't coddle him when he's reacting - I encourage him in a matter-of-fact sort of way ("okay let's go!"), and I've been trying to de-sensitize him to the objects he's reacting to (playing around them, feeding him near them, etc)...but I wanted to make sure this is the best way to tackle the issue, and am also just sort of curious if anyone has any thoughts as to why being tethered would cause that kind of behaviour?
Hopefully this fearfulness will pass - I was just nearly thrown down a flight of stairs when he was spooked by a broom at the top of the stairs - thankfully I was able to grab a railing in time and the leash snapped under the pressure (boy am I glad I was using a cotton leash instead of a leather one).
Also, is there such thing as an adolescent fear stage?
Yes, there is such a thing as the adolescent fear stage. And you are doing the right things by not reassuring him and by encouraging him to check out feared objects. He'll outgrow it soon. Keep up the good work.
Is he on a program of daily obedience training? What about nilif? The combination of obedience and nilif are confidence boosters. And, if he has basic obedience stills (come, sit, and down) you might consider agility lessons. They are a marvelous confidence booster as well as a great deal of fun.
He is doing daily obedience sessions, and he is pretty competent with the basics although I'm still working up his distraction level. He is also on the nilif program - I don't find him very dominant but routine makes having two dogs much easier to manage. He's very confident most of the time, especially in obedience lessons - but he does get uneasy around new objects, or objects that move funny or make strange/loud noises.
I am very much interested in agility - but he is a large breed dog and I thought I'd wait for him to finish growing first. He's just a year old.
Thanks for the reply - glad to hear I'm on the right track.
He is doing daily obedience sessions, and he is pretty competent with the basics although I'm still working up his distraction level. He is also on the nilif program - I don't find him very dominant but routine makes having two dogs much easier to manage. He's very confident most of the time, especially in obedience lessons - but he does get uneasy around new objects, or objects that move funny or make strange/loud noises.
I am very much interested in agility - but he is a large breed dog and I thought I'd wait for him to finish growing first. He's just a year old.
Thanks for the reply - glad to hear I'm on the right track.
You could start on agility lessons now as long as you could find the right instructor who starts off with obstacles at low heights and doesn't try and do too much too soon with the young ones. You can also start at home using things like plungers as weave poles and hula hoop as a kind of tire jump.
Jerri has been doing agility since she was 7 months old. There is plenty to learn without even starting jumping yet. Weaves, tunnels, chutes, the A frame set at a lower angle, the dog walk. With the jumps and tire jump they are set low enough that she either just steps over them or hops a little. It's been a great confidence builder for her. Just don't let an instructor push you into anything your dog isn't physically ready for.
lisa: jerri is beautiful! what an expression!! She looks like she feels on top fo the world. I am going to be starting to make some things in my yard this spring for Cody and Bindi to enjoy.
They love a challenge, so I think they will enjoy little things
to do out in their yard. I was just reading on a site a way to make some of the objects, and I loved your suggestion,or maybe it was someone else, about the plungers, loved the idea. I also heard about taking two boards painting them black, and painting the strips on , this was supposed to get little puppies used to the weave poles look, and then they run through. I think I will use something else though.
Love to hear all the suggestions and ways to make some obstacles that are home made, thanks for the ideas.
May God bless you.
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