Out for a leasurely stroll on a sunny autumn day and all of a sudden BARK!, BARK!, BARK! etc.
I'm looking around wondering what the heck is out there. Some loose dogs? Maybe a mugger? It took me a few moments to realize that it was in fact a giant inflatable Rudolph the Reindeer sitting on the lawn across from us...
Brodie must have thought it was some sort of godzilla-dog or giant killer deer.
I did a bit of on-the-spot dog training and on our return trip as we passed the same house all was calm. I'm curious if anyone else has had a similar experience where their dog reacts to a fake "something" as if it were real.
I think of this as "their job". Anything new or out of place might be "evil" and should be alerted. As long as a "good dog, that's okay" calms them, you are good.
One of my neighbors does his yard up for Halloween with witches and skeletons. Even has one zombi that drags it's body across the driveway.
Freaks Turbo the **** out.
I just tell him "Relax, buddy. Get over it." and then continue on about my business.
I think that attitude helps them get over crap like that. Making a big deal over something to show them it is no big deal accomplishes the opposite, IME. They see that the "thing" is a huge deal and deserves that much attention.
Not playing into it is JMO, though, and definitely not the only way of doing things. Just how I roll.:wink:
The Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth Minnesota terrified my IG. My son's bulldog couldn't "see it", he peed on it. The bulldog didn't "get it". The IG wanted to go back to the car.
I read somewhere that collie's somewhere back had sighthounds infused.
Melissa Hoyer Webboard User Reg: 05-09-2005
Posts: 1340
Loc: SE Michigan
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Yep, my pup did the same thing this Halloween. My in laws spend the whole month of October decorating their yard and Vigo would go over there to hang out with all the stuff. He did great with it until Halloween night when he wanted nothing to do with the smoke, music, and 700 kids plus their parents coming by.
So rather than completely remove him from the stimulus, I created a situation where he was under his threshold (not way, way over!) and he stayed in my husband's Jeep where he could see everyone and everything, but nothing could "get" him. He was a good boy in there and took turns people watching and sleeping. Had no problem getting people to sit with him in the car because the jeep was running and warm!
Worked out great and I quickly was able to turn a negative situation into a positive one for him.
One of my dogs barks at not only any dogs she sees on TV but other animals, as well, even CG dinosaurs on one program I was watching. One time, I was watching a reining horse competition, and they had a camera set up where the horse was running right toward it before coming to a sliding stop. The horse was running and running, the dog was barking and barking, and as the horse got "closer and closer," the dog was backing up across the living room.
That's one thing I cherish about owning dogs. Almost every day, they give me a reason to laugh.
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Anything new or out of place might be "evil" and should be alerted. As long as a "good dog, that's okay" calms them, you are good.
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