Dear Forum trainers. I take bindi to training each week. She likes the trainer and one day the trainer was petting her and took both her hands and was ruffling bindi's fur back and forth on each of her sides. Bindi was fine for a moment and then she cried. From that point on now bindi will make little cries when the trainer or someone she is not sure of pets her.
I would like to rid her of this fear. what suggestion do you have for me for her? I am afraid this fear will interfere in her standing and being examined in her "Good Citizen test" and any work she may do in the ring (Rally O) in the future.
Any suggestions?
Thanks. Bindi is the dog in the middle of this picture. A mixed terrier, about 4 years old, rescued at 1 year old. Been in training for about 2 months. (trained with positive methods)
Thanks

did you figure out what made her cry out?

There were no bruises, nothing that looked like it could hurt her, no scratch. I think it was just rougher than Bindi is used to. And afterward bindi went right back to her like she wanted to greet her. so, its strange. The next time we went to training I noticed that bindi whined a little while she per her, even when she didn't pet her on her sides.
So the trainer goes easy on her. Last week the trainers husband went to pet her and touched her sides to pet her, fluffling her hair again, and she whimpered at him too. Its like she is talking to him and to the trainer when they do it. Its weird. But that is all we could figure out.
So I am stumped.

Sharon

I would take her for a check up with the vet and just rule out anything physical...

Have you tried petting her the way the trainer does to see if it's fear as you suspect or there isn't something physically wrong? I would try and recreate the motion to determine if it's a fear of strangers touching her. Maybe you can ask someone else (or several someoene's)to pet her in the same way to get a better sampling.

Yes, I have done it and she doesn't mind. But she trusts me. She loves people and has many human friends on the route we walk. She can hardly wait to see them. One of them did pet her like that and she did whimper a little. But never moved away and the next time she saw her she ran right to her and sat waiting for the pets. I told her to try and not pet her on both sides at once like ruffling her fur and told her why. So, Bindi enjoyed being petted another way. My husband can pet her on both her sides at once too. My husband wondered if it could have been in reaction to her foster mom. She was a nice lady but always was very rowdy with bindi. When Bindi saw her after being with us for a few months, she crawled along the floor and acted fearful. However, we do not know what could have caused it. We have had her for about 3-4 years now and this is the first time she has responded this way.
My main desire is to help her overcome this. She is the greatest little dog. Loves kids, people now, (used to be afraid of them). She loves to learn and will do anything she can to please you.
I want her to enjoy what she does and not be worried. Normally I am not that interested in her being touched by other people but in order for her to pass her "Good
Citizen" test, she has to allow others to pet and and not shy away and to allow others to brush her and stand for inspection.
Any way, that is what has happened with the trainer and her husband.
thanks Sharon

Well than, it could be association with her previous foster mom and she doesn't like the rough handling. I have a terrier mix and she is fearful of people petting her and getting too touchy with her. I can get rough with her but no one else can. She reacts by running off. As for desensitizing her...that might be a difficult one. She may just feel comfortable being touched gently. I've never tested for CGC, but I wouldn't think they would be roughing the dog up too much.

I am sure they wouldn't handle Bindi roughly, but she might think they are going to and then shy away. That is what I am trying to avoid. Well, thanks, I will think on it more and try and come up with something. Maybe just the more people that do touch her gently will help her to get over it. We'll see. thanks sharon

 Quote: Sharon Empson

She loves people and has many human friends on the route we walk. She can hardly wait to see them.

Hey Sharon, do you think that maybe she could just be getting really excited and this is her reaction. I know some dogs make some funny noises.

Two hands on both sides of her, probably almost as big as her, scruffing her up, could be pretty stimulating.

 Quote: Sharon Empson

And afterward bindi went right back to her like she wanted to greet her.

Sound kind of like...okay that was fun, now I'm excited. And she remembered this exciting person the next time, just seeing her got her vocalizing.

 Quote: Sharon Empson

The next time we went to training I noticed that bindi whined a little while she per her, even when she didn't pet her on her sides.

If you've ruled out anything physical, this sounds to me like one happy, active, vocal little pup. Maybe the crying, whimpering, whining is her way of expressing that stimulated excitement.

If I remember correctly, you're working on them not barking. Could this be her trying to retain some manners yet kind of just exploding with a need to vocalize her enjoyment?

If it was my pup, I would probably have the trainer start slow and greet her gently. Let her know you're training for the CGC and working on her calm stand. See if she has any tips to help desensitize her to this.

Does she get any exercise before training? Maybe draining some of that energy beforehand might help while you're figuring this out.

She sounds like a great little pup, good luck with the CGC!

CJ has a good point in that it is very hard to know why Bindi reacted the way she did just from a typewritten description. But assuming there is no physical reason and that this is fear or stress (or even if it is excitement and you want to teach her to be more calm), I would take a marker training approach to desensitizing her to being touched. I went through something similar with my own rescue dog who was fearful of being touched by people, and this was my process:

Enlist the help of a few friends, at this point, preferably someone Bindi is at least somewhat familiar with. Have her on a leash, stand in front of her, and you might even want to start with her sitting. Ask your helper to approach and touch her very gently on the back, just for a second or two and step back. If Bindi is calm, mark (or click if that is what you use) and reward. When she is comfortable at this stage, gradually have your helpers touch her a little longer, maybe an actual light stroke down the back, or a brief touch to the head, withers and rump as they would do in novice obedience. It's a gradual process, one step at a time, progressing only as the dog seems comfortable. Lots of marking and rewarding for calmness!

I would avoid letting anyone ruffle her sides as you described. You don't want to have to go back to square one. In rally (at least AKC which is the venue I'm familiar with) no one will ever touch your dog. You're right that she will have to allow petting and touch for the CGC, but there shouldn't be anything heavy or rough. She will have to allow the evaluator to use a brush on her as if she were at a groomer's, and you are allowed and encouraged to bring your own brush or comb, and the evaluator will probably pick up each front foot gently.

This is just what worked for my dog, and might be helpful with Bindi, too. Good luck!