Pre - history:

My Dogs know since the beginning (except about two months learning process) the command "Fora". ("outside the house!¨ because osf husbands allergy) They know it perfectly, we have always been very consistent-)

But today for the first time since 4 years one of my Pits suddenly was in my room , where I work. I unexpectedly felt her fur on my leg. I said immediately "Fora" and she obeyed. I then went with her upstrairs and outside, cuddled her a bit and went back to my room.

She now was on the veranda and began to produce all different kinds of sounds I've never heard bevor from her- ( whining high and dark, sorts of barking, growling, lamenting, a mixture of all you can imagine) I went up there to check, because i didn't know the reason. I wanted to check if something was wrong with her- At the same time I knewe I might reinforce a behavior which was just meant to call me. But because she had never done this before, I had to look. I sat a bit wtih here, cuddled her and she was quiet.

Then i wanted to test this. I went away and she began again with her strange sounds, Same test, after being with her for a short time she went to one of her places and was quiet-.A third time same thing- she certainly waS without pain or discomfort, just wanted my presence.

Now, what should I do? Without doubt I can not reinforce this behavior. My solution - just in my mind - I could spend more time working on the veranda - but this BEFORE she begins whining etc., just to give her a bit more time of my presence with her. Then she will keep quiet. If I go to her. when she begins whining, I fear this will be reinforcing, It will be like she's giving me a commando to come,

What I don't get at all is why she is doing this now after 4 years the first time. She knows the rules, knows the rhythm. What am I doing wrong and what shoukl I change?

Seems like you have already reinforced the behaviors, but what do I know?

Maybe something in the neighborhood was bothering her? Either way she has certainly learned this new trick by now. I'd just ignore it and let it self extinguish if you can.

Yes, Melissa, I have without doubt reinforced the behavior. But what should I have done? If you hear such a strange behavior never heard before, you can not simply ignore it. You have only two choices: Either take the risk of reinforcing or neglect that the animal might be suffering from something more serious. The second choice had for me priority, I had to test it and now I know she was just calling for my presence. So from now on I can ignore it.

I actually needed to ignore it only once until now and since then she hasn't tried it again. But it's only a short time in between, so I don't know yet if this is already extinguished. But at least I know how I will have to react.

Cathy, of course there might have been something in the neighborhood which I myself could not hear nor percieve in an other way, something which only the dog could.
But normally, when something like that is going on they bark and run with a stiff raised tail to that spot. They wouldn't stop doing this just because I appear and start working on the veranda near to them.

Thank you both for trying to think about a possible cause. It's always helpful to be reminded of other possible reasons.

Happy New Year for you both and all the other participants of the Webboard.

A firm "NO" "QUIT" or whatever you use to let her know it's un acceptable.

You don't have to go outside to do this. Just open a door or window.

Some dogs will willingly take a correction as long as they get your attention.

I gave her my command from inside, immediately on the spot I saw her. She knows this and went then outside. I simply don't understand why she broke that rule after having followed it during almost 4 years. This seems very strange to me as we have never accepted it. We can leave the doors open and none of them came in until now. It was the first time Slippie broke that rule.

My girl Inga in her first heat got clingy and would demand attention. She would come over and lean on the person and seeking eye contact. We ignored it and if it got over the top and said Off . There is a difference between the I have to go to the bathroom look and this demanding attention look.

This is true, there are many different looks and sounds. The begging for attention of course is one of the most difficult ones not to fall into the trap of reinforcing. But as I explained I could not take the risk to leave her without examining if something was wrong with her. I have still no explanation why after 4 yrs the first time.

In between she doen't react any more like this. Hope she will have understood the original rules again.

Maybe she just had gas.

Very realistic! Who ever knows?