She was avoiding looking at you because you were a source of confusion and stress at that moment.

JMO!

And you figured that out! (You know how many don't?)

 Quote: connie sutherland

She was avoiding looking at you because you were a source of confusion and stress at that moment.

JMO!

And you figured that out! (You know how many don't?)

Figured it out with the help of the book "Calming Signals" by Turid Rugaas!

(An intro article... http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1 ...thought it might interest the OP).

Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/18/2011 06:30 PM)
Edit reason: fix link

Stuardt looks like a Bench Legged Feist to me! (Or Mountain Feist... same general dog)

Adorable! Treeing Mountain Feist image. Neat little dogs. My Dad had a few as a kid.

 Quote: tracy collins

He's a handsome dude!
The pushiness on his part simply requires an equal-or-greater amount of not giving in on your part. Make him EARN what he does get (the basic principle of "Nothing in Life is Free" training).
(does he have something appropriate to chew on in the crate?)

Thanks Tracy

We have seen the NILIF concept and employ it to some degree but will work to do it very consistently

On the crate (and separation) - we put a long chew treat bone in there with him and a rope toy the night he chewed out the plastic flooring, but he probably didn't touch it. If he gets stressed - like even if he is chewing on the bone happily and I get up to leave the room - he will stop chewing on it and not pick it up again even if I come back and sit down. If I pick it up and then hand it back to him - he might start chewing it again - otherwise he seems to fully lose interest. Not sure over hours if that would still be the case.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Can you leave and come back after a couple hours prior to your trip (at the weekend sitter's place?)

This: "like not obeying commands (while looking away as if he hears us but chooses not to") sounds like the reaction I've seen from stressed dogs. I'd consider whether he's not really understanding what's expected (for example, maybe under distraction or in a different venue).

Are you marker training?

Good suggestion on leaving and coming back to the sitter place Connie. It is about an hour drive away (so two hours to take him and come back home) so I don't think it is possible for us to go out there again today due to our schedules etc

We did drive out there with him once to survey the place and meet the owners and had a very positive experience with Stuardt where he was extremely calm submissive as we hung out talking (for nearly an hour) despite barking dogs in the kennels near by and other distractions. And that time he got to drive back home with us - so hopefully we created some kind of positive bond there (not sure if it works like that but sounds good hehe)

On marker training - this is something we are very interested in. He's smart and highly food motivated and we think he'll shine with Markers and positive reinforcement (as opposed to that "trainer" who seemed to work heavily with negative correction training). We have not put into a formal practice - were thinking of watching the DVD first before we try to do it officially - although I have been using "Yes" and a treat to reward at times so he's had some minor exposure already.

 Quote: melissa hoyer

Figured it out with the help of the book "Calming Signals" by Turid Rugaas!

Thanks Melissa - interesting you mention this - my wife just found a YouTube link of a woman who was talking about calming signals. I watched the video but have not looked more into Turid's original material yet.

I did try an experiment though - he was tied to our coffee table but kept peaking around the corner at me sitting in next room over. When he started looking at me - I would make a big yawn (not looking at him but just like I was yawning) and then he'd go sit in his little pillow bed near the table. I did this 2 or 3 times and he acted the same way. Dunno if that is how it is supposed to work but I thought it was an interesting effect. Will keep reading.

 Quote: Kelly Byrd

Stuardt looks like a Bench Legged Feist to me! (Or Mountain Feist... same general dog)

Thanks Kelly - The shelter where we adopted him did not know much about his history so it is quite possible he is a different breed. Our vet suggested the Jack R/MinPin mix but it's anyone's guess.

We live in Belgium - not sure how prevalent Feist's are round here - although we do have quite a lot of variety in breeds.

a few other random things I'll throw out about crates that might spark an idea.

--put him in the crate sometimes when you AREN'T leaving. If you walk by and he's calm, toss in a treat. (i.e. crates aren't just a place where I'm ignored.)

--put some high-value treats in the crate with the door closed. (i.e. Hey, let me in there! There's good stuff in there!)

--when you do put him in the crate, just put him in and walk away. No good-byes or "be a good boy, I won't be gone long, etc."

--ditto when you come back. Unless you think he's got a full bladder and can't hold it, don't immediately go let him out of the crate when you get home. Come in the house, put down your things, walk around (never speaking to the pup who may be howling "let me out of here!"). When he finally calms down, THEN let him out of the crate and greet him with all the enthusiasm you want.

The thing that's worked for me is to try and create a scenario where the people coming and going from the house (leaving the dog alone) is one of the LOWEST points of energy in the dog's day--not the HIGHEST. From the dog's point of view, nothing great happens at the time that people go or come. They come and go all the time and nothing ever happens. The good stuff happens at OTHER times of the day, especially when I'm calm.

It takes practice. And the resolution to wait out some howling fits. But they do catch on. Eventually, you can get to the point where you're able to walk in the house and the dog barely looks up to acknowledge--"oh, you're back already?"

Thanks Tracy for the crate suggestions - we'll make sure to put some of those best practices to use.

Just to update the thread... we took him to the kennel last Thursday and picked him up yesterday and he did brilliantly. They said he did not complain or whine too much - was quiet through the night, and got along with the other dogs during play time.

The only negatives is that he is a humper - and so they corrected him a few times as well as some of the other dogs who did not appreciate getting humped - but he seemed to get the message when warned.

They also described him as "bossy" - aka he definitely tries to get what he wants when he wants it but they did not give in to his demands and neither will we ! They also described him as a "live wire" in other words he can go from 0 to 60 in the snap of a finger... given his breed mix - that is not surprising (terrier, min pin etc)

Moving forward - we will continue with the groundwork training - with him in crate or on leash in the house. We are keeping things calm in the house without too much excitement generation and that seems to be working pretty well so far.

We are also going to start formal marker training - he is really responding well to the limited exercises we've done so far - so I think it will be something he can do well and it will help build our trust together and get him working his brain too.

I'm sure we'll hit roadblocks and have questions along the way - stay tuned

Jason: I have a jack russel mix as well and he is high, very high energy. Here is what has worked with him, of course consistency. Find out what you will allow and not allow and keep at it. My Cody can go from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds, so I understand what you are finding in your little dog. One thing I have found is that ruff handling does not go well with any dog of course but especially with these little guys. They only get hyped up more and out of control. So it is good you did not go with that trainer. I agree with the other comments, he sounded very unusual to me and I would never leave my dog with anyone I did not know or probably anyone for that matter, well maybe Ed Frawley or Connie. I would always be there to watch what went on. So good instincts!
One other thing that has helped Cody is the treadmill. He has to be on it besides the walks he could get daily. And his mind has to be stimulated so play and training keeps his mind occupied so he doesn't have to think up things to do, or get restless. That's when trouble begins to brew.
But he is a joy and I am sure you will enjoy the intense desire of your new little guy.
Blessings to your training! Sharon

Thanks Sharon - good to know about "rough handling"

good tip on the treadmill as well - we were considering getting one - especially considering Belgium is often very rainy! We have been spoiled the last month or so with 70 degree sunny days but it won't last.

Do you just do one session a day ? How long ?