Ok, this month I am feeling like the walls are caving in on me dog-wise. We are having some issues with Diek's prey drive. He is really interested in the kids. On foot, on bikes, sitting on the couch, everywhere but in his crate he wants to chase them.
We have enforced a strict no run, no bike, no swing, no squeal rule, but it isn't helping yet. We are working on ob around the kids, still teathered, kids are treat dispensing when he is crated under close supervision (he likes that and sits very nice before the treat pops through the slats- is this hurting my efforts?)But, once out of the crate it's like someone let a bunny out in front of him.
We have worked our way up from trying distraction, to removing him for a moment to collar correction. The last attempt ended up in him grabbing my pant leg out of frustration. We are now just keeping them separate period. This isn't a pemanent solution but I'd like some advice on how to go about finding one!

Give the kids a ball to throw for him! It will take his attention off of chasing them, allow them to do something constructive with him and tire him out!!

I did this all the time with Missy. She was good with kids, but her drive would kick in if they stated running around and she'd want to run around, head them off, etc. But give her a ball and she her only focus was getting one of them to throw it for her.

Thanks Mara! That is our ultimate goal, but as of now, it is leash only around them. He will sit for pets, but even walking sends him into "run 'em down" mode. We have been having the kids throw from outside of his long line radius, but it seems the movement involved with throwing the ball gets him riled. He doesn't know whether to stay and try to chase the kid or go for the ball.
I got the kid thing done with Haz- he was the same way and a ball worked well for him, but Dieks is a whole different personality. When he does decide to focus, he really focuses.

Sounds like a handful, I'm trying to remember exactly what I had Angie do when Hobbes would get over stimulated when he was a adolescent. Oh yes, we had her pretend to as boring as possible, moving very slowly and if he got wound up to freeze until he calmed down. Then she could give him a treat and pet. Eventually he figured out she would only give him attention and play when he was calm. Of course, he was leashed around her when we did this. I might be way off base too but this worked for us. The no run, bike, squeal etc are also essentials. Keep trying the ball and other things until you find something that works.

I'm trying to envision a training scenario that may work - I'll be honest and say I'm just pulling this one out of my a**. Imo it sounds like herding behavior that needs positive reinforcement steering in a new direction.

I'm thinking of structured counter conditioning here with optional redirection - ( All of this is done under watchful supervision close by )

Pup gets tethered to a fixed object like a fence, post, other immovable object on a long lead. Child enters the picture with high value treats in hand. Child walks around slowly out of pups reach, pup reacts and child stops, turns around and ignores him. Or , pup doesn't react and treat is given, go for a few more times at the same pace, as long as no reaction then treats given. With a reaction then it goes to ignoring and back to square one. After one speed is proofed the ante is upped a little bit to slightly faster movement. Etc and so on until you have a bunch of kids running around with no reaction. All of this is done in small increments, any reactions it needs to be taken two steps backward then continue. Training sessions probably around 10-15 minutes multiple times a day.

After he understands and has the hang of it, then more kids and sounds could be added to the equation like squealing , laughing, etc. Things that get his drive going. Rewards for good behavior, ignoring for unwanted behavior by everyone.

An optional part of this is incorporating Mara's suggestion. When he has no reaction to bodily movement just add the ball throw to an area within his reach. Getting the ball gets him a treat, going after the throwee gets him ignored. Obviously multiple balls will have to be used. (not tennis balls!)

Opinions?

 Quote: amy vandeweerd

Thanks Mara! That is our ultimate goal, but as of now, it is leash only around them. He will sit for pets, but even walking sends him into "run 'em down" mode. We have been having the kids throw from outside of his long line radius, but it seems the movement involved with throwing the ball gets him riled. He doesn't know whether to stay and try to chase the kid or go for the ball.
I got the kid thing done with Haz- he was the same way and a ball worked well for him, but Dieks is a whole different personality. When he does decide to focus, he really focuses.

I'm a little confused reading this... But maybe it's a Saturdy marning thing

Does Dieks play fetch with you with no kids present?

What are you doing with him right now to give him an outlet for his drive?

How much exercise does he get in a day?

It sounds like he's confused while he's on the long line - "do I focus on the person or chase the ball or kid?"

I don't like the idea of a child throwing a ball while outside the dgs radius. Both the child and the ball can be stimulating so it might actually be building drive to chase the kid if it's not done right.

I would much rather get a dog solid on a fetch game or other suitable outlet for his drive before adding the kids into the picture. So he's in the "let's play ball" mentality when you go outside with your child, then the child just stands with you and throws the ball for him.

Remember, all these steps need to be taught! Get him in a good routine of going outside and focused on appropriate exercise before adding a child into the picture. Figure out wht you want his exercise routine to look like, then break it in trainable steps.

Have you heard of the book "control unleashed"? It's got some great, clearly explained ideas for training self control/impulse control.

 Quote: amy vandeweerd

He will sit for pets, but even walking sends him into "run 'em down" mode.

Just something else to add about this - I think you might be letting him focus on the child too much - the kid walks up with a treat and he gets excited, he gets the treats, kids walks away he's focused on a kid that's now out of his reach thinking "must get to the kid".

I think I'd be working more toward "ignore the kid, focus on me" with him. If he's not watching the kid, he's not getting hyped up into a "chase the kid" mode.

I'd run him good, then do focus training with high value treats. When he is doing good with thsoe training sessions, then add kid distractions in the background. when he's focusing good with the kid distractions, then they can come up and offer him a treat (having him sit or down for them first) then he refocuses on you and child walks away.