Distractions

     On our very first walk in the park, there were signs that Henry had a problem with other dogs. He would bark hysterically when he saw another dog. And if he got close enough he would make a dominant move like mounting or nipping the back. The signals were loud and clear but it took me a week to finally accept that he had a problem. So whenever Henry had a bad reaction to another dog I put him on his side in a submissive position. I was not very good at this at first. Sometimes it took a minute of wrestling.
      I contacted Ann from Northeast Coonhound Rescue for advice. She agreed to have Henry come once a week and play with the other coonhounds. The idea was to keep him exposed to other dogs so he could eventually learn to behave nicely. His first time there he needed a lot of corrections whenever he was not being nice to the other dogs. After an hour he settled down and behaved. His second time I had to put him in a submissive position right when we arrived, but he played nicely after that. The last time we went, he behaved well right from the start, needing only few and minor corrections.
     I also contacted a doggie day care center, disclosed Henry's issues and asked if they would take him or if they had other suggestions to help with his socialization. They recommended bringing him to day care. The day care manager is also a professional trainer. As soon as we arrived, Henry reacted badly to another dog although both were on different sides of a fence. In one second, the manager had Henry on his side, submissive. Shortly after Henry entered the play area he tried to dominate a smaller dog and the manager put him on his side again. I noticed how he handled Henry as he did this and my own technique improved after that.
     When Henry was out for a walk and reacted to another dog I would put him in a submissive position. My time got down to 5 seconds. And I don't know if Henry got the message but I felt great about it, I was in control, not helpless about Henry's bad behavior. But as time passed Henry's reactions did not seem to change and I wondered whether I was being effective. Nothing would break Henry's attention from the other dog. Often, he would continue barking as he was on his side with his tail between his legs.
     Henry barked a lot in general. At everything and at nothing. He would look at the horizon and bark, then look at some other point on the horizon and bark. After being with us for about two weeks he started barking at cars. However, I was able to distract him with treats when he barked at cars. Then I decided that on our walks, I would not wait for him to start barking. As soon as I saw a car coming I would call him, make him sit calmly and give him treats until the car passed. I started doing this when he would bark at nothing, too. The walks became much more fun and relaxed.
     I hoped that one day I could distract him with treats when he saw another dog. So in preparation for that day, whenever we were outside, I would call him to me periodically, sometimes every ten steps, make him sit nicely and give him a treat. I started walking him alone, without Zico. That made it easier for me to see things, like cars or dogs, and get treats out before Henry started barking.
     We went to the park and Henry started barking at a dog in the distance. Through a combination of waving treats under his nose and walking in the opposite direction, Henry eventually stopped barking and sat for the treats. Then we were surprised from behind by Sparky. Henry went off again. I put him on his side. He calmed down, then I let him up and he sat for treats with both of the other dogs in view.
     The next day at the park we saw Bodie. Henry started barking but I succeeded in distracting him. And he stayed distracted right up to the point when Bodie sauntered up next to him. Henry and Bodie enjoyed a few treats together and when I stopped offering treats they both stayed calm and relaxed. Bodie's mom generously offered a play date for the dogs to help with Henry's socialization. We scheduled it for this morning.
     Immediately beforehand, Henry and I ran for 3.5 miles. We passed a few dogs and he pulled on the leash but I sped up and there was no barking. The run stopped right in front of Bodie's house. He was in a fenced yard behind the house. Henry and I approached slowly. Henry was eager to get to Bodie but I kept calling him to me and giving  him a treat every few steps until he entered the yard. And the dogs played very nicely. I have seen Bodie many times with other dogs. He is very well mannered and gentle. I gave Henry a few corrections but stopped after I saw Bodie stand up for himself when necessary. Then, if I thought things were getting too rough, I called them both to me to sit calmly for a treat.
     While we were there, Bodie's mom got a call from Nikki's mom. Nikki was headed to the park and suggested we join her. Bodie walked ahead so I could periodically give treats to Henry. We inched closer and closer to Nikki from 200 feet away. This was a more difficult case then Bodie. Henry and Bodie had a few positive interactions prior to this day. But Henry had only bad interactions with Nikki. Henry started barking a few times. If it was just one or two barks I would start running to distract him. If he was barking non-stop, I put him on his side.
     It took about 10 minutes to get within 30 feet of Nikki. While Henry was sitting calmly, receiving treats, Nikki approached us. I kept giving Henry treats, one after the other, until Nikki came right up to my hand for a treat. Then, both dogs ate treats out of my hand. When I stopped feeding them, Henry made a dominant move. I yanked the leash just hard enough to get his attention, then put a handful of treats under his nose. When he was calm, he received a treat, and soon he and Nikki were sniffing each other and then ignoring each other.
    This is a great day for Henry. It shows that an amateur such as myself can properly train a problem dog. It shows that Henry can and will learn to approach other dogs nicely. I will have to repeat this process many more times with many more dogs. (On our way home, Henry did bark at a few other dogs.) But right now I am so proud of Henry's progress on his most problematic issue.

How Zico Got His Mojo Back

 

Zico defends a squeaky toy

   
     Before Henry arrived there was some concern about how Zico would behave. Although normally he behaves well, sometimes he dominates other dogs. Their first meeting went great. It took place outdoors, in a fenced-in area and they were both off-leash. They played well together right from the start. Henry did not bark or challenge Zico, as he normally does with every other dog. Zico did try to mount Henry once, but I corrected Z and they went back to playing nicely.
     After Henry entered our  home they continued to get along well. But if Henry got too close when Zico had a toy, Zico would growl and Henry would back off. Sometimes Henry would just be too rambunctious and invade Z's space. Zico would growl and Henry would back off. Janelle and I would usually correct a growl, and as time passed we heard fewer of them. The dogs seemed to learn each other's limits.
     Janelle brought home 2 toys one day; one for Henry and one for Zico. (Her idea.) The dogs played with their own toys for a few minutes. But then Henry snatched Zico's toy. Janelle yelled at Henry. And Zico lay down and lowered his head. It seemed that Zico thought Janelle was yelling at him. Janelle took the toy away from Henry and gave it to Zico. He didn't want it anymore. Not then and not later.
     For the next few days Zico seemed visibly cowed. Henry was dominating him in small and subtle ways. When Henry moved toward a toy, Zico let him have it. When Henry got on the couch, Zico got off. The dogs usually eat in separate rooms but when I let Henry out before Zico was done eating, Henry rushed Zico's bowl and Zico let him have it with no protest. That was difficult to watch. Zico is protective of his food when other dogs are concerned. But now he looked defeated and humiliated. I did not see him touch any dog toy for two days.
     Every time there had been an altercation between the dogs, we corrected Zico. And the two-toy incident broke him. Zico was letting Henry dominate him because he expected us to punish him if he stood up to Henry. We resolved to let Zico behave as he saw fit toward Henry.
     Henry has a dominance problem with other dogs. (He never tried to dominate Zico before the two-toy incident.) So when Henry reacts badly to another dog, I put him on his side in a submissive position until he calms down. Zico witnessed this several times. Maybe that's when he began to understand that Henry was not in charge.

Henry & Ashley

     Henry and Zico went to Northeast Coonhound Rescue so Henry can play with other coonhounds and help with his socialization. While Henry was romping with Ashley, Zico found a squeaky toy lying on the ground. And he claimed it. When Henry came near it, Zico growled and Henry backed off. Several times.
     Back home, Zico picked up a squeaky toy from the two-toy incident. It was the first time I had seen him touch it since the incident. Henry approached. I was facing away so they would think I was not interested in the proceedings but I did follow the action by looking sideways with my eyes. Zico growled and immediately looked at me to see my reaction. I was a statue. Henry backed off.
     A few minutes later, Zico had dropped the toy and both dogs rushed for it. They both got a hold on it. There was a brief tug-o-war. But not a very physical one. Zico growled and Henry let go. Henry did not get a third chance. Five minutes later, Zico had ripped the toy apart.

Zico with the shell and innards of a toy that will never squeak again

     Zico is back to his old self. He has been invaluable in helping with Henry's training. And no coonhound is allowed to walk all over him.
   

Snap

     There have been four instances of Henry nipping other dogs, and the other dogs made it clear that this behavior was not welcome. And whenever Henry sees another dog, he barks and pulls on his leash. This, as was later explained to me, is very uncharacteristic of coonhounds. Normally, coonhounds just wag their tails and greet other dogs like friends. Last week Henry met Charlie, a sweet-natured 9 year old poodle. Henry snapped at Charlie, showing his teeth, for no obvious reason. That was very disappointing. Charlie is another of Zico's pals so I was hoping they would get along. It became all too clear that Henry has a problem with other dogs. Adding to the disappointment, I can not subject the other dogs and dog owners to Henry's behavior. And not taking the dogs to places where we are likely to encounter other dogs impacts Zico.
     I called Ann from Northeast Coonhound Rescue for advice and she agreed to getting Henry together with a few other coonhounds to help with his socialization. Zico was invited too. So we drove up to Lexington and let Henry and Zico play with Ashley and Terri, two recently arrived female coonhounds looking for foster homes and forever homes. All the dogs were off-leash in a big fenced yard. Henry had moments of behaving badly, such as trying to mount or standing in front of one of the females and barking. This was alternating with moments of normal playful romping. Sometimes I would correct Henry with a tap or by standing between him and another dog. More often, I was too far away to correct him, but Ashley and Terri learned to stand up to him.
     At one point, after being there almost an hour, all four dogs were barking at each other in a very unpleasant way so I intervened. I stood in front of Henry. The other dogs ran away and quieted down. I reached down for Henry's collar, expecting to have to catch him and prevent him from chasing the others. But he held still for me. I turned him around so that he was not facing the others, not looking at them. And I don't know what inspired me to do this, but I put both arms around him in a firm embrace. He did not struggle and after a few moments I could feel him relaxing. I released him, expecting him to run and join the others. But he didn't. Something had changed. Henry started walking around the yard, calmly minding his own business, not interacting with the other dogs. It was more than I could have hoped for. Maybe Henry needs an hour or so with a new dog before he can relax and behave.
     So Henry has a problem. Not an extreme problem, he has never bitten anyone or another dog. And we have seen that he also can behave properly with other dogs. I contacted a local doggie day care center and briefly explained the situation. They agreed to take him. I hope (and they believe) that this will help him become better socialized. There are plenty of dogs in homes who behave worse than Henry. And I am confident that with the right guidance Henry will learn to interact better with other dogs. In fact, I believe that Henry could be adopted today to a family that would commit to working on his socializing. Inside the house he is as good a dog as anyone could ever want. And he gets along wonderfully with Zico. (Interestingly, he and Zico hit it off right away.) Henry has learned so much in the past two weeks about behaving nicely indoors. When he learns to mind his manners with other dogs he will be a perfect family member.

Morning

     At 6:20 AM I poke my head in the spare room to check on the dogs. They are sleeping side by side on the couch. Henry is no longer confined to the crate at night. Zico sleeps wherever he likes and he likes sleeping next to Henry. Henry does not stir as I look in on them. Only as I mill about the house getting ready to take them out, does Henry start to wake up. He takes his time, stretching and yawning. Watching both dogs stretch and yawn is adorable and I hope to get it on camera soon.
     Zico is on a 6' lead attached to his collar. Henry is on a 4' lead with a front attaching harness. Henry tends to rush out the door but he has to wait nicely as I open the door and exit first. The dogs follow, no one pulls. As we approach the first street that we have to cross, they stay at the curb. No tension on the leash, they wait for me to start moving before they finally cross the street. Good boys. Ahead, we hear a dog barking in someone's yard. I know this yard. There are two dogs that bark at Zico whenever we go by. And the normally relaxed Zico gets wound up by these two. Henry starts barking back and pulling on the leash. So we change direction before getting anywhere near that yard and Henry eventually settles down. One yard has a stone wall and a stairway that leads from the sidewalk to the front door of the house is hidden by the wall. As we pass the stairway we surprise a dog, and are surprised by him. Henry lunges but I keep moving and he does not bark and stops pulling after a few steps. Further on we hear barking from somewhere but Henry ignores it this time. But at a certain point Henry goes ballistic. I can not see what he is barking at. Nothing calms him down so I just keep moving. He does eventually stop but I always feel bad for disturbing the neighbors. We reach our destination, a wooded area.  Zico is off-leash. Henry switches from a leash to a 20' lead. He have a nice walk until he sees a squirrel. Then he fulfills his purpose: barking up a tree.
     Walking back home, there is a cat eating something in the middle of the street. Henry pulls on the leash, desperate to get that cat. Even Zico, who normally knows the limits of his leash, pulls. The cat crouches low but does not retreat. But there is no barking and we move on.
     Back home, I prepare a bowl of food for each of them. Henry has learned to keep a respectful distance as I put food in his bowl, although he is clearly excited. The dogs eat separately. I leave Zico's food where he can't reach it and take Henry into another room. He is overexcited but must wait. Only when he sits calmly does he get his breakfast. (One day, when I have the time, he will learn to relax completely before feeding.) As he eats, I leave him alone in the room and give Zico his own bowl. When both are done eating, I let Henry out of the room and the first thing both dogs do is to check the other dog's bowl.