Comments on: How do I get my dog to be calm? http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/ a dog blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:26:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23870 Lindsay Stordahl Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:03:19 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23870 I think the shock collar would work for Ace, I just haven't gotten around to buying one with a remote. He's trained on a shock collar for my parents Invisible Fence. I think the shock collar would work for Ace, I just haven’t gotten around to buying one with a remote. He’s trained on a shock collar for my parents Invisible Fence.

]]> By: Amanda Steiner http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23867 Amanda Steiner Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:34:53 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23867 I have en e-collar (shock collar) for Eli, and even that doesn't stop the whining when he is very excited. Usually the vibrate is all he needs whenever he is off leash, but that nor the actual shock does nothing for the whining. I have tried acupuncture a few times myself and it is great! I will let you know how it goes on the dog. I have en e-collar (shock collar) for Eli, and even that doesn’t stop the whining when he is very excited. Usually the vibrate is all he needs whenever he is off leash, but that nor the actual shock does nothing for the whining. I have tried acupuncture a few times myself and it is great! I will let you know how it goes on the dog.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23798 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:19:16 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23798 I agree that the hand over the dog's mouth doesn't work. It maybe works with dogs that are not as anxious. I think it is a matter of waiting until they relax completely before letting them out of the car. But when Ace is on his worst behavior, we are usually visiting someone or meeting someone or have friends or family along and they are not going to want to sit and wait for my dog to calm down. I have thought of using an e-collar with him but so far I just tolerate the behavior (and get very annoyed). I wouldn't have suggested acupuncture because I don't have any experience with it. You will have to let me know how that goes. I agree that the hand over the dog’s mouth doesn’t work. It maybe works with dogs that are not as anxious.

I think it is a matter of waiting until they relax completely before letting them out of the car. But when Ace is on his worst behavior, we are usually visiting someone or meeting someone or have friends or family along and they are not going to want to sit and wait for my dog to calm down. I have thought of using an e-collar with him but so far I just tolerate the behavior (and get very annoyed).

I wouldn’t have suggested acupuncture because I don’t have any experience with it. You will have to let me know how that goes.

]]> By: Amanda Steiner http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23790 Amanda Steiner Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:42:29 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23790 Roll over is one of his favorites....he plays dead too and gets very animated about that sometimes! Eli also does a lot of whining in the car, especially when we go to the dog park or even on the way to Lindenwood. He whines and starts shaking, even before we are at the park. I have even tried taking different routes, but there are only so many ways to get to once place and I think he's starting to recognize most of them. And like you said, there is no stopping it! I think the car is the most difficult place to control it because there's really not much you can do while you are driving. I have a shhh command I use when he barks that actually quiets him down, but does nothing for the whining. One trainer told me to put my hands over his mouth and tell him to stop...and when I told her I tried that and it doesn't work, she said I wasn't doing it right, but trust me, it doesn't work! Maybe it's just a matter of not letting him do anything while he's excited, and waiting until he is completely relaxed to let him out of the car. But some days I don't have 2 hours to wait until he relaxes. I am going to try acupuncture for him because sometimes his whining is out of control and maybe it will help him relax in general. My plan is to take him to acupuncture, and see if he is relaxed after wards, and then take him to places where he is most anxious. I'm hoping if I take him to these places after he is relaxed, then it will just turn into a behavior. I guess it's worth a try! Roll over is one of his favorites….he plays dead too and gets very animated about that sometimes! Eli also does a lot of whining in the car, especially when we go to the dog park or even on the way to Lindenwood. He whines and starts shaking, even before we are at the park. I have even tried taking different routes, but there are only so many ways to get to once place and I think he’s starting to recognize most of them. And like you said, there is no stopping it! I think the car is the most difficult place to control it because there’s really not much you can do while you are driving. I have a shhh command I use when he barks that actually quiets him down, but does nothing for the whining. One trainer told me to put my hands over his mouth and tell him to stop…and when I told her I tried that and it doesn’t work, she said I wasn’t doing it right, but trust me, it doesn’t work! Maybe it’s just a matter of not letting him do anything while he’s excited, and waiting until he is completely relaxed to let him out of the car. But some days I don’t have 2 hours to wait until he relaxes. I am going to try acupuncture for him because sometimes his whining is out of control and maybe it will help him relax in general. My plan is to take him to acupuncture, and see if he is relaxed after wards, and then take him to places where he is most anxious. I’m hoping if I take him to these places after he is relaxed, then it will just turn into a behavior. I guess it’s worth a try!

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23788 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:11:17 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23788 Also, I forgot to tell you that when Eli was here I was telling him to do things like roll over just to see what he knew, and he did it perfectly the first time I asked. I was impressed! Ace is very reluctant to roll over. Also, I forgot to tell you that when Eli was here I was telling him to do things like roll over just to see what he knew, and he did it perfectly the first time I asked. I was impressed! Ace is very reluctant to roll over.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23787 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:10:07 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23787 Ace frustrates me because I want him to be calmer at the door and when he meets other dogs, so thanks for the compliment! I took Eli to a nearby park and he did not do any whining there, even when we came across other dogs and people. Good boy! Ace will sometimes do the "whining routine" when we visit new places as well, especially in the car. When this happens I am usually unable to get him to stop crying. Any suggestions? I know it's a matter of taking him more places and not letting him out until he's calm, but he's at his worst when we go on short roadtrips to places like Detroit Lakes or Itasca State Park. He recognizes these places and gets extremely excited (panic attack crying and shaking!) but it's not like I can bring him to these places very often and practice teaching him to be calm. Taking him for a 10-mile bike ride before we go doesn't help either, I tried that! It's a state of mind, not a matter of how much exercise he's had. Ace frustrates me because I want him to be calmer at the door and when he meets other dogs, so thanks for the compliment!

I took Eli to a nearby park and he did not do any whining there, even when we came across other dogs and people. Good boy!

Ace will sometimes do the “whining routine” when we visit new places as well, especially in the car. When this happens I am usually unable to get him to stop crying. Any suggestions? I know it’s a matter of taking him more places and not letting him out until he’s calm, but he’s at his worst when we go on short roadtrips to places like Detroit Lakes or Itasca State Park. He recognizes these places and gets extremely excited (panic attack crying and shaking!) but it’s not like I can bring him to these places very often and practice teaching him to be calm. Taking him for a 10-mile bike ride before we go doesn’t help either, I tried that! It’s a state of mind, not a matter of how much exercise he’s had.

]]> By: Amanda Steiner http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-23783 Amanda Steiner Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:43:07 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-23783 After meeting Ace a few times, I am so impressed at how calm he is, (especially compared to my dog)! We exercise a lot, but he still gets so excited around new places, and does his anxious whining routine. I think I really need to do your 30-day challenge and take him to a new places every day and reward him for being calm. We tried that at Petsmart just a few days ago, and he did very well, until I asked him to relax in front of the cat cages...he was very unhappy about that :) After meeting Ace a few times, I am so impressed at how calm he is, (especially compared to my dog)! We exercise a lot, but he still gets so excited around new places, and does his anxious whining routine. I think I really need to do your 30-day challenge and take him to a new places every day and reward him for being calm. We tried that at Petsmart just a few days ago, and he did very well, until I asked him to relax in front of the cat cages…he was very unhappy about that :)

]]> By: Abz & Chels http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-6153 Abz & Chels Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:17:26 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-6153 Chels only gets comments on her size, and both get comments on their coat...I make it a point to compliment on well behaved dogs when Im out photographing .... the talk usually swings to training, methods and trainers ... mind you there are also alot of misbehaving dogs...I always feel Chels has to be better than others due to her size and looks... she can be intimidating especially if she is alert Chels only gets comments on her size, and both get comments on their coat…I make it a point to compliment on well behaved dogs when Im out photographing …. the talk usually swings to training, methods and trainers … mind you there are also alot of misbehaving dogs…I always feel Chels has to be better than others due to her size and looks… she can be intimidating especially if she is alert

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-6099 Cynthia Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:11:12 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-6099 That is a really good idea... I admire calm and well mannered dogs, too. Usually I get asked what breed my smooth collies are... usually the blues are mistakenly thought of as being Australian shepherd mixes. =P Not only aussies are blue! That is a really good idea… I admire calm and well mannered dogs, too. Usually I get asked what breed my smooth collies are… usually the blues are mistakenly thought of as being Australian shepherd mixes. =P Not only aussies are blue!

]]> By: Biggie-Z http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/#comment-6083 Biggie-Z Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:20:45 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-6083 re: Trooper, hahahaha! Our old Eskie would get super flirty with the women who'd do the baby voice. He'd go up to them and look up at them with this "I only have eyes fur YOU!" look and leeeaaaan ever so gently. re: Trooper, hahahaha!

Our old Eskie would get super flirty with the women who’d do the baby voice. He’d go up to them and look up at them with this “I only have eyes fur YOU!” look and leeeaaaan ever so gently.

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