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/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/comment-page-1/#comment-138525 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:29:49 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-138525 It's frustrating when other people only add to the problem. People do that with my dog Ace who is nuts about a tennis ball. Instead of helping him calm down, people are very entertained by his obsessiveness and keep talking to him and throwing the ball and getting him excited. I'm fostering an American Eskimo, and he is scared of strangers and will growl if someone pulls on his collar or reaches at him in a certain way. Apparently the words "Please don't pet my dog. He doesn't always like strangers" are not enough to stop people from reaching at him. It’s frustrating when other people only add to the problem. People do that with my dog Ace who is nuts about a tennis ball. Instead of helping him calm down, people are very entertained by his obsessiveness and keep talking to him and throwing the ball and getting him excited.

I’m fostering an American Eskimo, and he is scared of strangers and will growl if someone pulls on his collar or reaches at him in a certain way. Apparently the words “Please don’t pet my dog. He doesn’t always like strangers” are not enough to stop people from reaching at him.

]]> By: Laura http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/comment-page-1/#comment-138360 Laura Wed, 06 Jul 2011 07:30:35 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=2093#comment-138360 Our peke mix, Stella is either really protective, excited, or scared around strangers. Yet she's so small that everybody thinks it's cute. When bringing her home for the first time, we stopped at a Runnings to get her a bigger collar, and I took her out in the field next to the store to let her go to the bathroom and walk around a bit. We got closer to the store, and she started barking at people. One guy said "She's the store's guard dog! How cute!" No, not cute dude, she would probably rip your leg off if I let her off the leash. Then when visiting my brother's college, we had her out and she was barking at people passing by. Some guys were "barking" back at her.(Yeah, that helps!) Two girls walked away quickly, one even said "Woah, psycho dog". Then my brother's friend came over and kicked her for biting his leg when he came into the house(Mind you, she's a 14 pound dog, so she slid across the room). What he doesn't understand is that he just confirmed her fear that strangers were going to hurt her. She's a wonderful dog everywhere else, with anything else, but just not people she doesn't know. Therefore, I always see dogs that are so well-behaved and honestly, I'm a little jealous. It's difficult, but we're working on her, although she did break skin a little bit on my other brother's friend. Even when we gave him a treat to give to her, she ate the treat and then bit him. The breaking skin may have been due to the fact that he jumped back in surprise, but it's still unacceptable. It especially stinks when ding dong ditchers who think they're being funny ring the doorbell several times a day. Usually we pick her up and put her in her kennel, and don't let her out until she's calmed down and has stopped scratching at the door. Our peke mix, Stella is either really protective, excited, or scared around strangers. Yet she’s so small that everybody thinks it’s cute. When bringing her home for the first time, we stopped at a Runnings to get her a bigger collar, and I took her out in the field next to the store to let her go to the bathroom and walk around a bit. We got closer to the store, and she started barking at people. One guy said “She’s the store’s guard dog! How cute!” No, not cute dude, she would probably rip your leg off if I let her off the leash.

Then when visiting my brother’s college, we had her out and she was barking at people passing by. Some guys were “barking” back at her.(Yeah, that helps!) Two girls walked away quickly, one even said “Woah, psycho dog”.

Then my brother’s friend came over and kicked her for biting his leg when he came into the house(Mind you, she’s a 14 pound dog, so she slid across the room). What he doesn’t understand is that he just confirmed her fear that strangers were going to hurt her.

She’s a wonderful dog everywhere else, with anything else, but just not people she doesn’t know. Therefore, I always see dogs that are so well-behaved and honestly, I’m a little jealous. It’s difficult, but we’re working on her, although she did break skin a little bit on my other brother’s friend. Even when we gave him a treat to give to her, she ate the treat and then bit him. The breaking skin may have been due to the fact that he jumped back in surprise, but it’s still unacceptable.

It especially stinks when ding dong ditchers who think they’re being funny ring the doorbell several times a day. Usually we pick her up and put her in her kennel, and don’t let her out until she’s calmed down and has stopped scratching at the door.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/12/17/how-do-i-get-my-dog-to-be-calm/comment-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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

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