New Schedule

[Brandy's Mom]

Hi Everyone,
Well, I just got a new job after being unemployed for 8 1/2 months and Brandy is doing ok but struggling some. My biggest problem is her nipping bc she's mad I'm gone now during the day. I'm up extra early to make sure we have time to play ball before I go, and she's not alone most of the day, as my hubby works from home. So, she has it pretty good, as he plays with her inside and out and has her outside on the line. I walk her when I get home and then we play more ball after the humans have had dinner. All of this though has not yet ended the nipping of both of us when she's acting out. It used to be me who she nipped as she's gotten into adolecence, but now both of us since I went back to work. I did get up one morning even earlier and walked her bc I had dinner plans w/ friends after work, but maybe she needs a walk every morning? Not sure beyond correcting her what I should do, so any thoughts are appreciated. And she's also having issues too lately with outside recall. She was great up until a few weeks ago and I've been struggling w/ that some too. Have been working on that outside w/ treats, but when she's playing w/ the neighbor's dogs and it's on our way out for a walk she's gotten too close to the road or out of her collar and not listened very well at all. Last night she scared the crap out of me as she was an inch from the road, doing the typical sheltie chase me game w/ one of their beagles and she did not listen to my come command or car (something I taught her so when I say car and we're walking on the road she gets over). I know it takes time to get used to a new schedule, especially one with such a big change, but I want to do whatever I can to help her adjust as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your suggestions, as I need all the help I can get!!!

 

[Ann]

First, congratulations on your new job! That's good news indeed.

How old is Brandy? It sounds as if she's young from your post. If so (and even if not) what you're experiencing if she's nipping at your feet is typical Sheltie herding. All three of mine do it. It can be maddening, but it's Sheltie behavior. You are her "herd" and she's herding you back to the house! I try to discourage it with a firm NO but I admit with not much success.

Especially if Brandy is young, I'd say be very careful with her outside unless she's in a fenced area. The Chase Me game is a favorite at that age, and the more you try to catch her, the worse she'll get. Even the best puppy goes through a phase when they'll test you because it's fun.

First, make sure you've a collar on her that she can't slip -- a martingale, perhaps. There are several threads on here about them. Next, if you take her outside in a fenced area, attach a long leash to her collar and let her go. When you call her and she doesn't respond and runs past you, step on the leash and you've got her. Reel her in and treat her to reinforce the recall.

I don't recommend ever letting a young dog or a dog without excellent recall loose without a leash in an unfenced area. Even a dog with great recall can be distracted by a squirrel and before you know it, they're in the road or gone. It's just too risky.

Hope this helps!

 

[Caro]

I've got a dog that throws a huge tantrum every time I leave the house without him so I can sympathise. Its darn hard for a sheepdog when one of their flock breaks away.

However my dogs have learnt to love my leaving because they always get food. When I am working or if I am going out for a long time I hide their breakfast (or dinner) around the house so they have to search for it - they looove this game. I lock them in one room while I hide the food (and finish getting ready) and just before I head out the door I let them out and say 'treasure hunt' and they are off looking for food and could care less that I walk out the door! If I dont have the time to hide the food I put their kibble into a treat bottle as I leave. And if I am in a really, really big hurry I throw a handful of kibble behind me as I rush out.

 

[corbinam]

I do the same thing as Caro. My pups either get a treasure hunt (treats hidden all around the house) or a kong full of goodies when we leave. They have never shown any separation anxiety because I make sure to make them happy when I go! In fact, they tear around the house trying to find treats...I don't think they even notice me leave anymore.

 

[Katherine]

My biggest problem is her nipping bc she's mad I'm gone now during the day. All of this though has not yet ended the nipping of both of us when she's acting out. *:

I'm not clear from what you've said what is going on. Is she nipping at your ankles when you're walking or running (herding behavior) or is this because she is getting too excited? Presuming it's herding behavior: I think that the suggestions for a diversionary treasure hunt are good, if you're leaving the house.

You can also work on an alternate behavior such as a hand touch. My dog liked to nip my ankles when I came back inside from getting the newspaper. I taught him a hand touch and now offer my right hand for him to touch, followed up with a treat from the kitchen. He now thinks about what he is doing instead of reacting and I don't get nipped ankles.

And she's also having issues too lately with outside recall. She was great up until a few weeks ago and I've been struggling w/ that some too.
:

Adolescent forgetfulness, for starters. *I can never trust my dog off leash near traffic. *One booklet / video that I'm using on an ongoing basis is Leslie Nelson's Really Reliable Recall. *It is designed for emergency recall situations *and needs to be practiced on a regular basis.

 

[Cindy]

It's all about patterns.

gavin is so fixated on getting food when I leave, he gets impatient for me to go. I have a friend, who he loves, who comes over to pick me up every once in a while for an evening out. gavin gets so excited cause he can tell I am getting ready to go out that he listens for my friend's footsteps (he is soo cute..he barks and sits in front of the door). But as soon as my friend gets inside and wants to play with Gavin, my silly dog would rather get his food!

Of course, I can't leave without feeding him
it's worth it!

Even at 5 years, Gavin always wears a leash as i am in the suburbs. Only at a friend's horse ranch is he off leash, and that's cause I know he isn't going anywhere (he has to protect me, of course, in between herding the goats). All it takes is one squirrel across the street...I so don't want to go there! My emergency recall word is "treats!".....

And he prefers play to walks....when i went back to work after a layoff I ran him for about an hour a few times a week to wear him out. helped with the acting out.

 

[tentcamp]

Ours can't wait for us to go out the door for work because it means treats. They know "the move" that means crate time and they run into them barking for the cheerios!

 

[Brandy's Mom]

Thanks Ann, it's good to finally have found something.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and info. She's 13 months and although she does nip at my feet she also jumps and tries to nip me or my shirt or something! This is only when she's acting out and/or testing me and sometimes no bite just doesn't work. I try to stop moving and turn away from her when she does this and that works most of the time when no won't. I will try the treasure hunt idea for the morning when I leave and also the alternative behavior, the hand touch idea as I think she would respond to it positively and as you said take her mind off other things like nipping me, lol. Emergency recall sounds like a must so will check it out too. I've not let her off the leash since last Friday, and she's been pretty good with it. I think she could really use the collar as she seems to slip out too easily.

Her appetite hasn't been the best in the last few days, but could also be a result of getting used to the new schedule, as it hasn't been long at all. She's a picky eater anyway.

I'll let you know how I make out, fingers and toes crossed!!