Sheltie Freakout at slightest provocation

[LOUDWORLD]

We have 2 great Shelties, a male and a female that are 7 years old. Generally they are quite well behaved but they have one troubling behavior.

Say we are all in the family room watching TV and there is a period of silence, say 2 or more minutes long. If anyone gets up or moves, even just a slight movement of a leg to get more comfortable both dogs go nutso running, spinning and barking. Often times they will attack one another as well.

We would appreciate any insight as to what underlying behavior is causing this and how we can address it.

Thank you!

 

[Caro]

Given how close they are in age, I'd say they are egging each other on. And then it descends into redirected aggression.

When it happens watch them closely. Does one dog bark first? Do they look at each other (or does one look at the other) before the barking starts and during the barking? At the time are their ears pricked and listening to what's going on?

Learning their body language will help a lot. You can probably identify when it will happen by watching their ears and whether they are watching the other. When you can see the ears prick, or point in the direction of the other dog, or they glance in that direction, call their attention back to you and put a stop to anything happening before it does.

It won't be an easy habit to break. I'd start by separating them when you are in the family room so they cannot see each other and therefore won't feed off each other. Maybe keep them at either side of the couch. It may be difficult to keep them apart to begin with as they've gotten so used to the behaviour. Perhaps give them a Kong at these times so they have something to occupy them. I'd also suggest keeping them on leads as well so they can't wander off to be close to each other. It will also help you stop the spinning and other behaviours. If it does happen use the lead to take them back to their sides of the couch/room. They may initially step up the behaviour but keeping them apart and out of each other's sight they should eventually give up.

Also consider walking them separately, or separating them when you walk (even if a different person takes each dog). You might also try giving them separate training sessions, where you get a few sits, drops, maybe teach a trick, without the other dog in sight. Then it's all about you and them and the reward. They need to build their confidence as individuals, not always looking to the other dog for reinforcement but to you. At the moment they're sole focus is each other, they probably spend more time with each other than with you so you're probably just a second thought rather than the main focus.

 

[Mignarda]

I think they're simply reacting to the stress that occurs when there's a change in the environment. They become inured to the period of quiet, and when that situation is altered it sets off a neurological trigger that has to manifest itself in some kind of physical action. Since there's no direct or perceivable cause of the stress, the action itself comes as random movement with no apparent purpose, i.e., barking, spinning, and aggression towards other animals. This is all really very adaptive. In a wild setting there has to be instant reaction to changes in the environment because new threats are always arising; those slow to react, or those not reacting at all, are at great risk. When stressed, the animal is primed and ready to go, i.e., to "fight or flee." In a domestic setting there's no need for such reactivity, but it's there nonetheless. And rather than fight or flight, when there's nothing to fight or flee from, you can end up with all kinds of bizarre or unwanted behaviors.

One or both of your dogs seems to have a lower threshold of reaction than usual. It seems unlikely that both would be that way, unless they're closely related or one is setting off the other. My own Sheltie is a fairly mellow dog, but I've noticed that when he's with his Schipperke friend he follows her lead when she overreacts to small things.

You might want to try being a little more active in your quiet times, so as not to let them get set up to be aroused by a sudden change in activity levels. And it might be possible to train them out of it, or redirect that energy into something a bit less annoying.

 

[Chris]

All I can say is, try having four. Periodic eruptions of barking are the norm. We just holler, "Knock it off, you little morons!"

 

[tesslynn]

All I can say is, try having four. Periodic eruptions of barking are the norm. We just holler, "Knock it off, you little morons!"

oh my that was chuckle worthy...my girls get spooked at times over nothing that I can pinpoint, Kaleigh more than Savannah, but depending on Kaleigh's reaction to whatever, Savannah will then join in-partners in defending the turf always, and like you I have to intervene and tell them both to chill. Adds to the charm of owning this breed, they are not predictable at times and one minute they are calm and endearing, the next they are all fiesty about who knows what, but to them the sky is falling and must be dealt with, ha...It is what it is and I just take it all in stride, all part of the entertainment value of their personalities

 

[jomuir]

All I can say is, try having four. Periodic eruptions of barking are the norm. We just holler, "Knock it off, you little morons!"

Yeah, that's my go-to response to the nutty reactive barking that seems to be a constant part of life with Shelties. 'SHADDUP it's only the mailman/kittycat/leaf blowing in the wind.'


(Okay, lately if I see the mailman before the dogs do, I call Forrest over and make him do sit/shake/lay down etc and he often doesn't notice the offending stranger. He's the instigator of the barking. It's been helping.)

 

[Sheltiesr2cute]

My three shelties go completely nuts whenever some one sneezes and sometimes go after each other. But even more annoying is when any one leaves the house, doesn't matter who leaves they bark like mad.

Becky Mom of Bristol, Charlotte, Sparkie, and the bc Phoenix