She's a faker!

[Calliesmom]

Smudge won't go anywhere but our front lawn, either. He did go once inside PetSmart, but he tried to warn me and I didn't pay attention.

Also, I was telling you earlier about the pop up crates, and I have decided against the one I was going to get. Wal-Mart sells 2 different $30 ones, and both got horrible reviews at Walmart.com. People said that their dog chewed it up and that some dogs unzipped the zipper. The last thing I need is something that is not sturdy for Fluffy. She chews through everything, and anything that gets a bad chewing review can't come into the house. All it took was one trip to the emergency vet and I learned my lesson!

If Fluffy is still a big chewer then you might want to hold off on a soft crate. Both my shelties use soft crates and are fine in them. Happy doesn't always like to be confined and pawed at the first soft crate hard enough to separate the zipper from the canvas. so now he is always in a wire crate so he can't let himself out. I have heard of pets being able to unzip their crates- you'll just need a quickclip to connect the two zippers.

 

[Smudge]

I just really hate my vehicle. It's going to be a few years at least before I can change. It's paid for, and the thought of car payments does not appeal to me at the moment.

I would try a wire crate, as they can collapse and be carried, but I don't know if sitting it in the back of my truck would cause it to rust if it rained. Does anybody know? I mean I obviously wouldn't leave it in my truck all the time, but like if we were driving somewhere and the monsoon came, would it rust the crate? Especially if this happened several times?

 

[Caro]

dogs suddenly get interested and extensively sniff around to either relieve their own stress or to show other dogs/ people they are no threat to them...
http://www.wagntrain.com/BodyLanguage2.htm

I agree, it sounds like she was stressed. Sniffing is a very good indication of a fearful/shy dog trying to make itself look unthreatenening.

It sounds like Fluffy may be similar to Tully. At home Tully is confident, chasing bunnies or balls and she is uber confident, but put her in different situations and she turns into an entirely different dog, esp if there are a lot of dogs she doesnt know, or big dogs or a lot of people. Some situations can just be a little overwhelming. The vet behaviourist explained to me once that some bitches are dominant/submissive - in that they either lack confidence and show it in dominant behaviour (thats Tully) or use submissive responses to get the upper hand.

Also, bladder control is also very closely linked to stress - ever have some big event and feel like you need to pee all the time. Sounds like thats what she could be doing. Of course she could be marking. Tully marks a lot nowadays, but seeing as she has such a little bladder she only manages a spot or two to mark with.

 

[take4roll10]

There are two ladies who run the obedience center Smudge goes to (I say go to, but it's been ages since we've been, and we need to go back!). The one I don't care for got kind of miffed at me when Smudge could not do a lay/down. Most of the other dogs had taken a basic manners class before though, and we had not. So we were behind everybody else anyway.

I worked with Fluffy some tonight on sit. I swear if there was an award to be given out for dogs that had the most focus Fluffy would win. She just STARES at you the entire time. She didn't get it by the time I called it quits, but it's ok. She'll get it eventually. She's too smart not to!

Bailey definitely knows what "down" means. She learned it very fast i lured her twice and on the 3rd time she did it on her own. She will do anything for treats. I think in her situation its a confidence thing like sheltieche said. She was very timid on the frst day of obedience class. On the last day of class she was a completely different dog and even passed the CGC test at 10 months old. Classes have really improved her confidence. Sometimes she still has trouble with down in class, but she is much better than her first few days of class.

 

[Smudge]

Bailey definitely knows what "down" means. She learned it very fast i lured her twice and on the 3rd time she did it on her own. She will do anything for treats. I think in her situation its a confidence thing like sheltieche said. She was very timid on the frst day of obedience class. On the last day of class she was a completely different dog and even passed the CGC test at 10 months old. Classes have really improved her confidence. Sometimes she still has trouble with down in class, but she is much better than her first few days of class.

Smudge knows "lay", but they would not let me use the word "lay" in class. They make me use their words. So even to start off with he was confused, because he does not know what "down" means. He does "lay" fine at home though. I don't know why they are such sticklers for words. But it took him six weeks to sit in front of other dogs so I guess I shouldn't expect less of him trying to do a down/lay.

 

[take4roll10]

Bailey had a similar problem. My parents were saying "down" to get Bailey to stop jumping. So, Bailey was confused. We were using the same word for different things. I had to tell my parents to use the word "off" if they want her to stop jumping. Once I figured that out and told my parents, Bailey picked it up quickly and was less confused.

 

[Justicemom]

Smudge knows "lay", but they would not let me use the word "lay" in class. They make me use their words. So even to start off with he was confused, because he does not know what "down" means. He does "lay" fine at home though. I don't know why they are such sticklers for words. But it took him six weeks to sit in front of other dogs so I guess I shouldn't expect less of him trying to do a down/lay.

That is silly who cares what word you use as long as the behavior is what you want and you use the same word every time. Some people are control freaks.

Fluffy not taking treats is definitely stress. Stress signs can be very subtle. A yawn, a paw raise, not eating, body stiffness compared to normal. Ember when she is stressed moves slower and sits ever so subtly behind me on her finishes. She also won't jump up and touch my hand. Most people would not call her stressed but since I know her, I know. She'll eat anything in sight still. Justice gets silly and his head starts roaming. His eye brows also get this arch to them. He paw lifts and yawns. Diva lowers her head and refuses to play.(big clue for her) Difference in dogs.

I ignore the stress signs and praise like crazy any confident, bold behaviors. I found the calmer I am the calmer my dogs are.

Both Diva and Ember can unzip soft sided kennels. I just clip the zipper shut with my leash. I trust Ember at shows in soft crates but not Diva. If Diva got tooo excited I could see her ripping the sides to get out.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

I started using lay but it sounds like stay so stopped. Now sit, down, shake, roll-over, stay and wait. Though sometimes we have stare downs if he doesn't want to sit