The Puppy Files: Nice face, shame about the barking
BY NICK BARNETTMy 10-month-old puppy Connor had an "arranged playdate" yesterday. It was kind of like an arranged marriage, only louder and less happy.
With the help of Trade Me, we met up with a woman named Vickie who was willing for us to bring cute-but-troubled Connor to her yard to meet at least one of her dogs.
Connor is now friendly and fearless with humans, which he wasn't when we got him three months ago. But he still melts down in a fit of barking when a dog, especially off its leash, is around.
Our puppy's first organised playdate a few weeks ago went pretty well. Connor was tired from walking, and after barking at the new dog for half an hour, eventually figured out an acceptable way to behave. He seemed to discover that he could be submissive and peaceful with another dog, and not be at risk.
But yesterday, there was no such realisation. He just barked wildly almost the whole time, easing off only when the other dog - a charming fox terrier named Wilbur - took refuge in his shed. Poor Wilbur took some small bites to his tail and butt but was amazingly restrained.
Connor, being a dachshund, has a loud bark and a big heart, so the noise was incredible - for Vickie's whole neighbourhood.
We tried different techniques, brainstormed, and waited patiently for a change, but it didn't come. The most effective thing we tried was to get Connor, Wilbur and our other dog Phoebe into something resembling a game. My partner ran back and forth across the yard, with the dogs chasing. The game put the dogs on the same level and got them doing the same thing, and Connor did get quieter.
The game also helped tire out Connor - and that seems to be a factor. Next time we arrange a playdate, we'll make sure to tire him out first.
But I can't lie - yesterday was a disappointment. We kind of expected Connor to realise, eventually, that he and his pack was safe, and that it could be great fun to just play peacefully with a new dog.
I suppose we're spoiled in having had such a great experience with our first dog, Phoebe. She loves meeting and playing with other dogs. We expected/hoped that Connor could be brought to the same point. I want him to experience the joys of playing with other dogs, because that's all part of a dog's birthright, to my way of thinking.
Do we have to shift our expectations? Maybe he'll never be a quiet, sociable dog when around other dogs. We're told that this barky aggression can be to do with their breed or sex, their early socialisation, or a matter of individual character. So perhaps we have to be ready to accept that he'll be a good dog in his home, but an unreliable dog elsewhere.
But we haven't given up yet. Connor's just 10 months old, and we've seen a lot of great progress in him during the time we've had him. Patience has always been the key to those other accomplishments, so I guess more patience will be needed.
And more arranged playdates. And earplugs.
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As an avid watcher of the Dog Whisperer programmes I would agree with your idea of tiring Connor out first so that he's in a calm relaxed state, rather than having a lot of pent up energy.
Other options may be to meet either at your house (I'm assuming that this playdate was at the other dog's house), or somewhere neutral such as a local dog park. It may be that the new environment combined with a new dog might be too much for him.
Going to the other dog's house possibly wasn't the best idea, as Connor may have felt even more threatened there - perhaps a neutral dog park would be better for future?
My Pointer/Lab cross never grew out of his reaction to other dogs - he becomes a frothing mess of barks and growling and pulling on the lead, but is generally ok after a few times of meeting a dog.
Silly dogs. Imagine if humans did the same thing.
Agree with #2 - though I'd say try somewhere neutral. Being at your house might make it worse ("hey, you, this is MY patch! Beat it!"). Don't give up too soon though, he's just a spotty adolescent, who all have some antisocial tendencies of one kind or another.
It might pay to go to a park with a (pre-arranged) dog hanging around some distance away (but as close as you can get away with), and as Connor gets better about that, bring it closer over several sessions. I assume you're working on rewarding him when he's calm around another dog?
Love that face, BTW :-)
From what I've read, in my research leading up to bringing home a Dachshund pup, this seems like the norm. Supposedly the Daxy pups need a lot of socialisation with other dogs for this sort of thing to become a rare occurrence.
I have recently bought a shih tzu puppy, it's going on 8 weeks now, and it is such a handful :-S. It goes for large pee's on the newspaper but randomly goes for smaller ones where ever it wants, and seems to have a wicked case of anxiety, if it can't see us, be rest assured it's yelling out. Kinda ironic for the first puppy that i've owned turns out Shih Tzu's are one of the toughest breds to house train :-(
Perhaps one day after her vacs and a bit of time she'll be able to interact with other dogs
Good luck Mark, I don't know if it's true that small dogs are harder to house train and large dogs are easier, but whichever size you have I think crate training is well worth it, it can help with axiety as he can be comfortable and safe in his den with all his toys, blanket etc. Also helpful is being there each time he "goes" so you can praise for doing it in the right place. Having a word assoicated with the act helps a lot, they soon understand what that word means, it's useful if you are visting or travelling anywhere. It does get easier!
Our Beardie loves to bark.....will bark and bark and bark if we let her, I think in some ways she is trying to talk. Drives us nuts. If she meets another dog she will just stand back and bark, she is scared of them no matter what size, she is fine with our other dog, but anything out of the ordinary and this will set her off. Anyone have any ideas to stop a Beardie from barking (talking)?????
I am still perservering with puppy school for my 2 year old maltese x. we have been to about 10 classes and we are seeing an improvement. She is becoming more comfortable to be around other dogs, however will still go into a full panic if one wants to meet her nose to nose. Wearing her out before an encounter helps, as does lots and lots of treats when she is around other dogs to make it more of a positive experience for her. best of luck with your dax!!
@gem #9 - Where do you take your 2yr old to puppy school?
I can't find a training school that will take anything over 6 months old.
Our dachshund is the same. She is just not a sociable friendly dog when it comes to other dogs.
We have perservered with my friends and family's dogs so she's fine with them now, and knows them so they're all best mates. But when it comes to a random dog in the street, she will always start a barking fit which is just embarassing. My ones 5 now so maybe it's just a daxy thing?!
If it does work, I would love to know how you did it!