The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [15]
I determined that Silver was aggressive partly because of insufficient leadership from his owners. Australian shepherds can be shy and reactive as “teenagers,” especially if they don’t have owners who set limits and teach self-control. Allowing himself to be petted, then “thinking” about it and biting without provocation suggests he was fearful, but confident enough to act on his insecurities. Silver’s attack on their friend, whom he did not know, indicated that he was protecting Becky.
While we worked to counter Silver’s behavior toward strangers, it was vital to keep him from biting again. Apart from the obvious danger, Silver viewed an attack as a victory, which reinforced his unacceptable actions. For walks, we fitted Silver with a halter collar so he would heed his owners. We also incorporated the use of a basket muzzle to help Becky and Hal relax when Silver was near other people. We made wearing the basket muzzle more appealing by placing special treats in it and inviting Silver to take them. He didn’t see the basket as punishment, and the couple felt safer having him out in public and around others. As they worked with Silver, their change in body language also helped turn the dog’s attitude around.
In order to elevate Becky and Hal’s leadership status in Silver’s eyes, we began the “Nothing in Life is Free” program (see Paying the Price, page 156). Instead of calling the shots, Silver had to earn his meals, playtime, and affection by heeding basic obedience commands. This program taught Silver to view the couple as his leaders and guides, rather than resources that he felt compelled to protect.
The couple increased Silver’s exercise to provide him with a suitable outlet for his energy and enrolled him in obedience training, agility, and herding classes, which engaged his intelligence, increased his confidence level, and sharpened his ability to respond quickly and appropriately to his owners. We also incorporated desensitization and counter-conditioning techniques to help Silver learn that strangers weren’t a threat. Given Silver’s work ethic, Becky put him in “work mode” so that he focused on her rather than worrying about driving the strangers away. Today, Becky and Hal describe Silver as a different dog.
Contributed by Alice Moon-Fanelli, PhD
Poof! Disappearing Dog Act
Q Our Siberian husky, Tundra, is six years old and is always escaping from our yard. He used to dig out from under the fence, so we removed some of the dirt at the base of the fence line and put cement there. This stopped him from digging out, but then he found a way to open the gate. We put a lock on the gate, and now he jumps over the fence. No matter what we do to stop him, he finds a way to escape. We have finally started locking him in the garage when we aren’t home because we tired of going to the animal shelter to pick him up all the time. Why does he run away? Should we take this as a sign that he doesn’t like living here?
A Tundra sounds like a tenacious escape artist who is determined to spend his time checking out the neighborhood. It’s doubtful that this is because he doesn’t like living with you. It’s more likely that when he’s alone, he feels compelled to provide his own amusement. The fact that Tundra is a Siberian husky also contributes to his tendency to roam. Huskies were bred to travel vast distances pulling sleds and to think for themselves while they worked. When Tundra decides to leave your yard, he is responding to his inbred urge to travel and be independent.
When I first adopted Chipper, her husky heritage frequently helped her magically disappear from my yard, but the golden retriever in her seemed to coax her back home to my front porch. She has managed to open locks from