The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [40]
Her leaping and pouncing represent scripted actions of the chase response and can be seen in wild canids all over the world as they hunt mice and other small animals in grass and snow. This behavior starts to surface in puppies by about five weeks of age. Coyote and fox pups imitate the stalking, pouncing, and killing actions of adults to learn vital skills. For domestic dogs, this behavior in puppies is still an important part of the physical and mental growth process of puppyhood. Unless your puppy becomes very aggressive or possessive over her toys, enjoy these leaping moments of pure puppy play.
Skateboard Shivers
Q I adopted my dog a few months ago, and my best guess is that she is a beagle-Labrador mix between two and three years old. Belle loves going to new places and exploring new sights, sounds, and smells. But for some reason, she is absolutely terrified of skateboards. She yanks the leash and tries desperately to flee the scene. What is going on and how can I help her be less afraid?
A If only our dogs could communicate in plain English about the reasons behind their fears. Clearly, Belle has some negative association with skateboards, but you’ll never know exactly what it is. It may be as simple as the fact that the scraping sound irritates her ears, much like fingernails on a chalkboard send some students into spasms. More likely, she had a negative experience involving a skateboard when she was a puppy. The wheels could have rolled over her toes or she could have collided with a fast-moving skateboarder and been injured. Unfortunately, she might have been teased by kids on skateboards, although in that case you could expect her to be afraid of children as well.
Your best option is to work on a remedy. Keep your ears tuned on walks for the sound of a skateboard in the distance. Belle’s ears are better than yours, so watch her for signs of nervousness and react promptly to get her attention. The goal is to try to intervene with a positive experience as the sound gets closer. Distract Belle by speaking to her in an upbeat tone and asking her to practice some of her favorite tricks like sitting up, shaking paws, or rolling over — all while on a leash for safety. Carry a pouch of doggy treats and dole them out as the skateboard goes by.
Another tactic is to borrow an old skateboard from a neighbor or friend or buy one at a garage sale. The strategy calls for you to gradually introduce the skateboard to Belle so that she gains a new association with these wheeled wonders. Put the skateboard in one room of your house, but don’t roll it. Each time Belle walks by it or cautiously goes up to investigate it, toss her a treat.
SNIFF IT OUT!
Dogs are not color-blind, as many people think. They cannot see color as vividly as we do, however, and due to the structure of the rod receptors in their eyes, they can see yellow tennis balls far more easily than red or green ones.
As she becomes accustomed to the skateboard, try placing treats on it. Praise her when she takes these treats. Once Belle consistently approaches the skateboard without hesitation, place a few treats on the skateboard and slowly move it a few inches forward and backward. Do this on carpeting first to keep the wheels quiet. Encourage Belle to grab the treats while the skateboard is moving. When she shows no fear of indoor skateboards, go outdoors and gradually increase the movement and sound on your garage floor or driveway.
Finally, solicit the aid of a dog-friendly skateboarder. Ask your helper to walk up to Belle holding the skateboard in his hands. Have him give Belle treats for being brave enough to approach and check out the skateboard. Later, as Belle’s confidence builds, ask him to roll the skateboard on the ground with his hand. Keep rewarding her at each stage.
The speed of your progress depends on your attention to Belle’s responses. Never advance to the next level of exposure until Belle clearly demonstrates no fear at the current level. The more positive exposure Belle accumulates, the better