ARK
Well-Known Member
I am brand new to the site and essentially brand new to dog ownership. This is a bit of a long thread as I would like to explain as much as possible about my dog's little problem.
I 'adopted' an 8 month old female standard poodle name Zou from my father (aka: took off his hands); she came with a number of little tics. She is gentle and very cautious, knows some basic commands (sit, down, paw . . . a little bit of stay/wait and drop it, though she doesn't do those ones well), and is okay on the leash.
I am going to introduce clicker training shortly (just learned about it and am excited to learn with Zou!) to help with all sorts of training fun.
This may not be a "stop behavioural problem" thread . . . but the main thing I'd like to work on (as well as other little bits of fun and strengthening her basic commands) is getting her into the car. She is downright PETRIFIED of cars. On walks she skulks away from cars as far as the leash will let her, buckles and freezes when cars drive by, try sprint past parked cars, or will even try to flee from bigger trucks/buses. ((On a side note, I recently noticed this behaviour has translated itself onto pretty much anything with wheels: bikes, roller blades, even old folks with walkers)).
She refuses to be led in or near my car on the leash and I have to pick her up and plop her in the front if we have to go somewhere by car (we have been walking pretty much everywhere, upwards of 1.5 hours across town, unless it's a long drive). Once in a car, she buckles up and lays down and drools heavily the entire ride. Far far to overstimulated to take a treat to try to make the experience enjoyable.
I had thought the problem was partially "under-exposure" - my father lives in the country and cars rarely go by - and partially negative associations - anytime she got in a car she was probably put in (likely against her will) and then she went somewhere unpleasant (vet, groomers, etc.). I have had Zou for a little over a month (she's almost 9mo old now) and I live in the suburbs, so she is exposed to seeing and hearing cars a lot more on walks. She has gotten a bit better around cars: she will still skulk and sometimes try to flee, but I try to keep moving forward and she is slightly less distracted by vehicles now.
I have started to give a treat to her when we pass cars, but am sometimes off with my timing, can't get a treat ready quick enough when a car comes up behind us or around a corner towards us, and feel like I might be half-reinforcing her to walk ahead of me as I lure her forward past the cars. I have also taken to petting her a lot and talking playfully to her in the car when we must be in one, but am also a little nervous that is reinforcing her fearful behaviour.
A dog that is so terrified of cars is a sad sight indeed. As much as I enjoy walking her there's only so far before it's too tiring on both of us, nevermind the fact that walking most anywhere in a city involves walking past cars! I'd love to be able to help her get over this fear so we can hop in the car and go to the woods, the beach, or even just visit friends without having to break out my track gear.
If anyone has any general suggestions for the car fear, on clicker training in general, or on clicker training her into 'forgetting' her fear that would be great!
Thanks,
ARK
I 'adopted' an 8 month old female standard poodle name Zou from my father (aka: took off his hands); she came with a number of little tics. She is gentle and very cautious, knows some basic commands (sit, down, paw . . . a little bit of stay/wait and drop it, though she doesn't do those ones well), and is okay on the leash.
I am going to introduce clicker training shortly (just learned about it and am excited to learn with Zou!) to help with all sorts of training fun.
This may not be a "stop behavioural problem" thread . . . but the main thing I'd like to work on (as well as other little bits of fun and strengthening her basic commands) is getting her into the car. She is downright PETRIFIED of cars. On walks she skulks away from cars as far as the leash will let her, buckles and freezes when cars drive by, try sprint past parked cars, or will even try to flee from bigger trucks/buses. ((On a side note, I recently noticed this behaviour has translated itself onto pretty much anything with wheels: bikes, roller blades, even old folks with walkers)).
She refuses to be led in or near my car on the leash and I have to pick her up and plop her in the front if we have to go somewhere by car (we have been walking pretty much everywhere, upwards of 1.5 hours across town, unless it's a long drive). Once in a car, she buckles up and lays down and drools heavily the entire ride. Far far to overstimulated to take a treat to try to make the experience enjoyable.
I had thought the problem was partially "under-exposure" - my father lives in the country and cars rarely go by - and partially negative associations - anytime she got in a car she was probably put in (likely against her will) and then she went somewhere unpleasant (vet, groomers, etc.). I have had Zou for a little over a month (she's almost 9mo old now) and I live in the suburbs, so she is exposed to seeing and hearing cars a lot more on walks. She has gotten a bit better around cars: she will still skulk and sometimes try to flee, but I try to keep moving forward and she is slightly less distracted by vehicles now.
I have started to give a treat to her when we pass cars, but am sometimes off with my timing, can't get a treat ready quick enough when a car comes up behind us or around a corner towards us, and feel like I might be half-reinforcing her to walk ahead of me as I lure her forward past the cars. I have also taken to petting her a lot and talking playfully to her in the car when we must be in one, but am also a little nervous that is reinforcing her fearful behaviour.
A dog that is so terrified of cars is a sad sight indeed. As much as I enjoy walking her there's only so far before it's too tiring on both of us, nevermind the fact that walking most anywhere in a city involves walking past cars! I'd love to be able to help her get over this fear so we can hop in the car and go to the woods, the beach, or even just visit friends without having to break out my track gear.
If anyone has any general suggestions for the car fear, on clicker training in general, or on clicker training her into 'forgetting' her fear that would be great!
Thanks,
ARK