How do you "untrain" a behavior??

jprice103 · 10-23-2011, 04:11 PM

Ok, so Cheyenne has this behavior that we really need to "untrain" her in! We have 7 cats...and she is fine with all of the cats but 1. This is because this is the ONLY cat that will run from her and totally freak out if she is anywhere near her. Cheyenne LOVES to chase her!

When Cheyenne was little, this cat used to come into my bedroom and go behind the bed. At night when I shut my door, I wanted all of the cats out of the room because they would wake me up in the middle of the night crying to go out of the room (I shut my bedroom door at night). So in order to get her out of the room, after I finished getting ready for bed every night, I'd take a can of air freshener, and spray behind the bed...this would cause the cat to run out of the room so I could shut the door. It worked like a charm every time! But Cheyenne was always in the room with me when I did this, and it always caused a cat to come running out from behind the bed for her to chase!

Well, it has been 5 months since I did this, because the cat won't come into my room anymore because of Cheyenne. But EVERY night, after I wash my face and take my contacts out (as soon as she hears the medicine cabinet close), she starts totally freaking out...running around the bed waiting for me to "spray the spray that makes a cat appear". It has gotten to the point that we can't use ANY aerosol spray (hairspray, PAM, air freshener, etc)...without her going nuts! Again, I haven't done this in months...but she still thinks I'm going to and gets this high pitch bark and frantically runs around the bed waiting for the cat to come out!!

How do I get her to stop this?? Do I just bide my time and wait until she forgets?? Again...it has been 5 months!!! I actually have a scar on my arm from her jumping up at a hairspray can while I was spraying my hair!! She tries to bite the can! She missed that time and got my arm!

It was funny and cute at first...but not so much anymore!

Karla · 10-23-2011, 04:57 PM

I do have to say......that is funny!!!!! I do understand the cuteness has worn off.

My female gets very bouncy and happy after I spray hairspray on my hair. This is the very last thing I do when I get ready and to her, it means the possibility of going somewhere.......even if it is just going outside with her. If I don't have plans to go out with the dogs, I just tell her "no, you stay home" and she goes off looking all dejected.

In your case, she associates the spray sound with the chance to chase a cat. I think I would put her on a leash and give her a command to sit or down. I would then spray the can and correct her if she breaks her command and reward her with high value treats when she complies. If you keep repeating this, she will learn that the sound of a spray no longer mean anything.

You might want to work on a new behavior for her to do prior to closing the medicine cabinet so she doesn't get the chance to get all excited.

Hubby gave our dogs spray whipped cream once and that's all it took for them to know the sound and they come running every time! In fact, I had a can of spray paint I was shaking and they come running. I knew they thought I had whipped cream. It's amazing all the little cues dogs pick up on.

I have to put my male outside while I get ready to go out for our morning jog because he gets too excited watching every move I make.........he knows the routine and brushing my teeth and getting my shoes just makes him crazy, so he patiently waits outside just staring at the door.

Jax08 · 10-23-2011, 06:05 PM

It's easier to teach them a new behavior than break an old habit. Think of what you want her to do and teach that behavior. Then you can correct her for doing what you don't want (chase the cat, kill the hair spray can that is attacking Mom's head) and then tell her what you want her to do. I think it's more about counter conditioning than correction.

jprice103 · 10-23-2011, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the tips! I kept thinking that she would just "forget" since we haven't done it in so long...but after 5 months, I realize that isn't going to happen! They sure are smart with amazing memories, aren't they!

I will definitely give these ideas a try. It was cute at first, and I'm afraid we encouraged it by laughing because it was funny...but yes...the cuteness has definitely has worn off! lol

adas · 10-24-2011, 02:51 PM

Observing my dog, it would be more about, "when the cat appears and starts to run I am supposed to chase, because that is what I do" rather than, "there's that cat lets chase". Seems like you could get control of her, BEFORE she alerts to chase and divert with treats and something else she likes to do and by and by the chase becomes secondary.

francis

10-23-2011, 04:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
jprice103 Master Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 960	How do you "untrain" a behavior?? Ok, so Cheyenne has this behavior that we really need to "untrain" her in! We have 7 cats...and she is fine with all of the cats but 1. This is because this is the ONLY cat that will run from her and totally freak out if she is anywhere near her. Cheyenne LOVES to chase her! When Cheyenne was little, this cat used to come into my bedroom and go behind the bed. At night when I shut my door, I wanted all of the cats out of the room because they would wake me up in the middle of the night crying to go out of the room (I shut my bedroom door at night). So in order to get her out of the room, after I finished getting ready for bed every night, I'd take a can of air freshener, and spray behind the bed...this would cause the cat to run out of the room so I could shut the door. It worked like a charm every time! But Cheyenne was always in the room with me when I did this, and it always caused a cat to come running out from behind the bed for her to chase! Well, it has been 5 months since I did this, because the cat won't come into my room anymore because of Cheyenne. But EVERY night, after I wash my face and take my contacts out (as soon as she hears the medicine cabinet close), she starts totally freaking out...running around the bed waiting for me to "spray the spray that makes a cat appear". It has gotten to the point that we can't use ANY aerosol spray (hairspray, PAM, air freshener, etc)...without her going nuts! Again, I haven't done this in months...but she still thinks I'm going to and gets this high pitch bark and frantically runs around the bed waiting for the cat to come out!! How do I get her to stop this?? Do I just bide my time and wait until she forgets?? Again...it has been 5 months!!! I actually have a scar on my arm from her jumping up at a hairspray can while I was spraying my hair!! She tries to bite the can! She missed that time and got my arm! It was funny and cute at first...but not so much anymore! __________________ -Jessica Cheyenne von der Price-Sable GSD-12/20/10-CGC Faegan vom Johnson-Haus "Panzer"-Black GSD-12/31/11-S.T.A.R. Puppy

10-23-2011, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
jprice103 Master Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 960	Thanks for the tips! I kept thinking that she would just "forget" since we haven't done it in so long...but after 5 months, I realize that isn't going to happen! They sure are smart with amazing memories, aren't they! I will definitely give these ideas a try. It was cute at first, and I'm afraid we encouraged it by laughing because it was funny...but yes...the cuteness has definitely has worn off! lol __________________ -Jessica Cheyenne von der Price-Sable GSD-12/20/10-CGC Faegan vom Johnson-Haus "Panzer"-Black GSD-12/31/11-S.T.A.R. Puppy

10-24-2011, 02:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
adas Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 313	Observing my dog, it would be more about, "when the cat appears and starts to run I am supposed to chase, because that is what I do" rather than, "there's that cat lets chase". Seems like you could get control of her, BEFORE she alerts to chase and divert with treats and something else she likes to do and by and by the chase becomes secondary. francis Last edited by adas; 10-24-2011 at 02:53 PM.

10-23-2011, 04:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Karla Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 74	I do have to say......that is funny!!!!! I do understand the cuteness has worn off. My female gets very bouncy and happy after I spray hairspray on my hair. This is the very last thing I do when I get ready and to her, it means the possibility of going somewhere.......even if it is just going outside with her. If I don't have plans to go out with the dogs, I just tell her "no, you stay home" and she goes off looking all dejected. In your case, she associates the spray sound with the chance to chase a cat. I think I would put her on a leash and give her a command to sit or down. I would then spray the can and correct her if she breaks her command and reward her with high value treats when she complies. If you keep repeating this, she will learn that the sound of a spray no longer mean anything. You might want to work on a new behavior for her to do prior to closing the medicine cabinet so she doesn't get the chance to get all excited. Hubby gave our dogs spray whipped cream once and that's all it took for them to know the sound and they come running every time! In fact, I had a can of spray paint I was shaking and they come running. I knew they thought I had whipped cream. It's amazing all the little cues dogs pick up on. I have to put my male outside while I get ready to go out for our morning jog because he gets too excited watching every move I make.........he knows the routine and brushing my teeth and getting my shoes just makes him crazy, so he patiently waits outside just staring at the door.

10-23-2011, 06:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,330	It's easier to teach them a new behavior than break an old habit. Think of what you want her to do and teach that behavior. Then you can correct her for doing what you don't want (chase the cat, kill the hair spray can that is attacking Mom's head) and then tell her what you want her to do. I think it's more about counter conditioning than correction.

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