NEWS on Rocky [Post-biting incident]

[x0emiroxy0x]

For those who didn't read my previous thread, Rocky has always been fearful since he was a puppy and before christmas there were two instances where instead of running away he nipped at two people's pant legs, and one was walking away from him.

After I was put in my place [rightfully so] by a few people on this forum that I should have gotten a behavioralist BEFORE the incidents, I spoke with the lady at the kennel I take Rocky to in Arlington and she set me up with one of her friends that has been training fearful/aggressive dogs for over 20 years. Apparently Dallas has a large german shepherd/ rott/ pitt population and many are from BYB with bad temperaments so there are a ton of behavioralists here!

I left for Houston two days after the incidents and Rocky was being boarded for five days at the kennel. The lady went out there twice to meet Rocky for two one hour sessions where she basically sat in the same grassy fenced in area as him and ignored him until his curiosity took over and he came to her. She said she didn't try to pet him, just played with him with a ball. She watched how he interacted with dogs walked by the fenced in area and people as well and determined he is FEARFUL REACTIVE, NOT AGGRESSIVE/DOMINANT.

After reading a book a member recommended to me here, I thought this myself but wanted a professionals opinion.

After Rocky was picked up, my boyfriends aunt, uncle, and cousin were coming into town for five days and he could not completely avoid them as my trainer had wanted, so she told me exactly what to do before they arrived and how to have him meet them so that when he was taken out to potty and on walks he wouldn't react towards them. I took him for a one hour run before they got here and then we did ten minutes of heeling and tricks. By the time they arrived, he was exhausted. Instead of them meeting him inside, they casually walked on the sidewalk across the street from us and I gave Rocky a treat when he looked at them then kept walking. Then I walked up to them, saying HI! in a super nice voice and they all tossed treats to Rocky from about ten feet away.

To all of our surprise, Rocky walked straight up to the cousin (15 yrs old) and wagged his tail (NEVER happens with strangers) then licked her hand, and both her parents hands. We walked into the house together, and he stayed on leash as we all sat in the living room and talked. In ten minutes he FELL ASLEEP, belly exposed to all.

However, I kept him on leash the entire time they were here, just in case.

He only barked ONCE the entire time they were here. I leashed him to take him downstairs to potty around midnight and my boyfriends uncle was walking up the stairs and Rocky barked at him. The uncle moved to one side of the stairs and Rocky wagged his tail then we walked by him to go downstairs and outside. (He wasn't being fearful like before, he was just surprised).

I am under instructions to not have any strangers over or anyone Rocky is not completely comfortable with once I get home unless he is crated.

We are supposed to start out by just going to petsmart like usual, but instead of walking around and having him do tricks for people and spit the treats out, we are supposed to go to the back of the store where the vet is and I sit on the bench and he lays down for starting at 15 minutes a day. When someone walks by, if he stands up I ignore him and keep sitting there. Once he is used to people walking by and ignores them, he gets hot dog treats (tiny ones). I am supposed to do this until he has been ignoring people for about 3 -4 weeks before I move on to us approaching people. I am in the process of sewing a "IN Training. STOP. DO not Pet" vest that has a stop sign on it. My trainer said to not let strangers approach and if someone does, to tell them to stop, we are training. She said the "in training. STOP" has never failed her clients. People see that and assume police/guide/therapy/service dog and leave you alone. Of course, if someone asks, I will not lead them on to think that and I won't be trying to get in to service dogs places.

Anyways, to get Rocky listening better and more confident, we have been doing "watch me" 3x a day for 5 minutes and have started on "touches" (I forgot what my trainer called it). Basically I have been teaching Rocky to touch his nose to my hand when I say it, and as he learns it better, we move to other objects. We are also learning "Outs"....AKA if we are on a walk and someone is trying to pet him when I said no or a strange dog is coming towards us, I say "OUT" and he immediately springs to my left side and we turn around and go the opposite direction, FAST.

This is probably long and boring but I am very happy with how our training is going. Once I get back to San Marcos, another member on this site gave me the number to a behavioralist in a city close to us that I can contact too

It may be months, or NEVER that Rocky is ok with strangers in the house, but that is no problem for me. If even after all the training, his fearfullness is more genetic and can't be fixed, I love my pup and my life will be adjusted to his needs (as it is now)

[CeCe]

Glad to hear he is doing well-it sounds like you have a great trainer who knows their stuff. Rocky sounds like a smart boy who learns fast. Good luck to you guys.

[DanielleOttoMom]

Sounds like things are working out slowly but for the best. I'm extremly happy for you both. I think you are being very proactive here with Rocky issue. Keep up the good work. You deserve a pat on the back for your good efforts. BTW you haven't posted pics in awhile..... love to see some of Rocky. Sending good vibes from Dallas.

[selzer]

I think it is awesome that you are working with Rocky and that you are understanding that this is a slow and steady process. Maybe Rocky will wear his little stop sign vest forever, and at the end of the day that would not be the end of the world. It sounds like you are going in the right direction.

[Marnie]

You got lucky and got a very good trainer. You sound very committed so I'm sure you will have great success getting him past his fears. Good luck

[GSDAlphaMom]

Bravo for you for being such a caring and willing owner to work with him on this! If all owners met this standard we wouldn't have full shelters. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Twyla]

Congrats!! Sounds like you are on your way. Celebrate each small step Rocky makes as well as celebrate each step you make, since you are in training to The 'watch me' command is worth it's weight in gold.

[x0emiroxy0x]

I will post more pictures as soon as I find my camera! I have been traveling all Christmas and it is somewhere in my luggage...

PS: I don't have a sewing machine so I am sewing Rocky's vest by hand! I don't know if ya'll saw the thread about the memory foam bed I sewed for him, but I really enjoy sewing by hand. Very relaxing and stress relieving...Plus material was only 9$ at hobby lobby and the velcro and ring were only 4$. (I am making it so that the strap that goes underneath him comes up on the other side, goes through the ring, then back under his belly to velcro on so that he can't grow out of it.)

[Lucy Dog]

You're definitely doing the right thing with that dog. I remember your last thread about the nipping and I'm glad you got a behaviorist/trainer involved like a lot of people suggested.

Don't expect rocky to turn into a golden retriever's personality around people no matter how much training you do because that might never happen, but it definitely sounds like he can make some very big improvement.

Good luck to both of you guys.

[paulag1955]

I really appreciate seeing such a detailed, informational post. Thanks.