Strategies for gaining confidence/decreasing fear?

[B-and-B]

This seems to be an issue with my 1yo BC, I'll try to explain it as succintly as possible, the scenarios may not seem connected, but I'll tie them up in the end (or try to ) ...

When Dusty was younger, she used to have a problem with urinating when I would pet her when she was excited, like when I would get home from work. She has outgrown that, but I have noticed when ever we have company (people she is not generally familiar with) she still has the 'bladder control' issue when guests go to pet her. I just chalked it up to nervousness, or my wife relates as 'submissive peeing'.

Next, when taking the dogs out for a run recently we came to a little bridge across a drainage ditch. Rains had washed away one of the approaches some time past, leaving a 1'-2' gap between the bank and the bridge. Shadow (the older BC) simply walked across the gap, then back over to Dusty, then across the gap again. Dusty would not come to within 1' of the edge of the 'bank', I eventually had to carry her over the gap.

Finally, Dusty will bark like crazy at ANYONE within 100yds of our house, on the street or nearby parking lot. If someone is jogging by ( or my neighbor is standing in his driveway) she will charge agressively, but if the person stands their ground she will stop and not approach. Our neighbor has even tried calling her when she does this (she has met him before) but Dusty will not approach him.

So as I sat pondering these and other incidents (she REFUSES to go up a flight of stairs), it seems to me, in my limited insight to dog psyche that Dusty is a rather fearful pup. In my mind that would explain her some-what agressive behavior with passersby.... yes or no?

Assuming that my perception is accurate, then my next step would be to help her gain confidence. But in order to do that, I have to help her have absolute trust in me, that if I ask her to do something, she can trust me that she will be safe. Is my line of thinking correct, or am I putting human logic/emotions on my dog, instead of dog logic. If I am 'spot on' what are some strategies, activities I can do to work towards trust and her confidence?

Sorry for being so long winded...Hopefully that all made sense, and as always , thanks in advance.

B and B

[Bordercentrics]

The best program I have found for helping a dog overcome fears, build confidence, and most of all to trust his owner is called Behavior Adjustment Training by Grisha Stewart. I have used it to help a friend's Border Collie who was presenting with some odd and inconsistent fears. You can get it on Amazon. Good luck, it really works.

 

Kathy Robbins

[deadlywarbler]

I am dealing with the same thing in my 10 mo. old. Not exactly the same, but charging cats and barking out the window. Luckily she's good with people in and out of the house. I've been finding some good insight from the Control Unleashed book by Leslie McDevitt. She seems to describe these kinds of behaviors perfectly and highlights them as anxiety and uncertainty. I would suggest that in addition to any advice given here, which is always very helpful!

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

 

Increasing confidence is slow and incremental. The principle is easy: Safe Adventure. You ask the dog to do a little bit more than it has while ensuring the "dangerous" activity turns out well. For instance: when you have guests there's no reason they should pet your dog until and unless the dog comes over for a pet. If the dog wants to hide in the corner: okay. One day, he'll come out and if he doesn't: no harm done.

 

If you force a fearful dog, he'll (sensibly) become more fearful. You can entice him, distract him or change the doggy meaning of what's going on (Our UPS man carries treats and our guard dogs dogs don't associate BIG BROWN with HOME INVASION. They think HERE COMES THE SNACK WAGON.)

 

You should remember that Border Collies are obsessives and habits (whether fear generated or otherwise) are hard to break and must be trained out of them. She may be "alerting to joggers" or "Working up her courage for a nip" or "playing at junkyard dog". Can't tell from here.

 

But training, guided by a good trainer (no book or video can answer all your questions) will reduce your dog's anxiety (and yours).Training gives structure and meaning to your dog. Interview several local trainers, sit in on a class, watch them work, inquire about their success with fearful dogs and ask yourself ("Do I want to emulate this person. Do I want to be with dogs as he or she is?") If so: sign on, do the work, enjoy the ride.

 

Donald McCaig

[Pam Wolf]

Training using positive methods can help reduce fears. Socialization and counter conditioning works very well. Often agility can help some dogs overcome fears, but that is probably due to the training given and socialization due to classes and competitions.

Submissive urination is not a big problem if managed right. When you have guests have them greet her outside once he bladder is emptied the likelihood of urinating is reduced. Additionally have guest give her a special treat and have her sit to greet them.

I the stairs are open backed it is not uncommon for dogs to dislike them until taught to go up.

I'd check her eyes if possible, she could have an eye problem, but more likely she needs more exposure to things. I once worked with a dog that when encountered a steep slope would not go down it. You would have thought I was throwing him off asking him to go down after the sheep. I took him to a lower place (about 10 feet vs 50) and he finally went down (had to move to a place about 4 feet high). Gradually working up to the taller slope. OK the slope is about 85degrees so I can understand a bit of fear, but never this much. But the dog came from a region without hills so it made sense. Age and building his confidence by taking it slower helped a lot.

[CMP]

For what it is worth: in my experience the most important thing is to not force anything - to not "belittle" the fears, as it were. Much like with a child.

 

When dealing with a timid dog I like to provide choices. "You want to walk up the steps or you want me to carry you?" Eventually the dialogue makes sense and the lesson is that the thing is going to have to get done but you will be there to help.

 

All this advice is somewhat useless, I realize, as every trainer has their own framework. My dogs learn the "want me to carry you?" or "can I carry you?" from the time they are wee bitty puppies - at some point around three months it becomes a request for their permission in this context. A loose leash means a choice is there for them to make (go visit the strange dog/person/thing or not). I rarely ever encourage a dog through fear, I have found it best to just be there providing the options and the controls - it seems to me that encouragement can too often lead to badgering/bullying and a sort of trainer frustration that can make it worse.

 

Patience is the key. Repetition, patience and finding small victories to build on.

 

Good luck.

[Maralynn]

The idea of choices and empowering the dog to be a part of the choice is pretty valid IMO. And I also used the "safe adventure" concept a lot with my first dog with very good success. I think the key to both is setting up a foundation of calm trust in a regular environment that isn't stressful. When you come upon a stressful situation you then have a familiar choice to present the dog with. For my pup, I've been teaching him to settle in my arms since the day I got him. Last week I had him at the super exciting overwhelming etc vet's office. He looked like a kid who wanted to bounce off the walls. I took him in my arms, got him to settle quickly and the rest of the time he did really well - focused, happy, easy going.

[GentleLake]

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_9/features/Helping-Timid-Dogs_20348-1.html?s=FB061614

[chene]

 

 

My dogs learn the "want me to carry you?" or "can I carry you?" from the time they are wee bitty puppies - at some point around three months it becomes a request for their permission in this context.

 

As usual, I find your technique of offering the dog a choice fascinating. And I apologize that I once again have to pester you in asking how you train this. I have a vague idea of how it would go, but I'm curious as to how you do it.

[B-and-B]

Thanks all! lots of good ideas to research! thanks again.

[CMP]

It trains itself.

 

A pick up has a distinct set of movements. They know when they are about to be picked up.

 

When they are young, and the pick up is remedial (picking up a puppy to place them in the right spot, for instance, when training the "come along" or correcting their course when they crowd in on you as a prelude to ankle biting) I just do it. Nicely, but I just do it.

 

As they get older, I start to make the pick up motion but stop short of touching them and as I hover I ask, "You want me to pick you up, or are you going to move?" Almost always they move. That earns praise.

 

At that point, I must always offer them the choice as I think once you allow that it CAN be a choice, you must allow for the empowerment you gave them and not take it away. This is a trust issue.

 

When I ask one of three things happens:

 

1. They self correct and there is no need for a pick up

2. They do nothing which is "yes" or "piss off" which ends the same way

3. They do that "bite at the air" thing near where your hands will touch which means "no".

 

For fearful things, they want to be picked up sometimes and when I make the motion and ask, they allow me without interference, sometimes even "cuddling" into my arms.

 

For bad behaviour (such as, "are you going to move or do you want me to pick you up?" or "stop trying to jump on that old lady or do you want me to pick you up?") there is an implicit understanding: you must either improve the behavior or I don't care how much you don't want to be picked up, that is what will happen. It is more like an ultimatum than a choice, really, in that instance.

 

For dangerous things (such as crossing a narrow bridge), I have been known to pull executive rank and scoop them up and say, "I am picking you up now." I choose to live with that breach, if it is one, of the trust I mentioned earlier.

 

I would say choice is my underlying training philosophy.

 

Sometimes it's just nasty (my children get endless giggles at seeing it from this perspective): I purposefully keep an old plastic, dark, dank, depressing crate with a squeaky metal door that clangs. When they give me crate trouble, I give them a choice as to which crate they would like to be in.

 

Probably not an approved method - but it works for me.

 

:/

 

 

edited to add:

 

Also, I extend this to acts of kindness. Puppies get tired. Sometimes I will say, "you want me to carry you to the truck?" if they seem tired out from whatever we were doing. Once used, I use it for just the everyday act of picking up a puppy to pet them or whatever. My dogs get quite cranky if someone wants to pick them up without their permission. As well they should

 

It comes in SUPER handy in the case of injury requiring bedrest. You want me to carry you outside, or do you want to stay inside? Can I carry you (to this new spot) or do you want to stay here? Can I carry you to the truck or do you want to stay home? One puppy preferred I drag her bed around the house rather than be picked up - she had deemed it undiginified, I guess :/ In fact, the best advantage I ever have when dealing with a dog on crate rest is the choice thing - it seems to help them overcome frustration and boredom when they feel in charge.

[Lizabeth]

I love that link GentleLake posted. I bookmarked it and have been trying a couple of the things in there with our everyday routine.