Our new foster dog, Meggie, is a two-way teacher.
She wrecked her new orthopedic bed, teaching us to hold off on quality items until trust is established. Now, an old towel suffices when we're not around and Meggie is inside her crate, and when we're in the room with her, she's on Gunner's spare donut cuddler bed overnight.
Lesson learned: Quality items come after trust is built.
To address Meggie's barrier reactivity, we've started behavior modification games. This video clip documents her initial barrier reactivity when she first came into our foster care. When Meggie is quiet while the other dog is present, I toss treats so calm behavior is reinforced.
Lesson learned: Reinforce sustained calm behavior, so eventually the trigger produces a positive conditioned emotional response.
Managing reactivity is essential during ongoing behavior modification. Placing a blanket over Meggie's short-term confinement area reduces her barrier reactivity temporarily while I'm feeding the other dogs in the same room with her. The blanket comes off once everyone is finished eating and I am available to manage the dogs' interactions.
With Meggie undergoing heartworm treatment she'll be restricted from vigorous activity, so using her food as enrichment and providing engaging chew toys is vital. Stuffing hollow toys creatively with her daily food and treats replaces a mundane food bowl.
Lesson learned: Creatively stuff chew toys for mealtime engagement.
We've turned the neighbor's barking dogs into a training opportunity, reinforcing calmness when Meggie sees other dogs by playing the "Look at that!" game.
Meggie is a sweet pup, cherishing cuddle time and bonding with Jackie.
- There are many behavior modification games to change unwanted behavior into desirable habits. One such game for reducing barrier reactivity is to have the reactive dog behind a barrier in a controlled environment. Let another calm, non-reactive dog enter the room. Every time the reactive dog displays calm, settled behavior, toss a treat into her enclosure. Repeat these short, less-than-a-minute teaching sessions until the reactive dog learns when she stays calm while the other dog is present, wonderful things happen.
- An even better game to play for reactive dogs is the "Look at that!" game to counter-condition a learned response. Keep your dog below threshold, or still showing quiet and calm behavior, while you teach your dog to look at the exciting stimulus, then repeatedly reward them for staying calm while just looking at it.
- To play the Look At That game: have a very high-value reward, like pea-sized bits of hot dog or chicken. Be sure you're at a distance and time where you control how close or far you are from the trigger. Always keep your dog under threshold so that they notice the trigger without going over threshold. Sometimes this means starting at any distance without going over threshold, practicing first at home with a neutral target (anything that they do not react to).
- As soon as your dog glances at the trigger (another dog, a car, or whatever your dog finds stimulating or scary), click or say "Yes!" to mark that behavior and give them a delicious treat. After your dog progresses to the point they are offering a glance toward the trigger, add the verbal cue "Look!" Your dog quickly starts to look at the scary or stimulating trigger when you give the "Look!" cue and then eagerly turns to you for a tasty tidbit.
- Continue rewarding their bravery, and keep sessions short by using only five to 10 tiny treats at a time. Give your dog frequent re-set breaks and make each session brief and positive. Keep practicing this game until your dog is calmly looking at the trigger in anticipation of the click. The end goal is a conditioned emotional response so your dog remains calm when they see the trigger, and eventually you completely fade the food treat.
