Shelter Dog and a Nibbler
Posted on May 30, 2012 by bob in PetWise
Q: I just got my dog from a rescue shelter, and he needs some help. He’s somewhere between 3 and 5 years old, and was at a puppy mill before landing in the shelter. He freezes whenever someone picks him up, and he runs around in circles a lot. Any suggestions? — A.S.
A: Begin by capturing both behaviors on video (use a smart phone or a camera). It’s unlikely your dog would re-enact the behaviors you describe at a veterinary clinic, so recording them let’s your veterinarian see what’s going on.
Dr. Sophia Yin, based in San Francisco and an applied animal behaviorist and author, says to have your veterinarian rule out possible medical explanations, including ear infection or vestibular syndrome. The video may help your vet rule out seizures to explain either or both behaviors. Freezing in place might be a result of pain. Pain, parasites, or anal gland issues might explain the spinning.
Assuming your dog checks out physically, Yin says freezing in place is likely related to fear. Instead of reaching over your dog to pick him up, reach over him simply to drop treats. He’ll quickly realize someone leaning over him is nothing to worry about, but instead, a reason to celebrate.
As for those bursts of energy, Yin says the potential explanations are varied.
“It might be that your dog is excited and receives attention (or at least once did) for running in circles because family members thought it was funny, or that your dog is truly not receiving enough exercise and has developed that pattern as an outlet for pent-up energy.”
If the running in circles might be described as tail chasing, there’s no medical explanation and the behavior can’t easily be interrupted. The problem may be a true compulsive behavior, which calls for a visit to your veterinarian.
Q: When people visit our home, the dog nibbles at their ankles. How can we stop this? — S.H.
A: “Dogs may do this for many reasons,” says dog trainer, author and certified dog behavior consultant Brenda Aloff, of Midland, MI. “Does this feel like play? If you are comfortable that it’s play, then attempt to redirect the behavior. The second the dog looks like it will go for someone’s ankles (or even better, before this happens), toss treats or a toy in the other direction. If you do this consistently, the dog will learn to go the other way when people walk by. For better control, you might even leash your dog when people visit.”
Aloff points to a lesson which applies to many behaviors: “To modify behavior, you must prevent rehearsal of the undesired behavior. The more the new desired behavior is practiced, the more quickly it will create a new neural pathway in the brain.”
If your dog isn’t playing but demonstrating aggression, for now, leash the pet when you have company, or even put the dog in another room so everyone stays safe. Seek hands-on help from a dog trainer or certified dog behavior consultant.
Steve Dale is certified as a Behavior Consultant by the International Assoc. of Animal Behavior Consultants. Contact him at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY. 14207, or by e-mail, petworld@stevedale.tv. Include name, city, state. (c) 2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
