Dog Training

Penny has been with us for few days already.

With her biting incidents, we got a dog trainer to see if he can help us to overcome the issues with Penny.

Ricky came over around 7.30pm. Very punctual guy. Cool.

I was imagining that he would be bringing a parang, choke chain, or maybe a cane. :P

Just kidding. He came with just his little bag of I-dunno. C’mon, don’t expect me to peep into his bag right?

Learn quite many things from him.

His assessment of Penny is that she is of very strong character. She is also trying to get used to our home, and assessing each and every one of us at home. She is an unwilling pack leader.

He spotted a few safe havens which Penny is trying to establish at our home. Advising us to do something to remove the situation, so that she will see us as her pack leader.

There are 4 basic needs and security a dog needs to have, according to him.

Feast, Attention, Perceived danger (internal and external).

So we have to remove her safe haven in order not to let her build her empire. If not, we will become slaves to her. :P

This is part of her way in dealing with internal perceived danger.

We didn’t notice that until Ricky tells us. Seems interesting to know.

For external perceived danger, that’s her instinct to bark at people or dogs outside our house. She is so protective of us because she thinks she is the leader among us.

So we have to constantly remind her that we are her leader, and we can deal with the situation rather than let her bark to protect us from outside danger.

As for food, we have to prepare in such a way to tease her that the food is yummy. Fake-eating her food if possible (with chips or nuts on hand lah).

If she doesn’t want to eat, will have to take the food so that she will treasure her food.

Cannot do it buffet-style.

We don’t usually do it that way, as our old dogs are very greedy. They gobble the food down in a jiffy. J

That’s probably the easiest to make them feel food is important.

Attention, well, due to her unpredictable aggression, we have to slowly give her the attention she needs.

It cannot be done when she wants attention. We have to give her attention when we want to give her. This is to make her feel that we are important to her, and not the other way round.

Sounds logical too right?

If not, every time she asks for attention, and we give it to her, she will think she is the leader, as we give in to her.

Have to ignore her when she asks for it, and only to give her the attention from our part after a few minutes. That’s to show our importance to her. How cool is that?

Another thing Ricky mentioned, when we get home from outside (work or otherwise), if the dog wags her tail too much, it is not necessarily a sign to mean she is happy to see you.

It just means she is very excited, and her energy level is very high.

And dog will usually ask for attention at that time.

Thus, we have to ignore her for a few minutes. Cannot totally ignore.

After that few minutes, we have to do reunion with her, to show that we care for her.

Reminds me of parenting talks … … …

Well, it is really an eye/ear opener to learn from Ricky.

Doing it is the hard part, as usual.

Well, the Tay family has to try. No way out. LOL

Next session with Ricky will be a few weeks later.

Let’s home by then little Penny can feel more relax to relinquish her leadership role to other members in our family.

That way, she can be happier, and hopefully less bites.