It is sometimes hard to determine whether changes in a re-homed dog’s behaviour after a couple of weeks or so is due to settling in and old traits resurfacing, or to something the new people themselves are doing. Probably a mix of both.
They have had delightful two-year-old DJ for about six weeks now and a couple of behaviour problems have surfaced that are getting worse.
Obsessed with balls
He is becoming increasingly obsessed with balls – but only as a tool to get people doing what he wants.
As soon as anyone sits down he is constantly dropping the ball on them, waiting for it to be thrown. He is very winning and it’s hard not to do it – see the photo!
He’s not interested, however, if someone other than himself chooses to get a ball and throw it for him!
Less experienced people often believe extreme exercise is the cure to behaviour issues when in fact it can be the opposite. There is a happy balance. TV trainers with gimmicks are partly to blame. ‘Exhaust the dog and he will be good’!
How do you feel if you are exhausted?
Chasing sticks
JD is much more strung up after his long walks with lots of chasing sticks than before he goes out. On the way back home he may lunge and bark at cars, something he doesn’t do on the way out.
Then, once home, instead of being satisfied, he’s is in a very highly strung and agitated state, desperately seeking to unwind. If he can’t find a ball he shakes. He may chew his feet.
We are working out whether to go cold turkey with the balls, whether to offer him very short ball sessions but only instigated by the owners and not in the sitting room, or whether to give him something good to chew to distract him.
I favour the latter if he will have it because the act of chewing produces calming chemicals in the body.
Wary of touching him
The second problem is that they are now wary of touching him. He leaps onto them whenever he feels like it, which would be okay if he didn’t then growl if they move, especially if he’s sleepy.
It seems the more they fall over themselves to please him and make him happy, the worse he gets.
The daughter, who is a nanny, understood quite quickly what he needs. It’s very much the same as the two children in her care need in order to feel secure, calm and happy.
This isn’t constant attention, the grown-ups reacting to the dog’s every demand, over-stimulating exercise and play, eating whenever he likes and so on. It’s quality time, play times, peaceful times, meal times, routine, boundaries and consistency, trusting the adults to make the important decisions – and plenty to occupy his brain. And love.
