Demoting Digit!

[urchin]

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I've been studying the Jan Fennel Dog Listener book, as part of my continuing mission to stop my lovely sweet-natured whippet rushing other dogs in the park and barking (semi)ferociously at them - to the consternation of their owners

What Jan has to say about pack status and how this is established makes sense to me, particularly how dogs feel and behaive if they have been promoted beyond their capabilities .... i think i have a classic case of a submissive hound who feels so unsure of my leadership qualifications that he is forced to step into the breach, when i fail in my duty to protect the pack

......and I thought it might be interesting to keep a journal of the experience.

Well, it will interest me - feel free to ignor this thread if you've not quite attained my level of nerdy geekdom lol!

D-Day

Urchin;-

Ignoring your whippet whilst letting him out of his crate, escorting him through the door and the gate into next doors garden for a wee, is not an easy task! But with my gaze held high, my body language suitable superior and a dog used to the routine of where it is you go to do these things, i think i accomplished it!

Getting him to jump back was harder! Especially as Audrey was out and he wanted to play. Still, a rattle of the chain that closes the gate while standing holding doors open did the job, so back into the flat to start Phaze One "the pack reunion ritual"

From Jan's description of the lengths dogs will go to to demand homage (a repetoir lasting between 10 mins and 3 hours) I was prepared for the worst ie had a full pot of tea and the paper.

1 minute! 1 minute was all it took before he stopped plaguing me, lay down and let out the crucial sigh I was lisytening for. Ignored him for a further 5 mins then called him over. SUCCESS!

Next came Phaze Two "the who eats first in this pack ritual"

I mixed up his breakfast, adding a tin of tuna so he would be sure to eat it, sliced up some smoked duck breast which i put on a saucer in his bowl. Sat and ate in front of him, while Dij looked on, with eyes as big as saucers and grumbling quietly to himself. next was his go and not surprisingly, with a tin of tuna thrown in, he wolfed it down!

There were around 8 or 9 pack reunions, and by about the 4th, Dij didn't even bother coming to investigat me until i called him over.

Tea-time routine observed, again with tuna, this time without protest from the boy.

And so to bed........

 

 

 

 

[urchin]

D-Day

Digit:-

Oooo, it's all a bit weird round here. Anty didn't look at me once when i got up - i was soooooooo pleased to see her coz i'd been awake a while and waiting, wagged my tail and everything! Ne'ver mind; out for a wee

Yaaaaaaaay! Audrey was out playing! Raced around barkin at squirrels in the trees - brilliant!

Anty still not talking to me when i come in, Hmmm maybe she needs cheering up?

Tried it - din-work! No, hang on, spoke too soon - she's called me over for a biscuit! Biscuit before breakfast wooo-hoooo!

 

Ooo-errr! getting odder - Anty ate my breakfast! I told her 'waddaya doooooing?' Hmmmph! But. Tuna! nuff said.

 

don't think Anty's cross with me - she doing a lot of not talking to me for a bit, then calls me over....which is better!

 

Big cuddle on the settee tonight :wub:

 

[~elizabeth~]

Well, I'm not sure about the theory of this, but we have noticed a distinct improvement in recall after putting some of these things into practice due to circumstance, rather than design. He's a superbly well-behaved dog in almost all respects, so we've never really had cause to look into training issues.

Since January, I've had a horrible flare-up of allergies following an illness, so both furries (normally glued to my bed at every possible opportunity) have had to keep off the bed, and then stay in the kitchen when it got really bad. Since this time, Gelert's recall has improved phenomenally, and I don't think it's a coincidence.

Thinking about it from his viewpoint, getting my spot on the bed probably equated to having the top-dog spot, being shoved off and taking OH's space, demotion to second dog (OH would sit elsewhere and let him get away with it). He could be extremely bolshy about getting off, and would go and sulk downstairs rather than take a subordinate spot on the bed.

Also since breaking his toe, he hasn't been allowed his favourite chair (incase he landed awkwardly on his foot getting down), this was quickly taken over by the cat, so now he's really feeling bottom of the pecking order. Last night I had him off lead for most of his walk for just about the first time in months, and although he was definitely thinking of breaking away to chase the cows (I know that glint in the eyes too well by now :b ) , he came back submissively each time I called him.

Things are getting better now, and they are being allowed back upstairs, but I think I will be inclined to keep some of these rule in place, as I am convinced they really are contributing to our ability to exert control over him.

 

[kris]

i think theres a lot in this especially about your body language and when you feed your dog and who initiates play etc.if you give them ideas above their station then it can have repercussions :- "behaviour problems CAN be caused by owners not realising they are giving a dog the wrong signals about where he is in the pecking order.keep posting urchin,ill read with interest :thumbsup:

 

[~elizabeth~]

behaviour problems CAN  be caused by owners not realising they are giving a dog the wrong signals about where he is in the pecking order.keep posting urchin,ill read with interest :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Particularly as whippets are on the whole so good - even their 'dominant behaviour' is quite submissive and nonconfrontational - it's easy to overlook things like this, and just put the odd naughy thing down to being a wilful whippet.

Goodluck with it and keep us posted. :thumbsup: :luck:

 

[BevPh]

I have used some of the theories in Jan Fennels book and have to say they have been successful. If Lola spotted another dog, she was off and would only come back when she was ready. This was really spoiling the walk and had to change. Started the recall method with food and finally succeeded. She is now soooo much better. I don't know if this is because she has calmed down with age but whatever it is our walks are tons better!!

 

[urchin]

D-Day+1

Dij had the sulks with me for most of today! After one of the 'pack reunions' he refused to come when the 5 minutes was up.......so hard though it was i ignored him completely for 3 hours. What i've learned is it's blummin hard work ignoring a dog for 3 hours!

But he seemed to have learned the lesson (at least for today) and happily came for a fuss when invited, for the rest of the day.

He's been quite bored though and because he can't go out to the park yet, full of excess energy..... so we had a good game with Flingo, his favourite cuddly toy.

He's still quite confused by my eating his dinner - the look on his face is priceless! I wish i could take a picture, but seeing as the point is to eat in front of him, but not make a meal of it (sorry, couldn't resist the pun - Richard Whitely is smiling indulgently down on me, i'm sure!) whipping out a camera and flashing in his face doesn't seem fair.

One interesting thing I've noticed is that Dij doesn't run ahead of me in the same way down the corridor. Usually he belts off ahead of me then waits for me to open the door. Today he's gone in front a couple of paces, then circled round behind and let me lead.

i think Anty must be really poor coz she keeps eating my dinner! you couldn't have one of those charity whip-rounds could you, and send her over a food parcel? Boring scoffs for brekkie - left some....when i came back Anty had taken it away, Oi ref! no fair! maybe she was hungry again?

bin sulkin - but din't get me anywhere....no walks nor nuffin - Flingo flango game - brilliant!

Tuna for tea yaaaaaaaaay!

 

[lalena]

oh god, i'm in stitches here! :lol: i can just picture whats going through his mind :teehee:

eagerly awaiting the next installment :thumbsup:

 

[urchin]

Glad it's keeping someone else entertained!...don't feel quite such a saddo now

 

[lalena]

Glad it's keeping someone else entertained!...don't feel quite such a saddo now 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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you are so not a saddo its witty, down right funny tbh :lol: as well as informative and helpful :thumbsup:

 

[ruth]

I too am really enjoying this thread, i have thought about trying it with monty but am just to soft (pathetic/weak!) to ignore him for long enough :lol:

 

[urchin]

D-Day +2

Digit’s first full day on his own! The morning passed without incident, but the teatime reunion was taxing! All the attention seeking repertoire that he’d forgone over the weekend, came out in full force. He’s jumped up, pawed, grumbled, howled, acted cute, acted pathetic – am sure he’s been practising all day! Eventually I managed to get the required 5 minutes calm out of him and our evening could begin!…an evening of standing like a noble statue in various locations around the flat. Yes tonight was heel work night. Oh joy. I’d been cheered that Dij had started to get the hang of walking with me yesterday and decided to build on it. The task I set myself for the evening was that every time Digit went mincing off in front of me (there’s some big rooms and long corridors in my flat) I’d call him back then wait as long as it took for him to circle in behind me…..and so in this fashion I have traversed my flat all evening making slow, solemn and above all halting procession from studio to bathroom and kitchen to lounge. Only try this if you’ve an evening to spare. Twice this evening has found me, stock still halfway up the stairs waiting for His Obsinacy to rejoin me. Then there have been the changes of direction. I’m off to the bathroom but Dij gets ahead, so I turn right to the kitchen instead. It’s no wonder I forgot my sausages and had burnt tea!

But the biggest shock came at bed time. The routine has always been to feed the creatures at bedtime (although I am going to be bringing this forward), so Dij goes out for a wee - Audrey’s out too and Dij wants to play, though he doesn’t give much protest when called. Then he threw a complete strop. We came back into the flat through the bathroom (I know, I know! Who on earth enters their flat through the bathroom?) After the bathroom, six steps lead up to the rest of the flat. Dij runs ahead, I called him back and he stands on the top step at eye level with me and barks into my face. You have never seen such a tantrum – man was he angry with me! Sadly, collapsing into fits of giggles at such a ridiculous outburst is not on Jan Fennell’s approved list, so I resolutely turned my back on him. He went berserk; barking and howling at the back of my head until he started to feel a bit silly and squatted down in a puddle of grumbles and low whining. So 5 minutes later we resume our walk to the kitchen, this time with Dij firmly behind me, clearly taking no chances! No protest over me eating his supper, just one forlorn sigh…night night Dij x

Bored bored bored bored – bored bored BORED! Spent the day on my own being BORED.

Then Anty came home and I was soooooo pleased to see her an I wan’ed to play and I was sooooo boingy excited but – SHE DIDN’T WANT TO KNOW!

So I yodelled and I serenaded but – SHE DIDN’T WANT TO KNOW!

So I grumbled and I grizzled but SHE DIDN’T WANT TO KNOW!

So I acted cute and floppy but she didn’t want to know. So I

Gave Up

Then skippety-paws SHE DID WANT TO KNOW!

Anty calls me over for cuddles and we go and play outside yaaaaaaaaay!

Then came WALKING - but not as we know it. Honestly, I’m starting to worry. Anty kept stopping and starting and walking in and out of places – I don’t know why we couldn’t have just gone to the park. Anyway I was all wounded up and Anty lets me out for a wee and Audrey’s out and she wants to play and we’re running about and chasing things and Audrey’s a Lancaster bomber and I’m a baddie and she’s going neeeeeeowwwww atta-attat-attata at me and she takes out my engine and I’m going down and ANTY CALLS ME IN FOR MY TEA! And then she starts this stoppy-starty thing again and I want my tea and I wanted to play with Audrey and it’s not fairrrrrrrr! So I told her! I shouted and shouted right in her face. ….and she turned her back on me. So I shouted and shouted right at the back of her head, til I kinda felt a bit silly and sat down for a grumble. Hmmpph.

Not a nice day.

 

[Millie]

I loving this................ looking forward to the next installment :thumbsup:

 

[clairej810]

I'm really enjoying this!! (w00t)

Tiny has mega tantrums too, he throws himself on the floor and starts yelling and screaming - it's like having a baby sometimes. He seems to be growing out of it though - with lots of careful ignoring! Having said that he behaved perfectly on Sunday at the Melton Fair with all differnt breeds of dogs. Normally he would go crazy at them, but not a peep!!

 

[lalena]

whens the next episode? (w00t) better than 'enders, biccies, tea and a fag

 

[urchin]

Patience, patience - a girl does have a job to go to!

Are you sitting comfortably? then I'll begin

D-Day +3

Digit’s definitely a dog who learns his lesson tomorrow. He spends today trying to find ways to wriggle out of what he is being required to learn, ruminates overnight on how far his previous tactics got him – then does a whole lot better in the morning.

And so it was today. This morning was a smooth running affair, only set back was Digit not eating all of his brekkie – still, another chance for him to learn the ‘if you leave it, you’ve given up your right to it’ lesson!….is that bowl half full or half empty I wonder?

Home from work, and Dij demonstrated his grasp of the 5 minute rule – a couple of half hearted plays for attention before lying down meekly to wait it out. He was taking no chances of another top stair stand-off either, trotting gamely back and circling in behind, to take up his heel position, without a murmur. We’ve done loads more heel work up and down the flat. Dij is really getting the hang of it. I nice friendly but expectant Come On brings him back into position and an encouraging With Me is pretty much all it takes for him to set off by my side. He’s sort of learning that I mean my left side. I noticed that unconsciously I had been holding my left arm straight (not rigid) and pointing to the spot where I want his nose to be. He must have picked up on this as he sticks a cold wet on it, and so, nose in finger we promenade.

There was however, a return to the stair shenanigans – though not to the extent of last night. So no cuddles before bed.

Done a bit of thinking, the think I thought is that yesterday was hard work! Anty comes down and she’s kinda quiet. Said ay up to her, but Anty she read the paper…..Hmmmph, little lie down to pass the time…till she NOTICES ME! Yaaaaaaaaay! And she’s not cross or anything! Go for a wee, Audrey not out, hmph! Boring scoffs, couldn’t be bothered with it….and Anty TOOK IT AWAY! Bugger!

Home from work, Anty still on the quiet side of not-crazy. She’s mad she is, have I mentioned that? I mean, I was waggy to see her, and a bit sniffingy but she did the newspaper thing again. Couldn’t be bothered to try and snap her out of it, another lie down. Yawwwwn

Audrey came out to play and we zooooomed round the garden being treasure hunters, hunting out pirate stash in the plant pots and wild beasts in the jungle, and when Anty called me in Audrey was allowed to come back to play some more. So we zoooooomed around the flat being cops and robbers and Audrey was Starsky and I was Kojack and the boylads were ESCAPING CRIMINALS and we zoooomed them back to their robbers den and Anty told us to settle down or it will end in tears.

Then there was lots more walking – but made a bit more sense. Cummon means I gotta go back and do a circle behind and pop up by where her pointy finger points. Then she goes Withme an I have to FOLLOW THE FINGER! And when I’m really good at it I get a biscuit yaaaaaaaaaaay bisciutty goodness!

Big flingo game, Audrey wouldn’t join in said she was still being Starsky I said yeah right you’re lying on the sofa and she said yeah – but I’m Starsky lying on the sofa!

Went a bit iffy at bedtime. Shucks.

 

[lalena]

:teehee: bless him :huggles: wonder if fridays will end as a cliff hanger? :unsure: that'll keep me riveted to the screen, i can tell ya! :lol:

 

[kim & Tilly]

fantastic.....i love to imagine what the dogas are thinking :clown:

 

[lalena]

fantastic.....i love to imagine what the dogas are thinking  :clown:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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thinking back on some of the faces ambers pulled at me (while in later stages of pregnancy, to be fair) in some cases its DEFINATELY best not to know exactly what goes through their minds :sweating: :lol:

 

[urchin]

D-Day +4

Digit got up this morning in sombre mood. It’s so hard to resist those soulful marble eyes and stick to the plan, when what you want to do is swoop in with cuddles. But, I’ve never been known as half-a-job, so resist I shall.

Another lesson in ‘leave food at your peril’ deployed with mixed feelings. Although at head level I completely understand that my hound has evolved as a creature of feast or famine and so is built to go days without food; my heart won’t quite embrace it and I leave for the day feeling like a VERY BAD AUNTY.

Took no chances of another top-stair ‘do’, and made sure I’d shut the door before he came back from his afternoon wee. Have decided that it would be better if I remove the possibility of him misbehaving, before he gets chance to lose control. I’ve no idea if this fits with the Principles-of-Jan, but my logic goes like this:

 When Digit first comes back in he is almost always excited

 At key times of the day, he is also hungry and expectant of food

 The temptation to rush past me to the kitchen is therefor too much for him

 So if I remove the possibility for him to do this. By using the hall as an antechamber, I can give him time to collect himself together before we set off up the corridor towards the kitchen of delight!

 I think this will help to break the pattern of behaviour and reinforce the lesson I’m trying to teach

But I could be wrong on this – Jan may well be shaking her head at this point muttering ‘how can someone read my whole book and get it sooooo wrong?’

As an antidote to what was shaping up to be a good day all round, things fell apart at bedtime. Although Dij’d had his main meal at around 6, I thought he still ought to have a bit of something at bedtime. This may well have been a mistake! I gave him straight kibble and he was not impressed! I drifted off to sleep 2 hours later with the sound of whippety crying still audible.

Feeling mopey this morning, couldn’t be bothered with arguing – even when Anty took my brekkers away. Tried really hard not to get over excited when she got home. Got outside quicker yaaaaaaaaaaaay! And I got my tea early! Good job coz I was hungry as a very hungry thing from hungry land on hungry day – with hungry trousers on! Didn’t even care that Anty ate some coz it was TUNA!

Bedtime was eeeeeeevil! Anty made me tea and it WAS NOT SPECIAL TEA and I DIDN’T WANT IT and IT’S NOT FAIR AND I’M NOT EATING IT AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME and I said so…and Anty took it away….and I told her IT’S NOT FAIR that’s MY TEA and YOU’VE ALREADY HAD SOME and IT’S NOT FAIR and I HATE YOU! ….and then I cried but she didn’t come back . Whimper.