Petfinder.com forums :: View topic - October 12th -18th Dog Training and Care w/Pia Silvani! [ ]

This month we are excited to welcome Pia Silvani! Pia is joining us and available to answer any questions you have relating to dog training and care.

Pia is Director of Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center located in Madison, New Jersey. She has developed various courses focusing on positive, reward-based techniques, which are extremely effective in the enhancement of the bond and relationship of our companion animals.

When Pia began working at the shelter, she realized that people were relinquishing their pets to the shelter as a result of behavior problems. At the time, there was very little education for the pet-owning public. Through the research of people such as Dr. Gary Patronek, and many more, Pia was instrumental in developing a behavior department for the shelter. Today the shelter offers pre-adoption and post-adoption education to all adopters. Through word of mouth and a good reputation about the behavior department, St. Hubert’s now has a very successful private consultation department for pet owners specializing in aggressive and anxiety-related problems for dogs and cats. In 2007, the department saw over 500 behavior cases.

Pia writes behavior articles for the shelter's newsletter and library; as well as contributes articles to many newsletters, magazines and more around the country. She has been written up many times in national and international newspapers and magazines, most recently the largest dog magazine in Japan. She routinely gives guest appearances on television and radio and is the host of Teacher’s Pet located on www.petliferadio.com. She has spoken at various conferences and forums internationally (including Belgian, Bermuda, Canada and Japan) and routinely consults with trainers and various shelters to assist them in improving and expanding their education and programs.

Welcome Pia!

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:26 am Post subject:

Welcome Pia!!

If you don't mind, I'll jump to the point of my post. (I'm @ work on lunch. Very Happy

)

I have a 1 1/2 - 2 year old female whippet mix. I adopted her exactly 1 year and 1 day ago!! Shocked

How she interacts with us: She's very needy and she licks us constantly, but we love her. We have to sit on the couch with our hands either behind our heads or crossed in front of us while saying "NO" or "no licking". I think she loves my husband the best for attention, but she sticks by my side at all times.

Her problem: Submissive Urination. This didn't start until about May of this year. She started only doing it when my husband would call her and gradually got to the point to doing it when I called her. 99% of the time it happens in the house. She's not in trouble or anything, we just initiated the communication with her. I was even trying to give her treats once and she urinated all of the kitchen floor. We've consulted a behaviorist, but haven't had her out because of $$. So, we just ignore her until she tries to suffocate us on the couch. I've read that some ways to correct this is to ignore the dog, or not to make eye contact, have your palm up, and stay on her level. And to not hit, yell or verbally correct the dog. My confusion is: What am I telling her when I approach her when I want to sit down and she's already there, when she needs to be kenneled (I have to carry her or she'll pee on the way there.), or any other time when she lifts her leg and I back off? That if she keeps lifting her leg, that I'll go away?? It's gotten to the point that we think she's using it as a weapon. We as a family do not want to "walk on eggshells" around her anymore.

Sorry it's so long. Any new ideas would be extremely appreciated!!

Pia's Answer:

Hi Pennysmom,

Thank you for writing. Your little girl sounds very special. She is lucky to have such patient people in her life.

Regarding the licking, many times this can become a compulsive behavior since the dog doesn't know what else to do. I have seen dogs excessively lick for two reasons. The first is that the dog's behavior may have been reinforced by petting her when she was licking. Many people think licking is "kissing" and a sign of love and affection. While it can be, it is also a sign of appeasement. When dogs are punished for a behavior, such as licking, the behavior can turn into an appeasement signal to shut off any negative interaction with the owner. What happened really doesn't matter. Right now I would focus on giving her something else to do. You can supply her with a great chew toy or stuff a toy or sterile bone with a soft substance, such as canned dog food, cottage cheese, yogurt or a little bit of peanut butter. This will keep her licking on something else and keep her busy. Just make sure she is not allergic to any type of food. Also, if she will not stop licking, I would purchase a dog bed for her and place it next to the sofa and insist that she relax on the bed instead.

Regarding her submissive urination, obviously, I would have her checked by your veterinarian first to ensure that she is in good health and rule out any urinary tract infection or other types of infection. Once you have done this, you need to build her confidence. If she squirms, rolls over or exhibits any submissive behavior, walk away from her before she is in the position or starts to urinate. Yes, ignoring it will help (sometimes). Training her to sit or sit up also helps. Lure her with a food treat so her focus is on the food and not your hands. If you need to get her into her kennel, lure her in with a biscuit and toss it in as you put it on cue. Avoid petting her at this point. If you are going to pet her, pet her between her chest bone and keep the side of your body toward her. I also encourage timid dogs to jump up to greet to build confidence. They cannot roll over and urinate if they are jumping up. Pat your chest or thighs and say "up up." Any attempt should be reward with food. Once her confidence is growing, you can then teach her that jumping up on occurs when you ask for it.

I hope this helps. Best of luck to you both.

Pia

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

Hello Pia!!

I recently adopted a 3 legged 2 year-old basenji mix who is not very good at walking on a leash. In the house he gets around just fine and even runs and jumps around showing off his toys Very Happy

When I take him outside on a leash, it is a different story. At times he is just fine… but more often than not, when I take him outside to go to the bathroom, he suddenly decides he does not want to move and he’ll just stop in a neighbor’s yard or on the sidewalk and refuse to take another step. When I give him a little pull on the leash to get him moving he usually lays down and rolls over on his back and if I try to pick him up, he growls. He is missing his front left leg so I’m afraid if I pull on the leash I’ll make him lose his balance and fall. Taking him out to go to the bathroom can be a bit of an ordeal… any suggestions on how to train him to better walk on a leash? Thanks!

Pia's Answer:

Hi KennyPancakes,

Thank you for adopting! So many animals are put to sleep each year, as you know. We always need people like you to help save our beloved pets and put them into good homes.

Yes, I agree, you shouldn't pull him. The question is, why is he not interested in walking? Is it physical? Is it the environment? Is it fear of something? If you can pinpoint what might make him fearful that would help. Also, try to walk him around your yard on a leash. Perhaps it is simply that he is not acclimated to walking on a leash.

Many dogs do not understand that they can relieve themselves when on a leash if they were not taught to do so early on in life. If left in a backyard free without ever relieving himself on a lead, he does not understand that he can do this.

Will he relieve himself off leash? If the answer is yes, then you need to get a longer line and keep him nice and loose on the lead. If that is not the case, then you may want to bring some treats with you. Stand still in front of him at the end of the lead facing forward. Do not return to him. Put gentle tension on the lead without pulling. But, do not walk back to him. When he moves forward, say "yes" and reward him by tossing kibble or a treat in front of you to push him to move forward. If he is not eating, then we know it is stress-related.

I'm concerned about the growling since it sounds as if he is nervous and doesn't want to move. Dogs typically do not growl unless they are stressed. Try not to pick him up. Also, do fun things with him on a lead. You may want to keep a lead on him in the house and walk him around on a lead in the house so he becomes more relaxed.

If this is not working, stay in touch!

All my best,

Pia

Hi Pia,

Thank you so much for the advice and for being here!! I tried a longer leash this morning and it seemed to help some... maybe he was just wanting a little privacy! ha!

I will do as you suggest with the leash and the treats. I didn't realize that the growling was a stress reaction and I want to do all that I can to help him enjoy being out doors. Thank you again!

Pia's Answer:

Hi KennyPancakes,

Glad to hear some of the suggestions are going smoothly. Keep up the good work!

Pia

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject:

Thank you so much for being available. I have 2 different issues & both are really wearing me down. I have rescue shelties & also a mini schnauzer.

Problem#1 is the 2 smallest shelties & schnauzer. They are bark crazy. If the dogs outside walk by the window or bark, they bark. If I try to go outside & leave them inside, they bark. Most of the time they are fine but if I have people come in or my kids come home to visit, the dogs bark whenever they enter a room. How can I help distract them? The schnauzer is 16 months old & the shelties are 10 & 5 years old.

Problem #2 is another rescue sheltie. We have had Maggie 2 years. She is a 5 year old sheltie that has SEVERE thunder phobia. We have tried her on 7 different medications & no luck. When she hears thunder or a noise like that (lawnmower startup, fireworks, gunshot) she goes wild. She will run towards the noise & bark constantly while trying to chase the sound & "get it". The thing that has been sort of a last ditch effort is to crate her if we think it's going to storm & have the radio on with classical music. I haven't been able to rehome her due to the extreme thunder issue. I did make contact with a rescue in AZ that is willing to help me get her there in hopes that an area of less stormy weather might be the answer.

Any advice you can give would be wonderful. These are all great dogs except for the things I mentioned. It reminds me of the rhyme about the little girl that when she was good she was very, very good but when she was bad she was horrid.

Please help us. Since Hurricane Katrina hit here we have very few resources for behavior issues. I have just gotten over an expensive hip surgery for another sheltie so I am hoping I can help these guys become relaxed.

Thanks!!

Pia's answer:

Hi Benj,

I hope I can help you since your canine kids need you and we don't want you worn out! I'm thrilled to hear about your involvement with rescue. It is so important.

Regarding Problem #1 - This is not an easy problem to resolve since you have two breeds that tend to be quite vocal. Barking is working for them. The behavior is being reinforced. For example, when dogs bark outside and your dogs "bark back" and the dogs pass by, the behavior is reinforced since the dogs left. You need to teach the dogs a "silence" cue. To do this, permit them to bark. When they stop barking tell them "quiet" or use a clicker and give them a treat. You can easily do this by simply ringing the doorbell. The dogs will bark. If one stops barking and the other does not, only reward the dog that stops barking. Eventually, they will understanding that "quiet" means silence yourself for a reward. You can also call them away from the window and redirect their attention to something they like. Regarding people entering, are they simply alert barking or is there aggression involved? If it is alert barking, use the same scenario as above. "Quiet" and reward. The last problem - you walking out the door and they bark - I would see if someone could startle them so they associate barking with something in the environment that may be frightening to them.

Regarding Problem #2 - Thunder phobia is a tough one, especially if you live in an area that gets lots of storms. Desensitization is difficult since you need to manage the environment 24/7. This is not easy if you have year-round weather issues. While you are looking for a new home in a less stormy area, which I think is good, I would talk to your veterinarian about giving her something to help her to relax. Also, there are many holistic remedies that you can try as well. People have had great success with Melatonin and a products on www.comfortzone.com. Obviously, before you give her anything, check with your veterinarian. Also, give her a quiet, safe place to hide. My rescue Golden Retriever liked to hide out in my closet. If you are home, give her a nice massage on a warm bed. Massage helps to relax the dog and can get her to a point where she is less stressed.

There is a great little book written by Dr. Daniel Estep and Dr. Suzanne Hetts called "Help! I'm Barking and Can't Stop," which I think is one of the best books out there on the topic. You can purchase this book directly from them at www.animalbehaviorassociates.com. Best of luck.

All my best,

Pia

Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

Hi Pia,

I have a 10 month old female, Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. We recently rescued a 1 year old female Chihuahua/Dachshund mix as well. The 10 month old is extremely jealous and is constantly attacking the other dog. Everybody in my family is on edge, and all we want them to do is to get along?! Help! Any advise would be appreciated!!

THank you,
KC

Pia's Answer:

Hi KC,

Thank you for supporting rescue and adopting animals from our overflowing shelters. It takes time for dogs to acclimate with one another. Think about living with someone with whom you have never lived with before. You all have your own routine, needs, wants, etc. Dogs are no different. However, all living beings must learn that there is a "no fight" policy in your household. I recently took in a one-year old female and had a female and male already in the house. Since she was the new member, she had to learn the rules and I was strict with her about not disrupting the karma that my husband and I had with the two dogs. As a result, she learned the rules quickly. However, I did not put the pressure on the resident dogs to teach her. That was our job.

Give your resident dog the same attention and affection as you did before. If she doesn't want the "new" dog coming nearby, walk away. Sorry - - you are not owned by the dogs nor are you a resource (well, you are but we won't tell them - - at least not yet). Make positive associations when they are together. All dogs get cookies when they sit and give each other space; all dogs getting petting but no pushing for first place, etc. Give it time. Relationships are built on trust and give and take. Dogs need to know who is in charge and you will do this by being kind, calm, gentle and fair.

All my best and good luck!

Pia

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

Posted on behalf of user Catmar4:

Hi Pia,

I have a sp. 1.5 yr old basset mix female and have recently (last week) adopted another dog. A 5 year old n. male basset. He is very mellow, sweet and quiet. Our female is very playful but borderline aggressive with him. She is constantly trying to pull at his big long ears and bite at his neck. This only seems to happen indoors and never outside or when we are on a walk. Sometimes he joins in other times he simply ignores her but she doesn't stop. The one thing that does work is a quick squirt from the water bottle but she usually starts again in a few minutes.
I guess I have a couple questions. Do I let them "play" (not sure if that's actually what it is) together and just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get out of hand or do I simply nip it in the bud when it starts. I also want to make sure this works because the are 2 really great dogs. What can I do to help my "old" dog accept the new one. It's going pretty well but she is clearly out of sorts about the whole thing.

Thanks

Pia's Answer:

Hi Catmar4:

I LOVE your question since it is very typical. I have a 5 year old female and a 1 year old. Yes, their play energy and enjoyment for life is much different. So, we must respect each and look at their needs, not so much their wants.

You should separate your time with them so they bond with you individually and not with each other first. Once you have accomplished that, it will be much easier to train them.

I take my little girl out alone (don't feel sorry for the older one) and vice versa. Sorry - - life is about patience. Then I take both out and teach the young one to respect the older by giving her space, not pushing her way for attention or jumping up on the older dog. This is inappropriate. I call the younger one off the elder. My older female enjoys the young female but does not want to tell her off. I want them to enjoy each other's company so I teach the young one to exhibit impulse control and focus on me and not the dog. If she can't, she doesn't get to play. She also has to come off play when I call her. If she does, I reward her and if she doesn't, she is put away.

I am an older sister and earned my freedom (VBG) - - my sister needed to learn to earn her own respect from my parents.

Go for it!

Pia

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject:

Hello Pia! Thank you for being available for us!

I recently adopted an 8yr old whippet/beagle mix. Her name is Sunshine and is a really loving dog with no issues with adults, children, noises, leads, etc. She is sometimes afraid of adult males.

Her first owner as far as we've been told was an old lady who didn't do much with her. She doesn't play with toys, and took a long time to get used to loads of affection. Now she's a cuddly dog and has learned a lot of commands in just a short time (we've had her for about three months).

Her only problem is other dogs.

She didn't get acclimated to other dogs very much in her first 8 years. Her response to almost every dog is to wag her tail as she sees them, but then as she approaches them or vice versa, she will bark in or lunge at their faces non-stop, and they usually respond by barking/snarling back and some have nipped her as well. Usually, when they become aggressive, she will run away as if she's been attacked, even when she hasn't.

Not all dogs respond to her, but she barks at them as if they are all about to attack her. The size, age and gender of the other dog makes no difference, but I have noticed she is quicker to calm with bigger dogs.

She has had some positive experiences with some dogs. Our previous neighbor had a very large, very old dog who basically ignored Sunshine at every turn. At one point, they were stuck outside together and after her initial barking/lunging fit, she calmed down but hid between my legs, but eventually just ignored him as well. She was able to go through her sit/stay routine in his presence, even.

We've been told this is how she is off-leash or when she's used to another dog. We would like to set her up on a doggie play date with some other older, calm dogs we know, or bring her to the dog park where she can be off-leash with a lot of dogs. But we're afraid she will instigate a fight where she gets bitten, or will just be terrified.

It's also embarrassing to have the only dog that just barks and snarls at all the other dogs. This happens a lot when we're hiking or hanging out at the local parks. Right now, when we see another dog in the distance, we make her sit and stay off to the side. When the dog goes by, she usually goes nuts and we say NO and make her sit again. She is worked up and anxious until the dog is out of sight.

We know she might have had some bad experiences with mean dogs and maybe that's why she acts this way, but then we are encouraged by her positive experiences with some dogs, and by the anecdotes of her off-leash. We've even seen some progress at the dog park, but we haven't brought her in - we just park at the gate and get her to sit and stay, then we progressed to sitting outside ten feet from the gate. Any more exposure than that and she goes nuts and barks/lunges at every dog.

Sorry this is quite the novel, but we want her to be able to go off-leash because she's very good with commands, doesn't bolt, etc. We just don't take her off because she might see a dog and run over to it.

We want her to have dog friends - will this ever happen??

Pia's answer:

Hi Parrottalkback,

Thank you for taking advantage of Petfinder’s wonderful work. I can safely say that Sunshine will never be completely relaxed around all dogs since she is 8 years old and her reaction to them is based on fear. Yet, she can learn to be more tolerant and look to you for guidance rather than erupting.

First, I would not bring an eight-year old dog to a dog park, regardless of how social the dog was. Dogs, like children, do not have the need to play with other dogs as they age. Can you imagine 16 year old boys playing in a sandbox? We have found that young dogs under the age of 2 enjoy the group play sessions but as they mature, their patience begins to change and, if they play, they prefer one-on-one with a dog that they are familiar with.

Dogs do not ‘need’ to have many friends. Like us, we pick and choose who we prefer to “hang with” and socialize. Socialization need not be about playing and touching. A nice walk in the park or a hike with a social dog is socialization. Having a picnic or going to the beach with another dog is socialization.

Therefore, I would recommend staying away from the dog park and finding one or two friends for her. I think she’ll thank you for it.

Regarding her eruptions, give her space. You are doing a great job by stepping aside and not forcing her to greet. I do not permit my dogs to greet other dogs on leash since you never know what could happen. Teach her that when she is on leash no dog will come up to her nor does she have to worry about greeting a dog that she doesn’t know. You can give her treats in the presence of other dogs, talk to her in a happy tone of voice and keep moving. If someone tells you their dog is friendly and asks if they can greet, do not feel obligated to put Sunshine in this position. Once again, she’ll thank you for this as well!

A dear friend a colleague of mine, Dr. Patricia McConnell, wrote a book called Feisty Fidos. Also, I have developed an eight-week course and we sell our manual. You can purchase the manual by emailing our office manager, Tracy Hofer, at thofer@sthuberts.org. It’s called Feisty Fidos! It has wonderful tips in training a nervous dog.

Best of luck!

Pia

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: please help

hi i have a australian terrier mix i have had since a 6 week old puppy,he is now 7 months old, i have a few problems #1 he hates kids, i try to get him to play with ckildren young and old but he just gets angry cause they have a toy,not his toy just a toy,which brings me to problem #2he is very possesive,he wont let anyone touch what he thinks is his, stuffed teddies,balls,even sticks at the beach he wont let me throw the stick,when i try to pick it up he waits till im about to touch it then jumps at my hand growling .i have tried to stop him by not paying attention or making him go outside and telling him hes a bad dog , so he knows it is wrong but he doesnt seem to care,problem#3 when i walk him he pulls on the lead, i know he is small but it makes the walk frustrating,i have tried harnesses, chocker chains ,treats and head halties they dont work,he is very well trained other than those three quirks which make him look and sound bad he is a little dog with a big attitude please help me
thank you

Pia's Answer:

Hi Daiseymay,

Unfortunately, you have a lot of things going on here that are not simple problems with quick solutions. Any time a dog is exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviors, I insist that they see a specialist in the field since every case is unique and different and a very detailed history needs to be taken before advice is given. The wrong advice could make the problem worse or, even worse, cause the dog to bite. Therefore, I would recommend that you look for someone in your area. I recommend looking for a veterinary behaviorist, an applied animal behaviorist or a certified trainer who has lots of experience dealing with aggression. If you decide to use the services of a trainer, I would get references so you know the person is using methods based upon science and not old-fashion beliefs.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. In the meantime, however, do not force children upon him and vice versa. Regarding the walk, you may want to try a no-pull harness or a Gentle Leader. Premier Pet Products makes both.

Good luck!

Pia

Pia Silvani, CPDT
Director of Training and Behavior
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject:

Hello Pia!

I'm trying to crate train my 3 year old dog. He's not afraid of being in the crate and but I have difficulty getting him to go in and he tends to cry for the first 15- 20 minutes once inside. Any tips on crate training?

Thank you!

Pia's Answer:

Hi Kelly,

You can visit St. Hubert's website on crate training - www.sthuberts.org - go to the library. In the meantime, however, try to make the crate a nice place for him. You can feed him in the crate, give him his favorite things to chew on and close the door while you sit quietly nearby and reward him anytime he goes into the crate on his own. If you place a soft pillow inside the crate to make it more cozy, many dogs acclimate to the crate much quicker. Be patient. It could take some time when you are crating an older dog. Don't make a big deal out of it or feel sorry for him since he will be concerned that you appear worried. So long as he is not harming himself, he should get used to it.

Good luck!

Pia

Pia Silvani, CPDT
Director of Training and Behavior
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:27 am Post subject:

Hi Pia,
Thanks for the advice on the shelties barking & the thunder issue. I am trying the "quiet" command & it seems to help with the bark talk.

I have 1 other thing I hope you can help. For some weird reason the dogs have decided that 5:30am is a fine time to wake up & bark for a breakfast bone. They have been doing this for a while now & I haven't been able to break the pattern. It's hard to just let them bark when people are trying to sleep. Once they get the bone they're ok. It happens regardless of the time change too. What can I do to make them reset their "clock" so I can sleep til maybe 7am? I don't have kids to get up for school anymore & so the 5am thing is really a bit early every day.

Thanks again for sharing your advice with us.

Pia's Answer:

Sadly, you have been reinforcing unwanted behavior. A dog will do what works. If it's rewarding, he will continue; if it is not rewarding, he will stop. They are not going to waste energy if it is not reinforcing to them. You can do one of two things: First, you can ignore the barking entirely and NEVER get up to reward it. The negative side to this is that the dogs may be persistent since they won't understand why the barking is not working. Many people can deal with a day or two and then give in. The other is to make some kind of noise to startle them. When they start to bark, you can use any kind of noise deterrent that you think will startle them and say nothing. They must find it aversive in order to stop. Lastly, you can reprimand them and tell them to lay down. If you want this to end, you must stop rewarding them. That's the tough part!

Good luck!

Pia

Pia Silvani, CPDT
Director of Training and Behavior
St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

Petfinder.com forums Forum Index -> Public Forums -> Ask the Experts Forum -> October 12th -18th Dog Training and Care w/Pia Silvani!

	Petfinder.com forums Forum Index -> Public Forums -> Ask the Experts Forum -> October 12th -18th Dog Training and Care w/Pia Silvani!	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1