Dear Matthew: I have a problem, and I don't know how to solve it.
I have an 8-month-old puppy that is terrified of the lawn sprinkler. She has run into the electric fence to get away from it, and she's also tinkled on my deck because she's afraid to pass by the sprinkler.I have a dog door and she's been a pleasure to have, being well potty trained and all, with the one exception of the water sprinklers. Also, what makes this even MORE frustrating and confusing is that I've seen her go outside in the rain and potty normally -- getting wet and all.
In fact, she doesn't seem to even mind lying outside in the rain (under the overhang). -- Chris in St. Louis
Dear Chris: A phobia doesn't have to make perfect sense. Your puppy could be afraid of the noise the sprinkler makes, the rapid motion or the sound of the water hitting trees or the side of your house. Whatever the reason for your dog's apprehension, the method of solving the problem is pretty much the same.
And don't worry -- it's perfectly normal for young puppies to be scared of new and different things. In fact, it's important that you expose your puppy to a variety of experiences at an early age in order to raise a mature, calm dog.
The key to solving this problem is to desensitize your dog to the sprinkler. In other words, take the mystery out of the device and let her get more familiar with it. This might take a while to accomplish, but it can be done.
The first thing to do is to let your dog investigate the sprinkler when it's not on. Bring it in the house and leave it somewhere obvious, so your puppy can sniff it and become comfortable.
Next, try putting the sprinkler outside and turning it on at a low level. Bring your dog nearby and stay there with him until he settles down. Keep trying this over the course of several weeks, each time turning the water power up a little more. If it looks like your dog is getting really upset, turn the water down until he's calm again.
Desensitizing your dog is part art, part science. You need to put yourself in your puppy's place and understand that the only way to overcome a fear is to make it a routine, predictable experience. Good luck!
Dear Matthew: I have a year-old golden/Lab mix. Whenever I tell him to sit, he immediately gives me his paw. Initially, I attributed this to confusion when teaching him to "shake hands," but now I'm beginning to wonder.
When we play fetch and he brings the ball back, he won't give it up but try to put his paw on top of my hand/arm. When I'm sitting on the couch and reach down to pet his neck, he'll do the same thing. Does it mean anything in doggie language, or is he just remembering the lavish praise we gave him when he "shook hands" for the first time?
Also he won't give up the ball when we play fetch. When I give the command "drop it" mostly he will, but when I reach down to pick it up he grabs it back. Any ideas? -- M.E. in Alexandria, Va.
Dear M.E.: After reading your first question, my instinct is to ask if you ever give your dog treats as a reward for his good behavior.
It could very well be that, after your dog does something he feels deserves a reward -- such as sitting or fetching -- he raises his paw to beg for his treat. In effect, he's encouraging you to give him a snack.
This is one of the reasons why I don't recommend using treats as a reward when training dogs. Lavish petting, words of praise and general affection are much more effective techniques. If you use treats, then the dog will come to expect them every time he does something you ask -- and he'll be disappointed and perhaps disobedient whenever he isn't gratified.
Dogs should obey commands because they want to please their masters, because they look at their owners as the "top dog," deserving respect -- not because of hunger or greed.
As for your second question, I recommend you put your dog on a leash while playing fetch with him. When he returns with the ball, grab the leash and pick up the toy. If he tries to get it in his mouth again, give the leash a firm tug and correct him with a stern "No!" You're going to have to teach him that getting the toy from him isn't a game of fast-draw, with the quickest to the ball the winner.
Matthew Margolis is the host of "Woof! It's a Dog's Life," a dog-instruction series airing every Saturday on your local PBS station. Read all of Matthew Margolis' columns at the Creators Syndicate Web site www.creators.com, and visit him at www.matthewmargolis.com. Write him at 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.