SearchAdopted Dobie's car obsession (advice needed)
Hi all,
Great forum. I'd like some advice from those more knowledgeable than I - before I reach the end of my rope. Please help!
I adopted Remmy, a 4.5 year old doberman from the Humane Society about 4 months ago. He was surrendered by his prior owner because he did not get along with that owner's other 2 dogs. I reviewed Remmy's profile, Vet records, and spent a couple of weekends visiting with him before the adoption. No indications of behavioral issues.
Once at home, however, I learn that Remmy is very stressed by exposure to traffic and passing cars. He cannot tolerate walking near traffic, nor riding in a car when there is any traffic around. He pulls on the lead like crazy - so much so that his gentle leader has rubbed some fur off his muzzle. He wants to chase cars, and once he actually chewed through the leash and ran up and down along the roadside chasing vehicles before I caught him. Also, he barks/yelps when he senses that traffic is nearby. Not just barking, but the ear-splitting high pitch yelping of distress. Mind you, he is a very well-behaved walker early and late in the day when there is no traffic.
I feel like we are caged in, because there's hardly anywhere I can take him now.
This has become a vicious cycle....I can't burn off his energy by walking him in my townhouse community (too much traffic), and I can't take him to the dog park because he won't travel in a car.
So far I have focused on maintaining a positive energy flow. I have tried using a gentle leader and prong collar to lessen his pulling. The prong collar works great. But he still yelps and barks, and my neighbors must think I am torturing the poor thing. I've tried a thundershirt, but it really doesn't help him. What am I to do? Remmy loves his home and family, and we love him equally. But I won't feel like he has a good quality of life unless I can exercise him properly and know that he is not in distress.
Please help, what am I to do?
Greatfully,
Remmy's dad
Hi Remmy's Dad - Welcome to the forum!
Bless you for adopting a rescue Dobie!! A lot of folks here don't use a Gentle Leader, because it can put stress on a dog's neck. Dobermans can have Wobbler's - a genetic disease where the cervical vertebra impinge on the nerves causing pain and lameness. If they have it, A Gentle Leader may aggravate it.
From all the posts I've read, a lot of people here will recommend a prong collar rather than a choke chain. From what I've understood, a chain can collapse the trachea, whereas a prong, when used properly, will not. (There's a post here on the forum on proper use and fit of a prong collar - I can't find it, but maybe someone else can.) I use one on my Aussie, and because it's there, I hardly ever have to correct him with it. Many will also use a prong until they are getting desired results for a while, then add a flat collar, and if the dog still continues to do well, switch to a flat collar when they know the dog will be obedient.
But all that still will not change Remmy's behavior - it will only give you the ability to control him a little better. Does he have a toy that he absolutely loves? Is he a chow hound that loves treats? I would try a redirect and see if that works. When you can hear a car coming, and know he is going to get worked up, try redirecting his attention to something you know he loves, and see if that helps. A good trainer to help you would be a great idea as well.
Hopefully others will chime in with some helpful tips!
Don't give up on your rescue dog, have you talked with the rescue to see if they had any issues when they walked him and how they dealt with that, it might not have been noted in his file but his walkers might remember, it might help to ask.
Others here will have much better advice on how to curb this behavior, but don't hesitate to ask the rescue for help, most have a trainer that will work with the rescue and their dogs even after adoption if you just ask......hope that helps....and stay in touch with the rescue in case you feel you have to return him, but don't give up just yet. Rescue dogs are special and some do come with extra baggage that just takes time and ingenuity to get through.
Yep, Tal's got a good point. Many rescues will have people on hand to help, because they want to do everything they can to help you with your dog! I know the Humane Society in this area does.
poor baby, I would see if you can find a trainor to help you and try to get some positive behavoirs around vehicles. Also, I agree with Kim prong collar you can the small prong it doesn't have to be the heavy one. I use with Kaiser at times depending if where we going. Good luck, don't give up on your baby there must be someone who can help with the situation maybe the adoption agency can give you a name.
Okay rather than focusing on the collar right now, you need to back up with your training with him. Instead of taking him to a busy place you need to do this SLOWLY. Don't focus on getting his exercise and pushing him through the experience focus on making the experience good for him. If you live in an area that has very minimal traffic than this is where you start. I believe firmly in desensitizing dogs to all situations. So you will take your dog out in your front yard if that is an option only if it has very MINIMAL cars and traffic that goes by. Instead of walking him, sit with him or have him lay down and all you are to do is sit and remain calm, talking to him in a calm manner and petting him, giving him treats making it a good experience. From there you take him to different areas and do the same thing GRADUALLY adding more distraction or noises...I'll say it again GRADUALLY very GRADUALLY. In a sense you are going to have to start all over in training.
The collar will be the next issue, right now he needs to have his attention refocused on you in a calm manner and he needs to be desensitized to all surroundings. There is no reason this dog can not be trained and you be able to take him in public places.
Sorry I just read through your post again and you said you cant take him in your townhome community because to much noise and traffic. You will need to take him somewhere else to do this. If your car is big enough I would have him ride in a crate that way he cant get to worked up on the ride, or have someone with you that will not allow him to jump all over the car and help him to be calm. You need to find a place that is very quiet to begin your exercises.
You also mentioned the dog park and that is a terrible place to take a dog that #1. previous owners surrendered because he wouldn't get a long with other dogs. You have to keep in mind the Doberman was bred to be a PERSONAL protection dog. For the most part unless brought up in dog parks they are not your typical pack animal. You and your family are his pack and playing with a group of strange dogs is not a enjoyable experience. #2. your dog is a rescue and has issues that need to be worked out separate from a dog park, to make him a good dog you need to go back to basics that were probably not taught to begin with. Exposure to different situations being top priority.
Don't give up on him, this is a very easy thing to teach with patience and understanding. This poor guy needs you.
Oh one other thing that you can try is buy the puppy noise cd , you can order online cant think of the name of the catelog off the top of my head but will look for it. Basically it is a cd that has all kinds of different noises including traffic, horns and all kinds of things that you start using on a very low level just as background white noise. You can then gradually turn it up. this is something that I use with all my litters so they are used to all types of noises and nothing scares them. AGAIN something that is done VERY GRADUALLY!
The first thing i and others i think would like the focus on is the collar, before my reply to the OP i looked up the collar online.
He was surrendered by his prior owner because he did not get along with that owner's other 2 dogs.
More than likely this dog will lunge (not sure of the spelling there), so the collar he stated being used could be very detrimental to the dogs health, that was first and formost on my mind after reading the original post.
I have tried using a gentle leader and prong collar to lessen his pulling.
I have had 4 Dobes in my life, all lived ten years or better, i am over 40, you do the math. The only collar i have ever seen or used in training is a choker, all 4 dogs never had any damage to the trachia, a dog can be hanged with any collar, but only certain ones have the capability of snapping the neck.
So far I have focused on maintaining a positive energy flow.
Well then you already have what it takes to train the dog, give us an update as soon as possible please.
Good advice Rmdobermans! : )
Thank you for rescueing, it is great that this Dobe is getting a second chance.
Definately agree with RND, I also use a prong on my Shelbi it has been wonderful, I would not ever use a choke chain on any animal especially one that pulls. I understand that your townhome community may be busy with traffic, but as RND suggested just sitting with him and letting him take it in with you sitting calmly may be a good place to start him. This way he can sit still with you as a positive strength, and then go somewhere else for activity. My suggestion is for you to start this in his own yard, then when he is calm with this maybe move one house at a time, but of course only if he is comfortable.
I am certianly not contradicting RND, but that is his home and he should be more comfortable in his area to soak up some of the activity around him, but must be in very baby steps.
JMHO
Jeri & Shelbi
I agree Jeri, it may mean that they just open the front door and sit there for a good 1/2 hour to hour relaxing that is a good place to start. I would do the same exercise in all areas instead of concentrating on getting the exercise and pushing through it. The bottom line is it takes time and a lot of patience. It is a very SIMPLE and easy thing to fix and train. If the area where they live is just way to hectic then I do still believe in transporting to another area and making sure that the entire experience is nothing but a big POSITIVE experience full of FUN and lots of rewards. If the dog in question responds more to treats then use lots of treats if the dog is more toy focused then break out in play, or use a combination of both.
RemmyBlue,
rnd gave sound advice. If I were you, that's what I'd do.
Remmy,
I'm not real keen on the gentel leader ( but then again i have never used one ), the only suggestion i would have that might help here is this. -> Have you ever used a choker on Remmy ? If not, i would get one and try it on him, if Remmy's previous owner used one and knew the correct way to use one, you might see a difference right away. If you do decide to use one, learn the correct way to use it before the first walk with it on him.
It's a great tool, if you understand how to use the tool, even though it's called a choker thats not what it is intended to be used for. I hate the name of the coller because if it is used right the dog dosent get choked, it just grabs the dogs attention quickly. Not sure if this helps or not, i hope it dose, best of luck to you and Remmy.