Patricia McConnell: "The Puppy Primer"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-03-22/patricia-mcconnell-puppy-primer
Patricia McConnell is an internationally acclaimed expert on canine behavior and dog training. She talks about training puppies and the special relationship between kids and dogs.
Guests
Patricia McConnell
adjunct associate professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, and author of ten books, including "The Other End of the Leash" and "For the Love of a Dog."
Comments
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Help, please - we have a lovely sweet aussie shepherd mix - who is nearly 8 years old. He adjusted fairly well after his house mate died in October - and then we moved in February.
We're unable to leave him alone for even the briefest time - he exhibits serious sepration anxiety especially in the absence of my husband who has been his primary care giver because he works from home . . . for now -
any advise would be greatly appreciated.
I'm very glad to hear Ms. McConnell again and discussing the relationship between kids and dogs.
Last year, my husband and I were devastated when our son and daughter-in-law brought our new granddaughter (5 months old, completely healthy) to our home, under the condition that the dogs be removed, and when we slipped and the little girl happily touched the muzzle of our very gentle shepherd mix, our daughter-in-law flipped out, said that I could not be trusted alone with the baby, and dis-invited us from her baptism. My sending her a link to an article about the long-term health benefits for babies, in terms of building a stronger immune system, of having a dog in the home, I was further shunned. It was several hurtful months before we were again allowed to even see pictures of our granddaughter.
Thank you for continuing to spread your wisdom. As a person who gained infinitely from my closeness to horses and dogs all my life, I know it is clearly both valueable and needed.
I'll be interested to hear what Professor McConnell has to say about this. My first thought has been bring back the crate and keep your Aussie crated when you're not around. It's not like putting them in jail; it's more like offering them a womb to climb back into! They feel safe in crates.
Do you take him to a dog park? Does he have other dog friends?
I'm working from home, and have a 9 month old vizsla puppy who craves constant attention, stealing pillows and playing "catch me" with them, and scratching to get out or come in every two minutes. He's driving me crazy, and making it hard to get anything done. Would it be evil for me to keep him in his kennel for a few hours morning and afternoon? If I do, is there a good trick to help him remain calm and relaxed, and not whining?
Patricia,
Welcome to the neighborhood!
As you know, I'm a huge fan of yours - it's great to hear your voice again. I sell your booklets to my clients all the time, and your two full-length books, "The Other End of the Leash" and "For the Love of a Dog" are on my required reading list for my apprentices and interns. So - is there another full-length book of yours in the future; one that might perhaps directly address the fallacies of dominance-based training?
Pat Miller
Peaceable Paws
I lived with Golden Retrievers for for the last 18 years. Their hair is something to contend with but worth every mouthful.
The most unbelievable attribute I have found; is watching them sleep. They dream, they smile, jog, growl, lie on their sides -their backs....
For a good way to make stress evaporate WATCH DOGS SLEEP.
My 10 yr old bichon frise has separation anxiety and it's getting worse. If I leave her at home, when I get back, be it five minutes or five hours, she's panting and jumping all over me. Also if I leave her in the car to run in a store, she barks, and runs all over, scratches at the window. She's otherwise a very cool dog, very sociable and well behaved. I am retired and home a lot, and she does follow me all the time. I adopted her when she was 7. I've tried behavioral remedies (being cool, ignoring her, taking toys in the car, etc.). What do you think of Prozac? Or there other "cooling" medications that could be given only when needed (unlike Prozac which needs weeks to take effect)?
Judy Bergman
Chapel Hill NC
Also, has anyone been able to decipher dog p-mail? I swear they mark/send messages to each other through urinated strategically. Does this mean they're sending me messages with their piles on the lawn?
We successfully used Patricia McConnell's advice from "I'll Be Home Soon" to help our rescued Pitbull, Popeye, adjust to being able to stay home alone for a few hours at a time without damaging the door frame and his own paws in his desperate attempt to follow us. He came to us as an adult with a severe terror of being crated, and has an unbelievable ability to escape from a locked steel crate, so the separation anxiety training was the only thing that worked for us. Since that was his only flaw, he is now perfect!
Another happy coincidence of his addition to our family has been for my 12-year-old son with ADHD. The extra attention that his younger brother doesn't want can be redirected to the dog, since it's exactly the sort of smothering, active attention that the dog loves!
Thanks for saving us a lot of headaches!
BTW - Patricia - my book, "Do-Over Dogs" - on working with shelter and rescue dogs - is due out in the next couple of months...
Pat Miller
Hi Diane and Patricia! I need help...I have a wonderful dog named Rocky and he is my best friend. Unfortunately, I feel that i have overcompesated Rocky with too much love and affection and now whenever my boyfriend and I leave the house, he cries and cries. This breaks my heart because i dont want him to feel stressed out. In addition, we live in a high rise condo and he is becoming a nuisance for some of the neighbors. Unfortunately, I feel that it is my fault because I never really trained Rocky when he was a puppy and now he is 6 years old. We will be starting a puppy training class this week, hoping that it can help and provide him with some structure. Please, please help.
How long is the maximum time a dog should spend in his crate? I have heard nothing over 4 hours, but what if you work an 8 hour day?
I don't dislike dogs, but the dogs I do like are well trained and controlled by their owners. My biggest pet peeve is that owners think it is all right for their dogs to urinate anywhere--especially on lawns--where urine can burn the grass (and usually NOT the dog owner's grass), and on trees--where urine can kill the bark and permanently damage the tree. You can easily train your puppy to urinate in the gutter where any waste will be washed away.
I am a dog walker here in Northern Virginia. Granted my wonderful boss would never let one of her walkers go into a house alone when she knew the dog was nervous/shy (or had trust issues) around new people until the dog was use to the walker...but how would I go about gaining a dog's trust and getting it use to me?
DESPERATELY need help with puppy!
6 months ago, we rescued a puppy. She joins our 7-year-old rescue dog. The older dog, Duchess, is very well behaved: totally housebroken, does tricks, sits and lays down on command, etc.
But this puppy, Scarlett, is incorrigible! She refuses to be housebroken, sneaking away to piddle whenever we don't have our eyes on her. This despite regularly scheduled visits outside and 2 walks of 20-30 minutes per day.
Also, she has not yet stopped chewing on things. We have given her her own things, bones and such, that she is free to chew on. But she still sneaks away and grabs shoes from our closets. WORSE is that she is chewing on furniture! She has already destroyed 2 of my favorite antiques. And is gnawing on the porch railing whenever outside. At 8 or so months, this behavior should be over, shouldn't it?
Finally, she has "stranger danger" fears. She is fine with the family members. But whenever a guest comes over (even someone who's been here before, adult or child) she barks continually and even SNAPS!
We want to keep this dog, but truly she is stressing us out to the point that we don't even like her anymore. It's so sad. And we're desperate for a way through it.
Thank you!
Laura
Charlotte, NC
I often get comments in public on how well trained and obedient my 2 Australian shepherds are when around other dogs and people and visiting at parks, etc. I feel I've put a lot of time into socializing and exercising their bodies and minds.
On the other hand, the mailman delivers mail, the trash truck drives by or I get a visitor and they go nuts barking, jumping, and running around.
Are there some behaviors that you simply accept knowing that they are dogs after all? I call it the "bad" good dog syndrome!
Thanks,
Carolyn
My dog’s name is Nikki (AmStaff breed). She is a constant licker – we call her Nikki Likki!! What is up with this behavior? People, seats in the car when we’re on trips – she can’t pass you without a slurp!
I just adopted a 5 yr old German Wirehaired Pointer. He is a wonderful dog and very well trained. (I am so lucky!) Knowing they need to have lots of exercise, I walk him at least twice a day and I like to let him run free when in an area with a large field, or through the woods. He knows the command "Duke, HERE" and will most usually run right back to me and sit next to me. He has started testing me a bit ...not listening and continueing to run and sniff....and I am wondering the proper response to his not listening when I call! He was so well trained I do not want to loose this ability he has!
Thanks
Michele in Springfield VA
My girls desperately want a dog. We won't to get one but are not sure how to choose the right kind of dog. We would like a mid sized dog and I would like one who could protect my girls when they go out running...what breed would be good?
Dear Diane,
First - thanks for a great show. I enjoy it and listen whenever I can.
Thanks for having Ms. McConnell on your show. She's a favorite author of mine. I show and hope to breed Pembroke Welsh Corgis in the future. I've read many of her booklets as well as "the Other End of the Leash" and "For the Love of the Dog", which I also purchased as an audio book and listen with my husband. He loved it as well.
Ms McConnell brings to light the science of behavior and explains it in a clear manner, making it easily understood by those of us who are not scientists.
If we do begin breeding program, I plan on giving the Puppy Primer and the "Leader of the Pack" booklet to all of my new puppy owners.
Keep up the good work and again, thanks for having her on your show.
Cheers,
Carol
Hi Diane, our rescue Sheltie rushes at people & spins when they try to leave. Help, it's scarey to others.
Thanks, Kate
Hello Diane:
For Patricia: I run a small animal rescue in Florida. I have 14 dogs, 1 bird, 1 turtle and 1 cat. They always get along and I am proud to be able to rescue dogs and adopt them out to good homes, however it is a problem to potty train them. Can you help with ideas? Thank you!
ps. Sad for the folks who have never known the love of a dog.
I'm planning on a long distance bike trip and I have a concern about being chased by dogs. What is the best way to handle a chasing dog. On bike forums the consensus is to use a pepper spray. What is your take on this and is there any long term effects of using this tactic?
For SCIary in Florida ~~
Check out Patricia's website - www.patriciamcconnell.com - there is a booklet on housetraining called "Way to Go - How to House Train a Dog of Any Age" -- here is a direct link to the booklet:
http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/product/way-to-go-how-to-house-train-a-...
I've read a number of her books and the information is clear and easy to follow -- and best of all, it works.
Best of luck to you and your rescue program.
Carol in Baltimore