Don’t pet sleeping dog with your foot
Our dog has a foot fetish. If someone’s toes touch him while he is resting or sleeping, he becomes aggressive. He has not bitten anyone, but he does send a clear vocal message that he is not happy. He loves being petted if you reach out with your hand. Why does he do this?
Although rare, some dogs have sleep aggression. If woken from a sleep, they startle and react. It’s a survival skill. In the wild, an abrupt awakening might mean that a predator is attacking you. It makes sense to be cautious.
When dogs curl up by our legs, the slight movement of our feet can silently trigger this startle response. Those same dogs are perfectly fine if given plenty of advanced warning. The sound of people approaching slowly wakens the dog. They welcome an outstretched hand.
In these limited situations, giving the dog a designated sleeping area can be sufficient to manage the problem. It is much easier than trying to train the dog, in bed, while also trying to sleep.
Other dogs dislike feet. Dogs that have been stepped on accidentally can develop this problem. It can also happen when dogs have a history of rough care. Former abuse in a previous home may have included kicking. Feet have become associated with pain and discomfort. In these situations, rebuild trust. Work with a professional to create a positive association toward feet by pairing feet with special treats.
Our dog jumps up on visitors. We ask people to turn their back on him when he jumps. This is not fair or considerate to our guests. Other visitors baby talk and encourage him to jump more. How can we get our dog to stop?
Being positive does not mean being permissive. It is not fair to ask guests to struggle with the pummeling. Dogs can knock over and injure people.
Do not allow dogs to rehearse unwanted behaviour patterns. Put the dog on a leash and teach the dog to stay on the ground. Get to work before the dog even considers dashing and jumping.
Being positive also does mean being inconsistent. Jumping on people is not the dog’s fault if some people encourage the problem. Dogs become frustrated when clarity is lacking. Frustrated dogs ironically jump when agitated. Speak to family and friends. Get everyone on the same page.
Training is an active skill. Hectic arrivals can make dog training difficult. Our attention is divided. We need to be attentive teachers if we want attentive students in our dogs.
Divide tasks between family members. One person can train the dog while another welcomes guests. If that is not an option, put the dog away until you have the time to do training correctly. Training is a proactive process, not a reactive one.
Give treats for good behaviour thoughtfully. Too many people offer food or attention for the cessation of jumping. That can create a dog that jumps and then sits for a cookie. It’s like offering a screaming child a candy if they stop. That is a desperate final effort at getting silence, not a solid teaching plan. It is similar with dogs. We want to teach calm over time, not calm after a storm.
Instead, reward the dog staying on the ground for a specific time in- terval. At first, owners might need to reward the dog every one to two seconds. Reward the dog quickly. You want the dog being consistently right. Gradually increase the amount of time you expect the dog to stay calm until the new skill is habitual. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant. Write her at advice@awesomedogs.ca.