When you are working with your dog with and around all that, you begin to know your dog very well. Some people can own a dog for years, and not have any clue as to their dog, because they do not spend all this time with them doing things. Course getting to know your dog is only the first step, what you do with that knowledge comes later.
I have a shorter time frame to know dogs that come here. An hour a day coaching lesson for the dog or even one on one with the dog only tells me a little about that dog and who they are right now. When they board with me or even spend the main hours in daycare with me, that tells me more about who the dog is at that moment. I take that knowledge to come up with realistic goals and expected improvement for the dogs. Dogs always improve and I have found, thus far, can always be trained and modified behaviorally. (assuming work still happens in the future with the owner using the commands and skills while also maintaining the commands and skills). Not everything in the world can always be done, but a lot can be done even so that makes the relationship stronger and life a lot easier. The first step is knowing the strengths, weaknesses, and overall quirks of the dog.
Which is not to say that every dog can be "saved", some dogs are too dangerous to even improve upon. Some situations (i.e. owners temperament, children in the house, surrounding environment) are not going to be good to make that particular dog safe in the situation that they currently live in. These particular clients are not in that class at all.
By the way, in these busy weeks of August, we have the following dogs boarding with us:
- (Our two) Leon and Boris (6 years 10 month old Doberman male and 1 year 10 month old Doberman male)
- Tommy (5 plus year old pit/lab male our long term boarding client who has almost been here 1 year
- Bristol (has been here before but not so frequently)
- Shaman (2 year old or so Giant Schnauzer comes about every six months or so)
- Brujo (4 or 5 year old Giant Schnauzer male comes about every six months or so)
- Rocko (1 or 2 year old Maltese male)
- Spartacus (new client Dobie male puppy of 9 months who was here 1 week ago)
- Boy (19 month old Pitbull X fairly new day and train client who is doing a mini board and train now)
- Jujube (2 year old Yorkie/Schnauzer mix male who is brand new as of the beginning of this week)
- Virgule (4 year old Poodle/Schnauzer mix female who is brand new as of the beginning of this week)
- Daycare in and out of the mix will be Ollie (1 year 10 month old Plott Hound mix male) Alyssa (2 year old Siberian Husky female), Bella (4-5? year old Golden/Lab Mix female), Sadie (less than 1 year old Vizsla/Lab X female), Harley (3 year old Great Dane male)
Strengths: Intelligent, curious, good physical energy, playful, young, wants to please you, likes to work and train, likes a good adventure, generally seems to like other dogs (although can be reactive with new ones, especially if playing and active) and people (though this has not been tested out in any great extent yet), sweet friendly and affectionate,
Weaknesses or Quirks: Reactivity on leash, no other formal training for obedience, socialization is weak, resource guarding food items and sometimes drinking water (not horrible, but it's a short step to horrible especially as a dog gets more comfortable in his surroundings or if it is allowed at all), skittish around new things or things not encountered often before, may have prey drive to cats (I am waiting to see if we cross any of their paths), his excited adolescence can more towards over excitement (meaning frustration can turn into aggression), he likes to boss, distracted around new things and experiences, he has been very scared of traffic coming up behind us when training the heel and auto sit (also improving much), does not like face to face greetings with dogs that are strange to him (but does get over it), he can get reactive to your hand near his muzzle if he is over excited barking (IE threatening to bite or making a nip---however he reacts well to stroking of the muzzle and holding under the chin while quieting in an agitated state), doesn't mind being in the crate but getting him into the crate is problematic (which is related to the fact that he also isn't a fan of tight spaces, and wasn't so thrilled about stairs when he very first came here)
Overall, Boy is an excellent dog. I think he will train up well. Whether some of his quirks improve greatly or perhaps even are totally extinct remains to be seen.
***Interesting to note that at first Virgule seemed the less confident of the two, and they both seem to trade roles sometimes. However, Virgule is much more confident socially than Jujube, when Jujube allows Virgule to go off and adventure. And this is why it is important to give dogs, even very close dogs, some individual time for their enjoyment. Jujube has gotten much better at letting his sister go adventure a bit on her own, allowing Virgule to become even more confident.
Strengths: Incredibly cute (you will also see this posted under weakness, cause he uses it to be a brat), loving and affectionate, likes to be near whoever is taking care of him all the time (also a weakness), loves his sister Virgule (also a weakness LOL), learns quickly though he will give you a run for your money (he is a terrier after all), wants to please, likes to be praised big time (in other words will work or modify his behavior for affection given consistently and with rules), happy to work and train, he is often near his caretaker and easy to get,
Weaknesses: Napoleon classic little dog complex, reactive to new dogs checking him out even when they are being polite, will charge forward at new dogs without much provocation, over protective of sister, uses cuteness to try and get away with being naughty (really more of a human fault as it is hard to resist), out of shape and overweight which probably means that he needs more to do during the day (as well as have his eating monitored), was barking non stop when anxious (have cut down on that significantly through getting him used to being out and about in new situations and around new dogs/people, plus using command and praise for the behavior desired), probably a little too dependent on sister, and he does seem to have at least a little separation anxiety,
Jujube seems to have gotten a few bad habits by perhaps being allowed to do things he ought not to because he is so cute and small (like charge at other dogs or even jump on them). The dogs came in with a bark collar, but the real problem is not the barking but the excited state of anxiety that they get in that produces the uncontrolled barking. Jujube has had to learn how to chill when dogs are playing around him and not with him (haven't seen if that excitement has gone down at the beach yet), and also not get so jealous when his poor sister seeks to play with a new playmate.
Strengths: Sweet and loving, calm in general, confident in general, pretty social though she can nip if she gets anxious, smart, happy to work and train, can be independent easily,
Weaknesses: barking also when anxious but not too bad (probably due to the bark collar that she had come with but that we did not keep), nippy when unsure of other dogs even when they are being polite (could be due to bad habits at dog park), skittish around people sometimes (does not come easily and can be hard to catch)
Virgule needs a lot less work than Jujube, although having her come to us more readily (and probably therefore her owners and children) would be good. However, there are many steps to that, so I may need to shortcut something in order to help
The items listed as weaknesses can change and improve while the strengths are enhanced. If you follow a good consistent training plan for the dog, then things can be made much easier for the dog owner and even more so for the dog. A calm and confident dog (and my preference is also a trained dog) is a dog that you don't mind taking out and about as often as possible.
Boy's owner has some physical limitations. So his goals are (among many) to not be reactive on leash and walk well with his owner. This also means working on his confidence and socialization skills in general as well.
Jujube and Virgule's training goals were to make "better times for us and dogs". Also jumping greeting was listed as a problem. What many owners don't realize is this is a symptom of an insecure dog. You don't want them in that state of agitation, and certainly guests and strangers, who are onlooking, do not enjoy that even if they do eventually calm down. Then another unexpected thing comes into the picture, and they get anxious excitement again.
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