If you live in a wooded area, then you probably see all sorts of little animals everyday. As serene as it may be for you, living in the countryside can be a headache for an owner with a curious, prey-driven pooch. Every time you venture outdoors, your pet is gone within seconds, chasing a poor little squirrel. Or, even worse, he’s pulling you on the leash behind him! Some people bring home dogs to do just that: guard their homes against unwanted creatures. But, other people just want the dog to leave things alone. If you are in this boat, then don’t worry; there are a couple of desensitizing techniques you can try.
The first thing to understand is a dog’s predatory instinct. He does not necessarily seek out little creatures to play with; the fun comes when he sees them running. Dogs love for animals or people to run away from them! Not only does it reassure their dominant thinking (“Oh, I scared him off!”), it is also a game for them. Chasing, for a dog, is a fun activity. So, whether it’s a frightened person running away or a rabbit, squirrel, or cat, a dog will love a good chase. Unfortunately, this behavior is not fun for you, especially when you are out for your evening walk. A dog that is unable to control his predatory instinct can endanger himself and others. If he’s on a leash, then you are forced to fight against the leash and the dog. If he’s not on a leash, then he may dart in front of a passing car or get himself into trouble. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to try to stop this behavior before it escalates.
Before you ever try to teach your pet “no critter,” he needs to understand other commands. Most importantly, you need to be able to get his attention in a variety of situations. It’s one thing for your pet to pay attention to you when it’s time for dinner, but it’s another thing for him to pay attention to you in public. Of course, if he was a master at paying attention, then you probably wouldn’t have a small animal problem in the first place. But, you need to be able to get his attention when you aren’t in the presence of a squirrel or rabbit. The easiest way to do this is to practice at a pet store. Take your pooch to the pet store, and venture down the small animal aisle. You can bet he’ll be intrigued by the hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, and gerbils. While he’s salivating over all the caged prey, practice getting his attention. Use whatever training method you are comfortable with. For instance, if you are clicker training, then click to get his attention and give him a treat. Or, come up with a command, such as “no animal” to get his attention. Reward him for looking to you (even if he doesn’t look very long) when you ask him to. Repeat this training as often as you can until your pet looks to you every time.
Now, just because you got his attention with caged animals, does not mean that you’ll gain his attention when the animals are running free. For this reason, you need to move the training to a spot where there may be a couple of creatures but not too many. For instance, if your home borders a wooded area, then your front yard may be the perfect spot. Keep your pet on a leash, and continue to practice getting his attention in the yard. Do this several days until you feel that you have better control, then move the training to the backyard or another area where more small animals are present.
Desensitizing your dog to his natural instinct is tough, and your methods may not always work. If nothing you have tried has prevailed, then try to stay away from areas full of small animals. If the problem is bothersome enough, then you may need to seek the help of a professional.
If your dog chases a squirrel or rabbit every time you walk outside, then you may dread outdoor activities with your dog. When a dog chases an animal, he is merely exercising his predatory instinct; the animal runs, and your pooch loves a good chase. Come up with ways to desensitize him to small animals, starting with trips to the pet store, and gradually work your way up to an area where squirrels and rabbits run free. If all else fails, seek professional help.
Article sent in by Pet Super Store an online pet supplies shop featuring: dog tracking collars, bark collars, and dog fences.
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February 16th, 2009 