Dogs
Michael Baugh CPDT-KSA, CDBC
First, decide whether or not you really need to teach Sarah to conquer her fear of the fridge. This may seem silly, but give it some thought. I have a client dog who developed a phobia of his water and food bowl. That’s serious because the dog has to drink and eat to survive. Does Sarah really need to pass by the refrigerator? If so, let’s solve the problem. If not, let it go and watch to make sure the fear doesn’t spread.
Remember this when you begin training. Sarah should always have the freedom to make choices. Don’t force her to walk by the refrigerator and certainly don’t drag her past it. Instead, you’ll be incrementally reinforcing her for taking one, then two, then three steps, and so on. Clicker training will really come in handy here.
Here’s how you turn the task into a game. Teach Sarah to touch a flat object you can place on the ground. I sometimes use the lid of a Tupperware container. This is called a target and the process is called target training. Each touch of the object results in a click and a treat. This quickly becomes a fun game for the dog – touch; click; treat. Once Sarah gets hooked on the game, place the object a bit nearer the fridge. Touch; click; treat. Yay! Repeat the game with the target a little further down the path past the appliance. Eventually you’ll place the target at the end of the path and Sara will run right by the fridge to touch it. In the meantime, remember to keep the training sessions short and be patient.
Fear of appliances and objects in the household is not terribly uncommon in dogs. They’re foreign and often make strange sounds. These sources of fear are less common in humans. I sometimes wish I were more afraid of the refrigerator. It’s the bathroom scale that really scares me.
Houston Dog Trainer Michael Baugh CPDT-KSA, CDBC is the Director of Training and Behavior at Rover Oaks Pet Resorts. You may reach Michael at the link for a personal consultation, or write to him at our Ask the Dog Trainer Column @ [email protected]. Michael's advice does not replace an actual consultation with a qualified trainer.
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Two Steps For Housetraining
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © AllThingsDogBlog.com Frequent Trips OutsideDear Michael: I have friends who are having big problems with their dog...not sure why she is telling me this now but they took Diego in as a stray a few years...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Velcro Dog
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © All Things Dog Blog Independent Play? Dear Michael: I am going to need help on this for Skipper. Skipper was in obedience classes twice 6 weeks each. He would never sit and stay and let me walk away. I would...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Stinky Collar Issues
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © image located at TailsbytheLake.comDear Michael, My dog has had so many collars in his life that I have a drawer full of them. Open it and you'll find an odor that resembles that of a dirty dog. I am not...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Potty Signals
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © Carrie Boyko Tanner's Bells... Just Like Michael Described Them! Dear Trainer: Skittles' quirk is her very quiet way of telling us she needs to go outside. I hear her because she generally sticks to me like...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Helping Fido Manage Meeting Baby
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC Baby and Fido Need Your Guidance to Understand Good MannersDear Michael: My daughter has a 4 month old baby. Since his birth, my tiny dog has been nothing short of a nightmare around him. He wants to get close...
Dogs
Ask the Dog Trainer: Target Train to Solve Problems
Michael Baugh CPDT-KSA, CDBC
 |
| Refrigerator Snuggles for Xena |
Dear Michael: I just wanted to touch base with you about your recommendations for Sarah and her fear of the refrigerator. She won't walk by it!
Thanks, Michelle S.
-----------------------------------------------
First, decide whether or not you really need to teach Sarah to conquer her fear of the fridge. This may seem silly, but give it some thought. I have a client dog who developed a phobia of his water and food bowl. That’s serious because the dog has to drink and eat to survive. Does Sarah really need to pass by the refrigerator? If so, let’s solve the problem. If not, let it go and watch to make sure the fear doesn’t spread.
Remember this when you begin training. Sarah should always have the freedom to make choices. Don’t force her to walk by the refrigerator and certainly don’t drag her past it. Instead, you’ll be incrementally reinforcing her for taking one, then two, then three steps, and so on. Clicker training will really come in handy here.
Here’s how you turn the task into a game. Teach Sarah to touch a flat object you can place on the ground. I sometimes use the lid of a Tupperware container. This is called a target and the process is called target training. Each touch of the object results in a click and a treat. This quickly becomes a fun game for the dog – touch; click; treat. Once Sarah gets hooked on the game, place the object a bit nearer the fridge. Touch; click; treat. Yay! Repeat the game with the target a little further down the path past the appliance. Eventually you’ll place the target at the end of the path and Sara will run right by the fridge to touch it. In the meantime, remember to keep the training sessions short and be patient.
Fear of appliances and objects in the household is not terribly uncommon in dogs. They’re foreign and often make strange sounds. These sources of fear are less common in humans. I sometimes wish I were more afraid of the refrigerator. It’s the bathroom scale that really scares me.
Check out Michael's Archives Page, or these recent articles:
Helping a Fearful Dog
Adding Another Dog to Your Family
My Dog Climbs the Fence
Adding Another Dog to Your Family
My Dog Climbs the Fence
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Two Steps For Housetraining
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © AllThingsDogBlog.com Frequent Trips OutsideDear Michael: I have friends who are having big problems with their dog...not sure why she is telling me this now but they took Diego in as a stray a few years...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Velcro Dog
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © All Things Dog Blog Independent Play? Dear Michael: I am going to need help on this for Skipper. Skipper was in obedience classes twice 6 weeks each. He would never sit and stay and let me walk away. I would...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Stinky Collar Issues
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © image located at TailsbytheLake.comDear Michael, My dog has had so many collars in his life that I have a drawer full of them. Open it and you'll find an odor that resembles that of a dirty dog. I am not...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Potty Signals
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC © Carrie Boyko Tanner's Bells... Just Like Michael Described Them! Dear Trainer: Skittles' quirk is her very quiet way of telling us she needs to go outside. I hear her because she generally sticks to me like...
- Ask The Dog Trainer: Helping Fido Manage Meeting Baby
by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KA, CDBC Baby and Fido Need Your Guidance to Understand Good MannersDear Michael: My daughter has a 4 month old baby. Since his birth, my tiny dog has been nothing short of a nightmare around him. He wants to get close...