Re: dog folks

[Guest guest]

I've done allot of dog research, but never came across these calming techniques.

They make since in the doggie mind. I often try to remember the pack mentality

when training. You have to think like a dog.

The greyhound trainer called me this morning. I think I have all the needed

tools now to do this right. I sure will try these too!

Thanks again every one that has helped again. I've already started working with

him. Cindylouwho

Re: Rhea, and other dog folks

Hi Cindy,

I just came to think of another thing... There are some dog signals

which you could learn Dylan, which he could use to make Caddy take it

easier around him. They are called Calming Signals. There is a very

good book written about a Norwegian about it. It came on the US

market well before it was published here... The author is Turid

Rugaas.

The dogs use calming signals against eachother when they get scared,

when they just want another dog to take it easy etc. Some of the

signals we humans can easily use too. I learned about it to use it to

calm Shanti who I had earlier, since she had a tough time in the past

both with humans and a big rottie.

Just a few examples. Yawning. A really big yawn when you stretch your

arms up too, is quite effective. Licking around your mouth is

another. One I use every night when we go to bed, in order to get

Peanut to settle and go to sleep faster, is smacking my lips (I am

not sure if that is the right word, what I mean is what some people

do when they eat, which is not good manners at all, do you know what

I mean? In Norwegian it is called to " smatte " ). Just close your mouth

and open it and sort of over exaggerate it so you make sounds. Really

calmly. When I do this to Peanut, she replies by doing the same and

going to sleep. If Dylan wants Caddy not to lean or jump, he can fold

his arms across his chest and turn half away from her. Dogs turn

their side to other dogs who they want to calm down. Also blink with

your eyes slowly, or glare. The less eye you show, the more calming.

Don't look the dog in the eye either.

Also, if Dylan can, it would be useful if he could sit down on the

floor when she approaches him. and then use the calming signals. Then

Caddy can come to him calmly and they can interact without Dylan

getting physically hurt or Caddy's feelings getting hurt...

I would really recommend buying the book though... Try to get a book

store to find it for you. If you have problems, let me know and I

will try to find the US version ISBN number for you. I don't think it

is expensive.

Aase Marit

>I need my dog to stay far away from Dylan. I want Dylan to feel

>confident that this dog won't trip him, or get in his way when he is

>walking through a room.

>Dylan is now on the main floor of the house. This makes interaction

>with Caddy, the greyhound much more of a problem. Caddy is a 90 lb

>muscle bound, sensitive dog. Greyhounds by nature are leaners. When

>they want attention, they come up to you and lean on you. They are

>generally couch potatoes, but when they play, they play hard, and

>you better get out of the way. There is no stopping a grey in a

>playful mood, although, it only lasts for a few minutes.Greys also

>do something called statueing. They stand still like a stubborn

>mule. Greys aren't like other dogs due to their racing days. But he

>does want to please me. It's just a little harder to train a grey.

>They didn't live with a family, they lived in barns, in cages, until

>they are rescued from the track. We have three dogs, but Dylan

>shows dislike for Caddy, although I know it's a fear of falling. He

>yells at Caddy to make him go away or get out of his way. Well, I

>don't like that. Caddy is a sweet loving dog with a sensitive soul.

>Caddy is afraid of the wheel chair. Well... He's afraid of

>everything. A leaf can blow by him and he runs from it. He's a

>gentle giant. My Lab mix, Brook, is Dylan's companion. She lays by

>his side all the time. A very low key dog. She had a hip replacement

>and I lovingly call her my pot-belly-pig. Lets say she gained a bit

>of weight after her surgery. The third dog is just old and stays in

>her own little world unless your getting out food. I understand

>Dylan's fear, and I also see Caddy's sadness in his eyes when Dylan

>is around. He knows he's not loved by him. Caddy comes to me for

>comfort when Dylan is around.

>So how do I bring this family together? I want both my boys to feel

>secure and loved. My skin kid and my fur kid. Cindylouwho <G> ( love

>that name)

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