Dog / cyclist issue
Discussion
We have an 11 month old Norfolk Terrier. He’s pretty good with everything, apart from a major issue with bikes & joggers.
If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
I can only advise you seek the help of a behaviourist who works on positive reward and correction (not negative!) when needed. They need to be with you to observe his response (ie fear based response, chase instinct etc) then determine best way to resolve it
There is a chap on here called Nick who does behaviour, he may be worth contacting. He is called Alpha dog behaviour but I am fairly certain he doesn't actually do alpha pack theories!!
http://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/
There is a chap on here called Nick who does behaviour, he may be worth contacting. He is called Alpha dog behaviour but I am fairly certain he doesn't actually do alpha pack theories!!
http://www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk/
MonzaEvo said:
Thankyou...... I think this was our next step, as we are currently ‘guessing’ the reason behind and I would imagine a behaviourist would be able to work out the reasoning fairly quickly once observed
Rgds,
Jonathan
Yes hopefully. Guessing makes it tricky to correct the problem. There will be well meaning and helpful replies on here quite often but they can end up being conflicting/ confusing so often a risk of causing more of a problem. Obviously sometimes someone will stumble on the right thing to do but it is harder when dealing with as big a problem as chasing. Rgds,
Jonathan
Good luck. I am sure it is resolvable with help.
I have trained my terrier to sit and wait whilst a jogger or cyclist goes by and he then gets a treat. It has probably taken a couple of years (maybe three!) to get him to this state. When you see a jogger or cyclist approaching try to get the dog's attention before he/she knows they are coming, get them into the sit facing you and preferably with their back to the incoming "threat" talk to them and then reward when the "threat" has passed. Patience is the main thing you need when training terriers (and lots of their favourite treats).
Many thanks for all the responses ...... it's been a while , but we finally had a one-to-one session on Saturday. Seems he's simply following his 'chase' instinct, so it's going to be a long process of attempting to correct this behaviour
We have plenty of 'homework' to get going on though... mainly the ability to told his attention. We've seen progress already, so it's simply a case of persevering.
Will keep all updated. The behaviourist definitely saw a very trainable pup, so there's hope
Rgds,
Jonathan
We have plenty of 'homework' to get going on though... mainly the ability to told his attention. We've seen progress already, so it's simply a case of persevering.
Will keep all updated. The behaviourist definitely saw a very trainable pup, so there's hope
Rgds,
Jonathan
MonzaEvo said:
Many thanks for all the responses ...... it's been a while , but we finally had a one-to-one session on Saturday. Seems he's simply following his 'chase' instinct, so it's going to be a long process of attempting to correct this behaviour
We have plenty of 'homework' to get going on though... mainly the ability to told his attention. We've seen progress already, so it's simply a case of persevering.
Will keep all updated. The behaviourist definitely saw a very trainable pup, so there's hope
Rgds,
Jonathan
He will be, you just needed proper, in person, guidance to help show you how to break his chase urge. The terrier instinct is strong in this one We have plenty of 'homework' to get going on though... mainly the ability to told his attention. We've seen progress already, so it's simply a case of persevering.
Will keep all updated. The behaviourist definitely saw a very trainable pup, so there's hope
Rgds,
Jonathan
MonzaEvo said:
We have an 11 month old Norfolk Terrier. He’s pretty good with everything, apart from a major issue with bikes & joggers.
If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
Control your dog or get rid. Joggers and cyclists don't need this crap.If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
Woody John said:
MonzaEvo said:
We have an 11 month old Norfolk Terrier. He’s pretty good with everything, apart from a major issue with bikes & joggers.
If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
Control your dog or get rid. Joggers and cyclists don't need this crap.If he spots an oncoming bike/jogger, he will prepare himself to work up to high anxiety as it approaches..... and barks uncontrollably as it passes. This is on leash, off leash he would (and has done twice) simply follow the bike with complete disregard to his generally good recall.
We’ve attempted distraction techniques, and trying to sit him further away from bikes/joggers in the hole that he might desensitise, but with little success
Currently open to any suggestions to cure this behaviour as we are clearly approaching summertime when I would expect more bikes/joggers being around.
Rgds
Jonathan
bexVN said:
Don't be a troll Woody John. The OP is doing something about it and will find out how to control its urge.
Quite.Our 9 month old Large Munsterlander used to jump up / bark / try to "have" cyclists and runners. I sort of figured it was her fight / flight reaction, she was seeing them as a threat or was scare by them.
We worked on it from two sides, if we saw them coming before she did, we made her sit, and gave her a treat when she was good. If we didn't see them first, but she was good, she got a treat as well if she carried on walking nicely.
I also adopted a "take no s
t" attitude with her misbehaving, and in the early days this meant a very stern tone, dominant body language, and very occasionally the "alpha roll" I think it's called. (I know this technique is open for debate, and this isn't the place for it. I'm just describing what method I used.)I've seen progress over the last few months. If she's caught unaware by a bike (coming past fast down a hill or round a corner on a path) she can still be a bit skittish, but she hasn't gone for anyone in a couple of months. I am now at the stage of occasional rewards for good behaviour when a runner comes past, since she's become much better, and just needs to be kept "topped up" on the positive reinforcement.
Different breed, different genetics, different approaches, potentially different responses from the same approach with a different dog.
louiebaby said:
Quite.
Our 9 month old Large Munsterlander used to jump up / bark / try to "have" cyclists and runners. I sort of figured it was her fight / flight reaction, she was seeing them as a threat or was scare by them.
We worked on it from two sides, if we saw them coming before she did, we made her sit, and gave her a treat when she was good. If we didn't see them first, but she was good, she got a treat as well if she carried on walking nicely.
I also adopted a "take no st" attitude with her misbehaving, and in the early days this meant a very stern tone, dominant body language, and very occasionally the "alpha roll" I think it's called. (I know this technique is open for debate, and this isn't the place for it. I'm just describing what method I used.)
I've seen progress over the last few months. If she's caught unaware by a bike (coming past fast down a hill or round a corner on a path) she can still be a bit skittish, but she hasn't gone for anyone in a couple of months. I am now at the stage of occasional rewards for good behaviour when a runner comes past, since she's become much better, and just needs to be kept "topped up" on the positive reinforcement.
Different breed, different genetics, different approaches, potentially different responses from the same approach with a different dog.
Sure thing, just control your dog.Our 9 month old Large Munsterlander used to jump up / bark / try to "have" cyclists and runners. I sort of figured it was her fight / flight reaction, she was seeing them as a threat or was scare by them.
We worked on it from two sides, if we saw them coming before she did, we made her sit, and gave her a treat when she was good. If we didn't see them first, but she was good, she got a treat as well if she carried on walking nicely.
I also adopted a "take no s
t" attitude with her misbehaving, and in the early days this meant a very stern tone, dominant body language, and very occasionally the "alpha roll" I think it's called. (I know this technique is open for debate, and this isn't the place for it. I'm just describing what method I used.)I've seen progress over the last few months. If she's caught unaware by a bike (coming past fast down a hill or round a corner on a path) she can still be a bit skittish, but she hasn't gone for anyone in a couple of months. I am now at the stage of occasional rewards for good behaviour when a runner comes past, since she's become much better, and just needs to be kept "topped up" on the positive reinforcement.
Different breed, different genetics, different approaches, potentially different responses from the same approach with a different dog.
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