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Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary

10/31/2014

19 Comments

 
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Pets Feel About Something Scary
Fearless in Seattle.
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
This spooky scene had a real black cat.
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
Enjoying a haunted house's pirate graveyard.
Typist: Bethany
As it gets darker, wetter and colder in Cascadia, it gets more difficult to find fit dog adventure inspiration. Even the dogs would sometimes rather play inside or just lay around. We'd all always rather be traveling. Even if we're stuck in our neighborhood in the chilly, rainy, gray 
I know it's healthy for us, humans and pets, to get outside for exercise. Besides enjoying all of the gorgeous colors of autumn, the pets and I have been getting fit time in while combing West Seattle for festive Halloween decoration displays. We have had some wonderful dog walks, in the rain, wind and sunshine.
Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley are rarely scared by the spooky holiday decor we've been out admiring but the other day an animated inflatable spider caused unruly barking. Aborting the photo opportunity, I rushed the dogs away from the moving spider but the barking continued in front of the next house. I decided to use this frightening opportunity to practice "quiet" and "chill" cues as well as desensitize the dogs to what scared them. It is important for dogs that travel, get out and about often and are exposed to a mass of varied situations to master self control. So I asked all of the dogs to lay down on the grass a safe distance from the spider's yard but where they could still see the Halloween decoration. The dogs received treats for focusing on me quietly instead of looking back at the spider and barking.
This took what seemed like forever. When dealing patently with three wildly barking dogs a trainers sense of time can get skewed. In reality, Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley calmed down quite quickly. Once the dogs were unflustered and staying focused on me, we continued with our walk.

The next day, we returned to the scary spider scene. Luckily, the spider that spooked the dogs was not inflated so I had a great opportunity to practice more focus cue training distraction free. I took pictures, the dogs favorite "trick" and job. They all got lots and lots of treats. When we walked past the moving arachnid a third time which was again inflated. I wanted to test the desensitization training we had done but had to avoid allowing the dogs to be spooked into another barking frenzy. I picked up the walking pace and I praised and treated the quiet dogs as we passed. Before clearing the decorated yard, the dogs noticed the animated spider's head turn. Each dog barked one or two times then regained self-control and focus. This felt like an amazing, fear conquering success.
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
The offending spider deflated.
Ideally we will have an opportunity to pass the spider again and the dogs will stay focused on me. I had originally wanted to pose the dogs for a picture with the giant spider but I will not push them that far. It is enough that what once frightened them into a frenzy, quickly became a minor irritation on an otherwise fun fit dog outing. Rain or shine, wherever we roam, I always want to get outside with my pets for healthy fit time. What a comfort to know that whatever spooky scenes we encounter, whether they are decorative or real, I can help my dogs to keep intelligently composed.
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
Brychwyn
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
Huxley
What scares your fit dog and how do you deal with it?
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
Wilhelm
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Dogs Feel About Something Scary
What scary ghost?
Want to learn more about positive pet training? Have positive reinforcement dog, cat or other pet training tips or tricks to share? Join Dachshund Nola, Tenacious Little Terrier and us this Monday for the Positive Pet Training Blog Hop! The November theme is rear end awareness but any and all blogger posts and reader/follower stories about positive reinforcement training are always welcome.
Positive Pet Training Blog Hop
Fearless In Seattle: Changing How Pets Feel About Something Scary
Happy Halloween!
Check out our other awesome fit dog Halloween adventures:
The Devil Went Down To Green Lake: A Seattle Urban Hike With Costumed Corgis
West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival Special: A Collie Dog, Corgi Ketchup & Dachshund Mustard
And if you're looking for haunted Halloween fun to have with your pets, here's a great list of Halloween movies with dog and cat co-stars: Scaredy Cats & Spooky Dogs: 13 Movies For Halloween With Dog & Cat Co-Stars
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19 Comments
Molly The Wally link
10/30/2014 08:59:08 pm

Luckily over here no one has much of a front garden so nothing to spook us but Molly hates the life saving ring that hangs on the railings by the pond in the park as one day it flapped open in the wind and she has never forgotten it. Have a fabulous Friday and Happy Halloween to you all and may your day be a frightening one in good way.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Emma link
10/30/2014 09:47:59 pm

Bailie and I aren't scared of any of the stuff around outside. Katie used to be real scared of lawn ornaments and things but she just outgrew it at some point. Happy Halloween!

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2 Brown Dawgs link
10/30/2014 10:05:06 pm

I think I would bark at that spider...lol. Happy Halloween to you!

Reply
Golden Woofs: Sugar link
10/30/2014 10:55:02 pm

Looks like everyone had a great time and all SMILES well except for :-) We voted and Good Luck. Have a Happy and Safe Halloween. Golden Woofs

Reply
SlimDoggy link
10/30/2014 10:58:35 pm

Love the tips - Nothing really phases Jack, he's pretty chill, but Maggie would probably freak at some of this stuff - luckily we can take most of our walks on hiking paths and not in neighborhoods.

I tried to vote - but don't see how - there was no place to do it?

Reply
Bethany link
10/31/2014 12:07:24 am

I was really surprised that spider freaked the boys out. I was laughing as I started to move them out of harms way but I composed myself to jump on the training opportunity. They are usually very resilient (as you can see by the other Halloween photos.)

Thanks for trying to vote- the ballot seems to not show up on some browsers. :(

Happy Howloween!

Reply
Diane @ To Dog With Love link
10/30/2014 11:32:47 pm

Great job with the desensitization training! Rocco doesn't seemed phased by all the Halloween decorations, luckily! Have a fun Halloween!

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Reilly & Denny
10/30/2014 11:44:51 pm

those are some great tips

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Jodi link
10/31/2014 12:20:06 am

That's awesome!! We haven't encountered something that scares the dogs, but I really do work with them (especially Sampson) on walking past people and other dogs without trying to tackle them for rubbies. It is getting better and better. But still a work in progress.

Reply
Mary link
10/31/2014 12:34:09 am

We don't walk a lot where there are scary decorations, but I am pretty sure on of those giant fluttery things would scare Torrey.

Reply
Clowie link
10/31/2014 12:45:59 am

Well done to all of you! Not much bothers me, but when it has we've done more or less the same thing as you.

Reply
Beth link
10/31/2014 02:48:22 am

Barley is always interested in the Halloween decorations, but she never gets too worked up over them. She'll stop and stare at them, but usually a quick "what's that?" gets her moving again. Congratulations on helping the dogs face their fears!

Reply
Talent Hounds link
10/31/2014 03:10:38 am

Happy Halloween pals!

Reply
M. K. Clinton link
10/31/2014 04:26:20 am

Spooky decorations don't bother the boys, unless it is spooky decorations in a thunderstorm. Bentley draws the line at that. I tried to vote, but it doesn't seem to be working. I am a member and I logged in...any ideas? I hope you win! Happy Howl-o-ween! Thanks for joining our Spooktacular Halloween Hop!

Reply
Bethany link
10/31/2014 04:52:20 am

Thank you so much for trying to vote, MK. We have been told that the poll is down. Bummer. I suppose that doesn't leave Brychwyn with time to finish catching up. Oh well! He knows he's the most handsome finalist and someday he'll get to be a cover dog. He sure does love the camera! Unless there is an inflated spider turning it's head behind him. Then he loves barking! With all the traveling we do, I am SO glad the boys don't mind thunder. Leo cheers for it! Thanks for hosting the spooky hop and happy, happy Howloween to you!

Reply
Lauren Miller link
10/31/2014 05:37:44 am

Awesome post! I'm glad the dogs recovered quickly from their scare!

Reply
Tenacious Little Terrier link
10/31/2014 06:51:32 am

There's been a statue or two that has made Mr. N wary (including one of Buddha!). He will gingerly go sniff it and try to paw it and jump back. None of the Halloween decorations so far have bothered him though.

Reply
Jen Gabbard link
10/31/2014 10:38:40 am

In our neighborhood we haven't seen to many decorations but when we go out for a ride Laika is always spooked by the big inflated guy they use for a promo at phone stores; luckily she's gotten better with more exposure. It really was a big shock the first time I noticed it and I felt really bad that it was obviously so distressing for her.

Reply
Life Raterrific link
10/31/2014 07:08:32 pm

We loved this post! With Skipper being so young, there are a lot of things that make him hesitate. We're taking it step by step, as you describe!

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