Once we got past her various medical issues, I took Lilly through her initial obedience class in spring 2005. Since then, of course, we’ve been through a bunch of other classes for agility, rally and all-around pet dog training. With our previous dogs, Tom and I usually took that first (and only) round of training classes together. That hasn’t been the case with Lilly. That spring Tom worked a lot. He spent several nights per week and many weekends in training. So, I went it alone, and that became the norm. Fine … really. Except now we have what I call “The Daddy Factor.” Yet another important lesson learned.
Lilly is most accustomed to spending her days — regular ones and training ones — with me, and only me. So, when Tom is with us, it throws a monkey-wrench into things because she tries desperately to keep us together and to give both of us her undivided attention.
When I first expressed dismay at this, Joy Bishop (one of our agility trainers) explained the whole herding dog thing. So, we’re careful to stay somewhat close together, where Lilly feels more comfortable.
Tom certainly understands the basic rules I use for Lilly, but he’s not well-schooled on the Phd-level behavior mod stuff. That too is fine … as long as other dogs aren’t involved (as in hanging around or potentially interacting with Lilly or him).
This FACTOR becomes grossly evident when Lilly decides to resource guard Tom from other dogs. She put on a spectacular display on Sunday at a family gathering. Tom’s brother is dog-sitting a big, mellow Malamute-mix. I kept Lilly in her crate until I could gauge this dog’s personality. He seemed like a nice, slow-moving guy, so later I brought Lilly out.
Her initial greeting of him was totally fine. Cautious but fine. I should have celebrated and put her back in the crate.
But, I did not, and anytime he got near Tom she flew off the handle. The first time, she was in Tom’s lap, so it’s easy to see how that happened.
I got her focused on me, working her plan and doing some tricks. So, I thought she’d settled in and would be fine.
WRONG!
She did it again later twice in quick succession when both dogs were just walking around, so I gave her a break and took her back to her crate.
Too many people, too much noise, strange place, etc. I know. I know. I know. We’d made such good progress over the last 6 months, I thought I was worth a try.
Honestly, the guarding thing bugs me. I know in MOST cases she’s reactive out of fear. I also know sometimes she throws her weight around to by funny. But, THIS looks different to me. Not to mention it makes other people think she’s a TERRIBLE dog, which you and I both know isn’t true.
It’s all noise, but they don’t know that. Most people assume that since Lilly lives with Ginko that she’s “good with other dogs.”
If you’re wondering — Lilly guards me a bit too, but it usually doesn’t get above a grumble. She’s much more accustomed to being with ME around other dogs. Typically, if I’m standing up, she’s fine as long as the other dog doesn’t get too close to my bait bag. If I’m bending down to comfort her or something, however, then she gets more protective of me. So, I don’t bend down.
Solving (or preventing) the resource guarding is one thing, but I wonder if this isn’t simply the reality of a dog having a working/training bond with one parent but still really, really, really LOVING the other parent.
Tell me it isn’t just me, please. Tell me stories of your beautifully trained performance dogs going to pot when your sweetie is around.
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