Now that it’s finally feeling at least a little like spring, I’ve noticed one funny thing about visual/auditory cues that get Lilly and Ginko a’ running. The big, brown UPS truck.
I’d always assumed that they barked if the UPS guy/truck stopped at a neighbor’s house nearby, but I’ve watched the truck simply drive by, several times now, and my stinkers STILL race out to the fence.
It’s the truck. The sound. Something other than proximity that stirs them.
Yet, this very same UPS truck has driven by me and Lilly on walks day after day, and she pays it zero attention. None. Not even a glance.
I guess it has to do with context, practiced behaviors (trained or otherwise).
Thoughts? Examples from your own Dog Life?
It seems like the UPS truck is only threatening when it approaches your pup’s turf. In the rare times when Kona has been on a walk in the neighborhood and a mail truck has passed, she doesn’t become reactive. At home, she’ll body slam the window to get at our mailman…
Betsy and Norman love the UPS truck! Stuart, our UPS driver, comes everyday and occasionally gives them treats. However, the FedEx truck (home delivery or freight truck) sets Norman off into a furry. I finally convinced the drivers to ignore Norman and turn their back on him when he goes off. Much to their surprise it worked. Sometimes the FedEx drivers give him treat; however, one back turn and he calms right down. Now I just hope no REAL intruder knows the turn-the-back trick!
Well, I’m sure … having a store and all that you get lots of deliveries. We have a locking gate at the top of our drive, so they just tie packages to our fence using plastic bags … which can be tricky if the dogs are right there barking.
Context is so critical with dogs. While we (primates) tend to generalize very well, canids are pattern-matching discrimination engines. The sound of the UPS truck while lounging in the house and the sound of the UPS truck while outside on leash is really apples and oranges for them.
Patricia McConnell covers this very well in “The Other End of the Leash.”
It’s been a while since I read the book, but you’re right … I do recall Patricia covering the topic. The one thing I do remember well from the book is that subhead or chapter head that said, “Do not repeat commands. Do not repeat commands.” Or something like that. Cracked me up.
Well, Sam … I’ve watched them both when the truck goes by, and they definitely keep an eye on each other like … Are you going? I’m going! BUT, it happens so fast that either they agree quickly to run, OR it’s such an ingrained pattern –> cue = run.
One of our delivery guys (FedEx Ground) brings treats and leaves them on top the package every time. However, the dogs don’t seem to react any differently to him than to other invaders of our driveway. Maybe they don’t know that it’s HIM leaving the treats. They’re never outside when he arrives…
He is just the sweetest guy. I think that the dogs would love him if they met him… but they’d still bark like guard dogs when he arrived in our driveway.
Could it just be that she chimes in because Ginko is doing it? I know Marge will bark along with other dogs.. the only problem is, she doesn’t know how to stop once she gets started.
I’ve noticed that Allie recognizes not only the USPS truck, but also any mail carrier if that carrier is in uniform. If the carriers in civilian gear that day, then she doesn’t.