The Dog Charmer by Tom Shelby

A Tale of Two Dobermans: Dog Dyslexia and a Toy Snafu

Dear Dog Charmer:

My name’s Tim, and I have an 8-month-old Doberman named Noah. I read all your columns and he’s the dyslexic dog, who looks in the mirror and sees the word “God” instead of “dog.” He really seems afraid of nothing and is just as likely to ignore my requests as to obey them. I need some help.

Tim

Dear Tim:

Firstly, I love the Dobe breed. Both my successful working search dogs were Dobes. Michelle found two people alive and several not alive, which brought closure to missing person cases. Mike successfully tracked a woman 11 miles.

The ideal dog should be confident, yet respectful and cooperative. Two things before we get to respectful and cooperative. In my career, I can remember two owners who named their dog Noah. I suggested that they change their dog’s names, which they did. Assuming you use the word “no” in the course of your life, naming your dog Noah is like naming your child “Bad Boy.” Too much possible negativity associated with his name.

I adopted my standard poodle at age 2, when her name was Emma. I immediately changed her name to Paula Jean by standing three feet from her with a treat in my hand and called her to come, saying, “Paula Jean, come.” Believe me, no dog will give a damn what you call him as long as it results in a treat. Secondly, an 8-month-old Dobe is in the heart of what I fondly refer to as “Junior High School Punk” age. This is basically when they are transitioning from puppy to young adult. Often not the easiest of training times.

Using a leash and starting in the house where there are the fewest distractions, teach him to come when called. The first four times he comes when called he gets a treat. After that, he gets a treat intermittently. His attitude becomes, “Maybe there’s a treat, maybe not. I better go check it out.” Next, teach him to “stay.” This is very important, because it teaches him “self-control.” Tell him to sit, show him a flat hand like a cop stopping traffic, and say “Stay” as you back up a few steps. If he starts to move, the split second he starts to move you take a step forward, saying “Uh, Uh” or “No” with a frown on your face. The moment he halts, you’re smiling, with a soft “Good boy.”

Then you’re working on increasing the time and distance from you that he must stay, and increasing the distractions through which he must stay. An important command for the overly confident dog is “Leave it.” “It” being whatever you want him to ignore, be it a squirrel, another dog or a piece of chicken sandwich on the ground.

Virtually every dog I worked with had to learn “Leave it.” I’d have the dog owner leave a piece of meat or cheese on a plate in the middle of a room while I was in another room with the dog. When we entered the room with the plate, I’d have the dog walk by, ignoring the people food with a snap on the leash just as he went for the dish and a lot of praise and a treat when he walked by ignoring it.

My suggestion, Tim: two things. Get my training book, “Dog Training Diaries,” and read it! Secondly, call a trainer to start you off with a couple of lessons working on your timing and body language, which needs to harmonize with the temperament of the dog.

Best of luck and congrats on your new family member!

Dog Charmer Tom

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Dear Dog Charmer:

You help a lot of people and you fix a lot of dog problems. Any screw ups?

Amy

Dear Amy:

Oh! To be perfect—I am not. There were several, and each one was a tough lesson.

The first one that immediately comes to mind took place a few Christmas Eves ago. It was mid-afternoon at the gingerbread house on the vineyard. Kerry was going to arrive with the fam on the six o’clock ferry. Everything was set, with dinner, decorations and presents under the tree, including a couple for the dogs. Ninety-pound Doberman Mike immediately told 5-and-a-half pound mini pin MacDuff they were in for a couple of special presents of the chewable kind.

Pretty wrapping paper does absolutely nothing to disguise the scent of a chew toy to a dog. My wife, Jaye, laughed as she walked by while as I was sitting in a chair trying to read and ignore the two dogs who were standing in front of my chair, staring at me, with attitude. Their eyes bore into me, saying, “What the hell are you waiting for? We want it! And we want it now!”

History: When we first got Duff, he was 3 years old, and he and Mike were fed on different sides of the kitchen. Initially, before I taught him not to, to my horror Duff ran over to where Mike was eating and shoved his head under Mike’s and started gobbling Mike’s dinner. Mike’s response blew me away. Many—if not most—dogs in this situation would bite, or chase the usurper away. It’s called “possession aggression.” Mike backed away and gave me a look that said, “Can you believe this shit? Do something!” So I taught Duff, “Leave it!” when Mike’s eating, because I knew Mike would tolerate this for only so long.

So here we are on Christmas Eve, hanging out, waiting for Kerry to arrive and the festivities to begin, and I say to myself as they’re staring at me, “What the hell, they’re not into Santa like my grandson, Jasper. Give them the toys now and get them out of my face.” So I lure them into the back yard and toss the toys on opposite ends of the small yard and go back into the house.

As soon as I sat down, it hit me: MISTAKE. Sure enough. A second later came the sound of Mike’s plaintive “bark-gowl” as I ran back out to the yard. Duff was on the other end of the yard, rolling back and forth on his back with blood spurting out of his head. Off we went to Dr. Jasney, who stabilized him, and then to the “emergency” ferry ride to a trauma center off-island. He survived.

Kerry told me that when Mike went into the yard and smelled Duff’s blood, he howled like a wolf. It was the only time we ever heard him howl.

Imperfect Dog Charmer

Tom Shelby, “The Dog Charmer” Cooperstown author, answers pet owners’ questions on training their dogs. E-mail questions to dogsrshelby@msn.com. Tom’s book, “Dog Training Diaries,” was judged one of the three best training books by Dog Writer’s Association of America. Look for his new book, “Dog Training: It Ain’t an Accountant’s Job.”