Debbie Tails - The Inside Scoop on a Foster's Dog's Journey to Find a Forever Home
I'm having a great summer but my teenager had a tough time. Even though she worked hard last year and got a "B" in Algebra, there was a technicality with her being a middle schooler taking a high school level class and she has to retake Algebra during summer school. Horrible for her but great for me! For 3 weeks I got to enjoy morning and afternoon car rides! I love the car! And I love going places with my foster family.
While I've always loved riding in the car, I used to be reactive whenever I'd see someone at a bus stop, or a stranger walking down the street. Back then it was cold out and people would wear heavy, bulky coats and dark hats. Woof Woof! I'd give my biggest bark. At the Foster Dog Alliance, trainer Sarah Stoycos told my foster mom how she could use clicker training to reward me for being calm. They said that to help teach me not to be so reactive she'd need to catch me before I got barky. She was instructed that if I barked to ignore. I know....hard to ignore a dog barking loudly in your ear but when I got reinforced for good behavior that gave me positive reinforcement to want to do that behavior again. And over time, my bad behaviors faded away.
While in the car in a parking lot, starting with strangers very far away, my foster mom would click and give me a treat if I stayed calm. As the strangers approached (but were still very far away she'd click-treat). Didn't take me long to get the hang of it and soon I was able to cruise through our neighborhood without any headaches. As we worked with people closer to the car, to let me know what was coming and to give me a sense of familiarity with the situation my foster mom would say "neighbor". This did indeed help me! Helped me figure out what to expect. I became a much better passenger!
While in the car in a parking lot, starting with strangers very far away, my foster mom would click and give me a treat if I stayed calm. As the strangers approached (but were still very far away she'd click-treat). Didn't take me long to get the hang of it and soon I was able to cruise through our neighborhood without any headaches. As we worked with people closer to the car, to let me know what was coming and to give me a sense of familiarity with the situation my foster mom would say "neighbor". This did indeed help me! Helped me figure out what to expect. I became a much better passenger!
Took a bit more practice for my behavioral change to fully take effect but all
that practice came in handy this summer when we were in the high school parking lot. Lots of activity and tons of teenagers everywhere, walking in all directions around the car. I'd watch intently yet remain calm. I had my opportunity to be my calmest when we were back home and my teenager was sitting at the table working on her homework. Guess who was there to lay quietly by her feet! My teenager loves this so much that she says "Makes me feel amazing that my dog is there supporting me doing my work. it gives me a boost and makes me feel I can do this!
that practice came in handy this summer when we were in the high school parking lot. Lots of activity and tons of teenagers everywhere, walking in all directions around the car. I'd watch intently yet remain calm. I had my opportunity to be my calmest when we were back home and my teenager was sitting at the table working on her homework. Guess who was there to lay quietly by her feet! My teenager loves this so much that she says "Makes me feel amazing that my dog is there supporting me doing my work. it gives me a boost and makes me feel I can do this!
p.s. I am happy to report she got an "A"!!!!
