A Rescue Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 3, Substitute Good for Bad

Posted on Sep 29 in Rescued Small Dog, Small Dog Behaviorby Jeff K.Print

Hiding under the bed

(photo courtesy of lucianvenutian@flickr.com*)

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Here is a very important concept to hang onto:

Dogs want to be shown the way.

Let me say that again:

Dogs want to be shown the way.

I don’t care how stubborn your dog seems to be, he wants to know what’s expected of him. If your dog was able to understand and appreciate going to the movies, mystery movies would not be at the top of his list. Dogs want, and need to know, what is going to happen next.

Why is this Important?

Rescued dogs, (before they are rescued,) usually live unpredictable, and therefore miserable dog lives. Here are some of the circumstances that make their lives miserable:

• Abandonment leaves them fending for themselves in an unpredictable world.
• Isolation leaves them wondering when and where the next interaction with people or other animals might happen.
• Physical abuse is random pain and chaos that makes absolutely no sense to a dog.

It’s no wonder your rescued dog exhibits weird behaviors. He’s doing everything he can to cope with the uncertainty in his life. You may say yes, but he’s with me now. He’s okay. Nothing can harm him.

He doesn’t know that. All he has known up until this point is that life has sucked. His transfer to your home is just another step in a series of unpredictable occurrences. If you really want him to understand his life has changed for the better, your job is to give him something positive and predictable to do.

What to Dog Right Now

Here’s how to do it. First, as I said in part 2 of this series, ignore the weird behavior your dog puts out, as long as the behavior is not harmful. Weird behavior may not make sense to you, but it does help your dog cope with stress. Second, give your dog positive and rewarding tasks that pull him away from his weird behavior. Third, do those positive things the same way every day.

Here are some examples of positive tasks:

• Taking a walk with you.
• Learning obedience behavior.
• Playing fetch either as play or as a household service, e.g. fetch your shoes, etc.
• Joining you outside to get the mail or the newspaper.
• Playing tug-o-war with you.

Notice all of the examples involve movement, with no idle time. Your dog will most likely engage in his coping behaviors when he has nothing else to do. Some activities, while pleasant, don’t really give your dog anything to do. For example, while riding with you in the car around town may seem like a pleasant task, your dog will likely spend most of the time laying down or staring out of the window. It doesn’t demand much from your dog.

Don’t Run Yourself Ragged

I’m not saying you have to run yourself ragged all day just to keep your dog actively engaged. What I am saying is, when you notice your dog lapsing into coping behavior, give him something else to do that you both enjoy.

Be Consistent

When you do give your dog a task, try to do it the same way everyday. Set up patterns and rituals for your dog that he was so sorely missing in his previous life. If you stay consistent and positive in your approach to giving your dog tasks, you will notice, over time, your dog spends less and less energy on weird behavior, and more time relaxing during his idle time. Why? Because you have shown him the way: a time, place, and method for doing tasks that he can count on. Mystery solved!

Take Action:

1. Come up with a list of 8-10 positive activities for your dog and write them down in your journal.
2. If an activity requires training, read up on how to train your dog to do that activity. You will find some resources right here at www.asmalldog.com. I also recommend reading and following Let the Dog Decide, a great training book for shy dogs, by Dale Stavroff.
3. When you notice your dog beginning a (weird) coping behavior, engage him in one of the activities you had written in your journal.

Let Us Know What You Think:

Tell our community of small dog lovers some of the activities you like to do with your small dog. If nothing else, write something, anything, in the comment section below just to let me know you are alive and thinking about what you’ve just read.

*The opinions expressed in this article are my own and not necessarily those of the provider of the attached photo. I make no claim that the dog in the attached photo is a rescued dog, nor that it has any behavior problems.

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Related posts

• A Rescued Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 4, Building Confidence (0)
• What to Expect from Your New Rescue Dog (0)
• A Rescued Dog’s Threatening Behavior (0)
• A Rescue Dog’s Weird Behavior, Part 2 Ignoring Weird Behavior (0)
• Territoriality: One Key to Small Dog Syndrome (8)

2 Comments

• Dee Reed says:

  October 1, 2009 at 11:49 pm

  We have had a rescued maltipoo for about three months. He has his emotional ups and downs – is almost always good with me.
  Was crate trained when we got him – only felt safe in the crate – sleeps in the crate at nighb because of this and being too interested in my cats at night. He has no problem with the cats. Is jealous of my husband’s affection toward our shepard mix 10 year old dog. Started out being my husband’s dog – and then started snapping at him for no reason. Now he is “my dog” but is either hyperactive one day and then very quiet another day. He evidently was fed table scraps (vet says he’s1-2 years old and he was not neutered when we got him – matted coat – running at night on a freeway in Phoenix) because feeding him is a problem. Does not like any kind of kibble – sporatic eater – mostly chicken or beef and loves cottage cheese). What can my husband do to stop the dog from snapping at him – the dog seems to like my husband, but if dog is sleeping on bed or not facing him will whirl around, snapping, growling and getting in my husband’s face. Any help you can give will be appreciated. He has been vet checked, neutered, shots, etc and was found to be in good health.

Trackbacks / Pingbacks

• A Small Dog – A Rescued Dog’s Threatening Behavior says:

  October 4, 2009 at 10:51 pm

  [...] This is not the dog referenced in this article. In response to my third article about coping with a rescued dog’s weird behavior, a reader sent in a good question. (The original, unedited comment can be found at the bottom of [...]