ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9604010085
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Claws & paws
SOURCE: Jill Bowen
Q: I was wondering if you could help me with a problem we have with our two 5-year-old dogs. At home they are both very obedient and well-mannered. They do tricks and let me dress them up. We want to enter them in some dog shows, but when we take them where there are lots of people and dogs, they get so upset that we can't hold them because of their strength. Our vet suggested nerve medicine, which my husband doesn't want to do. Would it help if we put them in a kennel for a couple of weeks in the spring?
A: The way I would approach this problem would be to take the dogs everywhere I went so they could become more socially adjusted. I suspect that you live in a fairly rural area where perhaps they don't get to see and meet many other people and other dogs.
If you have a park or other common area where people walk their dogs, try taking them there on a leash so that they get used to being around strangers, both canine and human.
If you are near a town of any size, ask if they have any dog-training classes in which your dogs could get used to being in an enclosed area with other dogs and people. They might then learn that their excitable behavior is not acceptable.
I agree with your husband that trying to control their high spirits with tranquilizers or other medication is probably not the answer, nor do I think that putting them into kennels will help. In fact, it may even make them more excitable.
I am afraid that this is something that is going to take time and the patience to get your dogs more socially adjusted, and at times you may become rather disheartened. However, I am sure that if you persevere you will be delighted by how well they will eventually behave. Good luck.
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