Conflict Arises: In Which Scruffy Finds Himself in Bootcamp and Melon Thinks the Universe Knows More Than It Tells

Why do things never turn out like we expect?

I had Scruffy and Charlie booked in to stay with me for a couple of weeks around Easter. They last had a very smooth stay in January, so we assumed it would be pretty routine.

Charlie (L) and Scruffy (R)

This was not to be. Just before their owner went away, I was told that I would be left with only Scruffy, as a trainer had advised that the dogs sleep separately. I was puzzled, but confirmed the boarding.

I've mentioned the issues between these two dogs before, and my hopes for some professional intervention. Due to personal reasons, I had made the decision last year to give their owner some referrals rather than take the job myself.

Then, less than a week before Scruffy and Charlie were to be dropped off, the dogs were at a different groomer from usual. While there, Scruffy attacked Charlie and left him with puncture wounds. The vet who treated Charlie referred their owner to a professional dog trainer.

Here's the cool part. The professional trainer, through a stroke of luck, turned out to be one of my teachers from technical college. So while I was thrilled to have Scruffy and Charlie in such good hands, he seemed pleased to hear that I was the dog-sitter who would be watching Scruffy while their human is away.

So while Charlie is resting up at home with a family member, I've got this dude with me.

Scruffy doing a Sit-Stay at the shops

As instructed by my teacher, Scruffy and I are working on basic obedience, crate training and treating some mild separation anxiety. He whines when left alone, presumably because he's never been truly alone before -- he and Charlie were always kept together.

Howzat for enthusiasm? #dattail #fooddriven #breakfast #dogtraining #wirefoxterrier

A post shared by Melon (@melondious) on Apr 19, 2017 at 9:56pm PDT

It's not 'my job' to train Scruffy, but I am taking this opportunity to learn from my mentor. I'd also like to help out this owner, as long as she is dedicated to putting in the work to keep Scruffy. (If he is not safe around Charlie after this training, I believe Scruffy will be re-homed.)

Fingers crossed for good results!

An Exposition: In Which Melon Waxes Lyrical on Multi-Dog Management

Hello blogfriends.

Scruffy and Charlie, my most recent boarders, have gone home. I'm pretty sure they enjoyed their holiday and I refined my skills at multi-dog management.

Scruffy and Charlie: a rare snapshot with both boys

I owe a lot of this to another little guide: P. McConnell and K. London's Feeling Outnumbered: How to Manage and Enjoy Your Multi-Dog Household. I loved its advice on body blocking, and its general approach of 'teaching every dog good manners is the key to peaceful coexistence'. Makes perfect sense to me.

Most of all, though, I think this sudden foray into multi-dog management -- with Scruffy and Charlie at home, and Ava and Darcy at work -- has made me feel like the key here is management. Don't get me wrong -- dogs do need to be trained and you can almost always teach something new to improve situations. That's why I'm a dog trainer.

But I've also realised that management can be enough.

Ava: You call this management?

With multiple dogs, your time is split between them. Add to that normal life commitments -- for example, a homework assignment to finish, another dog job, and trying to fit in driving practice -- sometimes it's just about getting the dogs fed, walked, and getting in a little mental stimulation, whether that be with toys or training.

And I feel like part of understanding management is understanding that you won't be able to treat both dogs the same. Little Darcy, being only a few months old, spends half the day in his pen, while Ava can be trusted free in the house. Scruffy has to eat outside by himself while Charlie is inside with the humans, because Charlie needs to be coaxed to eat and Scruffy will steal his food.

Dog days of summer: I shut Scruffy in so Charlie could enjoy his iceblock

You won't even be able to treat your dogs equally all of the time. Some days only Darcy gets walked, because I can only take one dog with me to the cafe, and some days only Ava gets walked, because I'm out of time. And you know what? I'm realising that's okay.

Don't get me wrong, I wish Ava and Darcy could loose-lead walk nicely right now so that I could just walk them both together, and I really, really wish Scruffy and Charlie's owner could implement some more strategies so Charlie doesn't have to live timidly in the shadow of his brother. But I'm hoping that the more dogs I work with the more skilled I will become, so that I can achieve more in the same finite amount of time. Until then, though, I'm only human, they're only dogs, and we do the best we can.

Silly Saturday

Just a silly video of Charlie the mini labradoodle to brighten up your Saturday!

Little Charlie hasn't been the easiest to motivate... but I should have known. #partlabrador #retriever #minilabradoodle

A video posted by Melon (@melondious) on Feb 9, 2017 at 7:10pm PST

Almost Flashback Friday

Never enough time in a day, is there? So many things I want to share with you guys but never enough time/energy to get it all done. Well, still working on it, but --

I've been extra busy this week thanks to some visitors.

Remember these guys?

Charlie

Scruffy

Charlie and Scruffy came to stay last year, and I have to say not much has changed. They are both mellow dogs, happy to be shut in or out, to have company or to be left alone. Okay, I admit I'd forgotten what that was like, what with high-maintenance puppies who also have a touch of #FOMO.

But then, they also have the same relationship dynamic -- Charlie is fearfully submissive with Scruffy, and Scruffy redirects arousal onto Charlie. So I keep the peace by giving them plenty of separate time and feeding/playing with them separately. It's a shame because they get less stimulation than dogs who can be together, because there's only one of me and only so much time in my day, but I'm still sure they're having a grrreat holiday while their owner does!

Things I Have Learned About Dogs: the Charlie and Scruffy update

We're cute. What more could there possibly be?

2 dogs are so much more than the sum of their parts! Multi-dog management is a thing. Other than knowing their individual quirks (assuming owner has them on the same routine), you have to manage their relationship as well. I don't know if other packs of dogs coexist utterly harmoniously or whether Charlie and Scruffy's relationship dynamic is common.

Some dogs smell more than others. From my experience the non-shedders (poodle-type) seem to smell more doggy. Experiences?

Different dogs definitely have different habits. Energetic Scruffy takes himself to bed straight after dinner and nothing will get him up -- except his brother getting a treat.

Awww.

Dogs generally want to be where the people are. Out of the limited sample size that has come through my house, every dog, even those without separation distress, has chosen to stay where the people are.

So are you coming back in now?

Being firm is a good thing. So far, being firm with dogs hasn't steered me wrong. I'm not using any positive punishment* past a firm NO, but using negative punishment** like turning my back, ignoring, time-outs and just plain not letting the dogs get away with stuff seems to work on these guys, on Penne, and so on.

Some dogs are definitely rougher on their toys than others. Guess I'll have to make another USA trip to get Ava a new Peep.

If you think this toy is still alive, you'd be... mistaken.

Having non-reactive dogs on walks is a wondrous thing. Even Ava reacts more than these two do, because she wants to greet every human and dog she sees. These guys pay no attention at all to passers-by and I love it!



Operant conditioning crash course:
* positive punishment = giving something the dog hates as a result of their behaviour, to make them less likely to repeat it
** negative punishment = taking away something dog wants as a result of their behaviour, to make them less likely to repeat it

A Morning: Featuring Sunshine, A Success, and Pink Combat Boots

Scruffy: ere's to winter sunshine

It seems to be tradition that on the last morning of a dog's stay with me, we are out early enjoying the morning sunshine (and tolerating the cold!). I use my camera to get a few decent shots and to keep me from getting antsy, as I am wont to do when things are quiet. 

I had a lovely game of fetch with Scruffy this morning! It feels really satisfying to have found a way to play safely -- even if just for this time.

See, 7-year-old Charlie is nervous of his boisterous little brother. To be fair, Scruffy is clearly the dominant one and will sniff Charlie periodically to remind him who owns the toys, and even lunge at/hump his brother on occasion. But it has created a little fluffy fun police. Any time there is any kind of arousal level from a dog in the vicinity, be it Scruffy bouncily fetching a ball for a human, or Scruffy and Ava checking each other out -- Charlie reacts, barking and growling at the 'threat'.

I understand it, since his brother is known to redirect arousal onto him -- but it's still frustrating that I can't help 4-year-old wire fox terrier Scruffy work off his energy with tug or fetch because Charlie will react. Note that Charlie reacts when none of these high arousal levels are actually directed at him... if Scruffy happens to find a tennis ball and begins to bat it around with his paws, my eyes will be glued to Charlie!

Charlie: always by your side

Now, the shoes. I mentioned that Scruffy pulls off shoes -- this seems to be an excitement behaviour. If he is trying to hump or play fetch with a human, he may suddenly and very deliberately grab a shoe in his teeth and pull it with such force he pulls it off. (You can imagine my shock the first time he did it -- there I was, sitting on a chair, when out of the blue Scruffy came up and started humping my leg. I pried him off me and he grabbed my shoe and pulled with the unyielding grip and force of a terrier -- which instantly set off quiet Charlie, in the doorway of the house, barking and growling! Boy, was I wondering what had hit me...)

But I've learned a thing or two since then.

So this morning I put on my trusty combat boots and grabbed the toy. I then recruited my dad to help out. His job? Call Charlie over to him and sit with him while I threw the toy for Scruffy. And you know what? Scruffy fetched, Gave and Sat for me to throw again, and when he grabbed my boot in his teeth I planted my feet and yelled "NO!"

My boot didn't budge, of course, and Scruffy actually let go, so I firmly commanded him to Sit and turned my back on him for ten seconds. When he was calmer, game resumed.

This is basically the same method I used to teach puppy Ava bite inhibition  -- yelp and turn my back to stop the game when she used teeth. Only the Scruffy method requires you to a) steel yourself, figuratively and literally (okay, my boots are actually rubber-capped, but did I mention they're pastel pink? So nyeh!) and b) keep Charlie well enough away/occupied so as not to interrupt the training with his panic.

But this morning I managed it, so I am super happy.

Charlie Tuesday

Simply Scruffy Saturday

Happiness is a dog and his toy.

I challenge anyone to watch this and not smile!

A Development: In Which We Get Even More Official But Melon Learns How Much She Really Has to Learn

So this little dude is Charlie.

Charlie the mini Labradoodle

He's quiet and independent.

And this goof is Scruffy.

Scruffy the Wire Fox Terrier

While younger, he is bigger in size as well as enthusiasm --  boisterous and playful.

As brothers (ie. from the same household), they couldn't be more different, but they are both staying with me this week as their owner is on a trip.

During the day, I feel like a boss keeping them on a good schedule and walking two dogs at once. I'm also marvelling at their overall cooperation, ability to settle and solid housetraining (touch wood) in an unfamiliar environment. I've got this, I'm doing awesome. (It's also been pouring rain and I have a cold, so I must be superwoman or something.)

In the evenings, though, I go to bed freaked out after humping and scuffles -- anxiety in my stomach and praying it won't happen again. What if something happens that I can't control?

I have so much to learn -- how to recognise a 'normal' household scuffle vs. what is likely to escalate, how to react, how to read behaviour (I'm totally flummoxed by a strange repeating sequence where Scruffy humps my leg then forcibly removes my sock/shoe, triggering quiet meek Charlie to suddenly bark warningly at Scruffy), how to compromise for two dogs at once while also not compromising individual needs, the list goes on. I know most of this comes with practice, but... any advice?

And can anyone drop me a line to talk humping? (There's one for 'things I never thought I'd say'...) 

I really have no experience with this and would dearly welcome some better understanding and advice!