Expert: Have4Paws - 5/23/2011

Question
Hi,

Two weeks ago I adopted from a kill shelter what I was told was  a terrier/maltese mix.  Super cute Benji look alike, with a complete lovebug attitude.  Preston quickly adapted to his new home with great manners, loving attitude, etc.  When I had him shaved down, it immediately became clear that he resembled a terrier/beagle mix, not a maltese.  Ok, no problem.  He is learning his commands quickly and willingly, and is very good on the leash, if very focused on me UNTIL...he sees a squirrel, rabbit, bird, etc., or catches their scent, and then all bets are off.  When this happens he goes spastic.  He acts like a crazy wind-up toy that spins in circles, zigzags, and flips over.  He has even run through my screen door to go after a rabbit.  He knows sit and stay, and I am working on "leave it" and "stop" with the hopes that if I ever dare let him off the leash, or he gets away from me, he will "stop" when commanded, and "ok" for when he is allowed to .  So far it's working in a non-distracting situation, but the second he is distracted he looses all focus on me no matter what I do, nor can I regain it.  He is not motivated in the least by toys or treats.  I am using a control collar that tightens when he pulls, and loosens when relaxed.  It has worked wonderfully.  I take him out on a 60 ft training lead to work in the areas that have the most distractions.  He does well until the spastic (beagle) part takes over, and it takes every ounce of effort to get him under control.  I don't hit him, I don't yell at him.  I use a firm tone with him during these moments, and lots of praise when he behaves.  Do you have any suggestions on how to gain control and keep it?

Answer
LOL, sorry I had to laugh when I read thru this....if he indeed is a beagle mix welcome to the wonderful "spastic" world of beagles... So first off he will never in my opinion be safe off leash if he does have the beagle in him.... beagles are very trainable but they are never 100% reliable off leash for the very reasons you are stating. I don't  care how much you think you have trained them, if they smell something good off they go as if they are brain dead and never learned a thing. Unusual that he isn't motivated by treats, that definitely isn't the beagle part, they are food obsessed and usually this is the only way to train one. Praise alone just doesn't do it for them as it might for other breeds.

My suggestion is that you take him to obedience school where he will have to pay attention with canine distractions, that is more challenging,as well it is structured and the trainer can observe and make sure there ardent things you are missing or inadvertently reinforcing. Where I live all the parks districts offer it at a very reasonable price but you can also do the Petsmart/Petco kind. As well, I took my past beagles 3-4 times over their 15 year lifetimes and my younger boy is due again. It can never hurt to do it again and again.

With a pure beagle food is the key to keeping their attention, it works every time and they will forgo just about anything in their radar if they think they hey are going to get something to eat so I don't know what to tell you about this part except try different treats, make it something scrumptious that he cannot ignore.

Lastly you can try shake cans. You take aluminum soda cans, altho beer ones work the best because the metal is thinner and put 10 pennies in it....tape over the top with duct tape and then squeeze it a bit so it fits your hand well. Making about 5-8 of these and keeping them around the house and taking one with you on walks etc can be lifesaver. A dog will become so sensitized to the sound it will eventually stop whatever it is doing in a heartbeat just by hearing even a slight tinkle of it. There is something about the sound that just irks them. It is one of the best anti barking tools by the way. But anyway it will break their attention from whatever they are thinking about or looking at. Dogs have very short attention spans and are easily diverted if you can get their attention. At that moment you give a command like come, sit stay or whatever and then reinforce the command with a treat (not the can shaking part)

I hope this is helpful, good luck and keep at it.