Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a small Chi mix 8 yrs old. I rescued her several months ago. Great little girl except for one thing. When it is feeding time, she jumps up and down, about three feet in the air and SCREAMS like someone is killing her.

Things I have tried are:

Putting her in another room until food is ready. No help screams and scratches door.

I taught her how to sit and stay quietly, but as soon as I turn back she is right back, jumping and screaming instantly.

Cheryl

Try this. Do not start fixing her food when she starts screaming. Ignore her screaming. When it is time to fix her food, go ahead and do so. Hold the dish in your hand and stand quietly looking at her, until she stops screaming.

If, as you start to set the dish down, she starts screaming, pick it right back up and hold it, standing quietly and looking at her. When she stops screaming, start to set the dish down. If she starts screaming again, don't set the dish down, lift it back up and go back to quietly looking at her.

It may take a few to several times of doing this, and it is repetition that helps the dog figure it out.

Never again give her a dish as reward for screaming. The screaming for food will end when it no longer works for her, and she realizes it no longer works.

Don't yell, punish, etc. Just wait her out.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks for the additional ideas. I will give that a try.

Cheryl

The jumping is much better not doing that nearly as much. Screaming down to a minimum. She is sitting and staying on command. I think this might take a little more time to get to 100 percent. She is 8 yr so she didn't learn it overnight.

Thanks for your help and support.

Cheryl

Sounds excellent! I've been realizing how very, very VERY much Worthy has progressed in the three years we've had him, and he's still progressing.

Thinking back, I've seen this progress before, with all but two of my dogs, and they were seriously deranged. But it's still like a miracle, isn't it?!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47