Dutch Shepherd Forum

OK, I’ve a new thing going on with Sugar. It just started recently that if we are watching TV and a dog comes on the screen, Sugar will go nuts and leap off the couch and charge the TV barking and looking ready to attack! I’m assuming some territorial/protection instinct is kicking in, like “hey, what is this strange dog doing in my living room - get out!” but wow, is it ever intense! One time I thought she was going to leap right into the TV! She has done this kind of thing in the past when we are in the car and we pass a dog walking on the sidewalk, but the TV thing in the house is new. The dogs are calm on the screen, it makes no difference if they are barking or calm and friendly. I used to watch the Dog Whisperer all the time when we first got her, and she would occasionally bark at the dogs on TV but nothing like this.

Now, I have no problem with her wanting to protect us, but its a little bit crazy with her reaction and I’m not sure what I should do about it. Right now, when she gets excited about seeing another dog I will say “leave it” and I can see her body visible relax, its like she is getting the message that this is not a threat, but I would like this reaction to be toned down a bit.

Any suggestions on how I should handle this? I can set up shows where there will be dogs on TV to practice with her, but practice what exactly? Does anyone else have a dog that goes crazy like this?

This is a pretty normal thing. I'd continue doing what you are doing, which is to discourage the behavior, period. Reward good behavior, yada yada yada (And, yes, definitely set her up and train this!)

Normal for a DS?

Sadie went through a time, I think around 8 or 9 months or so, where things that have been there for ever all of a sudden get her attention and she had to bark at it, I learned too that its part of their defensive learning stuff. Sadie was always pretty good about the TV though, she did bark at it when she was little but stopped, she knows what "quiet" means so I use that. But there is still something in the Kitchen she feels she must protect me agains, I havent figured out what.

Sugars Mom wrote:Normal for a DS?

Normal for any working breed.

I agree with Leih. I would make the behavior with a sharp "No" or some other verbal correction and then immediately give her the alternate behavior (watch, relax...whatever) and then make sure you reward her for doing so. The goal is for her to see that stimulus as a cue to start offering up the alternate behavior instead of offering the protectiveness.

I had a client with a Rottie once that would actually attack the TV any time Tony the Tiger came on

Thanks everyone!

Just an update; Sugar is doing much better these days. She still will on occasion charge the TV, but more often then not she will get alert when she sees a dog, then settle in when I tell her to leave it. She has however, started doing this huffing and puffing thing instead of barking when she does get excited.

It was really funny just now, the kids are playing one of the wii lego games and a lego dog was in the game on TV and Sugar started huffing and puffing at it, but then settled down.

Good girl, Sug! (Love the "huff and puff.")

Thor used to EXPLODE with any animal on TV (even if not making a noise or moving) or odd noises or fast movements of any kind, even special effects. Reeeeeaaaalllly annoying. The experts say that they can't see one dimensionally. My a**.

NOW...he watches TV. Darn dog watches. I half-expect him sometimes to turn and offer a commentary. He's that engrossed. He usually only does this when the husband and I are on the couch watching a program. (If mom and dad find the stuff on this contraption so interesting, there must be something to it....)

If he has a reaction these days, he either stops himself and looks to me or does a little "huff and puff" and moves along. It's rare that something gets him so stirred on TV that he has to get something to "kill." (So, yeah, still more work to do there.)

Lyric also watches TV and sometimes gets very absorbed. I'm going to by a copy of Rudolf the red nosed reindeer because when it came on at Christmas she watched the entire thing! If I can keep her entertained with cartoons, I may try it every Saturday morning! (Oh, to have a cup of coffee without interruptions from dogs.)
No attacks to the TV.
I had a GSD bitch who would go nuts tho if she heard puppies crying on TV. Go through the house whining and looking for them, try to get behind the TV to find them, etc. She would get very upset when she couldn't find the pups, sometimes insisting on an outside search as well.

Raven wrote:Good girl, Sug! (Love the "huff and puff.")

If he has a reaction these days, he either stops himself and looks to me or does a little "huff and puff" and moves along. )

I've never seen a dog huff and puff like this...its funny! Her little cheeks go in and out!

Yep with cheeks (giddies)...and a couple low, quick grumbles with maybe a little foot stomp here or there, for affectation...you know, like a passive-aggressive teenager. One his many nicknames is Mr. Huff and Puff, but he's had that for ages and isn't quite as relevant as it once was.

You know...we should've gotten videos before re-shaping these behaviors. Crap like that wins the jackpot of AFV!!

Hmmm, I could use $10 000!!

Add another zero, Sue, for the jackpot. Little Miss Sugar Cube is too cute...just about anything edgy she does is worth a video to submit. (Just prepare for the paperwork--it's worse than filing with the government!!!)

Well, she's been doing so much better at the not being reactive to dogs on the TV until these Subaru commercials started running.

After seeing a few and going crazy, she is better again, but wow, her reaction is so funny! She wanted to kill the TV when they come on!

Anyway, if you haven't seen them, here you go, there is a bunch of them; show your dogs and see what they think...

http://www.seattledogspot.com/2012/01/2 ... ving-dogs/

what a great commerical - I love it when they lock the door!!!

The beach and ski ones are pretty funny too...and the stolen parking spot...

So what did Odin think?

Odin had no reaction He did almost go into the TV when the commerical with the St Bernard (i think) came on yesterday. It was shown during the superbowl - not sure if it was shown where you live.

No reaction from Lyric until the howl, then she starts poking me with her nose and whining at me to let her out. I guess she thought the coyotes were out there again. (They woke us up a few nights ago---had to hit one with the BB's to get him to leave the yard and shut up. Next time it'll be the 22.)

whaha, great commercial!

great commercials, I watched them all The camping is really a riot!