BehavioRx Case of the Month
for August 2001

Two young ladies received complaints that their Miniature Poodle and Schnauzer were barking incessantly when left alone in the evenings and into the night. The girls both worked from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am. The 12 year-old, spayed female Poodle and the intact 2 year-old male Schnauzer were declared to be in excellent health,
according to their veterinarian, who had examined both dogs before referring the case to us. Both dogs were outgoing and seemed quite happy. However, when we left them alone in the office with the intercom turned on so we could listen from another office, it was a different matter. "Missy," the Poodle, began the vocal antics. She started whining, a high-pitched, piercing wail and modulated to a pitiful sounding, long howl. This triggered constant barking by "Buddy," the Schnauzer. Missy obviously over-missed her owner, Janet. Buddy's owner, Jill, said that her was never a barker until Janet moved in with Missy three months earlier. Fortunately, both ladies, recent divorcees, were old and devoted friends, and both were determined to solve the problem.   Janet's marriage had been a stormy affair and a great deal of emotional conflict preceded her divorce and departure from her former home and husband. She mentioned that Missy had been abused by her husband as a
means of punishing her, Janet, and that the little dog had become very "clingy," getting on her lap whenever possible, and whining a great deal when it wasn't possible. She said Missy had not whined when left alone until the marriage breakup was imminent. Buddy's life had been comparatively serene in his former home and Jill's divorce was on friendly terms.

Janet had never taught Missy to do anything other than to sit for a tidbit. Jill had taken Buddy through a basic obedience class when he was about 6 months old.

When we asked Janet why she thought Missy was so upset at being left in her new home, she came right up with a partial diagnosis;  "Missy is living up to her name... she's 'Missy,' at least where I'm concerned."

However, when asked why Missy might not accept being left alone, Jill jumped in and hit the diagnostic jackpot;  "Missy gets so much contact and attention from Janet when she's home that she can't stand not getting it when she's gone."

Janet agreed fully, but said that she didn't want to "alienate" Missy by refusing to pet her and have her on her lap.

Janet was delighted to hear that there was no need to curtail or refuse her affection for Missy, only to have the dog "learn-to-earn" her pets, praise, lap-times and other privileges. This required that she teach Missy to come when called, and to lie down, sit and stay when told. This leadership program has been the foundation of our correction programs since the early 1970s. We first published the fundamental concept in May, 1973 in Modern Veterinary Practice Magazine in an
article entitled "Social Attraction - The Ultimate Tool for Canine Behavior Control." Shortly afterward it was nick-named "The No-Free-Lunch" program.

Both clients were highly motivated, so they both applied the program with Missy and Buddy. They were forewarned that, because Missy had been getting her lunch free for so many months, she might actually refuse to obey, even go away from them, when she caught on to the idea herself, which is not uncommon with bossy dogs. This did happen. However, they saw the value of simply ignoring Missy and allowing her to pout, which is actually valuable self-therapy for bossy dogs.

Missy was special. She persisted in pestering and whining, even when she had performed a sit or down and held her position for up to 10 minutes before being released. So we instituted another exercise, which we call "Canine Calisthenics." Whenever Missy pestered, she was told "Missy, sit," then "Missy down," then "Missy, sit," etc., until Missy began to look weary. In her case, this often took three to five minutes. However, after 14 days she stopped pestering for attention and seemed generally quite relaxed, as was Buddy.

Both clients applied our "quiet time" routine before leaving the dogs, sitting quietly, not speaking to them or making eye-contact, until the dogs relaxed and ignored them for five minutes.  Missy quit whining dependably after three weeks. Buddy, now with no whining to trigger his barking, followed suit.  Janet and Jill's case highlights the truth of the saying, "It's what people do when they're home with their dogs that influences their behavior when they're gone."

Previous Cases

July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
December 2000
November 2000
October 2000
September 2000
August 2000
July 2000
June 2000
May 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
December 1999
November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998
August 1998
July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997
October 1997
September 1997
August 1997
July 1997
June 1997
May 1997
April 1997
March 1997
February 1997
January 1997
December 1996
November 1996
October 1996

Return to Case of the Month

Return to the BehavioRx Home Page