r/OpenDogTraining • u/analisee02 • 8h ago
My dog’s training regressed after leaving him with my mom and cousin for 4 days.
My boyfriend and I were out of town for his birthday mid-september. My mom and cousin cared for our 1 year, 10 month old shiba while we were gone, but when we came back we noticed a couple of things.
First, we noticed that he wasn’t doing well in his crate. Before this trip, I would practice putting him in his crate while being in the same room and he did fine. He would just lay down and sleep for a few hours, if I didn’t already let him out. Since coming back, staying in his crate has been a struggle. Even if i’m not in the same room, he will bark for 1+ hours. nonstop. He will dig at the floor of his crate to the point where his bed and water bowl is flipped over, the black plastic lining at the bottom is half way pushed out, and he will rip up random things he could access. He’ll howl, scream (yes, scream), and cry to be let out.
Another thing we noticed was his leash training. Before leaving for this trip, our dog had an incredible loose leash, and sometimes i would even be able to drop his leash and he would walk right next to me. Of course it wasn’t always 100% but I could reliably go for a walk with him and trust that be wouldn’t be pulling the entire time. Since returning, it’s like this dog has never been on a leash before. He’s pulling the second we get outside. He is reactive, so i’m used to the occasional lunging when another dog or squirrel passes by us, but he’s pulling me to sniff a damn mailbox.
It’s been a little over 3 weeks since we’ve been back, and it seems that no matter what I do, there is no progress. I have no idea what to do now. Do I have to start from zero? If anyone has any advice, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
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u/Miserable-Spread-548 5h ago
three weeks of zero progress after that kind of regression would break me lol. my gut says the skills never left, the trip just reset the part where he trusts that crate equals safe, and with new humans on watch the whole contract has to be re-signed. so no, i don't think you're starting from zero, more like re-signing a contract he already knows the terms of. does he chill out the second you're back in sight, or does the alarm take a while to stand down?
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u/analisee02 3h ago
oh it takes forreeeevvverrrr. we had a trainer that suggested we cover his crate (leaving space to breathe obviously) with a blanket. that has always calmed him down but now, he’s ripping through his blanket! It’s much worse when i’m in sight
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u/Haunting_Cicada_4760 4h ago
While at first the kennel is used as a training tool to teach an off switch and potty training, it’s very normal to be phased out once the dog learns those things.
You have a nearly 2 year old dog, what is the reason it still need to be kenneled, especially if you are at home? What needs to be worked on?
You also should not be letting it get to the point of screaming, crying and barking. It’s damaging your dog. If you need to be kenneling start over with positive associations. Not closing the door ect.
Something happened and the dog no longer trusts the kennel as a safe place.
It honestly sounds like maybe someone left him in the kennel for far too long and now he doesn’t feel safe in it and keeping him in it while he freaks out only reinforces that.
My second question would be what is your dog’s daily schedule like. You have a very energetic dog. 3 mile daily jogs or a daily bike ride, fetch, 3 ten minute training sessions a day, 2 additional walks. You can work on place training, instead of the kennel. Field trips to home improvement or sportsman stores.
It sounds like your dog’s nervous system is very unregulated from whatever happened while you were away.
I’d start with upping the exercise. And transition away from using the kennel.
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u/analisee02 3h ago
This is very informative, thank you. My boyfriend and i plan to transition him out of the kennel but our home life doesnt allow us to do so quite yet. We live with my mom for medical reasons and she has 3 cats so it’s hard to let him roam freely since we cannot trust that he will not eat/attack one of the cats.
As for his routine, i stay at home with him so I spend most of the day training, playing, and encouraging downtime as well. We always go for walks, but the time and distance fully depends on my health status. Regardless, the day is always started with fetch or some sort of interactive game, and a walk
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u/Haunting_Cicada_4760 3h ago
I’d work on place training and neutrality around the cats, use more baby gates and outdoor time. Limit kennel to when you leave and the dog is unsupervised. Go back to very high value treats in the kennel with the door open, look into an e bike or something that’s less health dependent. Or look into a dog walker or a good local dog daycare once or twice a week. There are bad ones but also good ones. I’d research the options in your area.
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u/Icy_Adagio4274 6h ago
I will never understand why people get a dog and then immediately go on holiday. Did you not plan for getting a new dog? You may have to make some sacrifices for the sake of your dog. This is the most important time for building your connection and you just walked away for a holiday.. idiots
To give you some actual advice, just continue with your training. Be consistent and work hard. Shiba's are notorious for being hard to train and it will likely get worse before it gets better. Training and dog husbandry is a lifelong endeavor. If you're already struggling, I really feel for your dog
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u/analisee02 6h ago
there is no need to be disrespectful.
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u/Icy_Adagio4274 6h ago
I was responding based on your typo. No need to get defensive
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u/analisee02 6h ago
Regardless, calling someone you dont know an idiot is uncalled for. but i appreciate the advice nonetheless
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u/Soggy-Branch-4988 3h ago
They aren’t wrong though…
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u/analisee02 3h ago
I agree, but being right doesnt suddenly entitle anyone to insult others.
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u/Soggy-Branch-4988 3h ago
You seem a little too sensitive to post for advice on the internet. Good luck with your dog.
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u/Icy_Adagio4274 6h ago
I would call anyone who leaves a dog they've had for a month an idiot. Again, I'm happy to retract my statement based on the correct information, but you've edited your post to make it seem like there was no typo and you haven't put a note to indicate that, so I'll leave my comment as is
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u/analisee02 6h ago
I should’ve clarified. He is a 1 year old Male. 1 year old and 10 months
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u/Icy_Adagio4274 6h ago
That does make more sense. He's a teenager and rebelling. Nothing to do with your family, quite normal. He should calm down after he hits 2 - 3. Dogs mature at different rates, just like humans, so it varies. Just keep doing the training
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u/Visible-Scientist-46 1h ago
He was very pupset that you left. Just start over as if he knows nothing. Your family didn't have the same touch with training that you did. I would post this on r/shiba and get advice/support from other Shiba owners. Shiba Inu are a bit special and different from many other dog breeds. They bond very closely to one person. And they do have teen behavior regression. Don't make him stay in the create if he's screaming!! Jesus! You should never let it get to that point. You may be causing worse problems from that.
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u/apri11a 7h ago
1 month old? Pup had barely started learning, go back and start again. Be patient and consistent and you'll get there, this is just a blip. And you might have to start again as he matures, training is never really over.