Guinness just attended the second of eight Therapy Dog training classes. He got his CGC and has been doing great with the therapy training, until yesterday. The instructor left the room and can back dressed totally in "fire fighter" gear including the helmet and face mask. There are six dogs in the class. Guinness and one other dog totally "flipped out". Guinness was barking like crazy at her and completely ignoring my instruction. It continued until she took the mask off. So, she put the mask on the floor and put treats on it and asked me to bring him over to it. He didn't want to go near it, even with the treats. He finally got to the point where he would smell the mask, but he never got comfortable enough to go to her while she had it on. While he may never encounter someone wearing a fire mask on a therapy visit, he could run into situations where people are bandaged or just look very different from what he is used to seeing. I'm sure he was having a total fear reaction. Has anyone else experienced this? Any thoughts on what I can be doing to desensitize him?
We found that our large neighborhood park provides all sorts of 'distractions'. Nemo is now very comfortable with soccer players and balls, skateboarders, basketball players, bicyclists, etc. But occasionally something out of the ordinary will set him off. Once it was two people in yellow rain slickers. (We're in So Cal) Another time it was a guy working on his bicycle with the wheels upside down. He also freaked during one doggy training class when a guy went by on a moterized scooter. You'll never imagine all the things that can 'get' to them, so the more different experiences the better. We were fortunate to run into a group dressed in Renaissance costumes including full body armor!! One of the 'knights' allowed Nemo to sniff him, and he gave Nemo a treat. Then we stayed to watch a battle. You can try to take advantage of any opportunity that comes around. I think the biggest thing is to watch their stress level, and try not to push them too hard too fast.
Wow....what a great learning experience! Sorry not so great for Guinness.....that is something that does come up with dogs & their fears. It is interesting why some dogs react and some don't. Leo reacted in a similar way to my son during the winter while he had a ski mask & scarf on. He had to beg him to come over, which he wouldn't until after he took the ski mask off. At that point Leo slinked over never taking his eyes off the ski mask....then wagged his tail as if nothing happened. We've shown him since with no reaction from him towards the ski mask but he did react in a similar manor to someone on the street who had a hat & scarf on, the persons eyes only visible. It is something I will now try to work on. I've been trained with crutches, wheel chairs, walkers etc...but never thought of covering ones face as a practice technique...something we will work on, as it would be possible in a hospital setting to see someone with bandages.
I really want to thank you all for your excellent suggestions. I'm thinking it boils down to just providing him with more exposure and diversity. Clearly he has a big issue with masks of any kind, so we need to expose him to more situations where people's faces are covered. I'll do it a little at a time....going to start with the surgical mask later today. Again, thanks everyone!