The Vacation From "HELL" - Trainer's Input

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well today was training day, and my primary objective was to gain our trainer's perspective on all the problems we had with Murphy on vacation.  Well we got an "earful".  I can't even believe how poorly we handled this whole situation, although our trainer actually took most of the blame himself because he felt he should have better prepared us.  Here are the highlights of our discussion...

• We completely "blew" Murphy's introduction to the beach house.  While DH and I were frantically trying to unpack two very full cars, we allowed Murph full access to the entire house...and he ran crazy smelling and going room to room.  He was at that point "claiming" this territory.  We should have left everything in the car...taken him for a little walk, brought him back to the house, let him enter one room on a leash (when he was calm).  He then should have been gated in that one room or crated while we unpacked.  Then as he was calm (and when our unpacking was finished) we should have leash walked him room by room through the house.  Then back in the crate or gated again in the original room for a while.  During this acclimation period nobody else should have been interacting with him.
• My trainer agrees that he was feeling nervous and insecure about this change in his environment, and he was looking for us to manage the experience for him.  In the absence of that leadership, his nervousness increased and he fell into a dominant mindset (which comes easy to Murph).  So, then my brother arrives and just walks into the house (which Murph is now viewing as HIS territory) with his submissive Lab.  Murph took this opportunity to show this dog that he was the "alpha" and that is what brought on the horrible demonstration of dominance.  We should have met my brother outside, walked the dogs together, brought them back to the door, made them wait until they were calm, walked into the house together, and then unleashed them.  Murph should have had a training collar on (no leash) so that at the first signs of dominance he could be corrected.  We ended on a terrible note.  Remember my brother was afraid for his dog, so we grabbed Murph and he left with his very frightened Lab.  To Murph this signified "winning"....he dominated and the dog left....just what he wanted. 
• There was way to much affection being doled out to Murphy because I was worried that he was feeling insecure.  By doing this I was actually feeding that insecurity.  Attention given while the dog is in that much of an unbalanced state sends a message that we think it's just fine that he's feeling that way.  We should have kept him in down/stays A LOT, and only provided affection when he was laying calmly...when he was laying on his side in a totally submissive and relaxed state that's when he should have been rewarded and treated.
• If I can't provide the time that Murphy needs to train through these types of episodes, he should not be there.  This experience has set him back....that's been clear this week.  We'll get through this, but we're back to basics....lots of structure and minimal affection...work, work, work.
• The incident with Murph snapping at our grandson is more complicated.  We now have a plan to help Murph with this.  He is okay with the older kids because they are predictable.  The toddlers are not...their movements are erratic and he can't count on what they'll do or how they'll touch him.  Ben is convinced he would not have bitten.  He was sending a clear warning that the baby was a distraction he couldn't handle.  Our next step is to work with this and there's a whole process that we'll be using.  He may never love interacting with kids the way Guinness does, but Ben feels confident that he can be trained to be safe and reliable around them.
• Murph is very much a situational learner with a strong need for a life that is predictable.  There was nothing predictable during this vacation....he had no idea what our expectations were in this new environment, and we didn't do a very good job of showing him.  So, he just took things into his own hands and made his own rules. 
• My own stress level didn't help at all.  He tuned right into that....he needed me to be calm and in control.  I clearly wasn't.  Plus there were 10 new family members (pack) introduced all at once...he had no idea what to make of that or what anybody's position was.  Who's the boss????

This all makes perfect sense to me.  I sat there and listened to our trainer very calmly talk about how he perceived Murph's behaviors and why they were occurring, and I was in awe.  Why couldn't I have figured this out?  At least now I know, and we'll move on, and there will never be another episode like this.

[Adina P]

Thanks for sharing...I was hoping you'd post about what your trainer thought!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'm so glad that you are getting the answers and direction that you were looking for.  When I'm stressed out I eat, if that wasn't possible I might snap at a toddler myself :)

[Carol and Banjo]

Wow Jane....How different your vacation would have been if only you had this knowledge!   I know this must all be a huge relief for you - knowing how to handle a similar situation in the future.    Everything you've shared here can be useful for all of us, thanks for taking time to explain what you've learned.   I think even the "easy" dogs can benefit from this.     I will keep in mind the "introduction" to a new house.   This can be very helpful even when visiting.      You'll have Murphy back on track in no time Jane!!!!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Yes. Thanks for sharing because this is helpful to everyone. Good luck and stay tough with the training!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the info. No matter what our dog's status this is good to know.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This makes perfect sense.  I am sorry that Murphy is back to basics, but I'll be it won't take that long to bring him up to snuff.  I can see where you will need to plan ahead for next time and I think it is doable.  I will be very interested in hearing the child interaction plan.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Thanks for sharing your trainers insite...Hugs to you and Murphy

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm glad others are finding this helpful.  Over the next day or two I'll be adding a couple of discussions in the Training Group....one about our plan to help Murph with his interactions with "the kiddos" and one about how we'll be working with him to get back on track (and ditch these new found dominant behaviors).

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Jane -- Just curious to know regarding the way your trainer indicates that Murphy should have been introduced to the house and the people the way every dog should be introduced if taken on behavior or were the rules because of Murphy and his particular situation.  I ask because I'm considering taking the girls on a beach trip and am just wondering if I need to worry about all of this.  We have taken them to other peoples homes for long week-ends without problems, but not sure if that is different.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think it was largely due to Murphy's "personality".  He felt that Guinness is so much more comfortable in any situation, that it was not a real issue for him.  Guinness is a very confident dog who reacts to new things in a much more balanced way.  That said, he felt that with any dog you'd want to try to keep the first few hours in a new situation like this as calm and controlled as possible.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Wow. I agree with your trainer. It was his fault for not telling you this. Honestly, I would not have ever thought that I should introduce the dog on leash to one room, crate him, unpack the car, and then leash walk him through the other rooms, etc, etc. Your trainer is brilliant. We are going to visit my brother-in-law this weekend. He has two dogs. Now I will be sure they meet outside and are calm before bringing ours into the house. I will definitely keep Owen on a leash. He's our "Dominator". I'm going to re-read this and go this weekend forewarned! Thank you!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This sounds great, except you would not want to keep Owen on a leash while the other dogs are off leash.  Once they meet outside (and preferably walk together with all dogs leashed), then they calmly enter the house together and all leashes are removed so that they are all "equal".  You may want to have him on a training collar though so that you can correct if you need to.  Good luck and let us know how it all goes.