Skateboard Monster - Sophie Bear to the ... rescue!?!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

There is a new phenomenon in Sophie's life ... Skateboards are showing up in our neighbourhood and attacking young boys by getting under their feet and rolling around. Thankfully, Sophie Bear is there to save the day... or so she thinks.

 

My sweet as pie doodette thinks it's her job to chase away skateboards by running at them, freaking out and barking aggressively, much to the shock and dismay of their riders. This is an obvious problem because it might appear as if Sophie is being aggressive toward the kids riding the skateboard, which couldn't be further from the truth. I am pretty sure she thinks she is saving them from the monster.

 

All joking aside, when this started up recently I was taken by surprise. This is not the doodle I know and love. To be honest, ever since we moved she hasn't really been herself. She's more jumpy and edgy than before. Every strange noise causes her to bark at the window. She is getting better because I am always correcting her and reassuring her that nothing is wrong, but the skateboard thing is getting worse. She's always been skittish around skateboards, but this attacking thing is a whole new ball game.

 

There have been three skateboard episodes of concern, twice she was on leash, so I was able to hold her off and of course correct her, which she responded well to. However, this past week, she caught me off guard by bolting out the front door when I was taking out the garbage, onto the road in pursuit of her number one tormentor skateboard and the fourteen year boy who practices his skills on the street. She circled the poor boy, barking and looking like she wanted to pounce but was just slightly too afraid to do so. Basically, she was acting insane. She zoomed around quite a bit, completely oblivous to all my hollering (so much for my perfect recall), and then got distracted by the barking dog at the window of a neighbours house and went to investigate.

 

From my perspective she was trying to chase away the skateboard, but to a stranger (like the man hiding in his van), it must have looked much much worse. All I can do is thank my lucky doodles the boy's mother is a dog lover who just laughed it off. The boy seemed to take it all in stride too, and tried to play it cool, but I know if it were me and a dog came at me like that I would freak out. The boy and the man soon realized she meant them no harm, mostly because she went up to them after and gave them kisses reassuring them that they're safe now, she's got the monster under control.

 

There are so many problems here I don't know where to begin. Attacking skateboards, barking excessively, bolting out the door, running on to the road, not listening when I call...  When did my sweet, well behaved doodle become such a handful? I though I was doing so well... What I know for sure is that a) this cannot happen again b) I need to get a skateboard and work on making her more comfortable with them, and c) back to basics with recall the bolting out the door thing (I had nipped this in the bud at the apartment).

 

Anyway, just venting more than anything. I'm pretty sure I know how to handle all of these things, but all of these problems all at once is so overwhelming. It's just so frustrating to see all my hardwork over the past year and half flushed down the drain over one stupid skateboard. Moving to this house was supposed to make my life so much easier and the doodles so much happier, but now I'm not so sure it is all it was cracked up to be. I don't regret it or anything, but it has come with it's own unique challenges.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think it's the noise just like many of us have with the sweeper. You may need to get a skateboard yourself to work on this behavior and make friends with the evil board.
As a mother of long time boarders I know how annoying the sound can be but I'm also a big supporter of this none traditional sport.
If it is any consolation, the worst thing for boards and their very expensive pieces parts, is rain and snow so in our climate, boards will be gone soon

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Joanne. I'm going to see if I can pick up a cheap one on kijiji, or just borrow one from the boys down the street.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I almost think that trying to do this in conjunction with the boys would be a good way to do it.  Just start with them sitting and petting her laying with them and the board and then maybe introduce the sound of the wheels spinning, then to her walking beside them going slowly etc.  Just working her slowing into accepting them.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

this is great advice. Thanks!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Like!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I have every confidence that you know what to do and will accomplish that...on the bright side, snow will be falling soon and you won't have to worry about it. Wait, did I just say that?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

however much I hate to hear it, that is a good point, but I do have to get through then ext month or two. Only, the problem will pop back up next summer anyway, so might as well nip it in the bud now.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry you're having trouble with Sophie's adjustment to the new neighborhood; I have no advice on the skateboard issue, but I'm sure some of the other more experienced members will have good ideas.

I can address the " ever since we moved she hasn't really been herself. She's more jumpy and edgy than before. Every strange noise causes her to bark at the window" part of your post, I think. The outdoor noises anywhere are greatly amplified when you're at ground level than they are when you're on a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or whatever floor. Sophie's world has gotten much noisier since you moved. Add that to the general anxiety many dogs feel when their surroundings change drastically, and I think it might account for some of the jumpiness, edginess, barking at strange noises, etc. She's still not sure what she can expect from this new place or what some of these sounds might be signalling. I think time will take care of much of that.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Thanks Karen, I hope you're right. I'm so tired of hearing her growl when people walk by, or bark in the middle of the night because a car went by or someone opening their garage door. She is improving so hopefully in time it wont' be an issue anymore.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's a new experience for her, being able to look out the window at people and animals walking so close to her.

I do think that if she barks at them, you're going to need to work on that. For now, I would correct her when she barks inappropriately (a garage door opening). A short bark when she sees actually sees someone  is normal, but anything more should also be corrected.

I think it's interesting that Winston seems to have adjusted to the move easier than Sophie; maybe because he's more accustomed to change in his life?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I think he is generally a much calmer dog, plus he's moved around a lot more than she has, having been in two apartments and two houses. He's so laid back, nothing ever bothers him! I wish more of that would rub off on Sophie Bear.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Back when I worried about the girls bolting out the front door (where it isn't fenced) I used to keep the ex pen spread in a U shape in the entryway around the front door.  That way people could come and go or I could go to the mail box and not have to panic with their accidentally getting out.