Another Dog Question

In My Humble Opinion
1

We recently adopted a stray dog from the animal shelter. She appears to be about one year old, and is a mixed breed the size and shape of a border collie, but the coloring of a Rottweiler. She weighs only 35 pounds and could stand to gain 10 pounds.

She has a good temperament, and is generally well behaved. She rarely barks at home, and she has a single-minded preoccupation with chasing the ground squirrels that live on our property. If she sees one she will chase it back to its hole. If she doesn’t see one she will sit a few feet away and stare at the hole for an hour in hopes of seeing one.

A somewhat worrisome behavior she does exhibit has to do with water. If we take her for a walk by the river, or take her down to the lake on a hot afternoon, she will walk right into the water and then start to paw and bite at the water. After a few minutes of running back and forth and biting the water she will appear to become really frustrated and will start to whine and bark at it. If I don’t pull her away from the water she will become more and more agitated, working herself into a lather. If I take her away from the water she will calm down and act normal again, but as soon as she gets near the water she becomes agitated and she will completely lose control, barking and biting at the water furiously.

I have never forced her into the water and I would be happy if she never actually went in to the water.

Because of this problem I have tried to re-introduce her to the water on numerous occasions, but instead of desensitizing her it seems to be making her even more anxious. I try distracting her by showing her that the water isn’t something she needed to worry about, but she just loses it. Since we have a boat and visit the lake almost every weekend during the summer this could become a deal breaker if I can’t somehow break her of this problem. I try to reward her for being calm, the few minutes she is calmly standing in the water when we first arrive, but the trip doesn’t last long and it usually ends up with us leaving early and heading home.

Anyone have a dog that behaves this way around water? Any suggestions on how to desensitize her to the water so she accepts it and doesn’t get so worked up about it?

2

My WAG: It sounds more like she’s working herself up because the water is a toy rather than she’s freaking out in a negative way.

3

Wow, that water thing is one of the strangest dog behaviours I’ve ever heard. You say she may be part border collie? I have a mini-aussie. Herding dogs can have some really strange neuroses. Mine had a few as a young dog that sound similar but not as bad as the water thing. She eventually grew out of them.

One was with really good food. Sometimes I’d put some burger grease or some leftovers in her food and she’d just go crazy. And not in a “yum, I’ll horse all this down right now way”… Oh NOooo, in a “I need doggie downers” way.

First she’d circle the bowl making the oddest whining noise I’ve ever heard, like a cross between a high-pitched whine and a hum almost. A whine in two part dis-harmony if you will. Then she’d push her nose on the ground all around the bowl trying to “bury” it. If I didn’t stop her, she’d actually turn the bowl over. Several times I’d come home to find her food dish in the middle of the hall turned over and covered with dirty clothes she’d stolen from the laundry.

And she would hide food too. Under pillows or a fold of covers on the bed, under couch pillows, a throw rug etc. She’s 11 now, and on rare occasions I’ll still find a small cache of dog food (usually exactly three pieces), under a throw pillow. I’m guessing that something happens while I’m at work that makes her really nervous and that’s her coping mechanism.

It sounds as if whatever is going on with your dog and water is a similar issue, she’s only a year old right? I am not an expert, but I’ve raised many a dog, and have done the requisite dog training classes etc. I’d highly recommend watching both the Dog Whisperer and “It’s Me or the Dog”. Both trainers train by understanding dog psychology and behaviour and by working WITH it. I think you’re on the right track with desensitizing her to the water, but perhaps (and the real experts will likely have a better game-plan) taking smaller bites of the problem will help.
Here’s the sort of training I’ve see experts do with ingrained bad habits of dogs.

Instead of trying to desensitize her near the lake or river try a full bathtub at home. Does she act the same way? Is she food motivated, or toy motivated? Maybe her previous owners had her fetch things from the water and she’s looking for her favorite toy?

Anyway, see how she reacts to a full or half full bathtub. Break her training into smaller bits. Put food treats around the bathroom door and tub. If she reacts calmly once or twice reward and praise her and then pull the plug (no pun intended :D) on the training for a few hours. Then do another 5 minute tub training session, maybe two or three sessions a day, for around 3 to 4 days a week (to start, as she gets better you should be able to gradually reduce the frequency).

If/when she gets used to the tub, see if you can find someplace to use a kiddie wading pool, same type of training sessions. Gradually increase the length of time in the sessions and the size of the body of water.

Best of luck!

4

Interestingly Rottweilers are herding dogs also. I will try the gradual introduction to water as suggested and see if I can make some progress with her. One thing I haven’t tried is to let her continue to work herself up and see what eventually happens. Maybe she will get tired of being worked up and will walk away or calm down.

This evening we took her down to the lake and while she exhibited the same basic behavior, when a Labrador jump in to the water after a stick she again went crazy and barked and growled at the other dog, even though she ignored it when it walked by her on the beach.

There is something about the water… thinking it’s a toy… wanting to be out with the other dog… that drove her crazy. We ending up leaving early again rather than see her so worked up.

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I like ** Pullet’s** take on it also. Even if dogs enjoy something, sometimes they can get completely bonkers over it. Like little out of control “Fun addicts” or something. I love rotties too. My sister raised a few litters from the two females she’s owned over the years. EXCELLENT dogs (other than the slobber and farting issues :D).

Yeah, unless it seems as if she’s about to have an epileptic fit or keel over, it couldn’t hurt to see just how far she goes. Have you tried getting a stick or a water kong for her to chase?