Raider, my cattle dogborder collie cross, is 11 months old and smack dab in the middle of the bratty adolescent stage of his maturity.
All dogs go through this stage of development, it's sort of like a canine right of passage. You have to paint the town red before you settle down and be a 'mature' dog. The most common behavioural issues are a dog that no longer will come when called or a dog that now pulls on the lead. They may also be destructive, bark at things that never bothered them before or in Raider's case, turn into an S.I.D. - a Special Invitation Dog.
A Special Invitation Dog is a dog that, well, expects a special invitation for every request that a dog owner makes. Raider's favourite is to come to the back door when called with my other two dogs Piper and Zumi, and after they come in the house and I then give him permission to enter, he decides to run back into the yard, usually the farthest corner, and wait. He doesn't run around inviting me to play, but just sits there and waits for me to come and lure him into the house. He has also displayed this behaviour while out on a walk. When we get close to the truck, he keeps a 'safe' distance away while I load up my other two dogs and when it's his turn he literally turns his head away from me when I call him to come.
The reason he is doing this is because he is a bit bent out of shape that he has to do everything last. He hates waiting his turn for anything and if I allow him to get 'his' way he will happily run along the backs, in typical cattle dog form, of my other two dogs to get to the door, the food and the stairs first. He is obnoxious and by making him wait I am teaching him patience, tolerance and acceptance! The issue of running from the back door when called is easy enough to fix. When I let Raider into the back yard I will insist that he sits (as per usual) before he is let out and give him a tasty treat. I want to teach him that sitting on the inside of the house is where he will get his treat. I could certainly simply reward Raider when he comes to the door when called from the yard the first time but this little dog is smart and quick. I know that if I only reward him after he comes to the door he will take the treat and bolt off again. Sure I could grab him by the collar and prevent him from running off, but I don't want to break the trusting bond we share by tricking him and grabbing him before he runs off, that just isn't fair. So he is rewarded for sitting inside the house before he goes out and when he comes to the back door, he gets a treat only if he comes into the house and sits. If he runs off I just close the door and since I know the yard is secure, I leave him there, alone. It doesn't take more than a few seconds for him to feel left out and show up on the doorstep and willingly come inside for a treat.
When out for a walk I reward him with a treat every time he voluntarily approaches me, and every time he comes when called. I will also walk him periodically on leash, then off again, regardless of where we are in relation to the truck. I don't want him to begin to run off as soon as the leash comes out because it means we are close to the truck. As we get close to the truck I will begin to give him treats more often so he is lured into staying close. Once at the truck I will leash him while I get my other two loaded in. If I had any concerns for his safety I would certainly leash him far in advance.
As long as I am patient and consistent, Raider will pass through this phase with just a few glitches here and there. .. as the saying goes, 'This too shall pass.'
Joan has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
