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View Full Version : My Rotty is fixated on shadows what do I do to stop this behavior


Akiva
Nov 8, 2008, 11:20 PM
My Rotty is fixated on shadows what do I do to stop this behavior

TexasParent
Nov 9, 2008, 10:44 AM
Keep him in a dark room :D

I am sure that there are ways to train the dog to be more comfortable around shadows, but it's going to take some work. You will have to relax the dog, get him a submissive state outside. Then have people walk by while casting a shadow; and each time he makes a move you will have to distract him until such time he is calm and relaxed around the shadows.

What is your reaction when he chases a shadow, do you start getting animated and excited telling him to stop? If so, you need to calm down, you are only adding to his energy level and sense of excitability when he sees a shadow.

The other thing is to ignore it; who is he hurting other than those poor shadows? ;)

Dog's can be weird, I've had dogs that bit the vacuum and the lawn mower when they were on, and others who didn't care. Personally I would think it's funny and part of the amusement that is a dog.

Good luck.

KISS
Nov 9, 2008, 12:38 PM
The dog I had ran away from the vacuum cleaner. It was something that he absolutely hated, especially the hose.

Akiva
Nov 10, 2008, 05:58 PM
It is very funny I just don't want his great mind and personality to be adversly affected.
Thank you for your answer... Akiva


Keep him in a dark room :D

I am sure that there are ways to train the dog to be more comfortable around shadows, but it's going to take some work. You will have to relax the dog, get him a submissive state outside. Then have people walk by while casting a shadow; and each time he makes a move you will have to distract him until such time he is calm and relaxed around the shadows.

What is your reaction when he chases a shadow, do you start getting animated and excited telling him to stop? If so, you need to calm down, you are only adding to his energy level and sense of excitability when he sees a shadow.

The other thing is to ignore it; who is he hurting other than those poor shadows? ;)

Dog's can be weird, I've had dogs that bit the vacuum and the lawn mower when they were on, and others who didn't care. Personally I would think it's funny and part of the amusement that is a dog.

Good luck.