​After realizing we had a behavior challenge that needed to be addressed right away, the first thing we did was discontinue walks off property to avoid practicing that behavior.  Increasing enrichment activities to help offset this was an important addition.  We added more box puzzles, snuffle time and new trick training.
 
The next thing we did was close observation while on property and in the yard.  Our home is on a corner, with a busy road on one side and a quieter (neighbors only) road on the other.  While in the yard, behind the barrier of the fence, as a vehicle would approach he again would lock on to the sound, freeze and stare as the vehicle passed, but no lunging or chasing.

To diagnose what was going on, used the LEGS® assessment.  LEGS Applied Ethology® course taught me to look at and understand the entire dog.
                                                                                                                                          L-Learning  What has he learned, how has he learned and how does he learn?
E-Environment  Physical environment, where he lives, who he lives with.
G-Genetics  What is his genetic grouping (breed(s)) and characteristics of that breed(s)?
S-Self The things that makes this dog unique. Age, sex, health and how everything comes together
 
LEGS as was applied to Jeepers in this situation:
L- His learning history was reinforcement based training, no traumas. He learns quickly and problem solves easily.
E- He lives with his two humans, 2 other Great Danes, on 4 acres that he gets to explore. A fenced yard for daily routine activities that is cornered by two roads.  He enjoys play time with one dane while the other is a senior and prefers to watch.
G- He is a Great Dane, which falls under the Guardian Dogs. These dogs were originally bred to guard and defend.   This would include guarding against intruders chasing off predators. 
S- He is a healthy, intact adolescent.  A common age for genetic predisposition to certain behaviors to emerge. 
 
How does this come together to allow a diagnosis what was happening?  His guardian instincts were kicking in to protect against and pursue what he is perceiving as intruders, kicking his predatory sequence into play as the vehicles approached.  In the yard the barrier of the fence interrupted the ‘need’ to actually go after those vehicles (what he was seeing as intruders or predators).  Off property, though, there was no barrier to interrupt that sequence and guard the property (and probably me) from the possible intruders. Sequence was initiated. The predatory sequence for guardian dogs goes like this:  SEARCH*ORIENT*EYE*STALK*CHASE*GRAB-BITE*KILL-BITE*DISSECT.  When he heard the vehicle, he began searching for and orienting to the sound.
When he locked eyes on to the vehicle (Eyeing it) he would then initiate a Stalking as he followed it’s path.  As it came close he would then lunge forward as he tried to initiate the Chase. Only his leash and harness prevented him from follow thru.
 
Moving forward we would need to focus on teaching him the skills needed to interrupt the sequence, teaching him that he doesn’t have pursue the intruder. In addition, we would need to add something that would give him an alternative activity to improve his total welfare, and make sure we met his need to chase. This is sort of a check and balance system. If you are saying “don’t do this behavior that is in your genes” you have to give him the opportunity to do that something in a different, healthier (and safer) way. Another example is teaching herding dogs to play treble, where they herd tribble balls, rather than people and kids.  

In part 3 I lay out the behavior plan and how it was incorporated into our everyday life without just some minor adjustments to his daily routine while adding a few extra minutes of training. It didn’t require any major schedule changes or costly equipment. You will even see videos of the exercises in real life.  

If you missed part 1, you can find it here ​

​Puppies are so much fun, but they can also bring big challenges, especially in adolescence.  This is when that cute puppy who followed you everywhere changes before your eyes. Even when we do everything right, things can go awry. We’ve all heard the nurture/nature argument and “it’s all how you raise them” but there is a lot more to it than that.

There is a lot that goes into the dog in front of you that makes him a unique being.  More than just love, kibble and training.  This is why I am grateful for my certification in Family Dog Mediation that showcases LEGS in real life.  LEGS: Learning Environment Genetics and Self© is a science based program of how to assess a dog and focus on that unique dog's best welfare moving forward, developed by Kim Brophey.

I'm going to share how I applied this assessment method  to Jeepers when he presented with a significant behavior challenge at six months. Let me explain what happened, how we assessed it and  then how we worked thru the challenge that our sweet, happy puppy suddenly presented with.
 
Each day since we had brought him home at 8 weeks, he and I had walked to check the mail on the corner. Not a long walk, but lots of exposures and somedays it could be moderate traffic. He enjoyed the walks, we did some sniffing and then he liked to carry the mail home. Two months ago, when he hit six months, we had a sudden change in his behavior on the walk. 
 
When he heard a car coming he would freeze, wait for it to come into view, lock in on it and then as it passed he attempted to give chase.  Understand he was 90 pounds and if I hadn’t had a secure hold he would have been gone. Just as he started to settle back down another vehicle came by and the behavior sequence was repeated.  As I was trying to get him turned around and home this was repeated a few more times.  It was exhausting, he was super frustrated (so was I) and, to be honest, I was embarrassed. Everyone knows I’m the dog trainer, yet here I was not able to control this wild acting puppy!
 
As most of us do, I hoped for a onetime anomaly.  I know, I should know better. I repeated the walk the next day and, surprise (not really), the situation repeated itself. So we went home, I with a wounded ego and he with serious frustration. 
 
Now it was time to sit down, lay out exactly what happened and carefully observe him to see if anything else was going on.  We also had to manage the situation to prevent him from turning this behavior into a solid habit, so we discontinued his walks off property.  With this information, we could then set up a behavior plan. 
 
And before you ask, yes, he was intact, he is still intact, and he will remain intact until his growth is complete.  Early neutering can cause more behavior challenges as well as increased risk of osteosarcoma, muscular/skeletal injuries and other issues that have been well documented. No punishment was required or used, either.   In this case neutering would have not helped and punishments could have created future fallout behaviors that would cause more extreme behavior challenges later. This is why it’s important to take an educated and experienced approach rather than listening to quick fix approaches such as “neuter him” “prong collar” “e collar”….we need to look at the whole dog in front of us and put his welfare first. 
 
Stay tuned...
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In Part 2 I will share the additional observations, the assessment results and the plan to address this behavior using science backed, reward based techniques.  This plan, following modern protocols, will be done with management and teaching, without corrections or punishments.
 
In Part 3 I will lay out the behavior plan and how it was incorporated into our everyday life with just minor adjustments to his daily routine, while adding a few extra minutes of dedicated training. It didn’t require any major schedule changes or costly equipment and I'm sharing videos of the exercises.