my new dog chases shadows what can i do to stop him?

Question

male}spriner spainyel bite alot?

Answer 1

Give your dog something else to do and focus on, like playing a game of fetch. Lots of dogs do this and sometimes is considered a neurotic type of behavior (we have a Border Collie who barks at all shadows, funny too, cuz Shadow is her name, LOL). We just attempt to distract her from it. Best option I think really.

Answer 2

Shaddow chasing is a common self-gratifying, reactive behavior that will become obsessive / compulsive if you don't keep a handle on it. Let's face it, you can't make all shaddows go away permantly. You can influence how the dog feels about them.

Examine why your dog turned onto shaddows. Many dogs turn on to shaddows because of boredome. Shaddows move and make for fun entertaining any time they can find shaddows. Dogs love to play games. Laser light chasing can also turn on this behavior - It may be amusing to watch a dog chase the little red dot, but it can quickly turn into shaddow chasing when the laser light is not around and the dog is looking for something fun to do or is bored.

Find a way to keep the dog's attention on other things, and to redirect its attention whenever it locks onto the shaddows. Use a toy to create a new game, distract them from the shaddows and get them to do a "good dog" behavior (like sit, beg, or roll over) then engage them in interacting with you and the toy (a better game) with high praise and reward.

For other dogs, like my own, this was not enough to deminish the reward gotten from chasing shaddows. We trained using a clicker with a high reward food (beef) whenever he stopped shaddow chasing when the "ugh ugh" was said and then squirting his mouth with lemon water or bitter apple when he ignored this verbal warning. (If your dog is biting, he needs to know there are consequences for biting and lemon water or bitter apple can work well).

This behavior has also required a lot of training with people I come in contact with as well. When people encounter a dog like this there first impulse is to make the shaddow move and watch him as he pounces, salivates and bobbs at the ground; so my job is to make sure they don't accidentally reward my dog's compulsive behavior by asking them not to engage him in this behavior. I then quickly give my dog something else to focus on and reward him if he redirects away from the shaddows with lots of fun and praise.

You're dog's interest will follow what is most fun and entertaining. Be more fun and entertaining than the shaddows. Good luck.

Answer 3

if the dog's a puppy...not a whole lot. Puppies have a lot of learning yet to do about their environment. Their brains need to develop so that they have a comprehension of reality (basically, that shadows are not real/tangible objects).

Again, if this is a puppy, this is typical. Being a male it will naturally be more aggresive, but the best thing you can do is wait it out.

If this is not a puppy, then your dog may have very poor vision. The poor vision may prevent the dog from being able to discern shadow from tangible object (which is pretty bad, and you should see a vet).

It could also be that your springer spaniel is just plain dumb....but I find it hard to believe that a fully-matured, adult springer spaniel is so mentally incognisant that it cannot discern shadow from realy object. Most animals in the kingdom are smarter than that (save members of executive management)

Answer 4

it is thoroughly favourite behaviour. maximum canines have carried out it before. each and every time he jumps at a shadow say loudly and firmly (be particular now to not shout) Ah Ah! and take him interior. do not seem at him, do not say something to him, in basic terms take him interior and go away him there for a couple of minutes until eventually he calms down. you are able to also attempt to distract him with something else, like perhaps you are able to get a squeaky dogs and bounce round making humorous noises and squeaking it. this may distract him from the shadow and he will have forgotten all about it. desire I helped :)

Answer 5

Leave him be, my dog does it. He shouldnt bite, if he does this he should be told 'No' in a strong voice and given a smack on the backside. If you allow him to bite as he gets older (if hes a pup just now) it will become aggressive and he could harm someone. So you must get the biting stopped.

Answer 6

Does he seem to be chasing for enjoyment or out of aggression? If he's not harming anything, let him be. It's better that he has an activity, no matter how silly it may seem to his human, than to be bored.

My cat has a ball chasing her own shadow. I let her have her fun before cuddling her.

Answer 7

I think you should just let him chase shadows. Or you can play with him. That's what it sounds like to me. That he's lonely. And if you raise him right, he won't bite.

Answer 8

It's just a personality trait. Try to find the humor in it instead of seeing it as a bad fault. Unless he is running into the wall and hurting himself then I don't see why you have to make him stop. He's having fun.

Answer 9

let him chase shadows hes just trying to play,play along with him,but if u get worried tell ur vet and see if theres anything u can do about it. my cat did that and we named her shadow!! hope this helps.

Answer 10

what's wrong with that? My dog barks at shadows, and at reflections in mirrors, of us. It's actually pretty funny. Don't you find it humorous?
He isn't hurting anyone is he? let him play.