Toy Obsession

[sugar]

So the rescue doggie I was looking at is sweet and lovely in every other way (see my other post under "Pitbulls"), but he seems toy obsessed. Not aggressive in a resource guarding way (he allowed me to pet him while he had his toy) but he seems he is always trying to find a toy and at the rescue shelter they told me he has to pick up one of his toys before he will leave his kennel for a walk (and then walks with it).
He walks very well on a leash with a toy, without a toy he pulls a lot. How should I start dealing with this behavior. Part of me thinks that its so strong because he doesn't get much exercise being in a kennel of most of the day (and will get nice and tired when he comes home with me), but I want to know how to handle it so he can maybe lessen this strong desire.

[maryellen]

i posted in that thread, the toy obsession could be his way of dealing with the shelter kennel life. he might change once he gets into a home environment..

[sugar]

I was thinking that when I get him home and give him the exercise he obviously needs, his toy obsession may lessen (well, exercise and some training lessons). My question is should I just see if it goes away on its own (or lessen on its own), or should I be proactive in trying to alter it towards a more positive outlet for him?
Its funny how he was dragging and pulling before toy, post toy he walked well on a leash (not exactly "heel", but no dragging or pulling). If you try to take his toy away he tries to take it back (not aggressive, more like a little kid who wants his toy back). He doesn't growl or try to bite you, he just tries to take it back. Is that also a part of the OCD behavior?

[sugar]

ps: Thanks MaryEllen for the hope of change. I have a good feeling about this dog and even my mom (who is scared of pits and pit mixes and anything that looks like a pitbull type dog) was petting him all over and telling him what a good boy he was (which, let me tell you, surprised the heck outta me!!)

[loverocksalot]

You can use his toy drive to your advantage. Rocky has no interest in toys. Recently went to a workshop where a tug was used to gain attention of dog and reward them. Rocky could care less. SO what you can do is clicker train
But the good part is when he can not go for the toy and sit and wait to be released then he can get the toy play and then stop leave it and play again. We did this in one of our beginner classes called it getting the sillies out or something. Although Rocky is not much for toys if he feels like tugging he will get carried away pawing and clawing accidentially hitting with his teeth but when told to stop he quickly stops and waits till told break. But toys do not work at all for rewards with Rocky. only food. Had to use food to get him to fetch a ball and 2 years of trying to play frisbee still need food.
Frisbee may very well be an excellent way to re direct his energy. I will be careful what i wish for but I wish my dog at least played ball. or any fetch. Its a rare occasion

[emilys]

why do you think this behavior is a problem? What would be wrong about just letting him carry a toy, if that's the way he's comfortable?

[erpitrescue]

Having nto met him, I'm not sure if it is the same, but it does sound similar to a dog we recently took in. He is very high drive- tennis balls are his thing. And while the drive makes him, IMO, a highly trainable dog (dogs with high drive excel at S&R, drug detection, frisbee, flyball, etc), he was a bit over the top, and for Deuce, it also meant when he focused on something, he went for it. And he is pushy. When we got him, if he saw a cat, you could NOT break his attention. Same thing with squirrels, toys, etc. If I hid the toy behind my back, he would push me around to get it. In addition, if I was holding the toy and he wanted it, he went for, pushing me over, digging at me, and grabbing the toy from my hand. The toy grabbing was an issue because he would "shark" me- accidentally grab my hand instead of the toy. I had more than a few bruises. What we had to do was immediately start clicker training to work on a "leave it" and a "drop it" and we were still working on it when he went to his new foster home. I would be especially concerned if you have kids because if they pick up a toy he wants, he might go for it, and get them by accident. Don't get me wrong- there is no aggression at all in Deuce, so that wasn't his motivation in "sharking" me. But, at the same time, I didn't let my daughter handle any of his toys for fear she'd be an accidental bystander.
I'd def work on a Leave it and Drop it, or whatever similar cues. I'd also be careful in the meantime about teasing him with a toy like people do when they are trying to entice play, or about holding a toy too long, like when you pick up the ball before throwing it.

[loverocksalot]

Jan 18, 2010 2:44:50 GMT -5 erpitrescue said:

Having nto met him, I'm not sure if it is the same, but it does sound similar to a dog we recently took in. He is very high drive- tennis balls are his thing. And while the drive makes him, IMO, a highly trainable dog (dogs with high drive excel at S&R, drug detection, frisbee, flyball, etc), he was a bit over the top, and for Deuce, it also meant when he focused on something, he went for it. And he is pushy. When we got him, if he saw a cat, you could NOT break his attention. Same thing with squirrels, toys, etc. If I hid the toy behind my back, he would push me around to get it. In addition, if I was holding the toy and he wanted it, he went for, pushing me over, digging at me, and grabbing the toy from my hand. The toy grabbing was an issue because he would "shark" me- accidentally grab my hand instead of the toy. I had more than a few bruises. What we had to do was immediately start clicker training to work on a "leave it" and a "drop it" and we were still working on it when he went to his new foster home. I would be especially concerned if you have kids because if they pick up a toy he wants, he might go for it, and get them by accident. Don't get me wrong- there is no aggression at all in Deuce, so that wasn't his motivation in "sharking" me. But, at the same time, I didn't let my daughter handle any of his toys for fear she'd be an accidental bystander.
I'd def work on a Leave it and Drop it, or whatever similar cues. I'd also be careful in the meantime about teasing him with a toy like people do when they are trying to entice play, or about holding a toy too long, like when you pick up the ball before throwing it.

Same problem with the dog at the shelter I work with. She focus on everything that moves. I have been doing some clicker work when I am there with her too bad not often enough. I have been able to get her to focus on me and ignore. But the other day a kid walked by in the office with something in his hands may have been gloves she jumped right at him and tried to grab it. Now I have kids and I would never let my kids run around an office at an animal shelter especially while a dog is out so it was not her fault but she has been known to cause burises and nips on the shelter workers getting too rough with trying to get the toy.

[sugar]

That would be my issue with the toy obsession: if he doesn't have a toy he looks for one (like my mom's purse. She was holding her purse in her hand by her hip, and not on her shoulder). I had mine on my shoulder and he didn't try to go for it, but he did with my mom's purse in her hand. Also at one point I took out my notebook because I had written down a lot of questons to ask and the minute it came out, he sat down and stared at it like it was the holy grail (really still, really big eyes, following it very intently).
So the toy obsession isn't the issue as much as the "is everything a toy?" issue.
Another concern would be if he picked something up off the street and would let me take it away (my last dog once picked up a dead bird, but she knew drop it and dropped it).

[loverocksalot]

Yeah sounds he is obsessed with toys like mine is obsessed with fod. He thinks everything is food. And will do anything to get it. Used it to my advantage to train tricks etc. But if he found a bird on the street Im not too sure he would easily drop it. Especially if it taste good to him. But all that you can easily work on. Again I wish Rocky had a little bit more of a toy thing going on.

[sugar]

Should I let Chubs take toys with him on walks? Since he has such a toy obsession, I wondering how much is it ok to let him have and how much is just hindering his progress?
The trainer I spoke with said we were going to have to work on desensitizing him so he can go from being obsessive about toys to more calm, relax and happy about toys.
And yeah, he can eat the black Kongs (from our last visit to the rescue, I saw him. He won't go through it has fast as the red ones, but every once and awhile and little black chunk comes off. Thank goodness he doesn't eat any bits).

[loverocksalot]

I would reserve the toy for the end of a good calm behaved walk as a reward for heeling and behaving.

[AmyJo27]

I would also use his toy drive as a reward.
When he does good, he gets to play with his toy(s).

[loverocksalot]

I would not leave any toys out for him to have access too. that includes going for walks etc. He gets it when he has been a good boy should be part of his NILIF routine.

[sugar]

What about toys during his crate time?

[loverocksalot]

hmmm IDK, Maryellen? Maybe it depends on the toy since I think you said he ruined kongs maybe stuff marrow bones would be better and not really a toy right? I only gave frozen kongs and bones in crate. Crate was for quiet time or nap time just like when I put my kids in for naps in afternoon no playing.

[AmyJo27]

Boomer has 3 Nylabones in his crate when Im gone.

I do not have any other toys because Im afraid hed choke or eat foam.

[sugar]

So I spoke with the trainer and he suggested no toys for the first few days, otherwise he fears that Chubs will be too into his toys and not enough attention being paid to my family and his new home (because when he has a toy he really is off in his own world).

[maryellen]

i would do the 2 week shutdown with him that is posted in training.. its very valuable for new dogs coming into new homes...

[maryellen]

and i wouldnt leave anything in a crate unattended but thats just me.. too much room for choking/breaking or something else