[lizardlady]

BG has developed a problem I'm stumped to solve. I know some of you work wonders with your dogs, maybe you'll have some ideas I can use.

BG has a strong prey instinct. I think I said that right. If he gets it in his head to go after something there's no stopping him. Here in Florida we have a kind of tortoise called a gopher. BG is obsessed with them! My farm is chock-a-block with the devils. I have no problem sharing the farm with them. BG seems to have taken it on himself to rid the farm of them. I want him to leave the damned things alone. I currently have a sore arm and back from hauling him off one earlier tonight. He becomes fixated and maniacal when he gets one. I had to use both hands on his collar to haul him off the poor gopher. We probably looked a sight with me hanging on to him by his collar while I tried to push the gopher into a bucket.

My current solution when he gets hold of one is to put it in a bucket in the barn overnight. Then I transport it to a different part of the farm when he is locked in the feed room the next day.

Anyone have any ideas how to get him to leave the damned things alone? Not only do I want to coexist with all the critters here on the farm gophers on the protected species list. They themselves are not in danger. Lord love a duck there's about seven zillion of them just on my farm. Critters that are on the endangered list use the gophers' tunnels, so the gophers are protected. I really don't want the feds showing up at my door because the dog broke federal law! Mainly though I just want him to leave them alone. Ideas anyone?

[CANDC]

The only ideas I have would be to limit the dog's mobility or muzzle them, but those may not sit nicely with your life style.

[Fresia]

I can understand your concern for the critter and also for BG as there are illesses those critters can carry and worry for BG's safety as well.

I worked with dogs that have had really strong prey drive, even hunt to kill natures in fact anything that moved, nothing to distract. If he is not responding to your command or touch to move away, or have not tried yet something to startle him such noises, such as a training whistle or a horn to distract him, as a last resort I would go to a training collar in addition to a command, which I know there will be flack for this but when it comes to harming others or harm to the animal, it is a safer alternative when used as a training aide and not as punishment when all else has failed.

There are two types that work by remote control. Ones that spray citronella, non-toxic mist to confound the sense and startle them. The other is an electric collar, best are the ones that you can control the settings, have a tone/beep warning first, and then by starting out at the lowest setting, which is the same as the static you would get when you rub fabric against each other on the lowest setting and goes up from there. Each dog responds differently to the settings so best to start out at the lowest, more is definitely not better. Both kinds can be very effective when touch/sound distractions fail. Some hunting stores may even rent them so you don't have to shell out so much money but it might be a worthy investment; make sure it comes with the directions though for how to train with it so it does not get used as a punishment device accidentally.

Perhaps one of these methods might help. If I can help further about the techniques with the commands, touch/sounds, or types of collars that might suit your needs, please don't hesitate to PM me. Best wishes as y'all work through this.

[momathome]

Hi! I've worked with all types of dogs in various fields and currently am training a Service Dog for a woman in my area. I looked at the other replies you received and I believe that the most effective method is the electric collar, as mentioned above. Usually one or two corrections are all it takes, which keeps you from nagging your dog; in which case he won’t listen to you anyway. I live on a small farm with various critters, so I get it. The physical removal of your dog (which leaves you sore the next day) really doesn’t teach him anything, except that you’re stronger than he thought!

[cakeladie]

I am sorry Liz that BG is giving you problems.

[lizardlady]

Thanks everyone. I'll research the electric collars.

I would definitely give the electric collar a go. We had one for my dog to prevent certain behaviours that we just couldn't seem to stop and it changed him into a much better behaved dog almost overnight! It had three settings, one was just a beep, the next was vibration where you can increase the intensity, the last was static which again you could increase. Maybe look up one that includes vibrate, you never know that might be enought to startle BG and you won't even need to use static.

[unaluna]

Yeah hopefully you just need to get his attention. Maybe give him a treat when he comes back? My neighbors dog would bark at a squirrel but that was it, they were safe, so was their cat. I googled your gophers yesterday - how interesting!! But yeah you dont need Beej getting you into trouble with the law!!

[lizardlady]

We made a tiny bit of progress today.

He got another gopher and was going crazy trying to kill it. BUT after I hauled him off it and said "Come" he did walk away with me. Granted he kept looking over his shoulder at the gopher, but he did walk away with me. I praised him for coming with me and gave him treats.