Annoying Behavior In Ute

[persephone]

If you use something like a harness, that sort of restriction can serve to frustrate more than if in a crate, which doesn't help the situation as much as a crate might.

I didn't realise that, erny- just thought that if he was secure up against the cab, then he would not be able to turn & look backwards comfortably..and he would also be close enough to receive verbal warnings ....

[Erny]

I meant for 'some dogs' Perse.

At 6 or 7mo my own boy sprung a 'crazy' behaviour when in the car. It related to me leaving the car and also to when I returned to it. Ever since the day I could no longer crate him in the car (due to size restrictions), he's been harnessed, so the actual wearing of a harness is not an issue. But he'd strain against it with all his might and the straining against it razzed him up even more, whenever I left the car and whenever I returned.

I since put in a barrier which confines his space somewhat more. Doing that alone made a tremendous difference to his behaviour. With the behaviour that remained I used sound aversion therapy (carefully) and that made a difference yet again on that remaining issue. Opposition Reflex (ie going into pressure) had a big part to play in not helping his issue and I suspect it could prove the same in the case of the OP's dog's behaviour.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Erny

[Quickasyoucan]

You seem very averse to making any changes whatsoever in case it affects how you look. Maybe you should leave the dog at home unless it is strictly necessary.

That said, I think the crate idea, covered if necessary is a great one. I remember watching something where they restricted a dogs view and it seemed to work magically to stop them getting aroused. Presumably you could also lash a crate down rather than having to bolt it. I have some friends with a Ute who used a crate to pick up rescue dogs and did just that, they certainly didn't drill holes in the floor of their ute when it was only used every now and then.

However, if it is to much trouble ... it sort of comes across from tone of your posts that your dogs are a bit of a nuisance to you.

[Rain]

Get a good strong harness for him and then attach him to the front of the ute ..so he he is right up near the cab(and you) No running backwards and forward then!

i like this idea

[RL1]

Get a good strong harness for him and then attach him to the front of the ute ..so he he is right up near the cab(and you) No running backwards and forward then!

I bought a good quality harness and the strongest tie attachment i could. I still allow him enough slack so he can move,

but even with this he still will lunge and carry on.

Leave him at home :nahnah:

Nah, he has to go out or he'll go mental.

I had a Rotti who would do this even in the car. If a car came up behind us too close she would go off her tree, growling, barking etc - it was very annoying. In the end I had to muzzle her and tether her low on the back seat, although I'm quite partial to the idea of curtains.....

Nope, the curtain idea has been suggested and i'll leave it at that.

Yes I did mean instead of the canopy. I thought you were saying you were getting another Ute and didn't want an "ugly" canopy on the next one.

But that's really beside the point.

Obviously your dog has the freedom of space within the canopy to exhibit the behaviour. You need to limit that. IMO a crate is the way to go and as Kelpie-i has already suggested, you would then be able to cover the crate to limit view, at least at first to stop him practicing and therefore ingraining this behaviour more than he already has. If you use something like a harness, that sort of restriction can serve to frustrate more than if in a crate, which doesn't help the situation as much as a crate might.

I guess you need to decide what you hate most. The thought of the solutions that have been offered, or your dog's behaviour.

Exactly. I don't want a canopy on the next ute. I'm looking for other options. If i can have a crate without

having to bolt it to the floor i'll go with that.

You seem very averse to making any changes whatsoever in case it affects how you look. Maybe you should leave the dog at home unless it is strictly necessary.

However, if it is to much trouble ... it sort of comes across from tone of your posts that your dogs are a bit of a nuisance to you.

Why can't i be selfish for once in my life and buy something for me ?

I can assure you the dogs haven't gone without. They get the best of everything.

Edited October 27, 2009 by RottyLover01

[arawnhaus]

You could put him inside the cabin. Or you could have a crate attached to the floor of the ute for him to travel in safety.

Really RL, i think this is a top Idea.

[Rain]

Bugger about the harness, what about Clyde's suggestion of a muzzle?

[RL1]

Bugger about the harness, what about Clyde's suggestion of a muzzle?

Maybe. I haven't tried the muzzle idea. Not sure the one i have is suitable to be on

for extended periods.

Worth a try, though i think the problem is more visual.

[persephone]

what about Clyde's suggestion of a muzzle?

a muzzle would not stop the dog lunging and getting worked up at the sight of vehicles....

[Sheilaheel02]

I have a Gunmetal Grey Hilux 4WD Diesel with a canopy on the back and my dogs travel in a big crate inside that (unless weather is really bad and then they get on the back seat in the cabin with me). Underneath the crate, which fits perfectly sideways, there is rubber matting on top of the ute liner so the crate doesn't slide anywhere. Easy to clean when rescues have been transported in it and easy to remove if I'm doing a horse activity and need to put other stuff in there. Maybe not sexy or cool, but definitely practical and safe.

Now, I'm just wondering if anyone knows how I can remove the GPS to mount a dash fan easily and where I might get some suitable curtains and orthopedic seat cover? Preferably, at a place that gives pensioner discounts. Then I'm going to take off the big silver bull bar and cover the driving lights in matching crocheted covers. If I sell all my 80's hair band hard rock CD's I might just be able to raise enough money to complete the Nanna image conversion.

Good luck RL01, I hope you are able to find a resolution to your dogs behaviour or at least a happy compromise.

S

[RL1]

I have a Gunmetal Grey Hilux 4WD Diesel with a canopy on the back and my dogs travel in a big crate inside that (unless weather is really bad and then they get on the back seat in the cabin with me). Underneath the crate, which fits perfectly sideways, there is rubber matting on top of the ute liner so the crate doesn't slide anywhere. Easy to clean when rescues have been transported in it and easy to remove if I'm doing a horse activity and need to put other stuff in there. Maybe not sexy or cool, but definitely practical and safe.

Now, I'm just wondering if anyone knows how I can remove the GPS to mount a dash fan easily and where I might get some suitable curtains and orthopedic seat cover? Preferably, at a place that gives pensioner discounts. Then I'm going to take off the big silver bull bar and cover the driving lights in matching crocheted covers. If I sell all my 80's hair band hard rock CD's I might just be able to raise enough money to complete the Nanna image conversion.

Good luck RL01, I hope you are able to find a resolution to your dogs behaviour or at least a happy compromise.

S

Hi Sheila

Why would you move the dogs from the crate, inside a canopy, during bad weather ? Isn't that one purpose

of a canopy ?

I would've thought it wasn't safe to have a crate inside a canopy that isn't secured to the floor. What happens if you

roll or have a hard hit ? The rubber mat won't stop it moving.

As for the nana conversion you want, don't worry, you're almost there with a canopy on a Hilux.

All you need is one of those "Grey Nomad" club stickers on the rear and you're set. ;)

[Sheilaheel02]

RL01,

By bad weather I mean extreme heat or cold. The canopy has tinted windows which can be opened but it can get quite hot in there in the middle of summer even when the truck is moving.

Whether the dogs are in the crate in the back of the canopy, or in the canopy with a harnass, or in the canopy loose, there is definitely a chance of injury if I'm involved in a major accident. Even if they are in the canopy in a secured crate there is still risk of injury. Most of the cheaper crates, unless it is a C-crate or similar would probably bend or bust open under the force of a big dog being thown around. Still, I'd rather have them confined inside the car or canopy than riding on the back of an open tray. A friends dog who's behaves like an idiot on the back of their ute pulled so hard on his restraint it snapped and he toppled over the edge and on to the Monaro highway. He was badly injured but it was just sheer luck that a semi didn't mow him down as they fly along that road and don't stop for anything - not for Roos or Lifestock, so they wouldn't (or more likely couldn't) brake or swerve in time to miss a dog.

Pfft, whatever, consider me a Grey Nomad if you want, positive reinforcement for my 'image' isn't high on my priority list any more. My dogs think I rock and that's what counts

S

[Diva]

Pfft, whatever, consider me a Grey Nomad if you want, positive reinforcement for my 'image' isn't high on my priority list any more. :

S

Ahh, that just goes to show you're a confident, kick-ass person. You DO rock

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I'm not sure how blocking the rear window is "illegal". There are heaps of vans driving around town with no rear or rear side windows. And trucks. Drivers see by using their mirrors. And there is this sparkly new invention - a rear facing camera - you can get this installed after you buy your car (after market). The nissan patrol has one that is integrated with the rear vision mirror - so even if you fill the entire back up with camping gear - you can still see what is out the back - the picture is displayed on the rear vision LCD (ie the mirror). Of course if you accidentally reboot the computer because your phone bluetooth isn't working properly - you can't see out the back anymore...

So you need to block the dog's vision. And the dog probably ought to be harnessed to the front of the ute tray too, to take the fun out of lunging.

And if you don't have some sort of heavy duty roll cage for the back - anything in there, in a roll over, is cactus. Canopy, ordinary crate make no difference. :rolleyes:

[RL1]

I'm not sure how blocking the rear window is "illegal". There are heaps of vans driving around town with no rear or rear side windows. And trucks. Drivers see by using their mirrors. And there is this sparkly new invention - a rear facing camera - you can get this installed after you buy your car (after market). The nissan patrol has one that is integrated with the rear vision mirror - so even if you fill the entire back up with camping gear - you can still see what is out the back - the picture is displayed on the rear vision LCD (ie the mirror). Of course if you accidentally reboot the computer because your phone bluetooth isn't working properly - you can't see out the back anymore...

So you need to block the dog's vision. And the dog probably ought to be harnessed to the front of the ute tray too, to take the fun out of lunging.

And if you don't have some sort of heavy duty roll cage for the back - anything in there, in a roll over, is cactus. Canopy, ordinary crate make no difference.

It's illegal for that very reason, it's blocking your view. I doubt it would take very long for me to be pulled

over if i blocked the rear window. Plus i don't enjoy driving blind. Blocking the rear window is just not an option.

The dog is tied up the front of the canopy already.

Inside the canopy i have a heavy duty internal bar system that supports the rack i have on the canopy.

I do agree a crate or canopy isn't good news in a major crash, but either is inside the cabin.

[corvus]

Well, I'm at a bit of a loss. Best way to break a habit is to physically prevent it from being practised. Failing that, perhaps you need to focus on why your dog is doing this and try to treat it at its source? I don't know why the dog is doing it, but I would assume that it is not comfortable with cars around the ute. It'd take a fair bit of work, but you could work on building the dog's confidence in the ute. Perhaps you could work on getting the dog super happy and relaxed to lie on a mat or blanket outside of the ute and then transfer it inside, with the hopes of transferring the relaxed state of being as well? Or heavily reinforce an incompatible behaviour like "down" until your dog is capable of giving you a down in the ute, although that would depend on you being heard from the cabin and if you didn't really nail it before trying it in the ute it would probably degrade over time.

I would say your chances of success would be dependent on how hard you were willing to work on it. If it were me, I'd at least use the crate in the meantime so your dog can't practise this bad habit. You really have to stop these things 100% to break the habit, I think.

[RL1]

Well, I'm at a bit of a loss. Best way to break a habit is to physically prevent it from being practised. Failing that, perhaps you need to focus on why your dog is doing this and try to treat it at its source? I don't know why the dog is doing it, but I would assume that it is not comfortable with cars around the ute. It'd take a fair bit of work, but you could work on building the dog's confidence in the ute. Perhaps you could work on getting the dog super happy and relaxed to lie on a mat or blanket outside of the ute and then transfer it inside, with the hopes of transferring the relaxed state of being as well? Or heavily reinforce an incompatible behaviour like "down" until your dog is capable of giving you a down in the ute, although that would depend on you being heard from the cabin and if you didn't really nail it before trying it in the ute it would probably degrade over time.

I would say your chances of success would be dependent on how hard you were willing to work on it. If it were me, I'd at least use the crate in the meantime so your dog can't practise this bad habit. You really have to stop these things 100% to break the habit, I think.

Hi Corvus,

The dog is so excited when he knows it's time to get into the ute and full on with energy, which i think

doesn't help the problem. I'm guessing he somehow feels a threat from the car behind when they are close.

He also is very reactive to light flashes, reflections ect, so i think the headlights from the cars at night makes the situation worse. He's just a very focused, full on dog. Add that to the fact he doesn't get out as much as he should, that

probably makes him even more excited and tense when he is taken out.