Standing while rugging up

[SNC]

Cassie has always had a problem with pawing, but for awhile now she has started doing it when rugging up, although now its getting worse.  She doesn't know spanish walk, but if she did she would be very good at it, if this morning has anything to go by.  When doing her breatstraps up on her rug, I am having to dodge her front legs.

I have tried before with clicker and she got a little better, but now she is worse again.

Could anyone suggest a good plan of action for me please 

[Lyndsey Lewis]

Do you have any idea why she's doing it...??? Do the straps rub her chest...?? Pull up around her wither...??

Clicker training is a perfect solution but if she hurts somewhere or is bothered by something about the rug, it would be good to find that first...??

One thing to think about is train an incompatible behaviour to pawing although with pawing that can be tricky. You could highly reinforce standing on a little mat...??...or have her target something hanging to distract her/give her something else to do...??...

You could teach her to target a cloth or something obvious that you lay on your shoulder...??...then she would maybe raise her head out of your way so you can do the straps...not sure of her temperament so that might not suit her.

You could teach her to raise her head???

I'm not sure if this is a good idea not knowing her or you but you could just highly reinforce her for keeping 'four on the floor' while you are doing the rest of the rug (you don't need to click - just every 3 to 5 seconds while you are putting the rug on, give her a treat) and then if she goes to paw, you turn away for 5 seconds and kind of time her out. She'll learn pawing makes the vending machine stop working.

I also taught my guys a conditioned punisher. I go 'Ugh ugh" if they do something I don't want them to. They've learned that that means "no treats'....also called a 'no reward marker'.

But again I would try and investigate the cause.

[SNC]

Thank you, there are some good suggestions thank you.  She isn't in any pain, I think she is just impatient.  Her temperament I would say was pretty good (big soppy dog to be precise  )

I didn't say but she started the pawing when she saw me this morning.  I always pop my head over the door and say hello before going and getting her rug.  She was a little better tonight when I changed her rug.

[Lyndsey Lewis]

I didn't say but she started the pawing when she saw me this morning.  I always pop my head over the door and say hello before going and getting her rug.  She was a little better tonight when I changed her rug.

Pawing in general is hard to eliminate because there can be some intrinsic reinforcement for her. Like it just feels good cause it's such a natural behaviour...pawing through the snow to grass, pawing at the water to splash cool water on their bellies etc.

But you can do it!! It just takes a bit of dedication and good observation. If you approach the barn and she starts pawing when she sees you,  you can try two things. First, turn around and leave again...just for a few steps or until she stops pawing and then try and approach again. Second,  and preferably, you can just stop in your tracks and freeze. IF she is pawing because she's happy to see you because you bring good things like food and attention etc, then she probably has associated that pawing makes you come closer. She paws, you approach, she's happy. Pawing worked! If you freeze when she paws, she will learn that pawing makes the vending machine stop!

So...you can only change that thinking by NOT approaching if she's pawing! It's tricky when they start pawing as soon as they hear the back door slam or the car pull up and we can't tell if they are pawing so it seems to them as if pawing is drawing you closer. The best we can do is try and notice is as soon as possible and STOP approaching (or even retreat - but I'd only try that second).

I also like to use my voice as a sort of bridge signal. So if I hear pawing I freeze. If the pawing stops I IMMEDIATELY start saying 'gooood' and start approaching. IF I hear the pawing I freeze again and my voice goes quiet. That way they have two clues - your body stops approaching and your voice goes quiet.

They can learn very quickly if we are able to be consistent. Is there anyone else who approaches her with feed or anything she values and if so, do you know if she paws for it? If so, it will be much harder to teach her not to paw unless you teach others how to handle it!

It's not really a matter of impatience...more of eagerness!

ANYTIME you are  hanging out around the barn with her and she starts to paw, freeze or leave. You only need to leave for a few seconds. I would also say the words ugh ugh (or whatever you want) AS you are leaving so she can learn a 'no reward marker'.

Whatever you do, don't give her attention when she paws. The hardest thing I find is when they paw, I look at them!! And that's just what they wanted. So you have to train yourself when you hear the pawing, don't look up or move towards them - just leave.

You can also teach her to paw! That can be fun. She can solve math problems for you They reason for doing that is to teach her the concept of pawing and NOT pawing. Like they teach barking dogs to bark on cue and then it's easier to teach them 'quiet'. So she could learn to paw when you asked for it and she could learn a cue for 'not pawing'. Like 'That'll do babe'  And then you just have to cue her not to paw when you  see her do it 'off' cue.

[SNC]

Thank you