A Pawsitive Canine Experience

Summer 2004 Featured Website Article

HELP!
MY DOG HATES GETTING DRESSED!
BY: VERONICA SANCHEZ

Need a cape or backpack?
Go online to the Delta Society list of Assistance Dog Equipment Suppliers:
www.deltasociety.org/nsdc/dsb750.htm

This is a common problem encountered by therapy and assistance dog
handlers. The dog balks, struggles, and squirms as the cape or harness
is being put on! Or worse, the dog scampers out of reach the minute
the cape is in view! Here are a few strategies that might help:

•   Make sure that there are no other issues, for instance, make sure
your assistance or therapy dog is not showing       excessive signs of
stress while “on the job,” and make sure the equipment you use fits your
dog well.

•   Give your dog a treat every time you put the cape on. Give treats
during the process of both the head going through the opening, and then
after you secure any straps or buckles.

•   Shape your dog to put his head through the opening, and he can dress
himself! A cape may be awkward to start with, so you can begin with
your dog’s collar. First, hold the collar wide open (you may need to
make the opening for the neck larger than usual).   Click and treat when
the dog approaches the collar, then when he touches the collar, next for
nosing the opening, for putting his nose partly through the opening, and
finally click only when he moves his head right through the the
opening.   Remember as always to increase your criteria slowly. It may
take many sessions for your dog to start offering the completed
behavior.

Once your dog does this easily with a collar, you can add a verbal cue
such as “get dressed,” and transfer these skills to your dog’s cape.




	Chance, a hearing dog in training, has been trained to put his head through an open loop,making getting dressed easier.

• You may wish to try luring the dog’s head through the collar with a treat instead of free shaping, or you could try using a target stick.

• Practice these strategies in short sessions, put the cape/harness on with lots of treats, then immediately take it off and put it back on again. Do
this several times during the day, and reinforce periodically even after your dog is accepting getting dressed happily.