Why only in Florida?

[Summer Magic]

Hi
We have had real problems with Magic regarding the door bell, the oven timer and the phone. She has lunged and bitten myself and my mom numerous times. I've been working with her with the calming signals and up to the day we left Florida for Michigan for the summer, she still spazed out and we had to be careful not to turn our backs on her when we went to answer the phone. We have been home in Michigan for 10 days now. I still have a phone and an oven timer (no one has come to the door yet) When the phone rings or the bell sounds she will jump up and run around the dining room table but doesn't attempt to come any where near us when we get up to answer the phone or turn off the oven timer she just runs around the table. She isn't aggressive at all just has her tail flat down to her rump but not tucked under herself and her ears are down but not back (as they were in my Florida home) The difference in her behavior stumps me. Does anyone have any ideas? My Michigan home was the one she was first introduced to when I adopted her. But she only lived in this house from July 31 to October 31 and then we took her with us to my Florida home.

Judy and Magic

[Kendall Aliza]

When I first got my dog I was only going to be living in Baton Rouge for another month or so... Shaddy had all sorts of behavior problems and we were working on them constantly. However, when I moved to Florida it made a huge difference! I think being in a new environment where he hadnt developed responses for everything based on being an insecure frightened untrusting dog allowed him to create new responses for his new environment based on being more secure with himself, more trusting of me, etc,. He also became less bothered by people coming over to the new house bc he didnt view at as his home yet... So it allowed me to speed up his training significantly. In short, this a really great oppotunity for you and your dog!
Is he fearful of those things?? Or just plain aggressive?

[Summer Magic]

Hi Kendall

She seems to be afraid tho it's hard to tell. There was never anyone else to take her aggression out on at the house so she'd turn to us and bite but only if we moved. If I was near the phone when it rang and she was sitting with me she would just look at me and not react because I didn't have to get up to answer, or if I was in the kitchen and only had to reach for the timer she wouldn't react. If we had to go to answer the phone from another chair or another room or go into the kitchen to turn off the timer she would snarl and snap and bite us.(Only when we turned our backs on her.) She is a sheltie and weighs 26 pounds so she's not a big dog. Here in Michigan she hasn't tried to bite at all. I believe this behavior started before we left Michigan for Florida last fall. Mom used the timer at the dining room table for several days in a row and every time magic heard the ticking she would run around the table and whine waiting for the ding. When it happened she would bark. We showed the timer to her when it was silent and when it was ticking but she never could realize that it wasn't going to hurt her. When we got to Florida this fall things just escalated into the barking and biting.
This is the second season I have taken Magic to Florida so it isn't a case where she hasn't seen the house before. Sure I realize their memorys aren't that long, but she seems to know both houses equally well.

We'll step up the training and desensitizing here tho, her behavior is just different for some reason.

Thanks Judy

[Kendall Aliza]

I honestly think the somewhat new environment has a lot to do with it... Why dont you make the doorbell and all those other things shes ate become almost like a little clicker for her? Have some ding the over while you are sitting next to her and pop her FAVORITE treat in her mouth has soon as it happens. She'll then associate those things with her favorite treats.
Also, is she getting enough exercise, mentally and physically? As I am sure you already know, youre dog is a super smart breed and need a lot of physical and mental stimulation.

[Summer Magic]

When we are in Florida she must be leashed at all times (tho I do let her chase her ball in the back yard with her leash draging) she doesn't get the same amount of exercise there that she does here in Michigan. Here we have a fenced yard for her to run and play in which she loves, but in Florida we aren't allowed to fence any areas off even temporarily. Also we aren't allowed to leave our dogs unattended at any time. Here I can leave her outside as much as she wants -- sometimes for hours at a time, she lets me know when she wants to come in. She runs and runs and runs when we are here. I spend a lot of time outside with her gardening when we are here so she isn't alone for all of that time, she just enjoys the sunshine and warm temps playing on the deck in the sun or chasing leaves or sticks in her yard.

Judy

[Kendall Aliza]

Is she your only dog? A HUGE part of the problem may be that the is not getting enough exercise. I am talking like an hour walk everyday and then on top of that games like fetch or tug.
Okay, lets say you have a cup filled with juice. Everday you have to pour the juice out. If you dont, it is going to pour itself out all over your floor or on whatever it darn well pleases. Your dog has its own little cup of energy, if you will, that needs to be poured out everday. If theres no outlet for it she will find one... like freaking out over the phone ringing or the oven timer going off.
Just letting her run around in the yard is not enough. It might also explain why she is little bit better at the new place where she at least has a yard. She needs to be stimulated, played with, challenged, etc,. Eespecially being the breed that she is... She has much larger cup to pour it everday than say, a great dane.

[Kendall Aliza]

It isnt fair to just leave your dog out in the yard by herself for hours... Dogs are highly social animals, isnt that why we love them so much? How old is she btw? Dogs run around by themselves for hours at a time when they are bored and frustrated. Its the only way that they can empty their cup, remember? Just imagine how much happier you and your dog would be if you went a step further and engaged in games and walks with her. I would be willing to bet that her issues would go away.

[Summer Magic]

we play tug and throw the ball, and her plastic ring for a half hour in the morning (sometimes less if she quits playing on her own) at lunch time we throw the ball for fifteen minutes or more in the house (stuffed soccer ball)
Around three o'clock we go back outside and play fetch again for a while, she sets the pace, if she doesn't bring the ball back, she's had enough play time. Usually it's around fifteen minutes to half hour. At nite around eight oclock we throw the ball in the house again.

[Kendall Aliza]

Okay, good. I was a little worried there for a minute! :) Well, who knows why she does what she does. The good thing here is that you have the chance to reaaosciate all those things she ates to positive things like treats. I'm sure someone else will come along and be able to shed a little more light on the matter. Since it isnt a pure lack of exercise. :)