Desensitizing to Four Wheeler.. - Page 1

Lol..This not working is getting me into mischief lol..;) I have been watching Ceaser Milan lol..I decided to take control of my pack and deal head on with the "four wheeler"...

Anyway, I  was prepared to take charge of the situation ..I had my "hand bite" down pat with the little "pssst" sound ready to go..lol...

 I  had my pack leader face on and was ready to go..I proceeded to turn the four wheeler on and within about 3 seconds Prince's "calm submissive state " flew out the window and the tire and muffler were almost ripped off my husbands beloved little toy ..lol...

 Prince gets super charged up anytime the four wheeler is started..If I give him a ball ( softballs and baseballs are his favorite) he will bite that ball so hard his teeth get stuck into it..It's as if he is taking out his frustration on not being able to get to the four wheeler out on the poor ball..
 
 I want him to enjoy running along side of the four wheeler so I can take him on long walks through the woods..He is only interested in ripping the tires and muffler off of it..

 Any suggestions on how to desensitize him ...Thanks..: ) 

Ruger1 how did Prince developed thiis hatred for the tires lol.  Maybe try simple OB (on leash) when you start up the 4-wheeler from a distance with lots of praise and gradually (depending on tolerance) to move closer to the "distraction".

Mine was easy to teach but he wont wear the damn scarf ..... any ideas ..... Greg    

All kidding aside !  ..... from my post as listed above. I literally had to shoe the dog away from the snowmobile and the ATV with a broom while it was running ......................... I taught him to "GO" run ahead of the machine. He attempted to bite in the same way as you described. I was not going to risk breaking a tooth. The break in period for the first few weeks are touch and go but you must be careful. I am in an area where I can let the dog go ahead of me and RUN the same course every day ....... this pic was taken last year ....... although was able top snowmobile him this yesterday with 10" of snow on the ground ........................... Regards .............. Greg      "Razer vom Baphomet SchH3"

Treat it like you would getting him to back-off the vacuum cleaner. Start first to familiarize him with the approach without the engine on. Then work up to having someone else start the four wheeler, and you need to step in front of him when he acts up, (claiming the space/4 wheeler as yours), to command his attention to obey you. Praise when he does, you know what to do... if you can get him to look to you for what to do when it starts, you got it made.

Ruger1,

Good question to an extent BUT in my eyes no easy answer. At least not one without a lot of work.

It's odd/funny how some dogs are affected and others are not. I've really tried to figure this out but at times there just seems to be no answers or why. My male, almost 10 could care less and is/never was affected. He runs with an ATV no problems, and was never taught. My Czech, 2 1/2 ....... every wheel/tire except the auto/truck. The wheel barrow, the dolly, the lawn mower she wants to destroy it. The 16 mos., once in a blue moon will go after a wheel/tire but rarely. 

My thoughts are it might never be the way you would like and you might have to think of a different way.

My thoughts; some humans can handle the noise of a certain tool running, say a router, shop vac. Some can't. Some can listen for a (long time) period with no side effects, some have side effects but don't realize it till after it's too late. We know dogs hearing are to a higher degree than humans so maybe at certain decibels that we don't even think of let comprehend at these decibels certain dogs are telling us "hey, this noise bothers me"? I don't know!

That is why I believe the first six mos are so crucial to making the dog, establishing what it can do/handle and what it can't. Now I know certain dogs at later ages can do things/handle things they couldn't before but it would have been easier to imprint/familiarize/stimulate a pup with the ATV then it is now. And not saying you can't but it will be some work.

If it was me, and unfortunately ATVs are not light. But I would have an area say driveway where I can have the dog and ATV together. I would not start or run the ATV but walk with it and move from one point to another. I know it's not light but if he is that certain way as soon as it starts and he isn't that was while you are walking with it then that is half of your answer. Now depending if you want him to sit on your backside or walk/run next to you then you have to work differently towards those goals and I would think you would need a second person. Or even a person with a dog that already does what you would like yours to do. But as just one person........... Maybe a little garden trailer that attaches to the ATV and his crate in the back. Soon he will realize that the ATV is like the vehicle and we are going for a ride? Or have someone fabricate a pole that comes off the rear of the ATV that has "arms". His leash attaches to the end of the arm. He can't reach the tires and at first you go at such a slow speed that it equals him walking? Good luck and let us know how you make out.

I really got to get a photo to post of this... but my husbands poor ATV Tires on the right hand side have so many plugs in them it looks like a porcupine!! 

For the past 6 months he has been starting it with a stick in his hand... and that seems to be all the deterant our 2 year old needs... Once they get moving.. no problem.  And then they enjoy the run!  It seems to have helped tremendously.

Hey Ruger1

The best sucess I've had with inhibitions and aggression towards the 4wheeler and/or golf carts is to put them on lead and
run them with it. Once they realize what great fun it is, they no longer try to eat it and I can take the whole pack (off lead)
for miles and miles.

The key is to be on lead with either a choke or pinch collar and go very very slow at first. It may or may not work, but I've done
dozens of dogs just like this and haven't failed yet.

It is the same reason all of my dogs jump for joy when I take out their pinch collar. The association is collar or 4 wheeler means
training and going running, which they both enjoy.

.02

Melissa

Deanna, call me! It's what I'm here for, you know.