Thursday, June 16, 2011

Triggers

I have noticed that certain actions of mine trigger the same response in Maisie every time.  Not just things like putting on her leash then getting my keys, which leads her to sit on the bottom step by the door and wait fo me to take her out...I consider that more of a routine.

But for example, when we're in the office Maisie jumps up ready to go whenever I put on lip balm (I do tend to do it before leaving, but also at other times during the day).  When I'm dressed and she hears the freezer door open, she often refuses to come downstairs because she knows I'm probably getting a frozen stuffed Kong to placate Her Highness while I'm gone.  And I've already mentioned how she hides under the desk when she hears the shower.

In the morning, she heads into her crate awaiting breakfast as soon as I turn on the espresso machine.

And once I begin using my electric toothbrush, she goes from mellow, chilled out Maisie:
 To concerned, "is something going on I need to know about and/or will the shower be next?" Maisie:

Have you noticed any triggers in your dog?  Is there something you do that always makes him/her react in the same, but unintended way?

p.s. Don't forget this is Reader Appreciation week and you can win your pup a deer antler of his/her own!
Read Saturday's post for details (if you haven't already)...

p.p.s.  We reached our 50th follower today (I love them round numbers)!  Thanks to #50 as well as #s 1 - 49!!!

18 comments:

Patty said...

Oh yes, I wrote a post about it awhile ago. There are words that can not be said in her presence. If I grab my sneakers it better be because I am taking her on a walk. if I am not, I have a very upset, moping lab following me around. I can not pick up her travel bag unless, we are heading out because otherwise she starts bouncing like Tigger.

Anonymous said...

our running shoes going on make Chick get SUPER bouncy and excited, running like crazy back and forth between our feet and the kitchen door. the boy LOVES going running!

admin said...

If I use the sink in the bathroom anytime after 7pm, Zelda puts herself to bed.

Unknown said...

If we go anywhere near the closet that the leashes are kept in EVERYONE goes CRAZY!

Anonymous said...

The pictures are adorable!

Yes, Chancy has several triggers but the one I giggle about is when I put on my clothes. Every time I get dressed Chancy comes and smells the clothes I am putting on. Somehow he can tell by that if I am going out or staying home. After smelling my clothes he either relaxes OR gets as far away from his crate as he can and wants to go outside and not come back in. Depending what he decides after smelling my clothes. He aces it every time. Hugs

K-Koira said...

My dogs get fed in the bathroom (its the only uncarpeted area in the house, and I feed raw), which means that every time I get up and walk in there Pallo runs into his crate.

Actually, without ever meaning to, Pallo got trained that the question, "Do you want breakfast?" apparently means go run into your crate and wait there.

Maisie sounds like she has a lot of these though. I'll have to watch my dogs and see if I can find any more strange reactions like that.

Unknown said...

My actually respond to a lot of triggers like that but the one that is so funny to me and so much like skin children. From the moment I start a conversation on the telphone at home they will begin the biggest rough housing session in the world. The minute I hang up everyone takes a nap! Unbelievable!!!

In Black and White said...

Hm, I think I'm clearly so all over the place that Bilbo hasn't got a clue what's up. I might put his leash on and then spend 20 minutes looking for my keys. Or I'd leave for work straight after feeding him at 7am one morning and then the next I wouldn't go in till 10am.
He does often leap up and charge over to the door if I stand up straight after my phone rings. If I don't open it quick-sharp he goes to check out the window to see where the visitors are. Of course, opening the fridge or saying "chicken" always has him on his feet and at my side in two seconds flat...

Kate said...

If we even go near Melanie's leash and harness she gets super excited and goes nuts, doing zoomies everywhere. If you aren't actually going for a walk, she'll keep it up pestering you until you finally let her out. She's a total goof :)

steelcityfox said...

Lucy is terrified of the hair dryer, and each day, when I turn it off, she comes over with over-excited pit wiggle butt and wants to give me kisses and check on me, relieved that I have yet again survived that horrible noise and wind machine!

Two Grad Students and a Pittie said...

Nothing interests Havi more than the hair dryer turning on. If I clank around near her treat jars, she sits nicely at my feet. And sitting at the computer means naptime at my feet. Pups love routine and triggers. And 50 is awesome!

www.twogradstudentsandapittie.blogspot.com

Of Pit Bulls and Patience said...

It sounds like Maisie has you all figured out! Parker is much more in tune with what I'm doing than Skye. She just waits for Parker to get excited, then joins in. The one trigger she always notices is when I grab the "leash walk leashes" as opposed to the "off leash hiking leashes". She hates leash walks, and will run upstairs and hide if I don't trick her with a treat.

OscarBlogger said...

Smart pup! Oscar will run into his e-pen when he sees us with his Kong Wobbler, which is what we use to feed him his breakfast and dinner. He doesn't seem to recognize as many "triggers" as Maisie though - or he does and I'm not good at recognizing his habits!

By the way, I have an award to pass on to you. You can stop by here to check it out and pick it up if you'd like: http://oscarthepooch.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-award-love.html

keith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
keith said...

congratulations on number 50 I hope one day to do as you ... 6 are for the moment ... but I do not lose heart!

Sheltie Times said...

Our shelties are VERY routine oriented. They know when certain things are supposed to happen and will remind you when they don't.

Two Pitties in the City said...

I feel like I'm so into routines I can quite relate.

Froggy said...

Congrats on 50 followers! In the morning when I close my computer they both jump off the sofa. Usually it means we are going out or time to go to work.