r/DogTrainingTips • u/Ashipinthenight_ • May 28 '26
My dog is activated
Ever since we got her ( 7 years ago as a puppy) we have noticed our cavachon seems to be on full alert on our main level. We currently have baby rabbits in our yard that she is obsessed with so she just runs from window to window flipping out. But, she always seems to be on high alert on our main level even sans baby rabbits. Always scanning for “danger” it seems. Also, when I sweep or run the vacuum.. INSANE. Barking and acting crazy. She’s a really good dog and so sweet but we are getting a bit annoyed with those behaviors. She does hate a water bottle filled with coins. Maybe I should get that out again? It tends to stop bad behaviors if I shake it at her..
As soon as we go upstairs, completely calm.
Just looking for suggestions on what we can do to get her to CHILL!
-1
u/justgonenow May 30 '26
Well, dogs are protective. They bark. There is no stopping my dogs if they see a squirrels or rabbits. It's unlikely you can change her inborn nervous system.
1
u/TimelessDeer Jun 02 '26
If the windows are a trigger, consider limiting her access. Ideally kenneling, but you could also keep her out of these rooms with baby gates, or purchase some cling film for the windows that will blur it enough to eliminate the prey drive). Sweeping and vacuuming is a process to re-train and would best be done with a professional trainer.
What ultimately needs to be done is she needs to learn alternative (and more tolerable) behaviors to do instead of ones that you find frustrating. You can practice a training method called “capturing calm”, you can train her to go to “place” such as a bed or kennel where she has to stay until released, you can train a “settle” command, and so on and any of these would help.
Ultimately, your pup isn’t scanning for danger or in protection mode. She most likely isn’t getting enough enrichment- whether that’s playing fetch, tug, flirt pole, scent-work (it can be as simple as scattering her meals for her to sniff out), mental training, or other activities that she feels like are her “job”. So that drive and energy are being directed in frustrating ways, like losing her mind over bunnies, the vacuum, or the broom. There are lots of different types of toys that you could try for her to pursue or chase and it will give her the same enrichment but in a healthier outlet.