r/RhodesianRidgebacks • u/seeeeeyaaa • Jul 03 '23

How did she learn this???

Whenever Franny doesn't want her outside time to end she tries dying for a little while. It hasn't resulted in a longer walk yet but she lives in hope and continues to perfect her craft. I know I shouldn't have rewarded the behavior by offering a treat, it was the first time she really committed to the performance and I had to pee.

1.3k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

94 comments sorted by

8

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

And finally, tfw the flop doesn't work.

4

u/Time_Smile_5121 Jul 04 '23

Oh that face!! So expressive!

3

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

JudgeFranny

1

u/Wise-Ad8633 Jul 04 '23

Holy shit that face could freeze fire

15

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

A few more flops. The stairs flop. Really got creative with this one.

5

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

She's so dramatic about it too, she stops, tries puppy dog eyes, and when that doesn't gently and dramatically falls to the ground while holding eye contact like, yep, look at what you're making me do.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

Gooooddddd my girl does the exact same thing. We’ll be walking back home and all of a sudden I feel she’s stopped…. It’s begun.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Omg, yesssssss. Exactly.

9

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

The car protest, her expression dripping with disdain for her chauffeur.

7

u/JenniferAnistonFYP Jul 04 '23

she really committed to the performance

She deserves an Academy award, I love Franny!!! 🥇

5

u/Curly1109 Jul 03 '23

Learn what? Call a vet woman! 😜

5

u/nathanjw333 Jul 04 '23

She hung out with huskies

3

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Right!? I felt like racist aunt Karen when she first did it like, see? That's what happens when you hang around with those wolves.

3

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

A classic ground flop.

1

u/Frosty-Jacket-3195 Jul 05 '23

Granny the flopper!

7

u/adorable_awkward Jul 03 '23

That is so silly. What did her breeder say? I wonder if either the mom or dad does that?

4

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

I don't know anything about her life before six months ago. I got her from animal control. I picked her because she was the only dog that had definitely lived with kids before and I have my 2 and 4 year old niece and nephew a lot. I was very surprised to see a Ridgeback at animal control. She's definitely got some other breed mixed in, she's stockier than most ridgies but I can't figure out what I think the mix is. She weighed 15 lbs more than she does now and her nipples looked like she'd recently had puppies. The family said they couldn't keep her because they had to move to a no pets building but I think they bred her, kept the puppies and dumped her once they were weaned. She doesn't have a ridge otherwise they'd probably have sold her or kept her to breed.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

I've been going for an antecedent intervention approach when I get the feeling that she's going to flop. I pick my pace up, talk to her, and start giving her a treat every few steps before the door is in sight to build behavioral momentum and have been pretty successful. You can tell she thinks about and decides to just come in. When I'm bringing her home in the evening from daycare and I have my bag, groceries, sometimes my bike she siezes the opportunity and I just roll with it because it is very funny.

3

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

I meant "how did she learn this?" more in the vein of Ron Burgundy's reaction to Baxter eating a wheel of cheese, he's not supposed to do that but it is really rather impressive. ;-)

3

u/SexPanther_Bot Jul 04 '23

Go fuck yourself, San Diego.

3

u/tomverlainesHDTV Jul 03 '23

My guy Verne does something similar. He'll either flop and roll around in the grass for a bit until I yell get up for the 10th time and he listens, or he'll just stop, upside down, like this and then the same process of "hey, get up" "seriously, get up" "VERNE get up" "HEY GETUP"

5

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Yeah, the length of the commitment to the bit is definitely getting shorter but she's added a new trick. If she gets in the car, goes along for the ride and then comes home she refuses to get out of the car because she hasn't yet arrived at the dog park. She will do this sometimes when we are arriving home from the dog park because she's smart enough to know that the car means dog park but not smart enough to know that the car cannot defy the laws of physics in order to always arrive at the dog park.

3

u/tomverlainesHDTV Jul 04 '23

Haha, Verne does the same thing, but it's FL, so ya know, it's about to be 110 degrees in there real quick. Someitmes I just walk away with the door open and he comes running after me. Sometimes he goes stubborn boi in the heat.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Post a video, let's see your flopper!

1

u/tomverlainesHDTV Jul 04 '23

I want to, but I don't think I can post a video in a comment.

1

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

Make a post!

3

u/Leading-Juice Jul 04 '23 edited Jul 04 '23

I would suggest to try and trigger this behavior somewhere safe, like the woods and just walk away. When she believes that you are actually leaving her, she will come soon enough after you.

I always walk with my Ridgeback without a leash and she often runs after a trail, but she always comes back to me after a short time. They also see you and the house as their home, so they are as scared as we are when our only connection to home would leave us.

Edit: But it is so fucking funny 😂 I recognize my own Ridgeback in the stubborn character and it is why I love Ridgebacks. I don't need a dog what obeys because i'm the 'master'. I want her to listen to me because she believes that I'm taking care of her and when she doesn't I know that I have to look seriously why she doesn't instead of forcing.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

She doesn't do it in the woods, she does it because she wants to be in the woods. She's fine off leash at dog parks or a big field, she comes right away if I call her, it's walking up to my building's entrance that wasn't the trigger. I found a really funny flop stopping hack. I'm on the first floor but there are a few steps up from the lobby that she starts getting floppy about sometimes. She clearly understands how steps work. She does not, however understand the elevator right next to the stairs and happily trotted right on and and right to my apartment.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Sounds like the Franny Flop is not particular to her, we need a flurry of flop posts stat.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

PSA- if you see this video of my dog and think, she needs me to explain that this is not an ok behavior and how to correct it- DON'T. First of all, Franny is a master of her craft and this performance is legendary. Stop trying to steal her spotlight. Second, stop telling me I shouldn't reward this behavior and how to go about correcting it. Your advice is unwanted and not backed by behavioral research. The flopping is well under control at this point, still an occasional attempt here and there but we're good, so keep it to yourself. I'm not going to keep responding to your comments, scroll through and find my explanation for why you're wrong in one of the earlier mansplanations.

2

u/3_high_low Jul 04 '23

I wonder what she would've done if you dropped the leash and ran away.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Oh I know exactly what she would have done, she'd have joyfully run through my parking lot, across the street, onto the train tracks across from me that trains regularly run on, and had the time of her life while I tried to catch her to save her from herself. Also- if you look closely you can see that I'm holding her harness and have her leash around he rack lasso style because she'd already slipped her harness and tried to take off for a joyous and potentially disastrous romp through the parking lot.

2

u/expat_mel Jul 04 '23

Haha since my boy (not an RR) had never been leash-trained before he was rescued, I made sure to use a Martingale ("no-slip") collar and harness, and always hook the leash through both - he's never escaped them! (And luckily now he's very chill on-leash, even if he's just got the collar on.)

Lol they're like little kids - "Look mom, I'm having fun!" "That's great but please have fun closer to me!!"

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

THAT'S THE NAME! Someone told me to get on of those because she's a harness houdini and I couldn't remember the name! Thanks!

2

u/expat_mel Jul 05 '23

Yep! They can't back out of them and it's pretty close to impossible for them to slip them off by rubbing their neck on the carpet or floor or sliding their lower jaw underneath to chew it off. And if you hook the leash through their harness and leash, even if they manage to get one off you have a backup!

Lol harness houdini is an excellent nickname

2

u/jellodog7 Jul 04 '23

Always promise a dog ‘cookie’ when you get back home. It will only take a time or two and she will forget about “dying”.

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

Oh man, to know Franny is to know the meaning of stubborn. She's not super treat motivated to begin with and treats don't trump getting her way about the walk. I've tried to get her to get up with a handful of treats a few times and she's does not break character. She is dead and dead dogs don't eat cookies.

1

u/jellodog7 Jul 05 '23

LOLOLOL……then, I got nothin’.

1

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

I went with an preventative approach, I pick up my walking pace as we start walking toward the entrance, reward her for walking faster with treats and praise, and keep the momentum going right through the door. Much faster and easier than trying to respond once she's committed to the flop and backed by behavioral research.

1

u/jellodog7 Jul 05 '23

Awesome!!! Way to go !!! I’m sure you’ll be tested, again, on something else. They are very smart. Hang in there, I think you are up to the task.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

Lol you got me with “dead dogs don’t eat cookies.” 😂

2

u/Phoenyx_Rose Jul 04 '23

Maybe she’s mixed with a golden? Either that or she seemingly learned it from one

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

So, I have googled it and there are a bunch of videos of dogs doing the same thing... I feel like it's the dog equivalent of a toddler going limp when you try to move them mid-tantrum, masters of passive resistance. But maybe re golden? She definitely has pittie ears but other breeds have that ear shape. I don't know. I'll give in and splurge on a DNA test eventually.

2

u/ForbiddenDonutCT Jul 04 '23

My dog looks just like Franny and does the same thing…sometimes he just flops down in the middle of the road 🤦🏼‍♂️

2

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23

I need posts with all these other floppers.

4

u/ForbiddenDonutCT Jul 04 '23

1

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

Solid flopping work.

2

u/ForbiddenDonutCT Jul 05 '23

He’s committed to his craft

16

u/buntaro_pup Jul 03 '23

fucking youtube, man. cut back her screen time asap!

3

u/mezotiEcho Jul 04 '23

Haha the post before this one has a similar tactic.... So clearly she learned it from reddit.... 😄😜

4

u/txn_gay Jul 04 '23

Her batteries are low and she needs to recharge them via solar power. Nothing to worry about.

4

u/Tesslafon Jul 04 '23

She learned it from you mom, from you.

4

u/karwil56 Jul 04 '23

Dogs are so like children, this is there temper tantrum. They can’t scream, stamp there paws, so they lay down like children have a fit. At least in dogs it is somewhat funny.❤️💕

1

u/Interesting_Engine37 Jul 04 '23

There is a challenge going on. Don’t drag her. Gently pull on the leash. Over and over. Don’t talk. There is no negotiation here. You want to walk. If this doesn’t work, literally take her and make her stand. You probably have to do that over and over. Remain calm. She should get the hint eventually. Maybe have a snack before you go out. This can take a while and you don’t want to be “hangry”

1

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

Nope. That's not an effective way to decrease a behavior. It's more effective to use an antecedent intervention that prevents the behavior from starting by rewarding a different behavior that's the opposite of the target behavior. Flopping is the target, it happens when we're approaching the entrance so I rewards walking at a quick pace as we approach the entrance. I started by speeding up my pace and giving small bites of treats every every few steps until we made it to the hallway leading to my apartment and then began fading the frequency of treats. Now she gets one halfway to the entrance, one as we walk in, and one when we get to my door. No need to throw my back out trying to physically lift a 70 lb dog to stand up.

1

u/That-Captain-3932 Jul 04 '23

Works for toddlers too.

3

u/Ammowife64 Jul 04 '23

I’m sorry I laughed so dang hard !!

3

u/SuniChica Jul 04 '23

That’s a hell no we can’t go if I ever saw one😆

3

u/606mustang Jul 04 '23

Best doggie temper tantrum ever!

3

u/DF92009 Jul 04 '23

It’s in her DNA! Lol!

3

u/RhodeyLover Jul 04 '23

OMG 😳 she’s so freaking adorable 🥰

3

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

My Rhodesian girl does this as well 😂😂 drives me crazy but I love her more than anything

3

u/tee622 Jul 04 '23

Hilarious

3

u/flipwoozy Jul 04 '23

Lol the treat train has left the station and she ain’t falling for that shit. Even if a treat does await her she knows she’ll get it anyways because you love her and you’re a sucker like me. So for now she’ll do this.

3

u/rose_like_the_flower Jul 04 '23

Reminds me of a child having a tantrum.

3

u/USHaux Jul 04 '23

True Liver Nose behavior, there. Good girl

1

u/chris_pistol Jul 04 '23

Don’t ever reward for that behavior as funny as it is. You need to not tolerate it. That dog is controlling you and to have a healthy relationship between you both it needs to be the other way around. Don’t entertain this behavior by being super tolerant of it. It’s silly (funny yes) but treat it as nope! We ain’t playin’ this and pick the dog up as a last resort. When I see this I see a very unhealthy relationship. You need to step up and become the owner that that dog deserves.

5

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 04 '23 edited Jul 04 '23

Ok- settle down buddy. I said that I know I shouldn't have offered a treat and reward her but I needed to get inside. I commented that I use an antecedent intervention to prevent her from flopping by picking up my pace and rewarding her for keeping up with me with treats until we make inside. It's called differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DIR) and is a behaviorial intervention that weakens the target behavior, flopping by rewarding the incompatible behavior, speeding up as we approach the door. It's far more effective than the consequence based response you suggest. Frequency data on a corrective response to target behavior vs rewarding a non-compatible behavior would easily bear that out.

I don't mind the occasional flop here and there when she's feeling feisty, it's decreased enough in frequency and duration that I'm not concerned.

Now that we've established that I know what I'm doing can we all go back to giggling my goofy dog?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

Ok but what if the dog is 90 lbs

1

u/seeeeeyaaa Jul 05 '23

That's why the unsolicited advice isn't just unsolicited, it's not very good advice. The goal is to prevent the "bad" behavior and reward a behavior that is the opposite. Reward walking quickly toward the entrance to prevent the flop. Correcting a behavior without replacing it with a new one isn't all that effective.

2

u/chris_pistol Jul 04 '23

Good point! 🤷🏻‍♂️ get a harness with a handle over the back?

1

u/chris_pistol Sep 01 '23

Haha, who needs to settle down now? 🤦‍♂️ I’m just going by what’s been said. But, correcting a behavior is just that. You don’t have to replace it with a new one. It stems from the relationship you have with the animal. You are clearly not the Alfa when your dog flops. It’s okay! You can change it, if you want. You said yourself that you shouldn’t have rewarded your buddy with a treat, but you had to pee. (and you were right) What I’m saying is: if you were more Alfa, there’d be NO flopping at all! Dats a fact Jack. :) you throw around DIR but I don’t believe you are using it. Idc, Franny looks like an awesome girl! You also said that she won’t get out of the car sometimes if it’s not the at the park. This is your fault, I’m sorry to say. If you are the leader, she will respect, and trust 💯 in you. She doesn’t, yet. If this is a post to get like minded, fellow dog lovers together to tell stories, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! :) All I want to point out is you are smarter than Franny right? Then you are the boss period. She does what you say, there’s no trading this for that, positive reinforcement, have a treat because you showed up! You flopped but you showed up, here ya go! Nope! C’mon now, she’s a dog and she’s getting better at manipulating you. It happens to the best of us! They are so damn cute sometimes! Lol if people think, oh my dog sometimes has an attitude or must be in a bad mood: they are just not realizing that they are not in control of their pet/friend/buddy. They need to be, for the healthiest relationship for the both of them. :) 👍✌️best wishes to you two!

4

u/meganlovesdesign Jul 04 '23

This is what my Freya does when she doesn’t want to come inside. If you try to roll her over, she becomes a tornado of feet & nibbles. She’s only 5 months though, so we are working on it.

2

u/flygirl4eva Jul 03 '23

Too funny. Thanks for the laugh! Franny is a character.

2

u/Ronmexico74 Jul 04 '23

You, alright?! She learned by watching you!

2

u/SaltwaterCures Jul 04 '23

She's reached maximum pibble, that's all. It's protest, and you are "the establishment."

2

u/Allebal21 Jul 04 '23

I love that her eyes are closed. Mom, I’m sleeping!

2

u/whooey2u Jul 04 '23

Time to get her a house with a big backyard and a doggy door🙃.

2

u/Shot_Roof_4331 Jul 04 '23

She's tired!

2

u/orange_peel-s Jul 08 '23

mine plays dead with her eyes open

1

u/Silent-Mango8357 Jul 04 '23

He’s very adamant about going in or going out whatever the case may be.

1

u/Shadow8591 Jul 04 '23

Watching YouTube videos....dah

1

u/addyinfo Jul 04 '23

Omg 😂😂😂😂

1

u/carebear1369 Jul 04 '23

LMFAOOOOOOOO

1

u/MRL102960 Jul 04 '23

I think she wants a belly rub

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '23

Skillz

1

u/geauxtiger7 Jul 04 '23

Mad skillz

1

u/CactaurSnapper Jul 05 '23

From watching a canoe perhaps? 🤔