Calming Cap

[Mattie]

This was put up on another board, I have mixed feelings mainly because I have never seen one, what do you think of it?

You will find it on http://www.dog-partnership.co.uk/equipment.htm, scroll down the page until you come to the Calming Cap.

[Horace's Mum]

As with all things, I think it needs to be used with care and training, but I can actually see a lot of potential in it. I have often thought about making a hood for Horus, but this cap just reduces visibility which I think might be quite useful at times. I quite often cover Horus' eyes when he gets overstimulated by his sight, which gives him chance to calm and "think about what he is doing". Not sure it would work for all breeds, but I wouldn't mind betting it could be very useful for sight-driven breeds like herders and sighthounds and terriers. Actually I have a friend I might suggest it to!!

[Leigha]

We have to do something like that for Bru--he'll sit in J's lap and will start growling (while I say for no apparent reason, I know there is a reason, we just haven't figured it out yet--but he likes to growl at my zebra chairs and my tv) so he'll "put the blinders on" and cover up Bru's eyes with his hands and he'll calm down and stop growling.

[Noobs]

Leigha, Murphy does that too. Lying on the couch with us, head on someone's lap, then he'll perk up and start growling. I've found that even if it's dark outside, he may be seeing movement out the window (we're on the 2nd floor so maybe birds or squirrels on phone wires, maybe just tree branches). I found that closing the blinds at night helped. Sometimes it was a noise from our downstairs neighbor that we didn't hear unless we turned the TV down. So check your windows and/or turn down the TV when Bru does it, you might find out what he's fussing over.

But yes, I will cover Murphy's eyes as well sometimes to help him calm down. And when he falls asleep on one of our laps at night while we're watching TV, many times he'll burrow his face under one of our arms so he can be in darkness. (LOVE when he does this, btw!)

[Pawzk9]

It's a clever idea. I've found it requires quite a bit of desensitzation. Have had better luck with other measures (particularly body wraps when the dog is anxious). In general, I'd rather teach the dog to be able to look at - and look away from - stuff that's concerning than to block his vision.

[Mattie]

Dogs can still see through these caps, they just can't see quite so clearly. One of the UK's best known trainers uses them for reactive dogs but says they are not suitable for every dog.

[luvmydogs]

I wish I lived in the UK..I would love to go to Angelas seminars on aggressive dogs and have my GSD evaluated...I wonder if it would work when walking her..It looks interesting but I wonder if she would freak out..I know we would get definatly get strange looks when going for walks...But I also have to use 2 leashes because she is so strong..So I guess i'm use to being stared at..

[Pawzk9]

Dogs can still see through these caps, they just can't see quite so clearly. One of the UK's best known trainers uses them for reactive dogs but says they are not suitable for every dog.

Have you ever put one on? (I'm weird. Even taste test some of my dogs' treats - not the lamb lung though) You can see light and shadow, and gross shapes, but all detail is blurred. Sort of like taking my glasses off and being legally blind, only less detail. This certainly can be useful for some dogs, though stuff on the face can be more stressful than things that they look at. I do have a set, but I generally find other things that work before I resort to them because covering a dog's face and eyes, by its nature tends to be more stressful than not. Then, I'm also not a huge fan of head halters for dogs either.

[Mattie]

I hate head halters, they are find if used properly but that is rare.

I know someone who tried one on her dog, she was asked to by Angela Stockdale, one of our best trainers, he dog didn't take to it so it was taken off, her dog goes quieten down if she puts her hands over his eyes. She did try it herself and said things were blared when you look through it.

[Noobs]

Even taste test some of my dogs' treats - not the lamb lung though)

Sidebar: I can barely stand the smell of lamb lung but Murphy goes NUTS over it. Have been tempted to try the peanut butter flavored treats but have yet to try any of them. And I have at times been preparing his meals which consist of kibble mixed in with people stuff (yogurt, diluted chicken stock) and nearly absent-mindedly licked my fingers.

[bikersblu]

I would be so temped to try this for Leo...he gets so worked up over meeting other dogs. Ive just watched a couple of episodes of its me or the dog and am religiously trying them out!

The only problem I do have is there isnt any places for me to go with Leo to introduce him to dogs. The only place is an hours wakl away from our house, not the best place either as its more or less wild and last time I took a dog up there (I had a springer spaniel called Jasper) he came home covered in fleas regardless of the fact I had frontlined him etc.

SO yea I would be tempted to buy this and give it a go for poor old Leo's sake lol

[Pawzk9]

I would be so temped to try this for Leo...he gets so worked up over meeting other dogs. Ive just watched a couple of episodes of its me or the dog and am religiously trying them out!

The only problem I do have is there isnt any places for me to go with Leo to introduce him to dogs. The only place is an hours wakl away from our house, not the best place either as its more or less wild and last time I took a dog up there (I had a springer spaniel called Jasper) he came home covered in fleas regardless of the fact I had frontlined him etc.

SO yea I would be tempted to buy this and give it a go for poor old Leo's sake lol

I guess I'm not really clear on how blurring Leo's vision would make him more "okay" with being approached by rude, inappropriate dogs. I would think that might make him feel even more vulnerable.

[Mattie]

I would be so temped to try this for Leo...he gets so worked up over meeting other dogs. Ive just watched a couple of episodes of its me or the dog and am religiously trying them out!

The only problem I do have is there isnt any places for me to go with Leo to introduce him to dogs. The only place is an hours wakl away from our house, not the best place either as its more or less wild and last time I took a dog up there (I had a springer spaniel called Jasper) he came home covered in fleas regardless of the fact I had frontlined him etc.

SO yea I would be tempted to buy this and give it a go for poor old Leo's sake lol

I guess I'm not really clear on how blurring Leo's vision would make him more "okay" with being approached by rude, inappropriate dogs. I would think that might make him feel even more vulnerable.

Like Pawz, I think it will make your dog feel more vunerable, gadgets can make a big difference if used properly but when used for the wrong behaviour can be disasterous which I suspect it will be in this situation.

[bikersblu]

Hmm never thought of it that way...I often have to try and move Leo away from the other dog as he gets quite aggressive so I pull him away and stand in his way, but often have to cover his eyes until the other dog passes...he hasnt always been this way and it is so frustrating that he used to be fine with dogs and now he isnt

[Mattie]

There are lots of threads on this here, many have had a lot of success with their dogs and have put up how they did it, they will give you ideas on how to help him.