Author Topic: Boot Camp  (Read 4660 times)

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Offline Londongirl

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #30 on: April 06, 2017, 08:43:15 AM »
Henry is neutered and bloody difficult to train. I very much doubt it would make any difference.

It sounds like your trainer has some excellent methods, but there are always allowances to be made for breed and temperament. I have a feeling that stopping Blue from sniffing altogether will make life miserable for you both. That's not to say he should be allowed to do it whenever he wants. Just that a bit of compromise may be necessary.
Rachael (me) and Henry (him)


Offline Murphys Law

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #31 on: April 06, 2017, 12:23:03 PM »
Thanks.  The trainer did indeed suggest that any sniffing should be a reward and not allowed on normal walks, I was told not to let him be between me and the wall because it encourages 'wall hugging' (sniffing and scent marking), but actually we have narrow pavements here (if any) and our village is used as a rat run by commuters so is, at times, very dangerously busy with cars, so I would prefer Blue to be on the side of the wall rather than the side of the traffic.
I'm sure you're right LG, I went too fast.  I was encouraged by his good behaviour a couple of days back, and as I say, my fat self needs to get back on the road soon...
It's back to jankers on the cul due sac for Blue then, and heel sessions in the house - never thought of that, and trainer never suggested it either, but makes so much sense, thank you.
The gardeners have gone now, so at least he can go in the garden for a run about off lead.  I'll have to do my own walks when he's gone to bed!

I can get Millie walking really well on a loose lead with the aid of plenty of sausages. But, in my opinion it is not a nutural and enjoyable walk for her. She spends the whole time looking at my hand waiting for her next treat and I would much prefer her to be sniffing for scent etc which, as we all know, is a cocker pastime.

Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #32 on: April 07, 2017, 01:12:59 PM »
Absolutely agree there - obviously there's a time and place for everything but stopping a spaniel sniffing would be like stopping a greyhound running, its what they've been bred to do!!
Castration / behaviour is one of those points where you can ask ten people and get 20 opinions, every dog is different!
All we can do with all these trainers' opinions is to take on board what suits us, what works for us and our dogs but be prepared to disgard some of it as it won't always apply and rely on our own gut instincts. You're doing fine..... ;)

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #33 on: April 08, 2017, 07:08:45 PM »
Poor Blue, he's had a lousy week.  Firstly, no proper walks, and he really doesn't understand why not.
Then on Thursday, he was in the boot of my car when someone ran into the back of it at speed - thank God he wasn't hurt, but he was in shock for the rest of the day.
Then today, he was attacked by a 9 month old German Shorthaired Pointer that's staying with my neighbours for the weekend.  I blame myself.  Blue has met this dog previously, and they got on famously, but obviously they have both grown up in the intervening period.  I blithely wandered round with Blue to let them play together, but the GSP has not been socialised or taught how to behave and he went for Blue in a big way.  Blue was submissive, and screamed blue murder, but the other dog went wild and it gave him (and me) a dreadful fright. Horrible.  :'( 
Blue has been very anxious and clingy all afternoon, I hope it hasn't done any permanent damage, he's such a sociable little fella.
 

Offline Londongirl

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #34 on: April 08, 2017, 07:45:59 PM »
What an upsetting experience. Hopefully Blue will shake it off. Henry was attacked by a beagle but was much younger - about 5 months old. It was awful - he went haring off, running flat to the ground, in a blind panic, blood dripping from his ear where he'd been bitten. The next day we went back to the same park and it was like nothing had happened. Hopefully Blue will be the same.

Hugs all round.
Rachael (me) and Henry (him)


Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #35 on: April 08, 2017, 07:55:13 PM »
Oh poor Blue!! Humphrey had a similar experience with a dog of the same age - it didn't seem to have any effect on him socializing with other dogs but he hasn't  forgotton the dog that went for him and is agressive towards him when he sees him now. Hope Blue can put it behind him!
Glad that neither of you were hurt in the car - must have shaken you both up!!
Is he not allowed off lead at all at the moment?
Lots of big hugs for Blue, - you sound as if a little glass of something to finish off a ****** week might do you good! ;)

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #36 on: April 08, 2017, 09:34:08 PM »
The more I think about it, the worse I feel!  The GSP broke free from a steel cable tether, which was screwed into the ground.   Blue was on his lead, but I lost my grip of it when it all kicked off.  It took 3 of us to separate them.  Because Blue is such a lovely, friendly little  softpot, I just assume all other dogs are the same.  I'm so cross with myself for putting him in that situation. 
I don't blame the GSP; sadly, he has been let down by stupid owners who did no research before they bought a puppy.  They haven't trained or socialised him, and keep him penned or on a very short lead all the time.  He is not the right dog for their circumstances,  and is as frustrated as all hell.
Thankfully neighbours just have him for the weekend, and they were mortified, they both adore Blue.






Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #37 on: April 08, 2017, 10:58:54 PM »
The more I think about it, the worse I feel!  The GSP broke free from a steel cable tether, which was screwed into the ground.   Blue was on his lead, but I lost my grip of it when it all kicked off.  It took 3 of us to separate them.  Because Blue is such a lovely, friendly little  softpot, I just assume all other dogs are the same.  I'm so cross with myself for putting him in that situation. 
I don't blame the GSP; sadly, he has been let down by stupid owners who did no research before they bought a puppy.  They haven't trained or socialised him, and keep him penned or on a very short lead all the time.  He is not the right dog for their circumstances,  and is as frustrated as all hell.
Thankfully neighbours just have him for the weekend, and they were mortified, they both adore Blue.

Can't be helped Blueberry and by the sounds of things if you'd still have had the lead it might have been even worse. Its just one of those things that sometimes happen, you can't foresee everything and at least Blue has you - the other poor dog doesn't sound as lucky!! :'(

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #38 on: April 10, 2017, 06:54:59 PM »
I'm a bit perplexed as to how to move things on, and I feel in need of another little breakthrough soon, to keep me motivated and optimistic. 
Blue has cottoned on to 'heel work' on the cut de sac, and will stroll up and down it all day long with a loose lead.   However, as soon as we get to the end, close to the main road, his nose goes down, he pulls like a mad thing, and he is no longer interested in my sausage, cheese etc., nor does he listen to anything I say - he just wants to sniff, sniff, sniff and pee, and nothing else matters! 

Also, he discovered that he can jump over the wall between our house and next door, where they have a 5 month old collie pup and an older collie bitch, both of which are playmates.  The wall is only 18 inches high at our side, but because we're on a steep slope, there a 3 foot drop at the other side, and he can't get back into our garden by himself (even if he wanted to, which he doesn't!  >:().
Three mornings in a row I've had to barge into next door's garden, and sheepishly frogmarch him home, past their enormous bi-folding patio doors, averting my eyes in case they're all sat there in their jim jams, munching cornflakes ... 
This means a) recall has disappeared completely, and b) he can't be trusted off lead in our garden any longer, so progress to proper walks really needs to be expedited.
Any tips folks?

On the plus side, his sit & stay are really very much improved, and we've totally cracked the door etiquette, which also works to stop him leaping from the car as soon as the door is opened..  He will also sit and stay whilst favourite people and doggy pals walk past, which is amazing!

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #39 on: April 11, 2017, 02:56:24 PM »
Decided to venture out this morning.  School hols means the village is a bit quieter than usual.
Went up to the green, constantly having to put him back in position, as all he wanted to do was pull ahead; sniff, pee, sniff, pee, sniff ...
After about half a mile he seemed to calm down a bit, so I decided to  carry on round the block.  Once he had stopped to do his business, he seemed a lot calmer, and on the return leg he was pretty much to heel all the way - although it cost me dear in cheese and dried sprats!
We didn't meet anyone, or any of his doggy pals today.  From my perspective, it felt good to be out again, doing a 'proper' walk, and he has slept a lot since, and (according to husband) was very well behaved when I had to go out for a couple of hours.
Hopefully, we have turned a corner.

Offline Londongirl

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #40 on: April 11, 2017, 03:04:21 PM »
That sounds brilliant. I read your post last night and have been pondering since what to suggest. But it sounds like you've made great progress today. Slow and steady...
Rachael (me) and Henry (him)


Offline ips

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #41 on: April 11, 2017, 03:27:20 PM »
Sounds like real progress, well done 👍
Muddling along in the hope that one day it all makes sense.

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #42 on: April 11, 2017, 04:56:57 PM »
Thanks, just repeated the same walk, with similar outcome.  About 60:40 pulling/heel.  We met one of his doggy pals and he was very good, sat quietly after greeting, got a bit restless after he realised I was stopping for a long chat with the owner, but walked home very nicely to heel after that.
I'm feeling much happier - and I've managed to do my 10,000 steps today, for the first time in a fortnight!

Offline bizzylizzy

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #43 on: April 11, 2017, 06:38:25 PM »
Sounds like you're really making progress, I think the best way to motivate yourself is to keep reminding yourself how he was a couple of weeks ago - even when you have little setbacks occasionally you're in a much better place than before. Maybe keeping a little diary (like Londongirl did with Henry) would be useful!!
My experience with Humphrey sounds similar in that he'll walk well on certain stretches of the walk  but not others and I think those are the places where we've done more training and he's got more treats - he does seem to associate certain places with certain behaviours so when we go somewhere new, he gets really excited and it like we're back to square one but I'm sure its just a matter of consistant practice in lots of different situations.....

Offline Blueberry

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Re: Boot Camp
« Reply #44 on: April 11, 2017, 08:23:39 PM »
I think he was very excited to be 'out' again, I knew he was bored rigid with ambling up and down our little cul de sac (and so was I).  I suppose it's to be expected that he would go like a bull at a gate.  There are a couple of places in the village that he's always in a big hurry to get to, I suppose they are popular dog toileting spots and he gets a lot of satisfaction from sniffing and marking there.  Once we got past those he was much calmer and became more interested in the treats I had.  Tomorrow I'll take him a different route to avoid those spots, and see how that affects him.
He went to bed early this evening.  Normally he asks to go in his crate around 6 - 6.30pm, but this evening he took himself to it at 5.15!