CAYLA
Well-Known Member
Yep....and this, for instance the moment tye showed alert he was checked and "leave it" he stepped back and looked up as if to say "oh, so u seen me seeing that"
"erm....yes boyo, I certainly did"
Dog reactive dog.... help please!
- Thread starter lexiedhb
- Start date
Yep....and this, for instance the moment tye showed alert he was checked and "leave it" he stepped back and looked up as if to say "oh, so u seen me seeing that"
"erm....yes boyo, I certainly did"
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
I know it takes time, fully aware, but literally NO improvement? in 4 months? We walk at least once a week, usually twice with others, but still if we meet an unknown dog we get the turning oneself inside out, plus training class which is stressful to say the least, some have said I should stop taking him but think just being around others has to be doing him good right?
Trainer from the beginning has suggested exactly what you say Cayla, problem is 9/10 the check simply does not work (on flat collar/half check, and you cant really check on a halti) Nor the voice of doom
Have got a check chain but am loath to use it until I can get back to class and been shown how to use it correctly, although I am not holding out much hope.
Different trainer perhaps?
Trainer from the beginning has suggested exactly what you say Cayla, problem is 9/10 the check simply does not work (on flat collar/half check, and you cant really check on a halti) Nor the voice of doom
Have got a check chain but am loath to use it until I can get back to class and been shown how to use it correctly, although I am not holding out much hope.Different trainer perhaps?
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
Training class is stressful for you...so of course, it will be stressful for him.
A change of class could work, but until you learn to relax, he never will, in the best possible way x
He barks, he lunges, so what, you will both get over it, you should never be made to feel embarrassed or stressed at training class, that's where you go to learn and other handlers should be patient with you.
I have a feeling you are not correcting him strongly enough, because you are worried he will hate you, or you will hurt him. If he is the type of dog, character wise, that I think he is, he won't, and you won't.
It's not OK for him to pull you around and ignore you and hurt your arms. If you have to make him look at you and pay attention and you have to be firm, do so.
I may get flamed for this but I spent so long simpering around and being a bit of a wimp with B, when he actually responded and listened better when I stepped up and said 'no more silly buggers, this is not happening any more'. And he appreciated the fact that I started to look out for us, not him being in the constantly watchful, hyperactive, mode.
A change of class could work, but until you learn to relax, he never will, in the best possible way x
He barks, he lunges, so what, you will both get over it, you should never be made to feel embarrassed or stressed at training class, that's where you go to learn and other handlers should be patient with you.
I have a feeling you are not correcting him strongly enough, because you are worried he will hate you, or you will hurt him. If he is the type of dog, character wise, that I think he is, he won't, and you won't.
It's not OK for him to pull you around and ignore you and hurt your arms. If you have to make him look at you and pay attention and you have to be firm, do so.
I may get flamed for this but I spent so long simpering around and being a bit of a wimp with B, when he actually responded and listened better when I stepped up and said 'no more silly buggers, this is not happening any more'. And he appreciated the fact that I started to look out for us, not him being in the constantly watchful, hyperactive, mode.
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
I get what you are saying I so do..... since |I first posted about this there has been no more Mrs nice mammy when it comes to bad behaviour- dog has literally flown out of rooms by his collar for simply looking at guests the wrong (im about to hump ya) way.
I have started humming when out on walks if I see another dog to try and keep me calm/relaxed- the problem with "he barks, he lunges so what" is well other dog owners, as demonstrated by woods man, seriously do not need him to have an anti social stigma as well as his breeding.
Am not scared of him hating me- you could half kill this dog and he'd still come to you for a biscuit!!
Will attempt to be even firmer- gonna get me a reputation as that lady who is always shouting at her dog........
I have started humming when out on walks if I see another dog to try and keep me calm/relaxed- the problem with "he barks, he lunges so what" is well other dog owners, as demonstrated by woods man, seriously do not need him to have an anti social stigma as well as his breeding.
Am not scared of him hating me- you could half kill this dog and he'd still come to you for a biscuit!!
Will attempt to be even firmer- gonna get me a reputation as that lady who is always shouting at her dog........
CorvusCorax
Deary me...
I was speaking more at training class about the barking and lunging. I get your point, I really do, I used to be the same, worried about what people would think of him, but you have to get to a stage where the barking and lunging **just doesn't happen, OK?** and if you have to have a few embarrassing and upsetting sessions, and my goodness I have had them too, whether it is dragging him past with a fixed grin, getting tangled up in leads, toys, biscuits falling out of your pocket, singing 'lalalalal' while your dog is ignoring you and singing 'squeeeeeallll!!!' then so be it, it is worth it in the long run you will certainly not be alone.
you will certainly not be alone.
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
Yeah the guys at training are fine with his nonsense... "its just Dexter" (with the exception of the miserable collie owner "that dog scares mine witless" erm he hasnt been within 10m of her and no one elses dog is reacting to him)
The dragging past with a fixed grin is pretty much a daily occurrence, along with "so sorry he's a rescue".........
The dragging past with a fixed grin is pretty much a daily occurrence, along with "so sorry he's a rescue".........
MollyMoomin
Well-Known Member
I don't know if this will help but the following is what I've been doing with Herman - sounds just like yours.
We got put in the remedial class at training cos he used to spend the entire 45minute training session barking - used to come out in tears occasionally cos while he was arsing about shouting at everyone, he wasn't learning. We can do all the 'tricks' when we're on our own on walks but introduce another dog into the equation and it's like flying a loud, barking kite.
So in remedial class our trainer suggested trying a new way of training she'd read about, was I amenable? May as well try everything...
Before I was panicky whenever we saw another dog and turning away or tightening the lead to get him closer to me. Trainer got out her stooge dog and we started off outside with Herman one side of the playing field and her with her dog the other. H was allowed to watch her dog all he liked, but the very second he looked away then we were to run away in the OTHER direction, play with him treat him etcetcetc. We then worked on getting closer and closer until the trainer and I were able to walk together with the dogs on a long lead, ignoring each other. The next week she brought a different dog and we went through the same routine again, but quicker this time and the week after that another dog and quicker still.
The fourth week we went back into the classroom with his buddy for confidence and just let him sit and watch what was going on and the week after that he was allowed to join in.
We've come back from training tonight and he was foot perfect - he barked TWICE in the whole session and lunged once because someone can't quite connect the command 'don't let your dog go near Herman' with which dog Herman is, I am so proud of him. I don't avoid taking him out for lead walks anymore and we can go to the busy forest park near us and not panic about who we might see. Today we sat in the middle of the classroom while a few others practiced their heelwork by us. Herman got bored and started licking his arse halfway through, much to everyones amusement. I am so proud.
OK, so we're not off lead yet (issues with recall when he see's other dogs) but it's something I can now see us doing before too long - at the beginning of the year I was imaginging us never walking in 'public' ever again. I work in a big local pet shop as well so had people coming in asking who the dog had jumped on this week etcetc as a joke but we were hardly a good advert :lol:
Herman is a 2.5yr old neutered LH Weimaraner. His issues come from supreme unconfidence, but I am very aware that the 2 brothers and the sister I know have all been dog aggressive and I am desperate not to let it escalate.
We got put in the remedial class at training cos he used to spend the entire 45minute training session barking - used to come out in tears occasionally cos while he was arsing about shouting at everyone, he wasn't learning. We can do all the 'tricks' when we're on our own on walks but introduce another dog into the equation and it's like flying a loud, barking kite.
So in remedial class our trainer suggested trying a new way of training she'd read about, was I amenable? May as well try everything...
Before I was panicky whenever we saw another dog and turning away or tightening the lead to get him closer to me. Trainer got out her stooge dog and we started off outside with Herman one side of the playing field and her with her dog the other. H was allowed to watch her dog all he liked, but the very second he looked away then we were to run away in the OTHER direction, play with him treat him etcetcetc. We then worked on getting closer and closer until the trainer and I were able to walk together with the dogs on a long lead, ignoring each other. The next week she brought a different dog and we went through the same routine again, but quicker this time and the week after that another dog and quicker still.
The fourth week we went back into the classroom with his buddy for confidence and just let him sit and watch what was going on and the week after that he was allowed to join in.
We've come back from training tonight and he was foot perfect - he barked TWICE in the whole session and lunged once because someone can't quite connect the command 'don't let your dog go near Herman' with which dog Herman is, I am so proud of him. I don't avoid taking him out for lead walks anymore and we can go to the busy forest park near us and not panic about who we might see. Today we sat in the middle of the classroom while a few others practiced their heelwork by us. Herman got bored and started licking his arse halfway through, much to everyones amusement. I am so proud.
OK, so we're not off lead yet (issues with recall when he see's other dogs) but it's something I can now see us doing before too long - at the beginning of the year I was imaginging us never walking in 'public' ever again. I work in a big local pet shop as well so had people coming in asking who the dog had jumped on this week etcetc as a joke but we were hardly a good advert :lol:
Herman is a 2.5yr old neutered LH Weimaraner. His issues come from supreme unconfidence, but I am very aware that the 2 brothers and the sister I know have all been dog aggressive and I am desperate not to let it escalate.
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that Molly Moomin.
We worked in a 1-2-1 first before being allowed "into" a class, well on the edge..... he will do everything he is asked in class, better than most of the other dogs there.... but it is like a switch.... sit down, paw, stay- go mental at the dogs that have been sat nest to you for 20 mins- nuts!
Also he will walk nicely with ANY other dog I have asked him to- from JRT's to an Akita X...... go figure.... me thinks a few brain cells may be lacking!!
We worked in a 1-2-1 first before being allowed "into" a class, well on the edge..... he will do everything he is asked in class, better than most of the other dogs there.... but it is like a switch.... sit down, paw, stay- go mental at the dogs that have been sat nest to you for 20 mins- nuts!
Also he will walk nicely with ANY other dog I have asked him to- from JRT's to an Akita X...... go figure.... me thinks a few brain cells may be lacking!!
Dobiegirl
Well-Known Member
Lexie I wrote a very long response but it got timed out
perhaps just as well. Here is the abridged version.:
Freds & my life was turned around by a choke chain, shown how to use it by my trainer and it gave me the chance to check the behaviour before it got started. It saved my life and probabley Freds to. I had countless nights before using it crying because I felt I was failing Fred and I had bitten off more than I could chew.
I know you will get there in the end it probabley wont be perfection but it will be workable and liveable.
perhaps just as well. Here is the abridged version.:Freds & my life was turned around by a choke chain, shown how to use it by my trainer and it gave me the chance to check the behaviour before it got started. It saved my life and probabley Freds to. I had countless nights before using it crying because I felt I was failing Fred and I had bitten off more than I could chew.
I know you will get there in the end it probabley wont be perfection but it will be workable and liveable.
blackcob
🖖
For what it's worth it took the best part of a year to get Dax 'right' and to be able to walk her without thinking 'ohgodohgod a dog is coming'. It's been the best part of two years now and only in the last few months has she been the go everywhere, do anything dog I always wanted, and that's with me accepting that she will never be a push-button, simpering and truly obedient dog. 
Ricoh bucked, lunged and screamed at my neighbour's puppy yesterday afternoon - a tiny little working cocker puppy, owned by a very haughty I'm-a-super-dog-trainer woman. I had to utilise the oh-s**t handle (he wears a choke collar connected to his harness by a neckline, in case he backs out of the harness again and for me to throttle his sorry neck I mean, correct him) and drag him, howling, thrashing and choking down the street, getting the lead wrapped around my legs in the process.
Rinse and repeat this afternoon with a bloke who is a regular in the pub, with his tiny terrier bitch, in the safe knowledge that he will now tell everyone that I can't control my mad dog and much fun will be poked.
Y'know what, they can all go to hell, have they taken on a rescue dog with unknown history that's had probably zero training, discipline, guidelines or routine and is suddenly in a strange place with strange people? Have they buggery, they've had their dogs from pups and been able to influence every aspect of their behaviour, good or bad. We're just doing the best we can with what we have.
Our trainer rang yesterday to give us permission to attend the next round of puppy socialisation classes with Ricoh - yep, that'll be my great big giraffe of a dog terrorising an entire class full of diddy months-old pups. The shame!
Ricoh bucked, lunged and screamed at my neighbour's puppy yesterday afternoon - a tiny little working cocker puppy, owned by a very haughty I'm-a-super-dog-trainer woman. I had to utilise the oh-s**t handle (he wears a choke collar connected to his harness by a neckline, in case he backs out of the harness again and for me to throttle his sorry neck I mean, correct him) and drag him, howling, thrashing and choking down the street, getting the lead wrapped around my legs in the process.
Rinse and repeat this afternoon with a bloke who is a regular in the pub, with his tiny terrier bitch, in the safe knowledge that he will now tell everyone that I can't control my mad dog and much fun will be poked.
Y'know what, they can all go to hell, have they taken on a rescue dog with unknown history that's had probably zero training, discipline, guidelines or routine and is suddenly in a strange place with strange people? Have they buggery, they've had their dogs from pups and been able to influence every aspect of their behaviour, good or bad. We're just doing the best we can with what we have.
Our trainer rang yesterday to give us permission to attend the next round of puppy socialisation classes with Ricoh - yep, that'll be my great big giraffe of a dog terrorising an entire class full of diddy months-old pups. The shame!
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
Loving the "oh s**t handle"
message received loud and clear - More time needed!
message received loud and clear - More time needed!
mollichop
Well-Known Member
This! Remember you have taken on an unknown quantity in dex (meant in a good way) and can only try to understand why he reacts the way he does. You are asking questions and adjusting your behaviour for him - so many people would have given up on him by now for being too much work.
Just think that when it does slot into place (and it will) you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have improved his life beyond belief!