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Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience / Re: Really need help controlling Sophie on leash!
« on: March 16, 2009, 08:18:39 am »
Just wanted to give a little up date on class and what I've been doing at home, if anyone cares. It may be of help for those with reactive dogs.
I'm still keeping a daily reactive dog diary which in the long term may come in handy seeing patterns I'm missing.
The hand feeding during walks has been fantastic. He gets fed when he looks at me and when he's right beside me. I alternate between handfuls of kibble and just giving him one piece at a time. Feeding while walking has many benefits. It keeps me calm having something to do, I get a much better heel and a lot of eye contact, it helps keep Bosco's arousal level low. When he's aroused he takes treats/kibble with too much teeth contact and too hard so a loud "ouch" helps him to lower his arousal so he can take the kibble gently. I love it.
Yesterday I found out that when it's not me holding onto the leash he doesn't react in the slightest towards other dogs. That is a huge revelation! Just goes to prove that I am the problem.
We saw a dog approaching on leash so I used the opportunity to try an experiment. I very securely tied the leash to a bench out of the other dog's way because I didn't want to disturb the dog or the owner and I walked away. The dog was about 6 metres to the right of Bosco and I was about that same distance to the left. No reaction, no lunging, no barking, no hard stares, no tail up. The focus was on me and when he looked at the other dog I asked for a "watch me" and got it no problem. He got lots of praise and treats for that.
I don't know all the things this could mean but it could be that removing myself meant that he couldn't resource guard me or that I am giving him some sort of cue to react with my behaviour. I don't know I'll have to discuss this with my trainer when I see her.
If I get the okay from her, I will be doing this from now on. When I see a dog approaching and granted the situation is safe ie: no pedestrians in the way, the other dog is under physical control, ON LEASH and at a safe distance. As long as I get no reaction I'll throw treats to him for being good but if I get any sort of reaction I'll turn my back and walk further away. And only when he's quiet will I come closer. Over time and many walks I"ll slowly decrease the distance I'm away from him until I'm standing right beside him getting him to watch me.
Then we'll work from there and move onto more challenging situations.
This week we're practicing leave it or off with balls being kicked around, toys being squeaked and all that. Class next week will be practicing with fake squirrels running around-oh boy!
I'm still keeping a daily reactive dog diary which in the long term may come in handy seeing patterns I'm missing.
The hand feeding during walks has been fantastic. He gets fed when he looks at me and when he's right beside me. I alternate between handfuls of kibble and just giving him one piece at a time. Feeding while walking has many benefits. It keeps me calm having something to do, I get a much better heel and a lot of eye contact, it helps keep Bosco's arousal level low. When he's aroused he takes treats/kibble with too much teeth contact and too hard so a loud "ouch" helps him to lower his arousal so he can take the kibble gently. I love it.
Yesterday I found out that when it's not me holding onto the leash he doesn't react in the slightest towards other dogs. That is a huge revelation! Just goes to prove that I am the problem.
We saw a dog approaching on leash so I used the opportunity to try an experiment. I very securely tied the leash to a bench out of the other dog's way because I didn't want to disturb the dog or the owner and I walked away. The dog was about 6 metres to the right of Bosco and I was about that same distance to the left. No reaction, no lunging, no barking, no hard stares, no tail up. The focus was on me and when he looked at the other dog I asked for a "watch me" and got it no problem. He got lots of praise and treats for that.
I don't know all the things this could mean but it could be that removing myself meant that he couldn't resource guard me or that I am giving him some sort of cue to react with my behaviour. I don't know I'll have to discuss this with my trainer when I see her.
If I get the okay from her, I will be doing this from now on. When I see a dog approaching and granted the situation is safe ie: no pedestrians in the way, the other dog is under physical control, ON LEASH and at a safe distance. As long as I get no reaction I'll throw treats to him for being good but if I get any sort of reaction I'll turn my back and walk further away. And only when he's quiet will I come closer. Over time and many walks I"ll slowly decrease the distance I'm away from him until I'm standing right beside him getting him to watch me.
Then we'll work from there and move onto more challenging situations.
This week we're practicing leave it or off with balls being kicked around, toys being squeaked and all that. Class next week will be practicing with fake squirrels running around-oh boy!