I didn't want to take over @SteffiS post so have started an Eric post lol After all the advice for Ripple I woke this morning more determined! It's half term so we're not at work so have Eric all day to ourselves! After breakfast we had a mad half hour in the house. I jumped, danced, hid, lay on the floor and generally just acted like a nutter. He loved it. Lovely happy boy. Before hubbie went out we both took him for a walk. He was so good (as was Eric ) As soon as we got out of the car he spotted other dogs but didn't run off... he came straight back to me when called. I carried on my jumping dancing and squealing to make sure I was daft enough for him haha. We did meet 2 dogs around a corner who were not friendly at all and thankfully Eric stayed with us then too. on way back to car I had taken the lead off around my neck and was holding it down. Eric kept nudging it so I took it as a request lol and put him on lead. Beautiful walking back to car. Since we've been home he's been wiped down (stinky icy puddle smell), brushed, tummy tickled, left to mooch around kitchen while I had lunch and is now snuggled in his crate fast asleep. When he wakes it will be time for a lead walk around the block before hubbie comes back home. It has been a lovely day. Eric goes to day care 3 mornings a week while we work and this usually tires him out completely for the day which then means we don't always get the time to do silly time, or training, or anything really on those days. Whilst day care has served his purpose while he was younger I am starting to think we might need a different routine. his current day care day is something like this: 6:30 up, garden 7:00 breakfast 7:45 in car ready for day care at 8am 1:00 picked up, home 1:30 after a quick wee he takes himself to crate 3:00 I'm home. Sometimes he just sleeps and sleeps, sometimes if I wake him he is grumpy (as I would be) rarely does he wake ready to be 'awake' I was thinking if we ditched day care his day ( 3 days) would be something like this: 6:30 up, walk to local green area for a run 7:15 breakfast 8:00 last person out of house so time for crate (for 2 days, Fridays the last person leaves house at 10am so unless he takes himself to crate he would stay awake) 10:00 ish walk with local dog walker for an hour 1:00 hubbie home for an hour - walk, mad time 2:00 crate 3:00 I'm home for mad time, walk, cuddles and whatever else we can fit in opinions would be very welcome x
It's lovely to read how you're getting on so well with Eric. What a good boy! I think your revised plan sounds absolutely perfect
It sounds as if you and Eric have had great fun together Good for you being silly and exciting and fun. Your revised plan sounds well balanced and I'm sure will enable you and Eric to have lots more silly fun, and training time, together.
I think the revised plan would work very well. It sounds so nice the way you've been playing with him and having so much fun! Did you notice right away that he wanted to be with you more, that his recall was better?
Thanks, I just need to find a good walker now @Karen definitely! He hasn't really left my side today. After his afternoon sleep we had belly rubs and cuddles. Then hubbie came home just as I was getting ready to walk him. Usually we would both go but I thought I'd carry on the good day and go alone lol Again Eric was fab. It was a total lead walk but mostly a loose lead. We did some sits on route and even when the plastic box on the other side of the road freaked him out his attention soon came back to me. We've had a little bit of silly time before dinner and he's now snoozing. He will probably wake soon for 1/2 hr so will do a little training before belly rubs and bed. I think the love is back today!
well we've kept up the silly time on a morning which Eric loves Followed by a mid-late morning walk with plenty of off lead time and an afternoon-evening lead walk Yesterday we went to Fountains Abbey which is on lead and he was a nightmare. Soooooo many smells and grass and not allowed to run free did not go down well. He pulled and pulled, we stood still. We must have looked like complete loons with an out of control dog! He pulled so hard sometimes it took me off my feet! And because he's so big the responses from people when we explain he's not yet 9 months is funny! It did however show us that although Eric's lead walking around our streets is improving, his lead walking else where is pants! We will have to make an increased effort to take him to nice green smelly places where off lead is not allowed Then today's off lead walk was going so well until a jogger said 'thanks' when we moved aside. Eric took this bit of speech as 'please run after me, jump up and try to lick me to death while ignoring any other human who may whistle or call you.' The said jogger was, understandably, not happy!! Lots of positives this week but I hate these rubbish bits. Feel as though I'm not doing my best by him.
We all have rubbish bits! Remember the positives and build on those. It sounds as if Eric is doing well, but new green smelly places are extra exciting - just avoid joggers!
Don't be despondent. Reading your post you have had a great week with Eric and enjoyed lots of play and walks. Ok you had one walk where he pulled, somewhere that was new and exciting but it has highlighted a small blip in his training that you have identified and will work to improve. Oh and he upset a jogger while trying to be friendly . Can't advise much there as Juno is very good with joggers and cyclists but I always have her come and either stand or sit beside and usually just have contact with her to prevent any untoward movement. A tasty treat also helps . I'm certainly not a brilliant trainer but Juno doesn't judge me and neither does Eric judge you on your training skills. None of us are professionals, we just try to have a well behaved friendly dog which sometimes is more due to the dogs temperament than our training
I can picture this very well as Ella has done the exact same thing before. It's fair to say I was more than a little embarrassed and made me lose a lot of confidence in letting Ella off lead. Sorry, I don't have a miracle cute as we're still working on it ourselves but I just wanted to let you know you're definitely not alone!
Thanks ladies I know he's still young but it does sometimes feel like 20 steps forward, half a dozen back! I hate it that she went bonkers about how out of control he was. And yes I was embarrassed. Yes he shouldn't jump up, but it was one jump up not a repeated attack we'll get there
Ahhh, see you're all ready better than Ella! Hers was a repeated chase and jumping episode (didn't help that the jogger kept going - not his fault though). She ended up a good 100m away, still going, and I was a 30 something week pregnant lady waddling after them! Arrgghh I can still feel the embarrassment!
I think it sounds as if you are doing brilliantly with Eric. His off lead walks sound really good - Ripple has decided he has completely forgotten about recall as everything is more interesting than coming back to me . Ripple also pulls loads whenever we go somewhere new so I've learnt to anticipate that and carry lots of great treats. I try to alternate new places with familiar walks and the lead walking is getting better. Today we met someone with two Retrievers who obviously disapproved of Ripples 'enthusiasm' (even though I had him on the lead) and when I explained he was only a puppy he said he didn't look much like a puppy! We then met two lovely labs - one a really old chocolate - and their owners were lovely to Ripple and make a big fuss of him. It's funny how people can react so differently.
You are doing well. Just add a bit of extra management - you know he might run after the jogger, even if he responds to your first cue. Put your hand on his collar, and stuff his face full of treats. Keep doing that, and after a while you won't have to put your hand on his collar....then you won't have to stuff the treats so fast...a bit longer and he'll wait for his treats...then you'll just have to give him one treat...and so on. Baby steps, slow and steady...
I never explain. I never make excuses for my dog. I just concentrate on managing his mad moments, never explain them, and just smile when I'm given (mad) advice by other dog owners..... It's easier, I find....
You're probably right Julie - I could tell by the guys face he didn't think much of Ripple, I don't know why I bothered with explaining.
Sounds like you have mostly had a really good week . It can be difficult at times, but always remember the fun and good things. Harley is 2.5 years old and walks lovely around the last cal streets (most of the time!), but if we go somewhere new this falls apart. I now use a K9 bridle head collar as I can't have her pull me as I have spinal injuries. If I could go back in time I would of persisted more on loose lead walking in a variety of locations. At 8 months old that is still doable. I'm still trying, but as most of our walks are off lead it's not too important to me.
@SteffiS I think we're both doing well with our cheeky chocs! I agree its funny how people react differently. I sometimes wonder if some peoples puppies ever did anything remotely fun Hubbie is very good at ignoring other peoples comments @JulieT , I'm learning my first instinct is to explain away!
@Naya you're right it is doable. We're going to make sure that at least one of his leads walks each week is somewhere new and exciting. There are so many lovely local places to do this.
