Well no devil dog events today. A long walk in the woods this morning, about 2 hrs, ping pong recall, heel on and off lead (not much), didn't meet anyone. So she slept most of the day, a neighbour popped round to help me with total recall exercises and that went well, then we did a bit more training and went to veg garden where she is learning to sit patiently while I dig potatoes or pick beans. Which she does no problem! Now she's sleeping again. So nothing has happened to put her over threshold today. Maybe I just have to go really steady and not push my luck with that for awhile, not take it for granted that she's comfortable in different situations, or even some familiar ones.
Again I am unscathed. I've been working, so she's had sometime alone. On my return home she had her kibble tea scattered in the garden, and then some tracking games, followed by a lovely walk round the lake. Quite a lot of zoomies, slight physical contact, but this stopped when I folded arms and turned side on. Didn't meet anyone. Some enthusiastic rolling in otter and goose poo, (Cass, not me) and x4 retrieves from water, a big deal. Very lively, but to be expected. My daughter arrived when we got home, and we practised Total Recall exercises which went well. Quite lively and looking like she wanted to push boundaries but kind of held herself back. (not my daughter). So again keeping under threshold..
Well I've survived the weekend with no muggings. Two lovely wood walks, then just at home although yesterday she had to stay home alone for a while. There's been a few episodes of bounding towards me to grab my arm, but she's stopped eitherby my turning side on or saying "no biting". This is ok if nothing has rocked her boat. It seems like she is easily upset by different things at the moment so taking it steady is still key. There was a fun show in our village today, I would have liked to take her but didn't want her flipping. I wonder if I've tried to do to much with her lately.
This is probably a hard one to answer unless you step up outside visits etc and she 'mugs' you again. Pleased you have had a few days respite. This thread is interesting as you are doing something proactive about a undesirable behaviour.
I'd suggest the next step could be to walk where you will encounter a few other people but don't stop to talk and keep your focus on Cassie. Do you have a local dog club? I ask because at ours we get together once a month for group walks, which could be the sort of thing to help you. How about going for a walk with your borrowmydoggy friend, but let Cassie walk between you?
Well we haven't gone clear today ! I decided to take her further today for the early morning walk, before work, my daughter joined us. And as we were on the way back she started, it's clear now that one particular area is a major trigger for this behaviour, and unsurprisingly it's where I mostly put her back on the lead. I had tug toy in my pocket so was able to deflect her with this and let her have it until the frenzy passed. It's occurred to me that I don't usually do the on lead/off lead thing on this walk, which is usually a quick "leg stretch" round the lake. So maybe I need to do this and vary it up again. I don't know whether I should play a game or something there. This behaviour doesn't seem to happen on our other walks around the woods, where I tend to practice on off lead. Good walk this evening though - some natural agility over fallen logs
Thanks Joy. It's so strange because she's been out and about a lot, and me talking to people isn't new, she usually waits no problem, but perhaps I will have to build it up slowly again. I have recently joined a long established training club, mainly to improve basic obedience and also because they have gundog training classes too. I think they do do monthly walks, so that's a good idea.
Yes you are quite right, she's been out a lot in her first 12 months, with no problems. Instinct tells me to not push it for a while though.
I didn't see this before, if necessary I attach the lead from her harness to her collar, it's long enough for me to stand on.
I've been reading your log and keeping fingers crossed for you and Cassie. Sorry, I don't have any helpful suggestions, I would be totally in the dark if Molly started behaving like this. All I can do is wish you loads of luck, you certainly can't be faulted for being positive and trying everything x
We have one walk where the off lead part is really short. Ella started to anticipate the freedom and started to become silly as we approached. We changed it up and kept her on lead for the entire walk for a few times and it really seemed to help.
No tantrums today. Long walk in the woods, met one person, she was off lead, so unusual. We were so busy investigating an owl sculpture someone had put on a stump that I didn't see him. She was very happy and mischevious, but as he was the worst person for encouraging her jumping up when tiny I was quite pleased with her behaviour. Then this afternoon she spent time in a pub garden and a short walk through town, very settled this evening. I must try the devil area tomorrow.
Not good news. That is definitely a black spot. We walked round the lake and into the woods a bit, on lead and off lead all the way. In fact I let her off the lead at the spot where often she goes on it and told her to go and play, but she was reluctant to go. So I did some heel off lead, which was fine. Thought it was going the right way, but no, in the same place she started jumping up and grabbing my arm etc. Good job I had put on my old waterproof -- on a boiling hot July day Standing on lead takes a while to work, and in the end I gave her the tug toy to carry with some success. It's bizarre really. It is in the area where I have often done ping pong recall because the grass is short. I'm at a bit of a loss really.
It's odd isn't it. I wonder if, because you've often done ping pong recall in the that spot, she expects a game there? You could try starting a game, with a toy, just before you get to that spot.
