An update on Dexter following up on the progress since some earlier threads. We attended 2 of the last 4 training sessions and with his low excitement threshold he was the naughty boy despite top end treats and lots of attention. Still very good at doing all the exercises just lacks focus and can be tearing round the field at the drop of a hat or barking and yelping if not being active. I have not signed up for the next group of lessons, going to work him more at home and see if he quietens down a bit with age before trying again. We have got a long lead and I use it regularly though my OH cannot hold onto him using it if he makes a mad dash - those deer are just too irresistible. His walks being let off the lead completely are diminishing to very few now as he just goes too far ahead (100 yards +) charging after scents and into woods and bracken and his recall is erratic. If you hide or walk quickly in the other direction he realises and dashes back but it is the risk of joggers and cyclists who he may (or may not) decide to greet and they creep up on you or appear from no where so the situation cannot be controlled. It is amazing how other owners assume because you have your dog on a long lead they must be a violent terrorist as you see the reaction immediately - he is just overly friendly and exuberant. If we try loose lead it is done very early in the morning to minimise distractions, though he does not even pull towards joggers or cyclists when on his lead so hopefully will gradually ignore them. This is a real pity and has changed the walks from fun and exploration around new places, to boring and fairly repetitive. We walk him twice a day and he really enjoys and expects these and woe betide if you don't take him out twice as he will bother you continually. He is better walking with both of us on the lead but still has his moments when he loses his head for a few seconds and does not like losing one of his owners mid walk e.g. popping into a shop. The past few nights he has decided he is going to cry and howl at some point in the night and getting up earlier (despite cover on crate) probably due to dawn being earlier. We are trying to break this but do have to have some recognition of impacting neighbours sleep and working family members (one neighbour already asked if he is alright which is code for woke me up ...) Nothing has changed in routine etc so not sure on trigger but something that has to stop. All in all, he is a nice, (overly) friendly dog who has bundles of energy and a great zest for life but gets over excited so easily. I think we are a bit of a joke to other dog walkers we meet regularly as they comment - not settled down yet etc. Hopefully he will get there but not in the 2 to 3 years that many suggest !
@Diablo always enjoy your updates, love your humorous asides. Long lines and terrorists. Might I suggest you take a look at Fenzi and Jones's book, Focus and Engagement!. It contains many exercises designed to get one's dog to better focus on the handler.
Long lines are a great tool, definitely keep ignoring the people who don't understand them (as hard as that is sometimes!) Sounds like you are still doing a fantastic job with him, and he's a really lovely dog
Loads of pictures but afraid I don't have any of the sharing sites that they allow you to upload photos onto here.
Haha, love your post and your boy sounds exactly like my girl! She's 14 months,it's so nice to hear we're not the only ones with a mad, over exuberant Labrador who just loves everyone and thinks everything is an exciting adventure!
Dexter has a field FTCH dad and show type mum and the trainer thinks he takes 100% after his dad and she is seeing more over excitable pups from a field background in a home situation. He is quite tall and very athletic, not heavier boned like the show types and he can run forever once he starts motoring. Is your girl similarly bred perhaps ? Anyone else seen the same or have views on this breeding background ?
I don’t agree with this , well in my experience anyhow. Meg is working stock, both parents gun dogs and many FTcH to her pedigree. Once she got over about one, she has been the most chilled out girl you could wish for. I knew her mum who was the same. When she was younger as long as she got a good walk she was fine, if she was over exuberant it was usually my fault. She calmed down faster than the other 3 show type labs in her classes. Now she is lean, athletic, fabulous off the lead and has excellent manners...she is 5 and I did attend obedience classes for over a year with her .
