Hello all, thought after lots of posts of me whinging that I'd share some positive news. Since our holiday, our dog walker (who takes Peps out once or twice a week when I can't be at home with her) now refers to her as 'Perfect Pepper'. I don't think Perfect is the term I'd use, but this is still very encouraging! The other big thing that happened today is that I managed to let Pepper lead in a park with two other dogs in fairly close proximity, and keep her with me!! She started looking like she was going towards the other dogs a couple of times but always turned back when called. RESULT! I know this may sound very minor for most dogs, but this is a big big step for our teenager. Maybe I can hope for a calm and attentive pooch yet...?
Not minor steps at all, but the result of all your hard work! Good girl, Perfect Pepper! (I do like that...)
That's amazing and gives me some hope for the future (our puppy loves other dogs and will bolt over to one every time he sees one!)
Thanks all. I have to admit I was rather chuffed. Then at the beginning of the walk we saw another labrador and Pepper just... didn't seem that fussed about him. There is hope!!!! P.S. Last week she ran literally about 300m to see another dog which was on-lead. I hadn't spotted it and obviously it took me quite a while to catch up with her. I apologised profusely to the owner of the other dog, who was Not Impressed At All. So I won't get too cocky just yet....!
Good Job, Pepper! Quinn ran off and joined another family/dog while on a hike this weekend and would not return...took me 10 mins to catch up to her! Grrr....
@QuinnM15 we have been there soooo many times with Pepper! Today though I also got her to wander round the park with me off lead while there were lots of people walking around, children on bikes, and a dog in sight at the other end of the park. She stayed with me - looked over a few times and took a step or two towards one family a couple of times, but came back inmediately when called. AND I got her to lie down off lead in a stay while other dogs walked past about 10m away for 10mins or so. This was pretty much unthinkable about a month ago (see my earlier ranting and stressing in other posts!). So please do excuse my bragging but I am feeling very proud! No doubt tomorrow Pepper The Lunatic will return and put me back in my place
That's so good! How old is Pepper? We definitely have lots more work to do...the other morning she recalled from chasing birds and squirrels as well as a kid screaming...she ran towards the kid and made a u-turn to me...made me almost forget about her rampage on Sunday. Almost. We have a long way to go before she is going to have decent recall when she is with other dogs or she sees someone with any type of ball...embarrassment level 100! The good thing is she still looks like a puppy so people forgive her (for now).
You brag away! It's so rewarding to see positive changes happening. Well done If she does, no biggie. You know that you've made great strides in the right direction, but we can't all be Perfect Pepper all the time! She will still have mad moments and she'll still make you pull your hair out, but then you just take a step back, a deep breath, and get back to the training that has worked so well for you this far. You got this!
Thanks @snowbunny, I will remember your words of wisdom when she is being a mad loom. @QuinnM15 Peps is nearly 17months old. How old is your pup? X
Quinn is 8.5 months now...had solid recall until close to 7 months. After a great training session at the park last night, she took off this morning (same park) and crossed the street towards another dog on leash. She stopped when i called, like she was considering coming back and did not go up to the leashed dog, but then another dog ignoring recall showed up and mayhem ensued . I'm pretty upset that she has now ventured out of the park...very risky and lucky it's a very quiet street. I have just started reading Total Recall and am going to start back at basics.
OK. Hands up now. Who has stolen Pepper and replaced her with a well-behaved, trained Labrador?! In the last week she seems to have suddenly got great recall and has stayed with me off lead when I've asked around other dogs in close proximity. I also walked her along the pavement off lead, to heel, next to the green in our village where small children were running around screaming. Needless to say she has been given a LOT of treats and praise for these behaviours!! Especially the dog thing. See every other post I have ever written about my dog (usually starting "so Pepper ran 500m to say hello to a dog/just ripped my arm out of its socket trying to get to a dog/ is completely deaf around other dogs" and so on) to know what a big deal this is!! So @QuinnM15, I don't know if this is helpful or not as Pepper is a lot older than Quinn (she's nearly 17 months old now), but it seems that even the most lunatic dog in the world does seem to engage with training eventually. Sounds like you've just got a typical rebellious puppy/teenager on your hands. More than happy to share a list of the ridiculous/embarrassing/out of control things that Peps has done to reassure you that you're not alone! I warn you, it will be a long list!!!
