Well, the bro's visit is a bit of a mixed bag. 1) The Good - out at the dog park today. Simba was trying to get another dog to play- owners just wanted to walk through the dog park and not have others dogs play with theirs (so why are they there, you ask? Good question!). As they are walking Simba is following them, sniffing at their dog, trying to engage the dog. Owners are obviously getting fed up, trying to "shoo" Simba, etc. This air always a dilemma as I don't have any way of getting the pooch to come to me, as you know. So, in desperation I call him, he stops and looks at me ( ), I say "sit!" very firmly, use the hand signal....and after a second of thinking about it, he does!! I say "Stay!" and he sits there nicely until I get to him and can click on the lead. ;D Give him treats and praise!! I was very pleased with the boy!! 2) The Bad and the Ugly - well, the rest of us went out to church this morning and bro stayed behind with the pooch. I had asked bro to take Simba for a walk while we were gone, which he very nicely did. During the walk, Simba found a plastic milkshake cup which still had some nummy bits in it and picked it up (of course). Bro, worrying that he would eat the cup and swallow jagged bits of plastic, bent down to pull the cup out of dog's mouth. Of course, Simba snapped at him...actually drew blood this time (I mean, it was a graze, not a puncture wound, but STILL).... My fault - I forgot to tell bro about this issue. And bless his heart, he was understanding. Top of the list next week when I can get back to training: resource guarding. I have done some of this with the pooch, and I think it is helping, but obviously I need to do more. His first instinctive reaction when he has certain items (and it's not all the time) is to growl and/or snap. I know it comes from his previous home... but still, it's unnerving. Sigh. :-\
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Well Number 1 is really awesome. I know that Obi would not sit at such a distance!! Great work Number 2....well....it'll take time. Snapping is a strategy that has worked very well for Simba in the past and it's a tough one to crack.....
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Yes, I know....it's just muscle memory/instinct. He definitely is better than when we first got him...I do wonder if we will ever be able to cure him of it entirely, which is disconcerting. But I really am going to put a concerted effort in, and we'll see how it goes. I really am pleased about the sit/stay....at a distance, with the distraction of another dog...focus right on me....
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Brill on the dog park! That's great! It's more than great, really, pretty fantastic.
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Great on the sit/stay Lisa. I think I am more likely to get that too in another dog situation rather than the actual recall : but I don't grt nearly as good focus as that. Well done! Small steps.....
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Wow Lisa, that is amazing, we are all working our butts of with the stop whistle for that one ;D Sorry I can't offer any advise on the second point You do seem to be getting it under control. Keep going girl Helen xx
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly wow lisa well done, you have come a long way, take a pat on the back
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly That's really cool, regarding the sit at a distance! Well done! The snapping... not so great... but not your fault, either. Keep going with that, like you say I think it's more a learned and successful behavior rather than any actual aggression on his part.
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly the good is very, very good! the bad and the ugly...it's a shame but you were working and improving on that already so I think all-in-all that counts as a big win! You're doing the right thing, keep going with your training, I'm sure you'll get there
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly I know the snap attack wasn't great but hasn't Simba come a long way?well done Lisa,you are just quietly chipping away training him and what you are doing is effective. It's a shame that the family you met wouldn't let Simba have a play,hope he finds some better friends next time. Your brother is a good sport with Simba isn't he,he's had more than his share of run ins with your pooch!x
Re: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Thanks, all.....small steps always and sometimes you have a victory. Yes, Angela, my poor brother! He has been the brunt of Simba's most unattractive side, what with the humping, jumping up, and now this... :-\ Wouldn't blame him for not coming back for awhile....he is a good sport about it, though. Have to say he was more "chill" about the snapping than the humping, though... :
