Many people will take this for granted, but Coco is STILL OTT for wanting to meet everyone and pulling/lunging for other dogs, especially strange dogs. This morning we rounded a bend and a chap with a beautiful Rottweiler was coming toward us on the other side of the very narrow road. Coco don't react but I put him into a sit (in case he lunged - he'd knock me off balance) - he sat nicely and ate a piece of beef while the Rottie passed by, having a bit of a bark (another frustrated greeter I think). We walked on, Coco looked over his shoulder a couple of times, but that was it. Further around the block, the Rottie was coming towards us again, opposite side of a main road. I whipped out half a Bonio and we walked on without fuss/incident. I was absolutely thrilled. Coco definitely earned his Bonio.
Well done you and Coco.you must have been well chuffed. I had taken this for granted until recently. I take Red on her on lead walk and pre spay she was brilliant at greeting/ignoring other dogs. Then we had a month of restrictive exercise and she has got stronger and very enthusiastic at wanting to greet every dog she sees. She sometimes lunges and I have to quickly balance myself or she’d have me over. This week she has been a lot better.
Well done! I must confess that I read your post title somewhat differently. But, you know, this forum is full of poo talk! Not that I thought it through - like, who would eat a dog and brag about it here?!!
It's terrible, but I always feel a bit of relief to know we are not the only people who struggle with keeping our dog calm when other dogs/people are around. We can now get Maxx to sit and watch them go past (mostly) with whispered 'look at that's' and treats and a gentle scratch on his chest. But if we don't make that effort EVERY time, he lunges and leaps and generally makes the oncoming party rather alarmed as he is a big boy now (over 30 kilos). Well done to you @edzbird and Coco!
Great news! He's getting there! We can pass other dogs when they're on the other side of the road, but I haven't been able to properly crack it on the same footpath. Sometimes it's a fiasco, sometimes it's relatively civilised, but we're not where I want to be. Like you, I just don't get enough opportunities to practice this around other dogs, so there's only so much you can achieve.
An addition this morning - we'd finished our walk and Coco was sitting in the boot of the car with the tailgate open while I went to a nearby poo bin. He is tethered by a 2m lead. The Rottie came right past the car. She was excitable and barking and bouncing to see Coco, but he remained seated in the open boot. He could have jumped out, but he chose to stay seated. Is he finally growing up, now he's 4? The man seems a to be a bit of a non-talker, but if I see them again there I'll ask if she's playful - there's a super little field we'd just been in.
OK, there's something definitely wrong with us on this thread. I read this as "while I went nearby to poo in a bin" Coco, you are a superstar!!!! Well done, that boy! It must be his sensible shepherd genes taking their turn
Well done, you and Coco! Ummm... you weren't alone in first reading that title with a completely different meaning.
Great to read your post @edzbird, well done, you've worked so hard with him, it's great when that pays dividends!
Pheww...so my one year old isn't abnormal? It's embarrassing cause I feel like people are thinking that she should be able to be calm. I think she is actually getting better but it's a slow process...
That is why we love the forum. You aren't alone. Ever. We put up the stuff as well as the successes (not at all like the perfect Facebook life posts) Good on ya, Sue and CoCo you rock!
It's been a very slow process for us, but if I scrutinise every little thing there is improvement every day - so this is what I do and I find encouragement. We've had Coco for nearly 3 years now!
Great job Coco! Shamas cant walk by yet, but he's learning that speeding up to walk AWAY from a dog on the street gets lots of praise, rather than lunging and barking Baby steps for our dog-reactive boy. I hadn't thought to sit and treat him while the Other dog walks by....
