reset is just the thing too. His training's coming along nicely. I've not had him long- only a couple of months, and he's gone from a fearful dog who I couldn't get off of my own block, to only midly reactive, but mostly distracted. He spends a lot of time with his nose on the ground. I use Let's Go! often, mainly when we see other dogs coming, and Uturn him to avoid lunging. The way I figure, after some negative incidences right at the beginning, the more neutral to positive events he has with dogs on the street, the more he'll learn to ignore them, instead of thinking that he must warn them off with barking and lunging. (it only happens if they get within 30 feet and closing) I'm using my dad's dogs here, walking him in a pack, getting him used to being around other dogs out and about. They are showing him how to behave as we pass other dogs, and Toby corrects unwanted behavior. He has a low tolerance for "bad" behavior, being a bit of an enforcer personality. Now that I think of it, I should take a page out of the Petsmart playbook, and carry a toy. When he gets distracted there, I have a toy on hand. I pull it out and use it to focus him. I find that he's more focused on the task at hand, and pulls less if he's got something in his mouth. Sometimes we grab a stick on the walk, and do the same thing. A rope toy would work great, I could lead him by the rope across the street, and let him carry it when he's pointed straight.
