Re: BAT tips I was just smiling at the thought of Bat ing the postman Jen I have read through this whole thread this afternoon and have to say that you have done so very well and seen positive results from all the hard work , admirable dedication to helping your dogs . I think i have inadvertantly been BATing without realising it with Miss Millie . She is good with 95% of other dogs but did have this annoying habit of running up to them and the odd 5% that she felt threatened by would get a growl, never ever a bite . Food didnt cut it at all , no matter how tasty , but a ball works wonders so now , I carry one in my pocket and as soon as she starts to run , I call her and show her the ball , she comes flying back so she gets the ball thrown for her which is her ultimate treat . I guess it doesnt really matter what tool is used , a command or an object, as long as the result is the same .
Re: BAT tips Thank you very much Kate. Oh yes Kate your BATting. Your right it doesn't matter what you use. It just needs to give the dog something new to focus on so they can calm down. You will probably find that Millie will start to expect a retrieve when she sees a dog without having to run towards it and you calling her. Watch to see if she looks at you or when she starts to look at you when another dog appears then throw the ball quick before she remembers the reaction you don't want. At this rate I'm going to have everyone BATting. ;D It occurred to me this morning that I think I've BATted myself !!!! I've always enjoyed walking my dogs but I was always concious and I suppose nervous of meeting people/dogs knowing there was a good chance all hell would break loose. Now I'm still concious of meeting triggers but I don't worry about it so I've managed to calm myself as well as the dogs. . I think because I now know how to successfully deal with the situations I don't worry about them happening, at least nowhere near as much. In fact in a weird way I look forward to meeting things. The more we meet the quicker this BAT thing should work. ;D
Re: BAT tips Wow Jen! Huge positive changes for you all round - you deserve a pat on the back indeed.
Re: BAT tips Definitely!!! Being able to bring then back from the edge is excellent. You know you have the tools to manage, whatever the situation.
Re: BAT tips Thank you both very much. Not sure we are quite ready for that pat on the back just yet Jacqui,still away to go, but I really appreciate it thank you. ;D
Re: BAT tips Jen, I think you should be the forums official BATer, you've certainly helped me with my BATing skills x
Re: BAT tips ;D ;D ;D. Thank you Helen. I'm happy to help with your BATing average. . We will hit those boundaries eventually.
Re: BAT tips Morning, well David got his BATing average right up this morning. Charlie met Woody the Fox Red Lab coming round the corner of the lambing sheds they both did one little woof, David got Charlie in a 'sit' gave him treats/praise he did whine a little but then was quiet and best of all Mark and David actually stood and had a conversation. Woody play bowed and Charlie just remained calm They have arranged to go on a walk over the weekend and might even try a little off lead play Charlie is still not looking at David for the treat and I am not sure he will as he is really not a foody? does this matter as the result is the same? :-\
Re: BAT tips Don't worry, Helen, sounds like it's working really well Even if the dog doesn't offer a clear, overt 'alternative behaviour' (like looking at you) they are still offering the behaviour your really want which is not lunging like a lunatic a the other dog You guys are doing a great job - not long ago Charlie and Woody would've had a bark fest.
Re: BAT tips [quote author=Oberon link=topic=4934.msg79934#msg79934 date=1400659272] Don't worry, Helen, sounds like it's working really well Even if the dog doesn't offer a clear, overt 'alternative behaviour' (like looking at you) they are still offering the behaviour your really want which is not lunging like a lunatic a the other dog You guys are doing a great job - not long ago Charlie and Woody would've had a bark fest. [/quote] Thanks Rachael, I hoped you say that I wonder if Charlie's calmness is rubbing off on young Woody ;D x
Re: BAT tips Well done Charlie and David. ;D Bating like a pro. Charlie behaved really well not giving into the temptation of a play bow. I think that could be called proof that it's working and Charlie is learning what's expected of him. He's showing woody good manners while the humans chat. ;D Rachael is right it doesn't matter that he isn't looking at David. He could well be doing a more subtle calming behaviour as he is obviously remaining calmer. It can be difficult to spot the less obvious ones. It can just be a glance away from the on coming trigger, woody, which unless you are really looking you wont spot easily and there are that many other things to do that it's not the most practical thing to be gazing at you dogs face waiting for a sign. I know I've tried. : Brilliant he is doing so well. ;D
Re: BAT tips Bother !!! I wonder if I will ever understand these dogs of mine !!! This morning they were brilliant. We met two lots of very reactive dogs who have always had a go at us. Both times as soon as we saw them Scott and Scout looked at me, I got fish out and we passed with hardly a glance. Both times we stopped just after passing to talk to the owners. My dogs sat by me only interested in the fish. The first dog lunged and barked at us as we passed and as it set off to go. No reaction at all from my dogs. They have also started to look at me if anything happens they are unsure of like passing a workman or a strange noise for which I reward. Brilliant until this afternoon !!! We were walking down our lane two women coming towards us. As soon as the dogs looked at me I got fish out and gave them some. I continued doing this as we had quite a way to go before meeting them and the dogs kept looking at me. We passed no problems. Unfortunately we had to stop as I vaguely knew one of the ladies who started to talk to me so it would have been rude not to (I wish I hadn't been so well brought up ) . Scout decided to bark !!! :-\ . Just twice . I told him quiet although I think he'd already stopped. The women walked on and I gave them the fish for remaining calm. It's so frustrating. I think they've got it then we go backwards. I do wonder if it's our lane. I don't think it would've happened on a different road and I'm sure it wouldn't have happened had we not stopped. Next time we meet someone on our lane I will have to up the treat ratio. Having said that yesterday we met a beagle which didnt look friendly on the narrowest part of our lane. Scott and scout put themselves into the verge as not much room and practically stopped until it had passed !!! Confusing. :-\ PS. It's occurred to me I'm doing it again. What Julie said not to. Focusing on what we DID'NT manage to do today rather than what we DID manage to do today. More positive than negative really ;D. Trouble is its the negative that tends to stick in the mind. : PPS. I have just read the Dr Sophia yin link Rachael put on Yvonne's thread about hotspots. It mentions the harm caused by uncompassionate handling by vets. That is basically what happened to my dogs just as she describes. Thankfully I have found a new compassionate, gentle vet. Although how long he will put up with us I'm not sure. .
Re: BAT tips So in the last two days you've had three 'brilliants' and one 'not perfect but pretty good'. Sounds like something you should be happy with Seriously, you are doing great and I would happily let you train my dog any day!! I thought of your dogs when I posted that link about vets and animal handling....
Re: BAT tips It would be lovely to play with obi. I say play because I don't think the training bit would be necessary. ;D I know I need to stop worrying about the odd wobble. As long as the positives keep out weighing the negatives we are going the right way. :
Re: BAT tips Oh Jen , I feel your pain , but dont despair please , you have put in a mamouth effort and achieved such a lot, walk tall
Re: BAT tips Thank you Kate that's really kind of you. I really must stop moaning and just get on with it. : Having had another look at the article Rachael found its funny as it could be describing my two to a T . Of course that doesn't actually help solve the problem but it does back up my theory that the problem was triggered at the vets. I'm now sure I did the right thing changing vets as I wasn't 100% conviced. Since I've changed however I've met a number of people who have done the same despite having been with the original vets for a long time like me so I'm not the only one who lost confidence in them. I will keep plodding you never know we might break into a run one day. ;D
Re: BAT tips [quote author=Jen link=topic=4934.msg80183#msg80183 date=1400742799] I know I need to stop worrying about the odd wobble. As long as the positives keep out weighing the negatives we are going the right way. : [/quote] I think we do worry about the wobbles Jen because it has been such bloomin' hard work and as we 'progress' even a little bit we put more and more pressue on ourselves to be 'perfect' and our dogs too. I don't put any way near as much pressure on myself with Hattie and she is by no means 'perfect' just easy. I completely understand where your coming from xx
