Re: Charlie's July/August training Well done Charlie! Sounds like excellent opportunity to proof existing behaviours with other dogs, we have our first group lesson next Sunday so will let you know how we get on
Re: Charlie's July/August training Great, keep us posted Kate! Was brave tonight and went to the cliffs (busy on a sunny Saturday evening in summer). Very pleased. People and kids were no challenge to us at all. And my new nuclear weapon (random bits of plastic on bungy cord elastic) defeated the off lead dogs we met hands down. ;D ;D ;D The yellow/elastic toy was supposed to be a tug toy (had visions of copying beautifully behaved border collies getting tug toy rewards after flyball and so on) but he doesn't want to tug it, he wants to FETCH it. Here he is in love with yellow elastic thingy: IMG_2911 by JulieTandCharlie, on Flickr
Re: Charlie's July/August training Oh fab! Just sat down with a glass of wine after a busy day of packing up the ground floor of my house (removals come Monday, closely followed by builders for about the next month - long story!) Anyway, that photo of Charlie just put a massive smile on my face. Well done you! Now, where do I get one of those yellow things.......... ;D ;D ;D
Re: Charlie's July/August training Oh well done Julie. You are doing an amazing job. Send some of your enthusiasm over this way. I'm lacking a little at the moment. Milly seems to go one step forward three steps back ATM. We have had to can the walking all together. There are just too many dogs in our area ATM and when out walking when she sees a dog she just goes absolutely bonkers. We have one more week until we hopefully get the all clear for full activity. Then I think we will go find a big open area for a good run and then maybe find some dogs that pretty much ignore her to play with. Then she might get over some of the obsession. I know most of it is just pent up energy. We are doing hydrotherapy twice a week and to be honest that doesn't even touch the surface of the energy level. She is a delight in the house now though. Most of the time anyway. We do lots of short bursts of training. So in the house she is a perfect dog. Unfortunately that's not travelling to the outdoors we have managed to mostly get the cat chasing abolished. She is is now recalling away 99% of the time. Time out seems to be the best solution for that one. When she ignores my recall from the cat she goes back to bed. Not for long. I just wait until she lays down and relaxes then open the gate again. Anyway sorry for the dribble. Just a little frustrated at our lack of progress and dissapointed that our nice walking has completely gone out the window.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Annette - you sound exactly like I did when Charlie was on restricted exercise at first (for about the first 2 months it was a total nightmare). I think it is really, really tough going and send huge sympathies. It is massively hard to walk an under exercised, energetic, young dog on lead when they are still really learning to do so. And when they have been deprived of all running, playing, energetic training, and contact with other dogs....yes, I know that bonkers behaviour all too well. So Milly is totally normal, as far as my own experience with Charlie goes. A month ago, I honestly thought I had "a problem dog" and I wouldn't crack it. But I've made lots of progress (I am not being smug, I've got a billion miles to go and still dreading and wondering whether going on this fun week training holiday is a good idea - I'm not sure Charlie will be able to watch other dogs off lead being very active and stay calm). My plan of attack from the beginning was: No contact with other dogs on lead - and massive rewards for ignoring other dogs - again and again and again No running off to play with other dogs - I used a long line - I prevent the running away to another dog completely and my first priority is still to prevent this behaviour being rehearsed "Working walks" - every off lead walk is a "working walk" where my attention is on Charlie 100% and he never has more than a minute or so before he is interacting with me again (fetch, recall, get the treat, stop whistle, walk at heel, sit-wait, about turn walk) Then the work with the trainer in the field with a dog that would ignore him if he went up to play - this has been great And the obedience class which just again reinforces the idea he has to work for me around other dogs The steadiness training with balls and dummies has helped massively, too, I think. It's been a good self control exercise for him. He has had 4 play sessions with other dogs now - and has had to behave perfectly before I've released him to play. This hasn't made him any worse. But against all of this, the biggest thing has been having a well exercised dog to work with! Hang in there. There is probably not much you can do until Milly is fit for work again, but it won't be a permanent thing if my own experience is anything to go by.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Thanks Julie that is very encouraging. She is a delightful dog and I'm trying my absolute hardest not to screw it up. But ATM it all feels impossible. Thanks again for your reply it really does give me hope. We have only had 1 month of limited activity and it's been horrendous. You must be an absolute saint to have gotten this far. My poor husband is probably expecting to be almost eaten to death when he finishes his deployment in a few weeks. I have been complaining to him so much about how badly she is going . Lol he only got to meet her for a couple of days when she was 3 months old and still really cute and cuddly. Now she is almost 8 months and 25kg of pent up craziness lol. We do love her to bits though and have made great progress in some thing. I think I have just put things on hold until full activity can be resumed. Mostly for my own sanity if that can even be saved ??? Thanks again.
Re: Charlie's July/August training [quote author=AnnetteB link=topic=7009.msg95877#msg95877 date=1405838918] I think I have just put things on hold until full activity can be resumed. Mostly for my own sanity if that can even be saved ??? Thanks again. [/quote] It will come right, try not to worry too much. She has great foundations, you were doing really well with her before the rest period and she won't forget her previous training. Gosh, I can't believe I'm saying this - I was so worried when I was at the stage you are at now! Everyone told me it would be ok. And I really think it will be.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Annette, we did four weeks of restricted walking in January, and it was pretty hellish. Hang in there, only a few more days to go. Julie, I am loving hearing your stories and seeing the picture of Charlie, having a wonderful time! He looks soooooo happy. Well done you for keeping the faith; I know it was really really difficult at times, though you didn't let on just how hard you were finding it.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Thanks ladies. And Julie your story and journey with Charlie is truly inspiring.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Ah, thanks! [quote author=Karen link=topic=7009.msg95943#msg95943 date=1405866517] I know it was really really difficult at times, though you didn't let on just how hard you were finding it. [/quote] That's so kind! I think the truth is though, I moaned and whined like mad, for months, and everyone on the forum was so kind and gave endless support! Thanks for that all!
Re: Charlie's July/August training Well... Yesterday we did a super difficult walk - along the Fowey river with lots of off lead dogs (we've done the walk before but either very early or very late - and Charlie didn't know before the walk leads to off lead time in the river playing fetch). I had Charlie on a lead because there is a big sign at the start of the walk asking people to keep their dogs on lead passing the places otters live. But everyone else seems to ignore that. Charlie was not well behaved. Very excited. For the first time in ages I got my clicker out and went back to "2 steps at heel - sardine - 3 steps at heel....". Sigh... : Anyway, got to the river, got his bouncy ball out and then he ignored all other dogs. They came and sniffed his bottom, he ignored them. They jumped round him barking but it was like they didn't exist. All because I had a ball. : Complete and astonishing focus on me. We had a great time playing fetch in the river! Then, we had to walk back to the car with clicker and sardines (but got up to 10 steps). I didn't handle dogs walking towards us head on along a path at all well (but was ok otherwise). I got quite tense and we were a bit of a disgrace. So today, I told the trainer all about it and we walked up and down passing a dog heading towards us (a lovely girl Vizsla today). We were much better by the end. Also worked more on steadiness. I can kick a tennis ball in front of me now and Charlie stays at heel! Yippee! So progress on these two things are my homework in advance of Friday, when I have my next session.
Re: Charlie's July/August training great progress !!! and am very jealous of your time training in the sun and the sea(river) ;D
Re: Charlie's July/August training It was boiling hot training! So the dogs got lots of water breaks in the shade. Now, I have visitors and a big BBQ planned, so it's cloudy and looks like rain! :
Re: Charlie's July/August training It sounds like great progress in this heat. What does he do if he is walking to heel on lead and carrying his ball and another dog approaches? Sorry, you may have posted this already on another thread but just curious.
Re: Charlie's July/August training That's a good point - I know Penny always seems a bit better behaved if she can carry something, it's like a security blanket or something!
Re: Charlie's July/August training That sounds brilliant- ignoring dogs sniffing at him! Wow!! Good work
Re: Charlie's July/August training [quote author=Lochan link=topic=7009.msg96515#msg96515 date=1406045640] What does he do if he is walking to heel on lead and carrying his ball and another dog approaches? Sorry, you may have posted this already on another thread but just curious. [/quote] He'd drop the ball. . Which is odd - he is super possessive about anything he fetches, but he is driven most, it seems, to run for it and then keep it (he will now return it too me as I reward by throwing something else). A billion times more into water. Without the chase, I can't keep his attention with toys or balls. I can with a dummy - he'd savage it though if i gave it to him, unless it was part of a very structured exercise of a walking hold (which I can't do with distractions - we fall apart in a disgrace of pouncy, lunging, grabbing mess with distractions).
Re: Charlie's July/August training Sound like you are doing great. Well done. Sounds like an awesome trainer too.
