Due to a few problems - firstly I pranged the car so it had to go for repair and now I've had a dreadful cold, Ripple has had to have all walks locally in the village where there is very little opportunity to let him off the lead. His lead walking has suddenly improved enormously, the pulling has really lessened apart from any really exciting distractions, and even when he pulls ahead he really quickly comes back. Plus with a really sore throat there is no way I could raise my voice he is responding really well to whispered commands. I've also done a lot more with him indoors and 'leave the pussy cat' is starting to work. Today I had him off lead in the garden - large garden but not really suitable for a lot of work off lead due to visiting deer and their poo - and he shot off and disappeared, no way I could shout for him so I blew the whistle, which I've had trouble getting him to respond to, and he came STRAIGHT BACK. Cue big bonus of treats. So pleased with him, it's given me more insight on how to concentrate on the things I want him to do - so it definitely true every cloud has a silver lining .
That's wonderful! Great to hear about these successes. Sorry that the stone wall did not play nicely with your car though
This afternoons walk was even better, we had to deal with a large delivery vehicle with the delivery men bringing furniture across the road in front of us into a door opening straight on to the pavement, a supermarket delivery van, and someone walking behind us with two small dogs, one of whom was barking at Ripple - this was all at the same time - and when we got to the place where we cross the road for home Ripple sat nicely and waited to be told it was safe to cross with hardly any reaction to the mayhem going on around us. It's shown me that when I have a problem with Ripple I need to rethink my behaviour and use a different approach. The car is now fixed and OH was fine about it, the wall didn't even have a mark on it .
Lovely to hear everything is coming together, literally in the case of the car and wall, whoops. Not that I mean it's lovely that that happened. Hope your cold and sore throat are healing. Well done Ripple and you.
