Usually I walk the dogs separately for their on-lead walks, partly to train Tuppence, partly because Wispa can be reactive and partly to give me double the exercise! I was in a hurry this morning, so decided to walk both dogs together as it was early, not yet raining too hard and probably nobody else would be about. All went well until we were on our way home. I then spotted an elderly man with a young-looking collie coming towards the gate that we were about to go through too. Wispa hadn't yet seen this scary prospect, so I told her to sit, which she did immediately. The man signalled that he'd seen us, came through the gate, but started to walk along a different path, although still in our general direction. Wispa then caught sight of the dog and its owner, but stayed sitting, only did a little bark and then walked beautifully towards the gate when I told her to 'walk on'. Phew! I'm not holding my breath, but perhaps this is progress ...!
Re: Good girl, Wispa! Well done,bet that made you feel great and when you are confident it helps your dog to have confidence x
Re: Good girl, Wispa! [quote author=Dexter link=topic=10385.msg153000#msg153000 date=1427720251] Well done,bet that made you feel great and when you are confident it helps your dog to have confidence x [/quote] Thanks. Yes, it certainly does. It's difficult to strike a balance , though, between being confident and therefore giving Wispa confidence, but pre-empting possible tricky situations. A bit of a blip yesterday, as I was walking both dogs in the woods with a friend. A group of adults and children were playing and taking photos, so I let Tuppence run on ahead, keeping close, but asked my friend to put Wispa on her lead temporarily. We walked past and she let her off, only then to spot their spaniel still sniffing in the undergrowth. Wispa ran over to it and did the usual sniffy greeting, but then barked and lunged at it. She came as soon as I called her and the spaniel ran off to join its owners, leaving Wispa totally back to normal and trotting along without a backward glance. Disappointing, as she can be so friendly to other dogs. I'm not sure why she wants to appear aggressive.
Re: Good girl, Wispa! Well done! I find myself in similar situations, with Benson young, full of beans wanting to meet every dog he sees, and Casper older, a rescue and reactive when he is on the lead, and a bit of an anxious dog at times. I know the feeling when entering a common with both dogs on leads, scanning for potential triggers, I do worry that Casper picks up my tension on the lead and this makes him more wary. I must look odd at times, entering the common and stuffing Caspers face with roast chicken, smiling and trying to look as relaxed as possible.... :
Re: Good girl, Wispa! [quote author=Granca link=topic=10385.msg154207#msg154207 date=1428128255] Thanks. Yes, it certainly does. It's difficult to strike a balance , though, between being confident and therefore giving Wispa confidence, but pre-empting possible tricky situations. [/quote] I was a real nervous wreck last Summer,Dexter was getting to be really reactive to any dog on a lead and if he got stared at or barked at he was dreadful.i had some 121's that really helped me and when I could see that I had 'tools' to get me past dogs and that it really worked I realised how I'd been holding my breath,holding the lead too tight and definately contributing to Dexters anxiety about what was happening.I might be wrong and overthinking it but I really think a big part of our success is that Dexter isn't picking up on my anxiety and has confidence that I can deal with what is bothering him about another dog ,I think he was escalating because he felt I wasn't ' in charge' .....most of the time now we can just trot past dogs like normal people because I'm confident,I know if he starts getting hoppity at any point I can help him to cope and that is such a relief x
Re: Good girl, Wispa! good girl Wispa! that is brilliant. totally agree about handler effect, Cuilli goes calm if whoever has her is calm and gives her her now well understood alternative was of dealing with a potentially stressful encounter. If she folkwho don't normally walk her have her lead, she is more likely to react...
