Hi from Sue and Bracken the GSD living by the New Forest in England. I decided to join this forum as it said all dogs welcome and lots of help on training. And we really need some help although just support will be great. Her problem is that she runs at other dogs barking. It is OK from a little dog but not a GSD although I have been told it is fear based and I know she is not aggressive. Here is Bracken in the New Forest. Hopefully I can share what we are doing and get some input as it is not easy. Sue
Re: Introduction Hi sue...I'm Heidi and live in the U.S..I have Bella a 14 wk chocolate pup...but other big dogs too...livestock guardians. Anyway...welcome. What kind of training are you using on your dog? How are you working to correct the behavior? I'm finding the clicker very helpful with my Bella...but my older dog understands it too. Iw would try distraction when a dog is approaching, and rewarding the calm focus on you and not on the other dog. Good luck and keep us posted!!
Re: Introduction Hello! You and Bracken are very, very welcome! I'm dashing out right now, but I know lots of people on the forum will be able to offer advice on Bracken. Just wanted to say hello.
Re: Introduction Hi Sue and welcome, How old is Bracken? Have you had her from a pup or when she was a bit older? Does the barking happen both on and off lead? Are there some places where she barks and others where she does not?
Re: Introduction I have had her since a puppy and she is 3 now. She barks at strange dogs anywhere. When she was younger I left her off lead and when she got up to the dogs she just used to play. I keep her on the lead now much more and go where I am not likely to meet anyone. I had someone round to assess her and she said it was from fear and I agree with her. We went through her history and I could see where we had gone wrong and contributed to this problem. I treat her when she sees other dogs now and reward her for looking away from the other dog. She is better but not reliable. She raced at someone a couple of weeks ago and pulled the lead out of my hand. I am also trying to improve her recall and I found a book which suggested using her food. Divide the food into 10 bits and if she does not give an instant recall she does not get that bit of food at all that day. We are on day 3 and she is quite hungry.
Re: Introduction Hi and welcome from me and 16 month old fox red lab, Harley Have you looked at Total Recall? It is a book by Pippa Mattinson. Really worth a read on recall.
Re: Introduction A warm welcome from us, Hattie 7 years and our rescue Charlie 4 years. Definitely buy Total Recall which will go through many exercises recalling your dog away from lots of distractions and other dogs too. This book helped us enourmously with Charlie who had NO recall what so ever and couldn't be off lead at all for almost 3 years but now he is off lead and recalls Lots of hard work but totally achievable. That's great that you are treating Bracken when dogs are approaching as you are showing her there is nothing to fear and her confidence in you will grow. If you look on the forum, there is a whole section on BAT tips by Jen that are brilliant and I am sure will help you a lot. I am useless at linking so hopefully someone can do that for you please?? Keep asking questions everyone is so helpful. Helen xx
Re: Introduction Hi there and welcome!!! We love other dogs, not just labs. My dog used to bark at strangers when she was a puppy, and on occasions will still 'huff' at people she doesn't know. I watch her body language closely out on walks, and if I notice any sign that she is not completely relaxed, I call her straight back to me, and then give her a treat for walking past the person without reacting. For recall, it is good if you know exactly what your dog loves more than anything else, and use that as a recall reward. With greedy, retrieving-obsessive labradors that is usually easy to work out, as it is generally either food, or else a tennis ball! Many on here swear by the magic properties of small bits of roast chicken... But as others have said, Pippa's Total Recall book really gives you a whole program to follow.
Re: Introduction Thanks everyone. I have looked at the Total Recall book on Amazon and I will get it after the Christmas rush. Thanks again for the advice and welcome
Re: Introduction Hi Sue. Welcome to you and Bracken from me and Lilly who is a black lab girl now four and a half. Jac.
Re: Introduction Hello there,sorry to be slow saying hi, We are originally from the UK but live in Dubai with Dexter our first dog ....it's great you've found us,you are right,there is so much training help on the main site and support and advice on the Forum. I have a reactive dog,when he is on his lead.....he looked awful walking past some dogs ( really trying to work this out I realised he reacts to dogs that stare at him ) I got a trainer out to our house and had an assessment out on a walk.i then had a couple of 121 sessions and then finally joined a Reactive Rover course ......we are un recognizably better.i don't know if any of that could be an option for you. The biggest tool I have is a strong ' look at me' I already use a clicker and was taught to do this by always having treats on me and everytime Dexter looked at me in the house the garden ,click and treat for his attention....if you don't want to use a clicker you could do this with Bracken and just use a marker word like good or yes then reward him......you work up to getting it onto cue 'look at me ' and then you can use it when you see another dog..... [quote author=suejoh link=topic=9147.msg131156#msg131156 date=1418890033] . Divide the food into 10 bits and if she does not give an instant recall she does not get that bit of food at all that day. We are on day 3 and she is quite hungry. [/quote] ;D I trained Dexter's recall using Total Recall ,I'm currently attending a Good Citizen obedience course and they use the method you are describing ....but the consequence ie not getting the food isn't introduced until the second week ....so you've theoretically done 70 easy repetitions in the house with very little or no distractions before they don't get their food.,so maybe it would work of you went back a step ...I'm so glad we are so far ahead and used Total Recall ,I wouldn't be coping too well with denying him food ....although I don't think he would ever fail a recall knowing there was food in it for him ;D Good luck with it....let us know how you get on x Angela
