I'm certain it's normal....but having a wobbly. Coco has been to two new places today, and each time it's been difficult to progress on lead. It took me over 15 minutes to do less than 500 yards this morning. He's had a ball off lead, so well worth it. I'm sure not everyone has problems in new places, but please tell me it's not terribly abnormal.. Any tips?
I don't thinking it's that unusual for a dog to have a wobbly arriving some where new, although it's more common when they are little. Not knowing Coco's history it is possible that he hasn't had a lot of experience of new places. My advice would be to go basics as if he was a young puppy and to socialise him by taking him to new places as often as possible. Once he learns that he has something nice at the new, scary place he will soon view new places as a good thing. He will already have learnt today that new places can be good by having fun off lead. Just need to find new places for him to try and that can be easier said than done.
I think they're more exciting than scary, but yes - expose him to new places. I'm off work for 2 days, so that is my goal. Expect difficulties and enjoy. Usually, when I am at work in the afternoon, I am just trying to get a walk in without too much hassle. Today there was much lead tension and sniffing. Then off lead, his recall was only about 70% successful (100% at home). We did do various other bits like touch/sit /down/stand/stop-whistle - all valuable. AND we ignored a dog - at a big distance, but we ignored it. "DOWN"
You will be better prepared tomorrow knowing that he was excited in a new place today. I think his recall was pretty good considering the extra excitement, throw in the extra training exercises, AND ignoring another dog and I would say overall a pretty good outing
Dexter takes a while to settle in new places, sends his puppy brain OTT I take my time and don't go anywhere until the sensory overload has come way down. High value rewards and plenty of stopping and starting, then off lead once calm and as soon as possible
Yes, we have this, too. Remember you can go back to square one, streaming treats as you walk. I often forget this and just expect them to walk nicely because they "know how to", without taking into account the new level of distraction. I find that breaking up the heel walk with some hand targeting games (on lead, still) helps to refocus their attention, too, when they're struggling.
The only people that don't have problems in news places are: a) people who don't take their dogs to new places (and that's an awful lot of people) and b) people that have spent half their lives generalising and proofing behaviour in new places. There ain't nowt you can do but take your dog to new places and stick it out. Best of luck.
You asked for tips....calming circles. Get your over excited, ridiculous dog out of the car and walk a circuit, round the car park is usually good - round and round. Ignore silly lunges, whining, dog altogether too excited stuff. Keeping walking, round and round. When dog is a little less silly, start clicking for good behaviour (eg walking sensibly by your side). Keep walking - the same ground, over and over. When you are clicking reliably, and the dog is being sensible, expand your circuit to take in the bushes at the side etc. Keep going, round and round, until the dog is in a calmer state. Then set off. Obviously, you can't keep walking round in circles forever, and you have to decide when you have that calmer state. It doesn't really matter that your dog goes nuts as soon as you stop walking, it's the routine that matters - get to a new place, walk starts when you are a bit calmer. The time it takes reduces over time, and the amount of calm you get increases over time.
Very occasionally Juno has decided to be totally deaf when about to set off for a walk somewhere new or exciting. If she won't do a look at me, or walk loose lead or a hand touch, I turn around, open the car boot again and tell her in, remove her lead and then close the boot again. Wait for a couple of minutes and then open again, clip on lead, have her jump out and sit and Hey presto! Eye contact without asking Haven't had to resort to walking in Julie Ts circles yet
Snowie is now four years old, and what I can say from my sample of one is that everything gets easier with age! I never thought I'd see the day, but it came along at around two years of age. I have to admit his recall under excitement is touch and go (usually go!), but two things we got right were: 1) Not allowed out of the car until I get eye contact (Look at me), even with the door open he won't jump out until he looks me in the eye and I say OK. 2) He will not go out of the garden gate, even if open, until I have checked the road for cars and then say OK. Both of these are for his safety, and I'm pleased we persevered as a puppy when he was so excited because as an adult, it's so easy with him. We are lucky that he LOVES new places, ultra confident, so I'm afraid I have no advice on what to do with a dog having a wobbly in a new place. I do remember, when we had had him for a day or two, I took him to our local park where a doggy daycare had direct access from their house. As we got to the gate, about eight small yappy dogs raced at us and Snowie backed away frightened. I simply pushed him ahead, told him to be confident, and walked in. He was never frightened again. I don't know if that did it (in those days I knew very little about dog behaviour, and possibly now I wouldn't push a puppy when it was frightened) or perhaps confidence is in his genes. Best of luck -- hopefully age and perseverance will win through.
thank you all - I knew we were "normal". It's just me having a blip.. Off to try somewhere else now....
yay! Better this morning - we went to the same plantation as yesterday afternoon, but a different start point/path. I got him to wait in the car until he made eye contact, then I let him out with a "OK". His heel was a little better up to the gate, we zig-zagged rather than go directly to the gate. His recall was better - maybe 90% - but I did less of it, letting him explore more. Did lots of touch/sit/down - all good. We met a chap with a couple or Border Terriers, Coco bounded up as usual, he saw them before I did. One of them was deaf and was a bit snappy as a consequence, so the man said, put Coco in his place. We chatted a while and the 3 dogs rubbed along nicely. As we parted, the older dog (mother of the deaf girl) had a snarl and a run at Coco, he ignored it and came along when I chirped "let's go"
Good boy Coco, Sue I think going back to the same place a few times is a good plan then move on to somewhere new
