some of you may already know that i have had some mental heath issues, ......it is not a crime just some health problems oh yeah that bugger bipola, well from getting jasper things have took a turn for the better, my o t came to visit today, she said lynne what do you want to do today ....go shopping? ect ...i said iwould like you to have a walk with me and jasper.......well low and behold, we only did a lead walk on a private estate, well on our walk we had to cross quite a few road sides, .....jasper as been taught to sit at kirb sides as soon as he gets to them without any command .........as we reached the kirb side he just sat as always , becky was more than impressed that jasper does this at all kirb sides i .......was well pleased that she said what a well behaved boy he is,......she did say its the first time i have ever seen a dog to sit when approaching a kirb side, she said i have known dogs to stop but never just to sit without prompting .......i will put a video on when mark gets home of him doing this, i was well pleased that someone well else noticed that some times i have a well behaved boy......... he is a crazy lab......my boy is still very scared of traffic and still sits there ......poor love, he seems to have got more scared of traffic, why would this be ??
Re: occupational therapist Jasper is a credit to you Lynne. Not sure I know the exact answer to the traffic thing. Could he be picking up worry vibes from you? I think they all go through phases though....he may settle down and be more relaxed as he gets more practice and matures a bit. x
Re: occupational therapist no jac no worries from me, he just seems to be very scared of traffic......i have got him through this at one time, mark as been away for 2 weeks and still away for another week, he is missing him and showing signs he goes to the window every night at 6 ish to looking for mark coming home, bless him.......jasper sleeps now in marks bed room,.....so a lot as changed for him over the last couple of weeks,.......i have took to sleeping in marks bed room as i would NOT let jasper sleep in my room.....i have opened a whole can of worms, i have allowed jasper to sleep with me in marks bed........omg i think marks girl/friend will be so annoyed with me that spoilt JASPER will be along side mark.......oh dear
Re: occupational therapist Ah, you've done it now, Lynne ;D Jasper will be loving it. With the traffic situation, I recall that you did a lot of work with Jasper back at the start to teach him to be calm around noisy cars etc. May be go to re-visit that training and repeat the steps you took back then?
Re: occupational therapist Lynne, it just warms my heart to hear these posts of how your lovely dog has helped you to overcome the issues that were holding you back from truly enjoying life. He truly is a credit to you and your love and attention to him. I'm not sure about the traffic thing, only to say that with the other disruption of Mark being away perhaps some of his old fear starting to resurface? So maybe as Rachel has suggested to re-do some of the training you did with him initially, just to steady him again?
Re: occupational therapist yes i will start the training of the traffic when mark gets home,......poor love cowers when he hears a noisy car, .........since mark as been away i have not been walking him near any traffic.......he as been getting some good runs in the fields
Re: occupational therapist Very well done Lynne, to both of you ;D I would also agree with the back to bascis re his fear of traffic , maybe sit on a bench , have treats and just sit a while to let him see that there is nothing to be afraid of . Whatever you do , dont say Good Boy if he stresses at all , he will think that he is doing right to be afraid , just try to relax around him , if you are relaxed, Jasper is more likely to be relaxed . He is doing so well though, to sit at the kerb like that , be very proud
Re: occupational therapist good boy that Jasper! I'm impressed on the kerb sitting. My two still have to be reminded to sit, they will stop at kerbs but need to be told to sit. we have to sit at a kerb before crossing over to where The Hill of Rabbits starts, and Brodick has to be REALLY reminded to sit there...
Re: occupational therapist You and Jasper are such a team....he helps you and you help him good luck working on his traffic issues I'm sure you'll get him back to his best.
Re: occupational therapist i am very proud kate, i need to nail this traffic fear ,.......when mark gets back we will spend a lot of time with him, i had cracked it in the early days i cant understand how the fear as set in again he loves going out in our car, he is a very good car companion it is so impressing when he does it, no hand signals or verbal s, i will get mark to video him
Re: occupational therapist Wow Lynne, couldn't be happier for you, what a journey you and Jasper have come on, best friends helping each other Helen xxxx
Re: occupational therapist Lynne, have you thought about playing traffic noises on your computer or CD player in the house as a form of desensitising Jasper. First at a very low volume and gradually increasing the volume if he is comfortable and calm. I am not a behaviourist nor can I see what is going on when Jasper is fearful but sometimes these fears or phobias can be made worse by the owner when he or she gives reassurance that can feel like praise to the dog. So when he sits by the curb side a little fearful of the traffic and you say 'good boy, good Jasper' he might see that as reinforcing his fearfulness rather than praise for a good sit by the curb. But like I said it is impossible for me to say that is the root of the problem because I can't actually see what's happening. Maybe a good behaviourist could help?
Re: occupational therapist So glad to hear about all your success with Jasper. He sounds super. I have similar problems with traffic with Lady. She's ok with cars but is scared to death of busses and lorries. I don't think she will be any different now - just something I have to work around I think.
Re: occupational therapist i live at the beginning of a large estate, he hears traffic passing and doesn't bat an eye lid, it seems to be when a car is passing right by us, he cowers.....got some good advice here i have been making mistakes when a car is approaching us i start telling him it is ok don't worry, so you are all right, i am making him more anxious ........i will take another approach to this,........i am not taking him near any roads until mark gets home, then we can work on it together .........i only have 100 mtr to walk to the field so will just use the field for a week .......thank you all
Re: occupational therapist Its surprising how we can transfer anxieties Lynne , thats why I said not to speak, just a relaxed manner , like its nothing to worry over, he will get there I`m sure
Re: occupational therapist It's great to hear how well both you and Jasper are doing, Lynne. My mum's young border collie was petrified of traffic, and still doesn't like large lorries thundering by (but then who does?? : ). Lots of calm walks along quiet lanes with not too many cars, and also mum refusing to pander to her fear in any way (which can reinforce nervousness) have really, really helped.
