Sorry to go on, but, well, I have these moments and I like to share them. I have enough embarrassment to share, so the good times are worth sharing, too... For those of you who don't know, my dogs' littermate, Annie, also lives in our village. This summer, we've not seen her much, because they spend most of their time at their beach house (and who can blame them). This morning, we were doing out normal walk-stroke-training session and I heard someone call "Anniiiiieeeee". Very strange, because a) she lives a bit out of the village so shouldn't be there and b) I thought she was in Switzerland with her owners for two weeks. We were probably about 500m away at the time, but my two shot off like things possessed, adding to my belief it was their sister. They came back to my whistle well before they got to her, but were a bit distracted for a while longer. This evening, we went to a local bar for the rugby (I believe it's a game that involves kicking and throwing a bag of wind around a lawn, but I don't know much more that that). There was Annie! It turns out that she's staying with another couple for the two weeks that her owners are away, and that's who I'd seen this morning. So, other than the fact that they recalled not from any old dog, but from their sister (who is quite nutty), I also had a fabulous experience in the pub. My two both settled almost immediately. They stared (and stared and stared) at me, but no pulling or lunging towards anyone else. There was a toddler in there, running about like a loon, screaming and shouting and coming pretty close a couple of times, but they managed to stay collected for the most part, just a couple of uncomfortable gruffs in his direction, and Willow was more vocal about a silhouette stencil of a snowboarder on the wall!!). Annie was jumping up and being a bit of a nightmare and people were praising W&S for being so calm. Compared to a couple of months ago, the last time we were there, they were absolute angels. We took the three of them for a half-hour run together, the first few hundred metres through a car park. Annie pulled like a tank and the noises from her throat were horrible. But, I thought, for the sake of that distance, there was absolutely no point trying to train her. It did make me appreciate, though, that when my two get it in their heads to pull, they're not doing it with real passion, because Annie is way smaller than either of them, yet was almost pulling me over by herself. The two of mine together weigh more than I do, and they can feel strong, but if they pulled with the same level of enthusiasm, I wouldn't stand a chance! I had a bit of a 'grr" moment when someone was trying to tell me about how I "should" be training (from watching CM) but since that came out of saying how good my two were - without me subscribing to that nonsense - I just put it to the side. There's no point arguing with some people. Anyway, all in all, it was a great hour-and-a-bit for my two to show how good they can be. Give it a couple of days and I'll be right back with the "argh, you won't believe what they did!!!" brigade
Sounds like a huge improvement in the "small screaming child" department! You must be very pleased that all of your hard work is paying off ☺
You get out what you put in. Well done Fiona and of course Willow and Shadow, hope you got some yummy treats x
There was Catalan sausage, turkey frankfurter, cheese and black sausage in my "medium artillery" arsenal, next to my everyday breadsticks. I'm amazed how little I needed, because they were sitting or lying quietly most of the time, but they got fistfuls when the child came past! We're a long way (a very long way) from being settled around children. but this evening shows that is is possible to tolerate one, if we stay on our toes and distract/reward with lots of tastiness. I kept my two on the lead; the parents were encouraging me to let them off, despite knowing that they're nervous of children, and that they bark towards them when they're uncomfortable. I don't understand why you would think that was something that was OK?? I love my dogs to bits and know that they're not the slightest bit aggressive, but I also don't trust them not to snap in fear if a child gets too close (as Shadow, my sweet little soft boy has before). It's like some people don't understand what harm a dog could do, through no real fault of its own. Anyway, they stayed firmly on lead, even though we might be thought of as cruel, restrictive doggy owners, while their sister ran around, off-lead, barking at the kid (she's not happy with children either) and jumping on everyone. I'd rather be too restrictive than sorry...
Oh well done, those two.... And you do so right to have ignored the parents - if your dogs snapped at a child doing something ridiculous, it'd be the dogs in trouble - keep them safe from that. I can't understand how people can stand the sound of a dog choking into its collar. It's like nails down a blackboard to me.
Absolutely the right thing to do to keep them on lead if they are nervous of children. I firmly believe that no dog should be 100% trusted no matter what, there's no such thing as a bomb proof dog. People seem to think dog + children = happiness but not always and you would have got the blame had anything happened Hattie loves children as she was a school gate dog but Charlie is not comfortable with eye level children as I had finished at primary school by the time he arrived so he doesn't come into contact with many toddlers but all other children he loves to get cuddles from and isn't worried at all, weird Glad there were lots of treats on offer x
Yes, yes and yes. They don't like kids. They're quite likely to bark if not being actively distracted or clicker-trained. Otherwise, at the best, the kid thinks it's funny and starts barking back at the dog (yeah, the parents kinda encouraged him to do that until I suggested it might not be the best idea in this case...). Medium case, the kid is startled by the barking and gets scared. Worst case, the dog tries to protect itself and snaps. I'm not worried about the kid having lasting damage from that, but I am absolutely paranoid about the possible implications for my dogs. So, no. No, they are not going to be off the lead around toddlers and other children. Probably not ever. I'm cool with that. The choking thing - it's awful! I knew this afternoon was a potential for pulling, even though it didn't turn out that way, but they were straight into their harnesses because of it. It's so much easier to manage a dog in a harness - if they pull towards someone and you have to hold them back, you don't feel like you're strangling them as you can with just a collar. I don't think mine have ever made that horrible choking sound, even when pulling, because they don't put their backs into it (maybe because they've never actually got anywhere from pulling), but it's a sound that you hear too frequently in other dogs. Ugh.
Firstly well done Shadow and Willow what stars you are. Plus your training is working so well, you should be so proud of yourself. Secondly couldn't agree more, what is it with some people and their children. Even when I explain she's nervous around young children some parents just don't get it. I've spent so much time socialising Mabel around various schools and children's playgrounds and she's still not keen. Yesterday I told a mother Mabel would knock her toddler over. Reply oh he won't mind he likes dogs!! Honestly
Well done Willow and Shadow, and to you of course Fiona . It sounds like their recall has come a long way . Harley is really good and careful around all children, but if a child approaches to smooth Harley without asking first I tell them they should ask and block their path so I can check what Harley is doing. I always put her on a lead to introduce them before letting her off lead. I get children to throw her ball as she loves this . It is unbelievable how many parents let their very young children run over to unfamiliar dogs . They don't think of possible consequences!
How wonderful! Well done and congrats to all of you! It's so nice to see progress and a pay off from all your hard work. You are so dedicated to your dogs, Fiona, they are so lucky to have you!
billiant dogs i wish Rory was so good. I keep doing all the right things then we have a set back he's very much a work in progress. I had some wonderful comments on how good he is and how well he behaves but I always feel like I'm one second away from disaster with him. I know i need to try and relax and trust him more but he still seems so unpreditable some times. Your Dogs are very lucky to have you . Not many people seem to be able to think ahead like you do.
Don't worry, I feel the same! I just try to be proactive and spot potential triggers. DH isn't quite as switched on, so I have to watch out for both dogs, even if he has one of them. He gets engrossed in conversation with someone and forgets to watch out for the kid running past, so not only am I watching the kid and the two dogs (as well as the pizza that came out and was placed on low tables!!), but also watching him to see if he's paying attention. I feel like a mother with the proverbial "eyes in the back of my head" Ugh, don't. I said something along the lines of, "His methods are outdated, obsolete and often cruel", to which I got the reply "But it works", as she walked off. Argh. To be honest, I didn't watch much (read: any). I had my attention elsewhere
Now what you mean about the eyes I'm so aware I forget to enjoy his company and am really trying to relax and think about the commands and Q that he has learned and not panic and use them
