Re: when walks go wrong. oh no angela......not had this happen to me for a while, only because he is not allowed off lead,.....he will be wild once we let him loose off the lead,.....dreading it
Re: when walks go wrong. Angela, don't blow your whistle outside until you get to that part of the training. You are right in what you said you can so easily undo everything you have done so far. I know it's tempting but I am sure Pippa would say DON'T DO IT. Your friend was probably correct in telling you to stand still and Dexter would have come back to you, but if there was a gate he could escape through that could have been very dangerous so I understand your reaction. I do believe under safe conditions you shouldn't chase your dog as he then knows you are in sight, just as there is no point in recalling a dog that has run off they don't hear you. I know it's really difficult when these things happen, but put it down to experience or maybe use a long training line for a while to work on his verbal recall. Don't let anyone put pressure on you to move too fast with Dexter's training or you will set him up to fail. Keep going with Total Recall and it will all come together beautifully at the end. Chin up you are doing a great job with Dexter and to stand firm with friends with their "perfectly behaved" dogs that always think they know best :. From one inexperienced dog owner to another - keep going. Helen xx
Re: when walks go wrong. Thanks Helen,you are saying everything to me that I know already,it's good to hear someone backing me up....and you are far from inexperienced with everything you have faced,you have a wealth of knowledge courtesy of Charlie and his antics ;D Unless you are doing Total Recall I guess it's hard to understand.....people do look at me like I'm a bit mad when I say I am training with a whistle.....as the next question is ,where is your whistle!?...... Today in the garden I felt like a Proper gun dog person.....( ha ha ha!)pip,pip,pip,pip,pip and Dexter arrives bang at my feet piiiiiiiiiiiiiiip and he slams his bum straight to the floor.Just amazes me I can get him to come and sit without a word passing between us.........in the garden of course!but up to now he has been 100% reliable!would be a crime to mess it up.im just about to start reading the chapter where you start introducing assistants and his sitter is coming to help me with that tomorrow,she doesn't mind being the 'boring' person! I'm really enjoying it....never,ever want to sound smug about any success for fear of bringing a jinx on myself!losing him is the biggest fear of my life and I always feel anxious when he goes out of my comfort zone, he isn't a bad lad really,i know his flash point is other dogs......ii just have to watch out for it.I dont worry about people now,he will verbally recall from them.Your Charlie would have given me a nervous breakdown.......you and your family are marvelous ,thanks again,appreciate the support x
Re: when walks go wrong. angela im sure Gus did give him a cuff...cuillin sprints after brodick if he chases the squirrels in the park and absolutely nails him! rugby tackles him and flings him onto the floor and not gently either and he sprints straight back to me! very effective...
Re: when walks go wrong. Go at your pace with the training, Angela Stick to your guns! Sounds like you are making great progress (don't despair about the odd 'independent doggy moment').
Re: when walks go wrong. Angela did I not say I have had a nervous breakdown due to Charlie ;D ;D When you reach the exercise calling away from dogs, perhaps you could invite Stephanie and Gus to help then you and Dexter can show off As for a wealth of knowledge I would disagree with that, I have just taken ALL the advise I have been given on this forum and without it I don't know where we would be that is for certain Let us know how you get on with the 'boring person', I had to be really careful when I selected a friend for that exercise ;D Helen x
Re: when walks go wrong. Thankyou ,thankyou all, feel much better today,did the same walk this morning ,Dexter was much better behaved.....no heart in mouth moments! Debsie that is a sure argument for having 2 dogs ;D, they never cease to amaze me . Stephanie is really good,she would help me for sure even as we are walking along she doesn't mind me calling Dexter back and making him sit and stay and generally be the fun police.....she wouldn't want to be known as the 'boring' person though for sure ! That's my new term for blips Rachael,'he's having an independent doggy moment!' Ha ha ! X
