WOW! What a game changer!

 

If you've followed our blog for any length of time, you may remember that training the dogs to walk on a loose leash isn't my strong suit.  In fact, I am horrible at it.  For the most part, when I walked the 24 Paws of Love there was tension on the leash.  Which meant there was tension on my arms and body and I paid for it.  Well, I swore I wouldn't do that with my next dog.  Enter Chevy...

Now Chevy is a good walker and basically keeps a loose leash.  Then he started getting comfortable here and began pulling, especially when he would catch a scent in the leaves.  He would actually lunge to get to that scent and follow it, dragging me behind.  And he does the same thing when he sees people or dogs.  My body was feeling those old pains again and my frustration level was rising on every walk.  

Several years ago when I mentioned my walking troubles with the 24 Paws, Carrie Noar suggested doing some training before a walk.  It sounded like a great idea and I may have even tried it a couple of times, but I didn't have the time or patience to do it with all the 24 Paws.  So, I blew off the idea until now with Chevy.  

Wow!  What a game changer!

The first time I did it, I noticed that Chevy was more relaxed.  He wasn't as anxious or wired up and for the most part he was starting to listen to me.  It was like his brain was rewired and he realized I was there.  This meant I also had to be aware and pay attention to him, instead of letting my mind wander.  I did that by continuing the training on the walk itself.  This kept us both engaged with each other.  

I've been doing this training/walking exercise for the last couple of weeks and what a difference it has made.  (Hot dogs and cheese also helps)  We are both getting to know what the other wants and expects of each other.  Chevy will go into a heel position several times throughout the walk without me telling him.  He has even started staying in that position even after I give him a treat.  While we rarely see people or dogs out this time of the year, the few that we have seen we have passed successfully.  No lunging, pulling or stopping.  It has been great!    

It isn't perfect, but our walks have improved quite rapidly.  I still don't know how to handle the side jerks to a scent, except by watching his body and anticipating it.  I have also found that the longer the training is, leads to a better focused walk for both of us.  It has been amazing what a little extra effort will do.    

Second Step of Integration-The Door

First I'd like to thank our readers and supporters.  You guys are terrific!  We wouldn't be this far in our dog journey if it wasn't for all of you.  So, THANK YOU!

I started a couple of weeks ago with step 1 of integrating the two dogs packs, which was separating them while fixing their food, because they were fighting at the door that divides them.  It is something that has went on for some time, on occasion, but since Brut's death and recently with Silver's passing the fighting (growling, snarling, snapping, teeth bared) has increased in frequency and intensity.  So I took them away from the door, by putting them in their rooms while I get their meals together.  Worked out great!

That same day after they ate for the first time without all that worked up anxiety, I started blocking the door with my body, making them back up from it to stop the barking at the door.  When I got one side settled I went to the other side and settle that dog.  And I just kept going back and forth until they gave up.

Now Chance has a habit of rushing the door when he comes in from outside and Zappa is always on the other side ready to do battle.  I couldn't figure out how to stop him for the longest time.  It took a couple of days before it dawned on me I could open the fridge door and block the hallway that leads to separation door.  Don't worry, hubby is making me a board to slide back and forth.  No need to pay the energy company more than they need!  So after Chance circles back after seeing the blockage, I give him a treat when he comes to me.  Then I go to the other side and make Zappa back up and sit then treat.  Problem he's caught on how to get a treat, bark and here I come.  So one time when Zappa was being a royal pain and wouldn't stop barking because I wouldn't give him a treat, I put him in his room, he shut up and that worked out great.

And for those times I don't make it in time to stop a debate, I have a shaker can and a cowbell to get their attention.  Thankfully I have only had to use them a few times, but they are nice to have around.

So far it is going good.  The first 4 or 5 days were a little hairy, but now they only bark at the door with each other, instead of fight. At least the ones I don't get to in time.  They are short burst of "talking."  Things have really calmed down this last week.  I doubt it is all over, given the chance they would do it again, but for now we are moving forward with our "plan" as it comes to me.  :)

Here's a short video of our progress:  (or on YouTube)

Forgive me if this post may seem a little jumbly, for some reason it was difficult to write.

Dog Socializing Catch Ups

We've had some great socializing going on around the 24 Paws of Love and I thought I'd catch you up on it.

So proud of this guy!!

First up is Brut.  The bad boy of them all let my friend walk Silver while I walked him and it went great.  We walked a couple of miles and when we went into the garage for treats and undressing their harnesses, Brut was friendly to my friend walking right between her and Silver.  Mr. Territorial didn't pay any attention to the fact that she was on his property, in his garage, he was just ready to go out in the backyard like after every walk!!  It was so awesome!!

And if that wasn't enough, we walked all the dogs that night, my friend walking one while I had the other, in their respective pairs.  So Zappa and Blaze were walked by my friend and did great!  Blaze was a little worried at first, but she got right down the sniffing and didn't look back!

I don't want to be nice!!

Then last night my friend and I walked Silver with her dog Callie.  Silver was pretty ruffled about it for about half of the walk, but eventually started to settle down.  When Silver was able to turn and look at Callie without making a bee line towards her, we were doing good.  

Callie girl

And if it wasn't for my good friend and her nonchalant dog Callie, we'd have never made it this far.  Dogs can sense the difference between a real dog lover and a dog owner and this friend is definitely a dog lover.  It is obvious by the way all the dogs have instantly took to her.  And I want to let her know how valuable her friendship has been to the dogs and I.  She'll never know what a chance she took on that first walk with Fiona, her dog Callie and me.  It's like having a live version of all of you dog lovers out there who have been there for me when I didn't have any dog loving friends and I thank you for that.

Sometimes it just takes the right timing

Rarely do I have a clear cut path in training.  I meander all over until I find the method that works for the dogs and I before trying to implement it.  I enjoy experimenting with different possiblities and exhausting all trial runs to know I'm making the best choices where both the dogs and I will be happy.

Open!  Open!  Open the door, Mom!!

One example of this was working with Blaze's strong prey drive with the cats whom she is separated from.  The cats' room is inbetween the Front Dogs and the Back Dogs.  Boxer and Leia have their own cat door into the Back Dogs section of the house, where they mingle with Brut, Silver, Fiona and Zappa.  The regular entrance door is on Chance and Blaze's side of the house.

I've tried a few different methods that involved tying Blaze up and opening the door for Boxer to come out.  When I've scheduled an actual training session these methods worked.  But like many things when you have 6 dogs and a household to run, they can get pushed to the back burner.  Where they simmer until the time is right to work on them again.

How long do I have to wait for the kitty?

Now I've done some on the spot training, with no treats and no real control of Blaze, that as you may have guessed didn't work out quite so well.  What I'm finding that all this time of back and forth, I believe I've found a way to try again with Blaze and the cats and most importantly, Blaze seems ready as well.

I sit at the doorway on the floor, have Blaze lay down behind me, and after some cheese pieces and staying in a down position, open the door to the cats' room.  She must stay in a down-stay while I treat her.  The first time there were no cats around, which was good.  Just practicing down-stay and not going into high alert with the door open is half the battle.  Today we opened the door and Boxer was in front of us eating.  Blaze's eyes stayed soft, her body was relaxed and we just sat there getting a belly full of cheese.  Then I shut the door.

Now that is fantastic.

Gotcha!!

As for the cats, I've broken some trust with Boxer and Leia with my on the spot training and must rebuild, but Boxer being most curious and laid back of the two will come around with Leia in the background.  Which is fine.

Too many times Blaze has been too excited and Boxer too curious, which has lead to Blaze grabbing Boxer with her mouth and nosing him with too much euthusiasm.  So taking it slow will be a good thing for all parties involved.  

It's a beginning with some foundation.  Not totally new.  But both at a time when we are willing and able.  And that's what makes it the best training.  May have taken several years, but well worth the wait.

I'll keep you updated!  ☺

The Versatility of the "Find It" Game

If you have food driven dogs, then this game is for you.  We call it "Find It."  I hide small treats around the house and tell the dogs to "Find It."  They can be placed just about anywhere, in, on, and under things to be found.  It is a great nose work game.

What you may not realize and that I just discovered this past summer is what a powerful ally the game "Find It" really is.

All it took was another night of fixing dinner with Chance clinging to me and Blaze right under my feet when I took a handful of treats and tossed them all over the floor.  "Find It!"  And as they scurried all over gobbling up treats, I finally had my work area clear.  And I did it again and again.  When their noses were "turned on" I started making the treats more difficult to find.  When they ran to the tossed treats, I would hide more in the other direction.  It worked out great!  I got my kitchen back and they got fun treats by using their noses.

My second discovery for using the "Find It" game was with Chance and Blaze again.  Both being keepers of the front yard they charge the fence and bark intensely at people and dogs that passed by.  This discovery was a happy accident as we were playing "Find It" out in the yard and both dogs took less interest in the walkers and their dogs.  It didn't stop their barking, but it did curb the intensity and length of it while also paying less attention to the passersby which meant they didn't charged the fence.  HUGE improvement for Chance and Blaze.  JUMBO!

My third discovery for playing "Find It" is to get stubborn Brut in the house when he knows I am leaving.  I have tried everything to get him in the house.  I have to bribe him with a milkbone.  So I tried the game on him, leaving the door open and dropping treats all over the room.  I had Brut at hello the first drop.  :)  At it is still working like a charm.

I have a few ideas about using the "Find It" game when I'm walking the dogs and we run into others and their dogs.  I'll let you know if it works.  Or maybe I could use it on our socializing walks with Callie and my friend, L.  The uses are endless.

What I love about it is all it takes is a handful of small yummy treats (we use a cheap, off brand dog kibble that is tiny bits and the dogs love) and some imagination.  Nothing else.  And we all have a little of that!  You can make it as easy or difficult as your dog can handle for the situation.  Doesn't take a lot for your dog to learn and is as simple of finding a fallen treat.  You can do it inside and outside and their is no end to the fun.

Do you play the "Find It" game?  What are the ways you have used it?    

I need suggestions, please.

Brut's actions walking on a leash while passing people usually deters anything more than maybe a wave or a nod from other people while I do my best to settle him down as we pass.  Even though running into people is a rare occurrence, when we do, Brut will lunge toward the person.  He doesn't growl, bark, or snarl, just lunges and jumps directly in that person's direction.  While we've had some minor improvements on his behavior, there have been a couple of times he totally caught me off guard and was calm, cool and collective, with little action from me.

My question is:  If ever asked, what could I tell people who ask to pet or say hello to him?  Especially children without scaring anyone?

I tend to get anxious around people as it is, but I'm doing much better at being calm.  But I panic when I see someone up the road that they will want to get close and/or pet Brut.  I understand that I'm not helping out Brut's behavior and that he is likely reacting on my fear to protect me, but I think it would help to be able to have an assertive, yet plausible line to tell someone who would like to get close.  It would really help me calm myself down.

My backup plan was saying that Brut was in training and couldn't be petted.  But here's my problem, I can't lie, it only adds to my anxiety.  The days I may be really training him, I could say that, but out for a regular walk, I don't know that I can do it.  What can I say that is the truth, without having to say he's aggressive or reactive or something along those lines?

What do you say when you don't want someone close or petting your dog when you and your dog need space?  How do you handle situations like that?

Thank you, I could really use all the suggestions I can get.  I am plum out.
          

What famous dog trainer would you hire?

If you could have a famous trainer, who would you hire to help you with your dog and why?

Mine would be Paul Owens.  Here's why:

Did you know there are more than one Dog Whisperers?  One who is the original and then Caesar Milan.  I had order two DVD's by the Dog Whisperer, thinking they were the same person.  To my surprise and later relief they were different.

I started with Caesar Milan, using a choke collar on Brut that I don't believe in and swore I would never use.  My husband was a bit more than worried about the road I was headed.  It didn't take long before I was in tears after a few times out and I never tried the method again.

That lead me to the second DVD by Paul Owens and the minute he started talking and going through the steps, I was in tears again, but good tears.  He was so kind, soft and gentle and I had a hard enough time being hard on myself.  My favorite motto from Paul is:  If it's good for you, it's good for your dog.

Finally I'd found a trainer who had the same beliefs as me and was teaching me how to be gentle and kind to me and my dog.  I didn't feel like I was using cruel and unusual punishments or domination to work with my dogs.  Following Paul Owens teachings lead to an inner healing and a learning of the basic principals that I still use today.

If I had all the money in the world I would hire Paul Owens to help us in uniting the two dog packs.  I would trust his expertise and experience in order to do that and do it in a way that we would be working together, so that Paul Owens, my husband, the dogs and I all felt comfortable.  I think that would be so awesome!  A dream come true.

So what famous trainer would you like to knock on your door to help you train your dogs?