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Nov 2019
4:24pm, 3 Nov 2019
28,198 posts
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LazyDaisy
I like that blog, Dvorak!
Oh Maz, I think what Baroness, D2 and hp have all said makes a lot of sense but I totally get that sense of utter exhaustion when progress doesn't just stop, it takes a dozen steps backwards  (It can be a bit like that with small children too ) Rory doesn't know when he's well off, IMO. Keep going, you've done great things with him, and you'll get on top of this stuff too.
(Btw, I'm sure he must be, being a rescue, but he has been neutered, hasn't he? I wonder if the barking at other dogs is because he's feeling a bit threatened in some way?)
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Nov 2019
4:27pm, 3 Nov 2019
15,298 posts
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Sharkie
Isn't he a Brittany, Maz? D2 is prob right about advice from Helegant (as I am sure she is about the dog having confidence in YOU) But lawks it's hard - you have my every sympathy, I know just how much you've worked with and tried to understand Rory.
Aside: Oh Chris! Extreme sad face.
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Nov 2019
4:28pm, 3 Nov 2019
15,299 posts
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Sharkie
Oh yes LD has it!
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Nov 2019
4:36pm, 3 Nov 2019
28,200 posts
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LazyDaisy
Oh, nearly forgot to share a snippet from a conversation with one of our VI members at the race this morning, about dogs and fireworks. She has a guide dog, and she was told that dogs are far less likely to be spooked by fireworks if they can see them. It's the noises with nothing to 'connect' them to, that upsets them.
This could explain why Floss has attended fireworks displays with us and sat unconcerned at my feet throughout, yet when we did some gundog training when she was younger, she really didn't like the loud gunshot noises which were made behind our backs.
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Nov 2019
4:44pm, 3 Nov 2019
7,857 posts
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BaronessBL
Wanda loves being in the garden looking at the fireworks although still feels the need to bark at them to chase them away!
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Nov 2019
6:44pm, 3 Nov 2019
21,092 posts
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Red Squirrel
Ah, this is all very interesting. Hold steady Mazlin. I've just had a week with my friends' 1-yr old cockapoo - the first time he's been left alone.
Wow - I had such a difficult time and I used to work as a dog walker and boarder. Needed to start loose lead walking from scratch - the wee boy was darting and tugging all over the place. By day 2 I was ready to call the training charity who I volunteer with every Saturday and have done for over 2.5 years to hand in my notice because I hadn't learnt anything. Had to nail everything down or put it up high and close all the doors behind me. Lots of things got humped and scratched/dragged along the carpet; resulting in me needing to brush the nail marks out of the owners' brand new living room carpet. I was amazed that the curtains didn't get targeted. Then the barking started at random things that were probably scary; so I needed to work out what and why then build his confidence. We got through it together but it was bloody exhausting and I had lots of opportunities to practice holding it together. By midweek, amazingly, from trying to drag me everywhere by putting his back into it from a low position, he got his head up and we had a loose lead. I was so proud of him I could have cried. Amazing what patience, cheese and lots of praise can do ... but I feel exhausted now just typing this and reflecting back.
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Nov 2019
6:55pm, 3 Nov 2019
6,560 posts
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Helegant
Maz, I feel for you. Sadly I'm much better at the theory than the practice., and no expert. Buy my opinion chimes with others here. The dog needs to have confidence in you, and understand that you will be consistent. (I found Victoria Stillwell videos quite useful on occasions.)
Interesting comment about the fireworks LD. We took Jet to a firework display when he was little, and he objected to the noise. He did the same when we watched a local marathon and there was a crowd of people clapping. Basically, he's from gundog field-trial-champion stock and he just dislikes loud noises, which would make him utterly unsuited for his pedigree.
I've been working on modifying Jet's default behaviour. Like many cocker spaniels Jet has a *very* strong resource-guarding streak and can look (*be*) very menacing when he has something and doesn't want to give it up. The growling and red-eye is intimidating to Mr who won't go near him when he's in that mood. I've been working on turning it into a game with rewards for 'giving up' the prize, and for sneezing/shaking himself back to normal. It's taken a couple of years!
The highest prize is the tv control, and Jet will now steal it, then come and give it back to me, albeit with a suitable level of growling first. He then 'kills' whatever toy he's been given in return.
Interestingly, Jet has been catching 'mixy' rabbits recently while out on walks and I suspect they get the same shaking first because they are dead when Mr negotiates a swap for treats. The fact that Mr is now confident enough to do that is huge progress.
Now, if I could persuade Jet to walk to heel on a lead I'd start to think I know what I'm doing
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Nov 2019
6:58pm, 3 Nov 2019
7,436 posts
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Mazlin
He is a Brittany, yes. Confusingly up until a few years ago they were Brittany Spaniels, but the breed society has got rid of the ‘Spaniel’ because apparently they are HPR dogs (like Vizlas) and it makes a difference to how you train them if they’re going to work. I dunno, I think Rory has a lot of very Spanielly traits, including the obsessiveness. He is neutered too - I can’t work out if he’s getting more nervous about other dogs, or if he’s actually always been nervous but now he’s confident enough to shout at them. (It’s generally young, confident male dogs and for some reason especially black labs. I can understand why he feels threatened by them, but jeez, Rory, something ELSE?)
I have got a head collar for him, but we never cracked him walking in it without stopping every two minutes to rub his face on the ground. Maybe I need to get it out and have another try. I also definitely need to calm down - me being stressed makes him stressed and then he won’t engage with me because it’s all too much...he’s training me to behave the way he wants me to, isn’t he??
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Nov 2019
7:20pm, 3 Nov 2019
29,148 posts
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halfpint
Ernie’s pulling improved when we consistently stopped and took two steps back whenever he pulled. No forward movement until he releases pressure. It was f*cking tedious but he got the idea. He’s still a little shit on the early morning walk but I think he’s really desperate for the loo at that point.
They are hard work aren’t they. I’d do everything differently if I got another.
Ernie is currently stood with his chin on my knee staring at me and whining occasionally. I’ve no idea what he wants but I would guess his evening chew. Sigh!
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Nov 2019
7:35pm, 3 Nov 2019
28,207 posts
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LazyDaisy
Black Labs are often the type of dog other dogs find 'threatening'. Someone told me it's because their black faces make it hard for other dogs to 'read' them but why wouldn't it be all black dogs then? Is there something about a soppy Lab that says to other dogs 'You can stand up to me, get your retaliation in first here!' ?
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