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Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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PenW Jan 2021 2:56pm, 12 Jan 2021 2,127 posts	0 PenW I’ve shut him in the crate now to calm down.
BaronessBL Jan 2021 3:03pm, 12 Jan 2021 8,687 posts	0 BaronessBL That sounds so tough. We had a lot of difficulties with Wanda when we first got her - she was like some crazy animal on the end of a lead sometimes. it does get easier but I know saying that doesn't help you right now!
halfpint Jan 2021 3:14pm, 12 Jan 2021 33,858 posts	0 halfpint PenW did you have a session with a behaviourist/trainer a while back which was helpful? I wonder whether that could be a useful/reassuring step again. (apologies if that was another puppy owner). I think it's much the same as having a baby. Consistent routine and trying not to overstimulate them. It might just be getting all the activities in the right order if that makes sense.
halfpint Jan 2021 3:15pm, 12 Jan 2021 33,859 posts	0 halfpint Oh and again like babies, if you are really stressed they will read it and then feel stressed.
shyfire Jan 2021 3:17pm, 12 Jan 2021 208 posts	0 shyfire Could you maybe get a collar for him as well so there is a quick back up to attach to if he slips the harness again.
PenW Jan 2021 3:29pm, 12 Jan 2021 2,128 posts	0 PenW Thanks. I must admit I had strong thoughts of giving him up. And it was almost impossible to handle him calmly so that wouldn’t have helped. There were a few choice swear words and bits of my coat insulation left on the pavement. Onwards.... He had a collar - it’s quite loose though. He has another collar - I can try that again. The next 3 days the dog walker is having sessions with him. I’ve sent her a WhatsApp to update her. She’s pretty experienced (with behaviour issues too) and was super calm with him when she met him so maybe it will be good for me to have a slight break and regroup and start again. I need to get back to good lead walking training as that would have helped immensely. And perhaps stepping back from the park for a little bit and staying on quieter roads away from others (not easy).
Wine Legs Jan 2021 3:36pm, 12 Jan 2021 5,719 posts	0 Wine Legs We have Skye on a harness, but she also has her collar on at all times, so if she slips one, her lead can be clipped on the other. Using the collar rather than the harness is better for around roads too, with her.
BaronessBL Jan 2021 3:39pm, 12 Jan 2021 8,688 posts	0 BaronessBL We have used a doubled ended lead with Wanda attaching one end to the collar and the other to the harness so that if she should slip out of one the other is still there. We mainly do this if we have to take a footpath through a field of sheep (something we generally try to avoid anyway) but it can be useful in other situations too.
PenW Jan 2021 3:44pm, 12 Jan 2021 2,129 posts	0 PenW I’ve actually got 2 leads so may attach both next time. I feel so bad for how I handled it - I was fairly rough with him when picking him up in my panic and it was all rather prolonged. He doesn’t seem to hold grudges though. And in other ways he’s really friendly and eager to please. I’m going to see how the dog walker manages as she has so much experience and also has a dog training qualification.
BaronessBL Jan 2021 3:49pm, 12 Jan 2021 8,689 posts	0 BaronessBL You will still be his entire world despite this happening and he will still be trying to please you - they just sometimes don't get that what they think will absolutely delight us actually horrifies us!