Jules
Wolf Team Member
PAT Dog Owner
Posts: 1,421
|
Post by Jules on Oct 13, 2004 10:40:46 GMT 1
Right I've had Ollie now for just over 4 months and as yet he hasn't been properly off lead - he wears a harness and a flexi if we go to the fields or woods or wherever Yesterday I had a one to one session at my training club and we used their outdoor training area as it's all fenced in and let Ollie off in controlled conditions. Basically the trainer would hold him at one end of the paddock - I'd go to the other and rattle the treats and call him He was FANTASTIC and had a 100% success rate - he came when called every single time We then reversed things and I held him and the trainer called him and rattled the treats and he wouldn't go to her!! I was amazed as I really thought it was the treats he was focussing on rather than me but apparently not!! Which was great I think that now it's basically me that's petrified of letting him off lead when we're out - he slipped his collar in the first week I had him and ran off totally ignoring me!! I only managed to catch up with him when he stopped for a wee I think that gave me a real fright and has made me more nervous about things. I'm also worried about how he'll react with other dogs when off lead and if they'll all be friendly!! Ollie's been pretty good with other dogs but there's been a few male dogs that we've come across that he's had a right bark and growl at when they've bounded over to us and I guess I'm thinking how would he have reacted if he was off lead Basically how do I overcome my fear and start letting Ollie off lead - I think after yesterday's performance and all the work I've put into his recall his ready to go for it!! And I really feel like I'm the one holding him back now
|
|
|
Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Oct 13, 2004 12:03:20 GMT 1
I wouldn't dream of attempting to give dog training advice, but can personally identify with you in some respects and where Scampi is concerned. Although I do let him off lead on the nearby mountain and down the field when the horses are in, I'm very wary of letting him off in on the track down to my allotment and even though I let Kira off down there. In my case it is the possibility of a cat appearing! I have no doubt whatsoever that Scampi would ignore me completely and chase any cat in sight!
Also I have noticed that he's becoming increasingly possessive of me, even growling at Kira if he thinks she's getting too much of my attention.
That's also reflected when off-lead dogs approach us when Scampi is on a lead. I think he's trying to do the manly, protective thing! Scary considering he's such a little, light framed fellow. Two GSD's came bounding towards us the other day and I was glad their owner called them back and they listened!
Al
|
|
|
Post by LurcherGirl on Oct 13, 2004 12:06:05 GMT 1
If you could let him off again in that training area (or some other smallish fenced off area like a tennis court for example), it would be great. But this time, just walk around without making it a formal exercise. And call him from time to time. See how it goes. If you feel that his recall is lacking this way, go through the steps in the post pinned in this section.
Once that works and you are confident, you can let him off outside in a SAFE area. But leave a trailing lead clipped on (20 - 30 feet long). This will enable you to step on it if you have to. It will also inhibit Ollie a little bit as he will think he is still on the lead.
Once this works well, you can let him off altogether.
Re other dogs: many dogs react differently to other dogs when on the lead. Dogs have three options when worried about another dog: freeze (which most dogs don't do), flight and fight. On the lead, that only really leaves them the fight option, hence the behaviour. You will only ever know how he is with other dogs by testing him off lead. Again, if you could "use" dogs you know for that, it would be better. You will soon learn what dogs he gets on with and which ones he doesn't. You will then need to keep control and call him back if you see such a dog.
Vera
|
|
Jules
Wolf Team Member
PAT Dog Owner
Posts: 1,421
|
Post by Jules on Oct 20, 2004 10:24:23 GMT 1
Thanks for that Vera - it's great advice and Al I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that's nervous Just an update though - I had the most horrendous walk with Ollie over the fields on Saturday. First of all he seemed to be in a bit of a strange mood and barked at every dog / horse we saw on our way over the fields He was wearing his flexi and harness in the fields and this huge Standard Poodle came bounding over to us and Ollie just went mad at it. He ran at it full pelt, barking, lunging the works and the force of it shattered his flexi lead - I was desperately trying to reel him in by hand which was hard and the poodle was still running around us (owner helpfully shouting - 'it's only cos yours is on a lead' ). They then disappeared and I managed to reel Ollie in by hand and as I took his collar he kind of snarled / snapped at me - which in all honestly I think was just because he was in full flow and as soon as he realised it was my hand he stopped instantly So I got him to sit - did a watch me (which he did beautifully) I put him back on his regular 4' lead and thought right lets just walk home. I was feeling a bit shaken but not too bad. On the way home I took a short cut through the coach park as it's quicker and they sometimes have a dog which wanders freely around - we've met it once before with no probs. Anyway today it said hello to Ollie and I thought well at least we can end the walk with a positive experience and it suddenly just went for Ollie and I had to pull it off of him I yelled and walked at a speed until we were home. Ollie seemed fine afterwards but I was quite shaken up and it really knocked my confidence. Despite this I went out with my brother yesterday and we had Ollie on the training line - did some recall work, then as there were no other dogs around my brother held onto him and I went a short distance away and called him and he came every single time Ollie definately seems to be barking at other dogs when we're just pavement walking too - I've been trying to distract him with a treat and a watch me and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - I'm not quite sure why he's suddenly started doing this - could it be he's being protective over me? Or is now regarding our regular walk as his territory? I know his confidence has growing since he's been here so that could be part of the reason? Sorry this is so long - just trying to fit everything in!!
|
|
Jules
Wolf Team Member
PAT Dog Owner
Posts: 1,421
|
Post by Jules on Oct 21, 2004 11:24:59 GMT 1
Sorry - another off-lead update I let Ollie off over the tennis courts this morning with my mum - conducted it at first like a formal excercise and then we let him wander and I called him back now and again and every time he came back Threw the ball for him and he had a great time running around A couple we know with a lovely Springer girl saw us and asked if we wanted us to let their girl Molly in so they could both have a run about - we did and it went brilliantly they were running around chasing the ball with each other and Ollie was fantastic with her But........(and there is a but unfortunately) a black Giant Schnauzer ran up to the tennis court mesh and Ollie went mad - barking at it (it's owner wasn't in site at this point) I ran to the other side of the tennis court calling Ollie - shaking the treats and blowing the whistle - he completely ignored me in the end I literally had to clip his lead on and pull him away from the other dog and he did calm down afterwards fairly quickly. The other dog didn't bark at Ollie at all it just stood there and looked at him the whole time What this seems to have showed me is that Ollie's recall isn't yet too great as he completely ignored me in this situation and I can't think what provoked such a reaction in him from the other dog. I can't even tell you if it was a boy or girl either Strangely enough quite a few other dogs had said hello through the mesh to Ollie and he'd been fine with them all - everything ranging from some Golden Retrievers, a greyhound and some yorkies! Any ideas on how to progress from here Vera?
|
|