well, as you guys know, it seemed like we were making really great progress with her dog aggression and her behaviour period when i accidentally dropped the leash and she went after another dog nearby and injured it - she knew the second the leash dropped. it was the worst mistake of my life, and i hate myself that it happened. i paid all vet bills.

i'd gotten her to the point that she was non-reactive to dogs while on walks, and would sit next to me in the yard when other dogs when past (obviously no dropped leash though).

i'm looking, yet again, for a trainer to take her too - i think i may have found someone. i've stepped up obedience and she is muzzled when outside now. my guess, from watching her attack, that she had done so before. and she was in a really good mood after the attack - i don't know if it's anthrocentric to say she was pleased/cheerful, but she was.

i have a really good muzzle for her - it's actually a fighting muzzle, which i got not b/c we're ever going to do any muzzle fighting (obviously we're not) but b/c it is so solid.

we went away this weekend camping. she was good, other than the first night. the tent (which was new, and i pitched a bit tight - don't like the tent at all in terms of tautness, which is why i had it a bit tight) had one end drop in the middle of the night and it must have landed on her, b/c she woke up screaming and snarling. it sounded like a dog fight but she didn't bite/hurt luc. the tent was torn in a few places (it took a few moments to sort them out in the confusion; we muzzled her at night for the rest of the trip). (neb was fine as he was in his travel crate under the fly.)

should i be concerned that her initial reaction there is violence (though she didn't actually hurt luc and she's more than capable of it if she wanted to)? and if so, how do you train for that, to teach her that if startled she shouldn't lash out? it doesn't really seem like a great thing to recreate.

i should note that she and luc seemed fine - no upset the next day or since then between them, they've been like normal, like nothing happened.

she was good the rest of the trip. we went hiking the next day and during part of the hike when we were going up to a ridge, we went through a rough area (here's a pic, not mine, i can't find my camera cable: http://picasaweb.google.com/aalittle/Killarney2007/photo#5066464883127264946) and she mis-stepped and fell into a crack between boulders - she stayed totally calm and i pulled her up no problems (luc was an absolute champ; neb of course rode in the snugli but seemed to be enjoying the view).

i'm feeling really down that she'd been doing well - honestly, she was. she is a great dog and i want to do right by her.

i'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions - feel free to be brutally honest!

thanks mike. i appreciate it.

i'm definitely not giving up on teagan!

it's more that it seems like all of a sudden, there is this regression - the attack was 100% handler error.

after the attack, i was really left wondering if i should be doing FR training w/neb - if it was really appropriate given that i did lose control of teagan, albeit accidentally - what business do i have doing that sort of training - but i've calmed down a lot and looking at it, it can only make me a stronger handler and trainer, and not only w/neb, but with all the dogs, teagan included. at least that's what i hope!

i am making her more safe outside using short term measures and will continue to work with her. you're right, i will definitely not let that happen again.

what happened friday night sounded terrible, and the tent was ripped in a few places - i'm trying to look at it in the perspective that she was a)startled; and b)didn't actually hurt luc or anybody for that matter, so that says to me she was in control to some extent. on the otherhand, i don't want to dismiss it if it is an issue, and i'm not sure how exactly to react.

it's more that i'm just left wondering what the heck is going on all of a sudden and what has changed - what i'm doing, what i could/should be doing.

Jennifer, I'm in no way an expert on dogs but I did want to try to add something to encourage you.
I think you have to look at Teagan's progress as something that doesn't go in a straight line. She will have bad moments or days or possibly weeks but in general the improvement will continue. If you think about how she was before you started working with her I think you will be able to get some perspective on how incredibly far she has come.

Also you just can't blame yourself for everything, accidents will happen and you can't control them. You can only control your reactions and I think from what you've said your reactions were great. If you just remain consistent and calm I'm sure you will see it paying off again.

I know it's a lot of hard work and we all get downhearted sometimes so I wanted to say I think you're doing a great job, keep it up!

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

it's more that i'm just left wondering what the heck is going on all of a sudden and what has changed

You do have a new pup. That certainly is a big change and even if all the dogs get along well together, the whole dynamic in the house and in the pack has changed. Maybe Teagan is regressing a little because of this?

i've wondered that. i adopted neb b/c teagan had shown so much improvement, and was getting to be pretty reliable.

i've also wondered if it was neb, plus me not being able to walk her due to the fracture, but - the attack is something i've always felt teagan was capable of. so i'm not sure what to think.

i do have a trainer to take her to - i confirmed that today - he's far away, an hour, but we'll get some time set up.

None of the pictures had the dogs in them. Bummer.

oh, those pics aren't of me or the bf....i can't find the camera cable to download our pics, that's just some random person whose pics i found on the internet, but it's where we were, i was just using it for illustrative purposes....sorry if i wasn't clear on that. when i find the camera cable i'll post a link to our pics.

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

oh, those pics aren't of me or the bf....i can't find the camera cable to download our pics, that's just some random person whose pics i found on the internet, but it's where we were, i was just using it for illustrative purposes....

That's too funny... I actually looked through most of the album and totally thought you knew those guys!! Would love to see YOUR pics once you get over your technical difficulties...

~Natalya

 Quote: natalya zahn

That's too funny... I actually looked through most of the album and totally thought you knew those guys!! Would love to see YOUR pics once you get over your technical difficulties...
~Natalya

hee,hee ... me too. i was like "i can't believe that jen didn't get any pics of the dogs!"

Jennifer, i realized a long while ago that taking two steps forward and then three steps back is often just a natural part of training. especially true (IMHO) when dealing with aggressive and nerve issues! i don't even blink an eye anymore when i have to step back in training to the last place in training where all was well!

after all, what was so wrong with the place in time where you were thrilled with Teagan's most subtle improvements? just go back to being super careful and watchful with her (as it appears you have) and take pride in the small successes! I've just had to do that with my Porter (nerve case)... he was doing so well with people, not acting like a basket case at all, and then... wham! ... we had to start from the middle again (back to Pack Structure and NILIF) :P Not the greatest fun, but IT IS WHAT IT IS ... nothing more, nothing less! (he's back on top and better than ever at this point in time!! knock on wood )

stepping back does NOT mean you have failed Teagan in any way... i repeat stepping back does NOT mean you have failed Teagan in any way!! i get the impression that you are coming down WAY too hard on yourself! what happened has happened... remember it, take the necessary precautions, and MOVE ON. i think that we're all in agreement that you've done a great job with both Luc AND Teagan! just keep it going