You know how I have been missing the old Logan while he's been going through his post-neuter induced manopause?

The hyena within him is coming back out. It started to change a few days ago, from the whimpy sad exit from his kennel when let out, to one day I was unlocking the gate and he paced and his tail was up! I even had to remind him to sit before I opened it.

Its only gotten worse, he'll spin a bit now and I have to grab him and snap him out of it and make him to sit to be let out. He even is trying to take advantage of me having only one hand, so I know he's going to be ok.

But now I have to be super careful, I don't want him to take over. The thing is, he already knows I'm impaired. I'm not sure how I will correct him if I need to. Obviously, I'll do my best to avoid needing to but...uh oh

When he has a long line on, I could always just step on it if I had to stop him, and I can hold him back on the leash with one hand, so in that sense control is not so much an issue. BUT, I wonder if since I cannot correct him if he decides to get cocky about an out or down, should I prevent by just doing lots of reward reinforcement and hopefully avoid any conflicts? What do you guys think?

You got a foot? Use it.

Males full of piss and vinegar sometimes need a 'ass full' of foot sometimes. And we, uh I mean they get over it really quick.

PS Don't hurt yourself attempting this maneuver, if you look too wounded he might eat you (out of love of course)!

Funny you say that, my current method for walking him makes use of my right heal (like Milan does). I can't correct him effectively with one arm, he doesn't see my heel and it doesn't hurt his feelings but it snaps him out of preliminary cat-fixations. Hopefully nobody will call PETA on me.

I have the same problem when 'someone' gets fixated on 'prey' on walks. Most times it seems like when I'm applying a surgical 'swift kick' I wind up hurting my toes because I wear vibram five fingers and he's all muscle and bone!

Do you have an remote collar? It did wonders for 'wax in ear' syndrome with Hank. (I've even threatened my youngest with a collar if she continued to ride her bike in front of moving cars, my temples are full of gray now from that girl!)

Use the heel on the foot opposite to the side he is on. (most effective to correct before they get fixated, the instant the ears go up)

I don't have an ecollar...it might make him bite me if I was correcting for no out or no down. The DD collar does the trick safely but I can't use it now. I'd love to have an ecollar for off lead recalls under distraction and obedience at a distance.

For your kid, make sure you use the highest level so she won't do it again :P

I have zilch to add because I have a pack of angels..... NOT!! but I am so pleased for you that the old Logan is coming back to you

Lol...and Logan is just an angel with fangs.

How about this, you have the power to open the crate door or not. Just wait to open it when he calms down, and take your hand away when the dog passes and gets agitated.
If you let him out when he is all worked up, he will most likely be all worked up the next time you go and let him out.
sharon

I usually just touch him and snap him out of it, tell him sit. I haven't tried in a long time to wait him out. I wonder how long it would take...last time I gave up after 20 minutes, I left him and went back inside...he paced, spun, barked, lept and shocked himself over and over...ugh. Once he got his front leg caught from one of his flipouts and that was awful and I got bit several times freeing him. So I don't like to let him work up like that.

BUT...

Sharon, I think if I did it sorta reverse, by teaching him the skills after he's been out for a while...like start with a stay in the kennel for treats...could be built up to him being good with the door shut...then switch to doing this when he's been in there. I have to make up my mind and actually do it.

I would have them in the crate, throw in a treat, holding on to the door and then opened it and they came out, then went in I threw in the treat, closed the door, waited a little longer, opened the door and let them out. Ended session, went out and played.
I know you will work it out. The shocks I am sure were horrible and I am sorry you got bit.You'll get it all worked out.
Just sharing what worked best for me and my pups.
DOgs watch us very very closely and link our body movements to what we ask them to do. So we sure have our work cut out for us don't we?
love sharon