Hey folks!
Harry has been doing great. No more bites! He can function under distractions as long as he has a command to follow now, so if I hear a car approaching, he now auto sits on command, full eye contact, and is treated. We are now to the point where he does it on his own once I stop, so he will always be treated or praised, til the end of time, to ensure this sticks.

On the grooming section, he still gets wiggly, but he is only 8 months, and I can do all parts with no issues. The wiggling happens with the head. But I am fine with that, and just switch up areas so he never knows when the head will be done, and gets a woofer for an after grooming treat.

His herding instinct makes it impossible to bike with him, or use the atv, that is a work in progress. He stares at my leg the entire time, never watches his direction, maybe when he is older, unless someone has an opinion. The staring comes with barking and if a car passes, he does try and surge ahead. So with my back, I can't bike without using a diff tactic. Fourwheerling, I attach him to the rack, and I go super slow, and ignore his barking. If he gets too close to my foot I vibrate his collar, and he falls back a bit.
He is great with the kids, has learned to fetch, play tug, almost perfect recall, just has issues leaving the kids behind to return to me, sit is great outdoors, but indoors he default downs. I am fine with that. He is currently training to sleep in the kitchen at night, as soon it will be too hot to be in a crate. Since he isn't a great sleeper, I have been adding melatonin to his food, it has helped him relax enough he can actually nap with popping up when someone moves or leaves a room. I was hesitant to use it, but otherwise he is up 20 times a night, and only naps maybe 15 min in a day. It also helped him transition from his crate to the linoleum kitchen. Now he loves it.
He gets neutered Saturday. I dread it, as he has picked up his fear stage, of strangers. I have been working him, at a distance, as long as they do not approach him, and we slowly work closer with simple commands, he is great. But if he gets surprised by someone, he will bark, stand at my side, growl, and bounce like a bear. He is not off leash, around strangers, and today we hit a milestone of 5 feet.
To get there, I work him with food or a tug. And as soon as we are close enough to hear their conversation, I put him in a down, and jackpot him some treats. Than we move off to complete our walk. It worked with the guy jacking up our addition. He was having a break, so I put Harry in a down at my feet, no contact btwn him and the stranger, the stranger left, and we moved on. Eventually I hope he can be aloof to people. Or completely ignore them.
We had to do this as he saw Jim by the river, didn't recognize him, was scared, and reacted by barking, circling me, and refusing to approach Jim. It wasn't til I leashed him, took him a bit closer and Jim walked into him, that he was all puppy happy it wasn't a stranger. This only happens with men. But for me, I feel protected knowing he will vocalize stranger danger, and that he sticks to me rather than actually trying to attack anyone. He will stay leashed tho, until I see zero reaction.
I found a place in Ontario to get dog food. They have Canidae, Taste of the Wild, and other brands, but not orijen or Acana. Taste of the wild is giving him softer stools. Might need to switch. Any opinions?
My sciatic nerve has been pinched for 3 weeks, so I used it as a tool to teach Harry a perfect heel. I have his leash hooked to a belt, no hands, he does great. He is even on flat collar sometimes!
All around, with tons of hard work, strict home rules, and tons of training, long walks and bonding time with him and I, I have been able to bird watch while he lays quietly at my feet, I have not been scratched or bit in well over a month, or since the last time I posted it here, and he is really turning out to be a great, protective mama's boy during the day, and a kids lovebug after school. It's like the switch flipped, he figured out what we wanted, and as long as he is not being left out, is perfectly happy now.
Now I hope the vey goes smoothly. Might just walk the whole 13km to town, so he is pooped, and ready to just nap til his surgery! Will bring the muzzle just in case! And be on standby in the hall in case he doesn't want to be handled by them. Since he is super stuck on me. I am going to have Jim take him into the building. I think me going may give him a rise. We shall see! Or maybe I will stay with him and let him know he isn't alone, opinions on this anyone?
Too long of a post, sorry, spelling on a touchscreen is annoying, so excuse the auto correct and fill ins, I tried to fix them all!
And, hello all!

Hi, Becky. what greatg news about Harry. I'm sure he'll get used to the grooming of his head over time. Funny guy! One of mine used to growl in the beginning, when I groomed the hindlegs and the tail. But now all 4 love to be groomed immensely.
Great with the kids. Tug, fetch, great recall. What an improvement!

Don't be afraid of his neutering. The Vet will not surprise and scare him. and he will get his injection. Or did you mean because of the other people and dogs? Our Vet put us in another waiting room, when theire were too many dogs around, although they were not scared, just too curios. Though maybe the other dogs felt a bit fearful. and one never knows how they might react. Talvez tour Vet has also the possibikity to Harry and you in another room, if necessary.

Having a muzzle with you is good thing. I always have one for every one of my dog, not only when consulting the Vet, also in case of a car accident or other event. A basket muzzle, not one of thos tight ones.

I do hope you're already getting a bit better with your back. Or is it still a big problem for you?

Wish you great great luck.

The back is a life issue. I can deal with it, Harry is awesome for it, keeps me active!

Get went well, we got up early and waljed 45 min, 4km an hour beforehand, he barked at the techs, but was wiggly bum happy. I held him for them for sedation. He ended up having a bacterial infection on his leg, I thought it was a hot spot, but had them check anywho, so on meds right now.

He is recovering nicely, still dopey. His ears were plucked while sedated, so he should be great til winter. All in all, it would have been worse had this been a few months ago.

I would love in put on how to stop people barking. He is great with women, but when people walk away, he barks at them. Such high drive!
Same with riding in vehicles. Deafening bark.

Glad to hear the surgery went well.But why an infection? Did they inform you what happened? I hope they treated this thoroughly..

Barking, naaa. Mine do this too, though not because of men, only when they're unfamiliar with someone..
We had already some craftsmen/women; They were almost dying for fear, because of the Pit's barking., although they were tethered. I told them to ignore them completely, no talking, no look and of course no touch, and to pass by them at a distance with which they (the people) could feel sure. After a few times they (the Pits) didn't bark any more andthe employees could do their work while the Pits were walking freely around them.

Probably Harry will learn this roo after some time. Bob wrote once he just needs to knock on the window or somewhere and his dog shuts up. I doubtlessly do believe him. But it must be whichcraft.

Well, with cycling with them I have zero experience.. But is there barking melodie then not different than in other situations? Might be they are then just barking out of a very excited pleasure.

A big hug for your Harry and of course one for you too, but not too much because of your back. So sorry for this, it must be difficult, but at least you seem to cope with thiis admirably.

His barking is never at home, he is just nervous around strangers, and bossy to women walking away in town and outside the home.. He is back to training once he is healed up. He is taking the cone of shame well, with a few short times in biking shorts for chewtime.
They took a skin scrape, so if it's serious they will let me know on his leg. He has another one on his back foot. Not sure if he caused it from his own licking. Hopefully meds clear it up.

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155257088346216&id=583836215&set=a.434752496215.220423.583836215&source=11

This is him in his summer wear lol.
His kitchen training is done, he is now happy to sleep in there. It's a big kitchen, so plenty of space to move around.
With his slip lead pulling, we may head back to the prong, and start training from square one, in the yard. He is muzzle trained, so might utilize it, with yummy treats, and rehash training.
I found the halti works great for the four wheeler. We go slow, and he has to check his pulling or he pulls on his head. I mean, walkable slow. He would love to race it, but way too young, and it helps teach him to calm down, slow down, and listen. And saves my hand and his throat.
I will utilize his pulling in harness this winter. Our summer has hit hard and hot so most training will be indoors, as the mosquitos are already unbearable and coating the windows.
All in all, he is doing very well.
My back is painful, but Harry is my priority, so couching it will not work. I am trying essential oils, but they don't seem to touch pain from a pinched nerve. So will tough it out!

I don't remember for sure, but I think the source of your back pain has been examined by a specialist or not? It certainly depends a lot to know what it is which triggers that pain in order to find the right treatment.

In wikihow there is big list of how to relieve or even get rid of the pain with the correct treatment., everytime depending on the reason. I already had varios times a pinched nerve. As first help the doctor gave me a injection. Then I had to avoid too many exercises, though I did have to exercise gently and targeted.

I also had to make sure not to sit too long, to get up at çeast after an hour and mover for a while around. I had to make mainly steretching exercises, but without forcing. As soon as I felt pain I had to do the stretching more easily or stop it . For me this helped, though I needed to do all this consistently for a while. It helped me each time. In between I have not have had this problem again since years. I guess in your case it's probably much different, but perhaps you can find some advices on wikihow"s many many links.

https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Back-Spasm.

I also have a friend who recieved the same recommendations. She also had a pinched nerve and had to do everything very carefully. The pinched nerve caused an inflammation and if she wasn't careful, the inflammation became worse and of course also the pain. She then started to practice Yoga and now - after a rather long time of patience - she got rid of this.

I think it's great to bother about Harry a lot, he also gives you motivation a lot a pleasure. but don't do too much. It wouldn't help Harry if your health status worsened.

Fingers crossed!!!

My back is a bust.we don't have facilities to fix things up here.
I will be working this summer. So will help, I hope. Less nothing and more movement!

I'm sure you'll tackle this; Well said: Less nothing and more movement! Always listening to your body.

I'm sure you'll tackle this; Well said: Less nothing and more movement! Always listening to your body.