Laura, I just wanted to say thanks for taking our advice to heart and not running off in a huff because we're telling you that what you're doing now might not be right.
That kind of attitude and open mindedness (is that a word) is what makes the member of this forum WANT to help you and Dixie.

so Kudos to you for listening & following what we say. This forum has an abundance of people from all walks of life that can and will help you to the best of their knowledge.

oh, and the tethering isn't just to keep an eye on the dog, it helps the dog to bond to you more. Not that Dixie's not bonded, but it can help to increase it and will also help her to learn that she can trust you. It doesn't have to be 24/7...but for a few hours everyday i would tether her to you.

and this from Sheila's post:

 Quote: Sheila

Also, if she carried a ball for confidence for the first few years of her life and then it was removed without having built up her confidence; she may have been a little overwhelmed. I am not suggesting letting her carry around a tennis ball all the time but maybe if you carry a ball on a rope and can pull it out and let her grab on while you trot her past an oncoming dog or stranger when they are too close you won't need to correct. A win-win for both of you. Timing, as with a correction, is critical; you need to have produced the ball before she reacts. This would not be forever as she understands what is appropriate and expected you can remove the crutch.

is great advice. I didn't know she was so ball focused and if she is you can totally use it to your advantage when you have a situation where you can't get dixie into her comfort zone.


Edited by Wendy Lefebvre (05/12/2011 06:31 AM)
Edit reason: i thunk a thought!

 Quote: Laura Silbermann

I do hate the prong (but I hate anything to do with pain) but I do use it, am learning to use it better and it has been working for us.
Roxy has been picking things up quickly and changing her behavior for me. I correct her when she does not listen, and when she does listen, which is most of the time other then passing dogs I give her a lot of praise both verbal, food and touching.

Hi Laura,
Just to reiterate here, you should not be correcting her for reactivity with a prong collar. Again, the prong collar is a tool for you to help control her when on walks (so that she doesn't pull you down, or reach another dog, etc...). If she self-corrects (ie lunging on a tight leash), that is not the same as you giving her a correction.

I absolutely LOVE the prong collar. My girl is 90 lbs (and she's also dog reactive). I have JUST started using corrections with it when we are walking and I've had a prong on her since she was 6 months old. She'll be 4 in June. The only thing that I correct for is when I've given her a 'watch me' command, and she blows it off. She knows that command under high distraction, so I feel very comfortable giving a correction in those circumstances. The prong gives me the means to control a large dog easily. There is still a lot of training involved that has nothing to do with the prong though. If your girl is afraid of the prong, you aren't using it properly...

When you are walking her, keep your eye out for oncoming dogs and people, and move out of her reactive zone BEFORE she reacts. If you are in an area where you can move off the sidewalk/path, get her far enough away where you can ask her for a sit, and she will comply. Reward. (a reward can be food, or a toy... I like the idea of orbee on a string) If she won't comply, then you aren't far enough away from the source of her anxiety.

If you aren't in a situation where you can get way out of the way, at the very least keep moving briskly along.

PS love your pic in your signature link.

 Quote:

I have JUST started using corrections with it when we are walking and I've had a prong on her since she was 6 months old. She'll be 4 in June.

Not saying that you need to wait 4 years before correcting, just that you must be sure the dog understands what you are correcting for.

Wendy,
I thought about the tethering all night lol, all I do these days is think about helping my girl.
Anyway, as my husband left this morning for a walk and I was in the shower as Roxy barked out the window at him I realized that she needs to be tethered so I can teach/correct her all day.

I put a crate in our bedroom so I'll get her used to that since one of my sons is coming home from school today.
Thank you again for the help!!
I'm off to train and take Rox for a walk :-)

Lynne,
The only thing I correct Roxy with using the prong collar is when she pulls the leash for no reason. She knows the "slow" command which means back up and walk with no leash tension and when she gives me the finger she gets corrected.
After watching the dvds from Leerburg last week I did start to correct for other things, but have learned from you lovely ladies that I should not be doing that so I'm back to what I was doing before and working much more with my girl.

I love the prong for what it does, I don't know how to get what I'm trying to say about the prong across with typing lol I'm just saying I don't like force or to hurt a dog...nevermind lol
I love it for what it does and how it helps me help her.

Thank you again!!

P.S. Since I'm going to tether her can you tell me what length lead you use to tether?

 Quote: laura silbermann

...Since I'm going to tether her can you tell me what length lead you use to tether?

I use a piece of an old light long cotton line, about 6 feet or so. If you have something that's 7 or 8 feet, you might try it and see if you need to remove some.


PS

"teach/correct her all day" might be "teach/guide" ... corrections come only after teaching and then proofing for venue and then proofing for gradually increasing levels of distraction.

Yup, walking is training. I don't think of the prong as hurting Jethro, I think of it as giving him information that allows him to make a new choice (ie. not to lunge when there is something exciting out in the big wide world). The funny thing is, when Jethro hears the rattle of the prong collar, he sits down in his spot to get it put on. He never avoids the collar.

Also, at this stage of Jethro's training I don't think that he is capable of "giving me the finger" because he is not proofed for all levels of distraction/arousal. Also, he doesn't have a repetoire of default behaviours to draw on to guide his response to that stimulation.

My biggest challenge, as Jethro's handler, is to remember to give him consistent alternative behaviours in the face of overwhelming distraction. My other big challenge is remembering that I am the one who puts him in situations that he can't handle (ie. husband leaving the house and Jethro unattended by the livingroom window while I am in the kitchen).

There sure is a lot to remember!!
I do have a question about crates if you don't mind.
My kids start coming home tonight... yup it's 12:30am and I'm waiting for the 20 yr old. Both dogs are in our bedroom and will spend a lot of time up with over the next month while the kids are in and out.
When Roxy is in the crate and lets say a kid comes home late, she'll start barking (she's a dog) I'm guessing when I ask her to be quiet she won't be nor will she listen to anything else I tell her. What is the best thing to do then? I'm sure my husband will yell, and me telling his to be quiet is like talking to Roxy lol.
This crate thing is new to me.

Connie - got the teach/guide comment, thanks :-)
Jenny, Roxy also sits and waits for the prong collar, she doesn't mind it.
P.S. I took Roxy in the yard at 11pm and worked on the drop it command, and she only gets a ball kicked or thrown once she drops it, she's getting it!!! very exciting.

Back to reading :-)

 Quote: Laura Silbermann

When Roxy is in the crate and lets say a kid comes home late, she'll start barking (she's a dog) I'm guessing when I ask her to be quiet she won't be nor will she listen to anything else I tell her. What is the best thing to do then? I'm sure my husband will yell, and me telling his to be quiet is like talking to Roxy lol.
This crate thing is new to me.

Laura, you could try putting a sheet or blanket over the crate when you put her in there. Obviously she will still be able to hear your kids coming and going, but it may help to keep her calm. You may find that once she's aware that the kids come and go at all hours of the day and night she won't react every time she hears a key in the door. My dog knows the sound of my husband coming and going (he works late sometimes) and she doesn't make a peep in those situations.

If you respond to barking or whining in the crate you are setting yourself up for escalating noise whenever she's in there. Any response from you is likely to reinforce the noise she's making in the crate.

I would give it a week and see of she recognizes that those noises are not a threat. If not, one option would be a bark collar for her during the night...

I would also consider setting up a scenario a few nights where you are waiting downstairs with the dog tethered to you, and ask one of your kids to enter the house in the same manner that they do late at night. (ie using the key to open the lock, etc) This will give her a visual that it's just the kids coming in and not an intruder.