Thanks Betty, I for sure will keep the pace slow with the machine, we always make sure to stop every few feet and in the trail, I keep it at a slow trot, it's a nice trail, but a bit bumpy. We stop and do obedience and long breaks too.

Thanks a bunch Bob. He def does not have an off switch indoors. He still won't nap for more than a few minutes out of the crate,so needs some long down stays to keep him from getting wound up.
I mix up the rewards with physical praise, food, and sometimes verbal. Since he already knew the commands, this is more to stop the attitude and make it more fun, create a better bond.
He did Well today, focused on me on 3 passing cars, and stayed in the yard with a vibrate stim with a person passing the yard. The ball was a reward for that, and he stayed engaged when Jim pulled into the yard 10 feet from us in the jeep. His reward for that was me allowing him to greet Jim off lead. All four paws stayed on the ground.
Small steps, big celebrations, and a huge smile on my face!

Just a short between question, if I may: When I have a huge smile on my face and cuddle Slippie, she yawns! So often, that it can't be coincidental. I know, it can't be interpreted like a human yawning. But does this have a specific meaning?

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Just a short between question, if I may: When I have a huge smile on my face and cuddle Slippie, she yawns! So often, that it can't be coincidental. I know, it can't be interpreted like a human yawning. But does this have a specific meaning?

It's pretty commonly believed (among pros and non-pros alike) that dogs often yawn because of stress or anxiety, or feeling ill-at-ease. And, in fact, many dogs are uncomfortable with being hugged (perhaps having to do with the feeling of being restrained or having their faces partly obstructed).

But there are other probable causes, too, I have read.

Here are a few ...
https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/why-do-dogs-yawn

As with humans, there are probably lots of yawn-triggers for dogs.

I always believed that it is a sign of stress but as Connie mentioned "As with humans,there are probably lots of yawn-triggers for dogs".

I'm a big yawner myself and have no real reason or understanding of why.

It happens not when I'm hugging her, but when cuddling AND smiling. To me it seems more that smiling is the real trigger, but can't judge it really.

Thanks Connie, very interesting and also somehow funny link. The opinions about this phenomenon seem still to be quite controversial. But each one sounds logical.

Could it be that a huge smile looks like aggressio? Because then I'm showing all my teeth fully, what a dog does not. This as far as I know he only does as prewarning for an attack.

Logical in Slippies case would also be the contagios yawning. Maybe she interprets my broad smile as a big yawn and then gets also a yawning attack.

Stress I doubt, because she also very often turns herself on the back and presents her belly to be cuddled there. She loves this.

I'm also a big yawner, Bob. But I don't yawn, when my hubby smiles at me. Or/and when he cuddles me. In the second case I've got more the tendency to squeek Do you yawn in such situations too? Sorry, no need to be answered, probably too personal.

Becky, forgive for interupting your topic. You know, the reason was your keyword "smile".

Congrats to you for going on so persistently and lovingly with Harry and putting so many successes in an row. I love to read your stories a lot.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Just a short between question, if I may: When I have a huge smile on my face and cuddle Slippie, she yawns! So often, that it can't be coincidental. I know, it can't be interpreted like a human yawning. But does this have a specific meaning?

It's pretty commonly believed (among pros and non-pros alike) that dogs often yawn because of stress or anxiety, or feeling ill-at-ease. And, in fact, many dogs are uncomfortable with being hugged (perhaps having to do with the feeling of being restrained or having their faces partly obstructed).

But there are other probable causes, too, I have read.

Here are a few ...
https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/why-do-dogs-yawn

As with humans, there are probably lots of yawn-triggers for dogs.

I've read for decades about "yawning in dogs as a CALMING signal to others" -- In application I have found that IT WORKS to "de-fuse" Reactive Aggro Threats if the handler yawns & averts their gaze in order to Dial Down FEAR-AGGRO response from a "nerve-bag" K9

When people yawn around me, I yawn...
Harry yawns when he gets impatient.
My Emma had yawned when she got annoyed.
A dog I had over 10 years ago, yawned when excited. Jazz yawned when uncomfortable. So constantly .
Interesting aspects of a yawn!

Harry is still getting there. A few minor issues with the kids and him being leashed. But not aggressive. More of I wanna go play. Still working on that, hard to do distance and still supervise the kids from wildlife. Never easy when you have to watch for predators constantly!
I think we will soon switch to remote training, after double proofing commands . Than he can be with everyone, I still can control situations off lead
He wants to check on them so bad when they are off the road, he plants himself btwn everyone, so tell me if I am wrong with the idea of remote training.
Otherwise, grooming is great, 97% better. Walking is fun again, focus is there, and in the yard, with remote training, we are having a blast after walks. He knows, no road when home, ignore passing people or vehicles, and recall is almost 100%. Without active training this week, just doing chores, outside, when I sit, he comes and sits, I go in, he follows, I get wood, he waits at the shed door. All off leash. And all without me asking a thing.
I am proud of his car training , not a peep now. Almost ready to start backing it out if the driveway.

What was your car trouble?
For becoming overly agitated in the car, I found frequent trips leading nowhere, dog never gets out, except when home, worked great.
Trips to places where the dog DOES get out and does exciting things led my guy to be hyper in the car.

100% agree with Betty!