It has finally warmed up here and the dogs actually wanted to be outside longer than a couple of minutes so I took Athena for her walk first - fairly normal. She is good on leash but not great (thinking of trying a prong with her due to size issues 140pds) for the most part.
Then took Diesel (he has DA issues) we have been working with a gentle leader - I know they are not favourites on this site but it is the first tool that has him refocus to us - and treats. I have not previously been using treats until we started using the GL. We were able to walk by a lab barking and bouncing at his fence without a lunge or bark from Diesel. So I rewarded him with voice and treats and continued on. Then further on our walk we passed a couple of fluffies barking and again walked by without reacting. Reward and continue walking. It was a great feeling knowing I had control of my dog! I know more than likely we will be hit and miss on these types of situations but felt great especially since our last long walk was about a week ago.
Reg: 07-27-2009
Posts: 1421
Loc: Southern California
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That's great news! It's the greatest feeling to me to see my dog learning and having fun doing it. It's just so rewarding Especially since I'm never sure if I'm doing it right.
I would definitely get a prong collar for Athena, but teach her with treats and praise the way you are Diesel.
Thanks Katie - I have learned alot in a very short period of time.
I always wish I could just have the trainer with me 24/7 for awile to confirm good practices and behaviours. However I am hoping that learning new methods and incorporating what is working with what isn't will move us forward.
Relearning my methods is the hardest - worked for two years in the no treats discipline and didn't get exactly what I was looking for so now trying the next approach. It was explained one way that sunk in quickly as I am an Accountant - think of treats like money, you won't work for free so why expect your dog to! LOL
Reg: 04-08-2008
Posts: 211
Loc: NE corner of Europe
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Congratulations! I know how hard it is to walk with a big dog aggressive dog (if 35 kg counts as big :P ) and how hard it is to get it under control so I know how great you must feel!
PS. Nice to know someone is getting longer walks- we have a forecast to get about -2F today and down to -16 during the next week so we are on house arrest :P
Jaana - 35kgs definately qualifies as a big dog, Diesel is about 41kgs. The hardest part is that because he is an American Bulldog his center of gravity is very low and he actually lowers himself when he wants to pull and lunge knowing that he has better 4 wheel drive than I do with only 2!
I feel for you with the weather we did the same thing with -30c (with windchill around -40c which if my memory serves me correct -40F as well!) or colder for over a week so it was nice when it finally warmed up enough to get out. I can put Athena on the treadmill and get rid of some of her energy but Diesel refuses to walk on it at all!
Richard Seward Webboard User Reg: 10-18-2009
Posts: 23
Loc: Kansas
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Great on the walking! I typically take my explosive GSD on a walk 2x per day (30 minutes or so), then turn around and walk my new narcotics lab for the same. It's not too cold yet (30's) so I try to get them plenty of exercise.
Plus, I just returned from delivering a 2 year old GSD to a client in Beverly Hills Calif (I could write a book about this delivery...remember Absolutely Fabulous...that's it in a nutshell). Anyway, left good instructions for a 3x daily walk up the hills.
Today was cool but while my youngest was napping and I was baking the hubby hooked up Athena to the toboggan. Xavier rode in the toboggan (Xavier is approx 35 pds) and Nolan jogged with Athena pulling the toboggan then came back got Diesel did the same with him and then came back and got Bandit but for her she got to play while the hubby pulled the toboggan. Looks like they had a great time - wish I was involved maybe next time!
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Feeling Good after Excellent Walk Tonight
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