Great story, C.J. That judge did a wonderful thing that day. Every once in a while, if we're lucky, we meet someone like that, someone whose kindness can change our whole lives.

This has been a great thread, and I just want to thank Connie, too, for the links she posted. I am also going to do some studying later!

Yes Cheri, those people are very few and far between these days and even in those days, to come across someone so dedicated to their judging position, to actually take time out and provide a young girl (well me anyway) with that kind of encouragement was rare as well. Truly a man with a soft spot that day.

And Melissa, the last thing I wanted to do was make you teary, sorry about that. I'm sure many folks have a lot of stories of how and what brought them to be the people they are today. (I'm just a really fast typer and not intuitive enough to be succinct - probably didn’t need half my thoughts in there ) But yes, a very solidifying life experience for sure.

 Quote: Melissa Hoyer

We calmly moved into the street and continued on our way home...we stopped at every tree for 10 houses and let Vigo squirrel hunt. He calmed down so quickly.

Melissa, do you drop his leash when you’re allowing this?

I’m just thinking that when you move into the street and stop at every tree, he may be ready or it may be beneficial to start having him direct his focus on you instead. Maybe you could find a little squirrely toy. I have one (without the stuffing) that Echo just loves. Its squeaker sounds just like the gerbally twirping that squirrels do.

Pass a house, no one there, a quick sit with focus on you, "Yes" and a quick release as you pull little squirrely out of your pocket. Next house same thing.

When you get to the Weasley house, should they be out, having this default sit with his attention/focus on you should eventually have him in a space where he'll be able to ignore what's going on around him.

Take it really slow. Work at the beginning of the gauntlet to start. One maybe two houses down. Lots of upbeat OB then head home. Next session take it a bit further. You could do two or three sessions a day.

eta: Oh hey, maybe to heck with the squirrel, get a little weasley thing. Great little bonding joke/meaning between you and Vigo

Edited by CJ Barrett (11/06/2011 10:48 AM)
Edit reason: Add weasle

I've decided the fun thing is to keep trying. I see occasional glimpses of the dog I'm hoping for in the dog that I have.

Today, for the first time EVER, the Pinker went out behind the cattle and brought them into the yard WITHOUT HELP. Granted they were bunched up waiting to come in, so I really didn't need him, but still....he slithered thru a gate, went around behind, and brought them.

Now, when I needed him for the sheep he was focused on squirrels in a walnut tree in our yard and I could NOT call him off, but still. THere is a good dog in there, I just need to find the right way to bring him out.

Betty, I know nothing about cattle herding but what he did/what you did sounds so absolutely perfect. Set him up for success and reward the heck out of him, I'm sure he'll get it.

And you just need to try and figure out how to be more exciting than those squirrels. Maybe a little unstuffy might be fun to carry around in your pocket too.

CJ -

It was a good "teary"

We only stayed in the street as we passed the Weasley house, then we went back on the side walk. I don't drop the leash, because I am pretty sure Vigo would meet me at home His recall is usually great, but he knows where home is and if he is panicked, he wants home NOW.

The tips you mention are exactly what I do with him on a daily basis. We have been working obedience and gradually expanding the boundaries beyond our house, on to the neighbor's, down a few houses, etc. He does indeed have a squirrel I use as a tug/toy. It is working wonders, but...

The problem is Vigo has two mindsets when walking this route...semi-calm and focused on me and WAY OVER threshold. It is a narrow, fine line and like yesterday, sometimes he jumps over into that land of no longer thinking like a "rational" dog. My goal has become bringing back over to calm as quickly as possible.

One of Vigo's absolutely favorite things to so is hear the words "where's the squirrel?". He just loves to squirrel hunt...we have a big tree in the back yard and lots of squirrel nests.

Here is a video, albeit not a great one of his squirrel reaction: http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/GermanShepLuv/Mobile%20Uploads/?action=view&current=1008111551.mp4

He is joyfully happy when hunting squirrels, so I use it as a tool to calm him and quickly change his mindset. Sort of a "snap out of it" we are having fun! command, if you will.

Betty, I see glimmers all the time of the dog I want Vigo to be...I know we will get there eventually...they sure keep us on our toes!

Do you do focus work (on you) at home? And in variably-distracting venues?




PS
"I don't drop the leash"

Neither would I!

Edited by Connie Sutherland (11/06/2011 05:34 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Do you do focus work (on you) at home? And in variably-distracting venues?


PS
"I don't drop the leash"

Neither would I!

All the time. And he really does great with it, based on his age & training, as long as he is under threshold. It's those surprise moments that get us.

I also need to follow up on some "Look at That" (LAT) training I have done from Control Unleashed, which I was reminded of today on our walk.

We walked with Kira and that automatically calms him and puts him in different state of mind...but we were walking in front of a couple that was pushing a shopping cart (!!??) This would be a very unusual occurrence in my neighborhood. He was overly interested and did not want to focus back on me. We used some BAT (behavior adjustment training) to move him far enough away that he regained calmness/focus. I think LAT would have really come in handy at that moment.