Today's lesson was one for me (again). A headache and bad nights sleep do not make for a good morning's training. Today did not go so well. The only plus side is Custer is doing better in the car, I think as we are now returning from our walk when the schools are starting up the amount of people passing by when the car is stuck in the traffic is now having a desensitive affect. On day one, instead of shouting when he was 'about' to freak out at the sight of a passing dog, I quietly said 'no Cus' and passed him a treat. Day Two he lay down when he saw the same dog.
The rest of the time was not good, he had no focus and getting the muzzle on was a battle and a half, then he got it off twice - I was struggling with the leads and a poo bag, and short on patience which was of course doing neither of us any favours. Having watched an excellent video on muzzle training yesterday I began that way of training when I pulled up outside the house, and will practice all weekend so he gets to like the idea better. It is a learning curve for us both.
For today's rant I must mention the level of driving at school time. Here is a tip for you drivers, why dont you try setting off in good time for School? Instead of yelling abuse at anyone who happens 'in your opinion' to be in your way? To the man in the large posh car who pulled out infront of me, then hurled abuse at me, were you surprised when you got it back? not my finest moment I know, but I will not be bullied by some bad tempered 'twit' who cannot set off on time for school and clearly needs to re-take his test to learn about right of way on the roads. Then we wonder why the next generation turn out the way they do, when this is what they are taught en route to the school yard? Also explains why dogs react in the same way maybe? Perhaps we all need a lesson in patience? I should have smiled at the man really and not let him provoke me so, something else I need to work on.......
I was thinking earlier today, yesterday's blog post may have implied we did 'nothing' with Custer's training. This was not quite the case. Although I did sort of give up on his ever being any different we did not give up trying altogether.
In September last year my husband was out of work. He used this time to take Custer out every day on the beach with several balls and teach him to 'focus' on playing ball and staying with him. This is a vast improvement on what we had. It took 3 months of repeating each day but now Custer does love to play ball and is pretty well focused on us when we do this.
The down side of course is we do NOT live in an ideal world and many other dog walkers think all dogs should socialise with each other, they have no idea that not ALL dogs wish too (or indeed owners). Custer will now not go out his way to any other dog or person, however if the other owner (despite our being in the middle of nowhere in our own space, minding our OWN BUSINESS) insists on allowing their dog to run up to him it often will not end well, involves our having to put our dogs back on the lead and have our shoulder blades renched out of our arm until the owner 'might' decide to call their dog away. When I am out on my own now I muzzle Custer as soon as I see another dog, I know he wont bite the other dog but the noise he makes and the state he gets himself into by my using the muzzle I have more confidence and sometimes it just 'might' keep the other owner away. Again, I am out at 8am in the middle of nowhere trying hard to train my reactive dog in peace, but again the other dog walker will insist that my dog MUST socialise with theirs? I often wonder if they themselves are the same with other people?
I was in the park last week with Rhubarb (my new rescue Staffie) and Bailey (the retriever above). I had them both on leads as I had only had Rhubarb a week and not too sure how she would react with other dogs, and Bailey as he can be a bit 'over amorous' if allowed to be (which I do not let him). At least four times I avoided a man with two french bulldogs off lead by turning direction, as I know these dogs just charge at others into their faces - I watched as a man entered the park with the largest husky I had ever seen and a little Staffie, the bulldogs hurtled straight up to the other dogs at full tilt, how on earth the poor man stayed stood up I dont know as he dogs reacted in fear and defence at two rude lunatics running up to their faces! The owner of the bulldogs was very cross with the man with the dogs on leads? as he could see no wrong in his own dogs actions? Again I am left wondering what he thinks I would do if he rushed up to my face and forced himself on me, or should that be okay too? why should it be for dogs on leads?
Does seem we are the minority with this opinion though.
I can but dream of an ideal world were other dog walkers might leave me in peace. Meanwhile I keep walking early, and I have just invested in a bright yellow vest from 'yellowdog.co.uk' which says 'Rescue Dog, please give space' on both sides, wonder if it will work any better?
Wow, can you believe a whole year nearly since I last posted! Yes he is still here, and no he is not any better. But we do now have a new addition in the form of a little rescue Staffie girl now called Rhubarb.
There are people (I Know) who think this was a very bad idea, but I like to think of someone I once knew with a dog far worse than Custer who adopted a new puppy.. I thought this was the most stupid thing ever, but it worked very well, the dog in question is now fine and no longer attacks anything, when he used to be the scurge of our walk. So, it will work or it wont but so far its going very well.
One of the reasons for lack of blog posts was I just gave up, I could not help Custer's behavoir and nobody wanted to help us try. Dont get me wrong, in the house he is a dream - its just the 'walkies' thing.
Last week, whilst still reading up on Staffie info I registered with a facebook group 'Reactive Dogs' this could well be one of the best things I did, they recommended some reading and I ordered some book, I have only read up to chapter 2 and took Custer out today with a different frame of mind, so far so good. yes it would be really good to have some help........but this is not going to happen, so like many things in life we are on our own so time to try again. This is easier too as Custer is a different dog at home, he is so chilled and well behaved I have 'even' left him out of crate a few times with no problems (mind you, I did take my camera from the room). Today I was back to teaching 'watch me' which he did perfectly.
One thing I have learnt from this, is you need to be in a 'good frame of mind' yourself to be able to do it, if you are tired forget it. I had a good nights rest for once last night, so dog training was a whole lot easier. Just as well as after 'reactive dog training' with Custer it was time for the first recall lesson with Rhubarb.
Not too difficult as she is in love with treats!
Lets hope I do better with both training and blogging now - time to take Rhubarb for a wizz round the block, I have found keeping her tired keeps more peace in the household. After two weeks things are now calming down a bit. Wasnt the boys, it was our new little girl who was so unsettled they were both great. Here is Custer now learning to love Dolly's too.
