12/02/2021
Student Update: Toby🐾
This boy will be traveling up to Oregon soon to go meet his new family. His foster mom was a bit nervous about how he would behave during transport, so we set up a little road trip for him.
A 3 hour trip to Belton and back home.
Mock transport went very well, Toby was settled in his crate the whole way.
We couldn’t be more proud of how far Toby has come. Read more about Toby’s progress below ⬇️
Just over a week ago,
He would resist walking on a leash so severely that his foster mom couldn't walk him safely.
Was he hurting her on purpose? Nope.
Was he aggressive? Nope.
Was he a liability?
Yes.
Toby was chained outside for multiple years. He learned that if he wanted to get loose he could bite at, thrash, pull, and yank on his tether until his collar broke, the chain/rope snapped, or if he was placed on a metal slip collar and chain, he would end up choking himself, which would have been terrifying. Leash pressure became a trigger.
Leash pressure has a meaning at the end of my Leash. Come with me.
The message he learned was very different. I'm Trapped.
Anytime someone grabbed the leash he panicked. And when he panicked they would let go.
We used a prong collar and proper handling to reteach leash pressure.
Prong pressure is different. Prong pressure won't choke you. Panicking doesn't make the pressure stop.
He very quickly learned that his tantrums wouldn't provide the same outcome.
The outcome changed, and his behavior followed.
He started to walk with the handler, giving into the pressure.
A new message was learned.
Going with the pressure is rewarding.
We did clicker and food drills with him to teach luring. Follow the food. Click. Food is released.
Leash on. Slight leash pressure guiding him, food luring him, and my body shifting, all moving in one direction.
He gave into the pressure, he followed the food, he came towards me.
Click. Food released.
"Pressure is confinement" turned into "Pressure leads to freedom"
Freedom to walk, explore, sniff, see, feel, taste, and engage in the world offered to him.
Pressure is not punishment.
Pressure is piloting.
Steering your dog back into good behavior so you can reward them.
Toby now walks with his foster mom on trails her husband mowed through their property just for him.
Toby gets to go on errands into town because he acts appropriately in the store.
Toby is now safe to transport to his new owners without hurting the driver when they take him out to potty.
Toby is happy he can walk with people and the message the leash gives him is consistent.
Toby is more confident when experiencing new places because he knows how to explore and still follow the rules.
Toby learned that he can relax. We will let him know what we need. He doesn't have to solve his problems all alone.
Toby is ready to go home. 🤍
