Tucker, a six-year-old Norwich Terrier, has always been aggressive towards other dogs while on leash. At his home, we have been working on heel, leave it, look, stay, and touch. This was our first helper dog lesson. We worked with one dog at a time, and then tried both of them walking in a circle around Tucker. This is AMAZING! Tucker was completely calm and remained focused on his dad, as you can see in the video. Way to go!!!!
Loose leash walking with Theodore and his dad was challenging today. It felt like a spring day, and Wasena Park was crowded. There were lots of distractions. They did awesome!
Watch 12-week-old Gus ring his potty bell like a champ!!
Not too long along, Ellie was dog reactive. Now, Ellie and her mom are working towards Ellie earning her Canine Good Citizen title. Helper dog, Gracie, and her dad helped out today with test item #8, Reaction to another Dog. This was so impressive! I'm so proud of Ellie.
Mr. Biggs & his mom are practicing "BED" with duration and distance.
Here's a clip from training on the Greenway with Bernie.
We can now PASS BY another dog without him reacting with barks and lunges and flips. It's not perfect, but we're not after perfection. We're looking for progress.
Practice makes PROGRESS!
Bernie used to scream, lunge, and twist in the air when he saw another dog on leash. He reacted the same way if a car passed by him. His reactivity was extreme, so his parents stopped walking him. I have been working with Bernie and his parents for about a year, and this video shows how Bernie NOW reacts when two dogs pass by him. He is doing so much better walking in his neighborhood (on his turf) and amazingly well in parks (off his turf). I have huge respect for his parents who committed to the process and work with him diligently in between our sessions. I am proud, proud, PROUD of them all!
Teddy and his mom are getting better and better with their loose leash walking during our private lessons. This is a difficult skill to teach humans and dogs, so it takes a lot of concentration and repetition.
You know what I say, "Practice makes progress!"
Here is Chimi (short for Chimichonga) and his dad learning "look".
Look is an easy way to get your dog's attention, redirect their focus, and help calm them.
Check out Ruger and his dad practicing waiting for permission to go out the front door. Ruger usually drags his dad out the door before going on a walk. This is much safer and much more polite!
Eight-week-old Charlie worked on bell-training, touch, sit, and come at his first private lesson today. What a smart, little pup!
