A new Member of the Family

[Daisy]

I don't often post pictures of Eva because every time she sees the camera or I point my phone at her she turns away. But she was fast asleep yesterday so I grabbed the opportunity.

Mr D isn't really looking cross - he was watching something on tv and if he'd moved Eva would have woken up!

[Nana]

She's a super looking dog. You're both doing a great job with her. Well done.

[Plantaholic]

Eva certainly looks comfortable, lucky dog.

[Daisy]

Awww, yes, she is a lovely dog and we're so lucky to have her.

Training last night was interesting. There were only 5 of us, so plenty of space. Eva and I had a good lesson in how things change if something is slightly different. We usually do an exercise where the dogs are on their mats and one dog walks round each dog/mat with their owner (on or off lead, depending on the dog's level). Last night we sat (instead of standing) on chairs round the room and the dogs had to walk round owner on chair with their dog on its mat at the side.

Eva was all of a quiver! We humans had clearly gone bonkers - sitting when she thought we ought to be standing! She actually coped fairly well but at one point I hooked my fingers through her harness, just in case.

Then, later in the evening we were playing games. One of Eva's favourites is rolling a large cardboard cable drum up and down the room. She went a bit too fast for me to keep up with, and the drum veered to one side, hitting the table where the trainer keeps her stuff and sending everything flying, including a plate! I'm sure the noise upset the other dogs, but Eva was completely unfazed.

[Daisy]

Eva had another 'interesting' night at training last night. One man and his dog weren't there, but there was a totally strange man with a lady who has 2 Dobermans (Dobermen?) and doesn't always bring the same one. (I think it was her OH, but I hadn't met him before either) plus both Dobermans. A lady with a German Shepherd also brought her Leonberger teenager, plus the newest member of this class - a gorgeous ball of fluff with a loud voice (dog not lady), and me and Eva.

Eva was very interested in the gentleman (tart that she is!) but you could see the frustration on her face when he got things 'wrong', ie didn't follow the usual class procedures. But she did very well indeed, off lead for most of the evening, and at one point the trainer commented that she bet I never thought Eva would be the most sensible dog there!! She was right!

So, Eva, well done - I was proud of you.

[Gemini]

Well done to Eva She will be the class example soon!

[Daisy]

Gem - she's been 'head girl' a couple of times, but as always progress can go backwards as well as forwards.

I've just reread some of this thread and the recurring behaviour with Eva is 'I can do it myself, I don't need your help'. If I do something different she goes to pieces instead of just looking at me and waiting for instructions.

[Plantaholic]

Eva is doing very well Daisy, you must be proud of her. How long will you continue the classes?

[Daisy]

Plant - that's an interesting question. When we started classes I thought we'd reach a point where Eva would be as trained as we need her to be to live comfortably and happily in our household. I thought it might take as long as a year! Hahaha!!!

We'll keep going for as long as she is learning something new and hopefully one day will develop good enough recall in exciting situations so we dare let her off her lead in the Forest. Her lead walking has improved massively, but she still goes deaf and stupid when she's excited, especially by another dog.

Transferring what we learn in class to the outside world is the big problem, but I hope that the better she gets in class and the more coping skills she learns the more likely some of it will stay with her when she's out and about. That's the theory.

Also I do enjoy working with her and the trainer never pushes her to do anything she's uncomfortable with so I don't feel we're putting her through hoops she hates.

[Nana]

Eva sounds like my GD who's 2. Her latest thing is "I can do it". Eva, well done, teacher's pet ...no pun intended.😉🤣

[Daisy]

Nana - I can remember my GD2 going through that phase - whatever it was, she could do it herself!


It was another interesting training session last night. It was a very 'grown up' and quite intense class with two dog and people aggressive dogs, a Leonberger who only comes occasional, the new pretty little ball of fluff, one of the Dobermanns and Eva.

It was very quiet, apart from an odd bark or growl, (not Eva), and intense for all of us. Eva, bless her did all her heel work off lead. Normally the trainer will stand fairly close by ready to intervene if there is a chance of anything going amiss, but she's decided Eva is trustworthy enough for her to be more 'hands off'. Thankfully the one time Eva drifted a bit close to another dog I called her back and she came instantly! Phew.

The thing Eva loves right at the end is a short flyball session, but she was so tired last night that she just stepped over the jumps after catching her treats. Apart from a walk to the post box, she's slept all day today. But she's got Cooper to play with tomorrow so she needs her energy for that!

[Daisy]

I mentioned in Chat that today was our monthly dog walking training session which we call Roundy Roundy because we all walk our dogs round and round an all weather sports pitch. It's right next to a children's playground. I mentioned a while ago Eva had a scare there when some silly louts jumped the huge fences and invaded the pitch and were kicking balls against the metal fencing. After a couple of months she regained her confidence and through the winter has been fine. But invariably the weather has been too bad for there to be anyone playing in the area.

Today, the sun shone and the area was packed with children and grown ups playing football, riding bikes, running round and playing on the swings etc. Although nothing untoward was happening Eva took fright - I think it was the sounds footballs bouncing and a squeaky swing. She would just stop dead and refuse to move, unless Pam, the trainer was with us. I gave up after 1 1/2 hrs - she wasn't getting anything out of it and it didn't seem fair to her. So I took her out of the court and she happily walked round on the grass, sniffing, not worried by anything.

I was so disappointed that she was frightened again, but it was clearly the memory of the bad session. When she gets like this she tends to pull away from me, not stay close for protection! So just when I think things are improving we take one giant leap - backwards.

[Clover]

Oh dear Daisy I’m sorry to hear that.Poor Eva and poor you.How disappointing. Hopefully she’ll get her confidence back at the next session.

[Daisy]

Clover, thank you. I felt so disappointed for her (not with her), and Pam and I have had a chat about what to do next. She's coasting a bit in class at the moment, so Pam is going to set her and me some slightly more challenging activities, and I may take her into one of the other advanced classes for a few weeks to work with different dogs. The thinking is that she's learned to stick with me in the current class, so applying that to a different situation might help to build her confidence and help her to cope with her current fear.

[Gemini]

The advanced class may be just what she needs Daisy.
Good luck