A new Member of the Family

[Daisy]

It's amazing how the Advanced classes vary from day to day. Ours is fairly benign with just 6 dogs, even though one barks a lot, and three of them are dog-aggressive. I'm going to take her to the Wednesday night Advanced class - so a different mix of dogs which changes the whole atmosphere.

Fingers crossed it helps her gain a bit more experience of and resistance to unexpected events!

[Daisy]

Last night at class Eva had a chance to put into practice her shaky skills of coping with unexpected events.

Six dogs, including Eva, were lying on their 'mats' while one of the Dobermans was walking off-lead round each one with his owner. Sometimes this dog just stops and won't move, as though he's afraid of slipping, and then he wants to get to his mat for safety. Last night he got 'stuck' in the middle of the room, and then decided Eva's mat was his safe place. He's a big boy, but Eva just looked at him and stayed lying down and happily took the treat I offered her. I think everyone in the room held their breath and were glad it wasn't their dog Harley had 'chosen' to visit!

We don't know why this happens with this dog - he happily gallops down the jumps to do flyball and various other activities. I wish he could tell us!

[Gemini]

Oh well done to Eva Brave girl!
As you say Daisy, if only we could ask them what makes them scared.

[Daisy]

I was very pleased with her. We went to class again tonight - this is a larger group and there were 9 dogs, all but one were bigger than Eva! When she lay down on her mat she lay down one side of it and we were laughing saying she was saving a place for Harley the Dobermann! She coped very well tonight, with several barky dogs and one snapping at her a couple of times. She did everything off lead as well.

It's lovely when we feel we're making progress, even though I know it could all fall apart next time.

One of the ladies is showing one of her dogs at Crufts this week. The dog is very young - just out of puppy classification - but I hope she does well.

[Gemini]

I think Eva has come on amazingly well.
Good luck for the Crufts doggie!

[Daisy]

Thanks, Gem. It would be fantastic if this doggie got a rosette - she really is a beauty and has done very well in Championship shows through the year. Hopefully the big occasion won't faze her.

[Plantaholic]

Well done Eva, perhaps Eva and Harley fancy each other.

[Daisy]

Plant - he's a very big, handsome boy.

[Sunshine]

Doggy love

[Daisy]

Thanks, Gem. It would be fantastic if this doggie got a rosette - she really is a beauty and has done very well in Championship shows through the year. Hopefully the big occasion won't faze her.

The beauty in question didn't get placed, but she behaved perfectly despite the noise, lights, people, dogs and everything. The winning dog in her breed came from abroad, and to my eyes didn't look any better. The main thing was both dog and Mum enjoyed the day.

[grannyjules]

I've just been catching up with Eva's training. You are both doing so well
Fred has finally turned a corner with his "settling", and "loose lead walking", though we have had to use a Halter with him. But it instantly made the difference.
We are now starting to take him into shops! He's doing really well. We have taken him into two cafes where he layed very quietly on his mat, phew!
We're just coming to the end of a two week isolation, has he had a "sleepover" and came back with Kennel Cough . We're almost ready to get back out there. It'll be buses and trains next!
Keep up your good work, it's so good to hear your progress. I know how hard you must be working.

[Daisy]

grannyjules - thank you!

Well done to you and Fred on making such good progress. You must be working very hard with him, and every time you go out and he settles nicely it sets the scene for the next outing. What a pity about him getting kennel cough - there's not much you can do except sit it out! We first took Eva on the Swanage steam railway and she was fine. We stood well away from where the engine would actually stop, but the real advantage is that the old carriages had more space between and under the seats and wider corridors. We haven't tried her on a busy commuter train yet!

Eva's not bad at settling in, say, a pub, but loose lead walking - no chance. We use a Halti if it's busy and she's getter hyper-stressed and it seems to help her calm down and reduces the pulling.

Let us know how Fred enjoys his bus and train experiences.

[Daisy]

It seems every week at training there's something different. Last night was no exception.

Eva was tired before we started - all the excitement of having Cooper and Bailey on Saturday, plus Bailey staying over, then Cooper being here Monday and yesterday.

For some unfathomable reason all the other dogs seemed a bit unsettled and Pam the trainer, commented that she was the only sensible dog there. She spoke too soon. For no particular reason when we walk round the room we always seem to go anti-clockwise, so keeping you between your dog and the others, you walk the dog on your right. Last night we decided to go the other way round so your dog was on your left. Eva didn't like this at all! She stuck as close to the wall as she could and was a bit panicky. We did several laps to give her chance to settle down, and eventually made the circuit of each dog on its bed ok. But she was so unsettled I took her out for a short walk round to let her calm down.

The rest of the evening was going to plan, until she rolled a large drum so hard it hit a radiator and knocked the metal cover off!! We've been saying it's a wonder those covers stay on when dogs like Eva are around.

Then we had another Harley the Dobermann incident. He panicked off lead and ran the length of the room within snapping distance of the dog aggressive dogs either side of us, and of course, Eva. The owners did well to contain their dogs and Eva just looked at him - and then very deliberately got up and moved right up close to me for protection. This is a major breakthrough with Eva - I have only ever been the nuisance at the end of the lead and supplier of treats. Last night was the first time she's ever come to me for protection. So while the owner of the dobe was busy apologising (unnecessarily) I was delighted because it was such a huge step change in Eva's attitude to us.

We'll see how Roundy Roundy goes on Saturday.

[Gemini]

You are doing so well Daisy, both of you! I can just imagine poor Eva, already spooked by having to go the 'wrong way' around the room, then a loud clatter!!
No wonder she ran to Mum for comfort

[Daisy]

Gem - right up until that incident if anything spooked Eva she wouldn't come closer to either me or OH - she's have tried to follow the other dog asking for a game, even though the other dog might be really aggressive. It's the first time she's turned to me instead of doing something silly. I was stupidly pleased and my eyes were a bit leaky - hay fever, no doubt.