Feisty Fido: Watch!

Mastering "Feisty Fido's" main tool: WATCH

The main tool you use according to Feisty Fido's method is to train your dog to "watch" you whenever they face a distraction. Eventually, my goal is to get Copper to a point where he will see a dog on the other side of the street (or even passing us on the same side!) and automatically look me in the eyes instead of react to the distraction.

The nice thing about Copper-butt is that he is so smart. He really is. So, when we practice this command in easy situations (home, our front porch, out on the street with not distractions) he does great. The other thing that makes training with Copper easy is that he is HIGHLY motivated by food.

So far, with our working on this, we have been able to follow a dog half a block away for a few blocks without whining. We have passed dogs about half a block away (sometimes the dogs don't even know the other dog is there because they are so focused on the treats). Copper's also responded well to the "watch" command when we pass this one house that has a yard full of cats wandering around.

All in all, I have seen some improvement. We are no where near calling Copper behaved on the leash aggression front, but I'm enjoying the walks more. Copper is too-treats and all!

Feisty Fido

I thought I had come to the end of my rope with this leash aggression and just not finding resources that were helpful. I mean, we've done obedience classes; I've tried working with the clicker; I've tried so many techniques. And then on top of practicing, I've looked for books and resources online about what to do with leash aggression specifically. There are tons of dog training books, but rarely do they focus on the specific problem of leash aggression.

And then one day, I stumbled upon "Feisty Fido" by Patricia McConnell and Karen London. Someone, somewhere blogged about this book (and whoever that was, I'm sorry I forgot who you are, but thank you!) and I instantly went online and purchased it. The whole premise of the book is about dealing with leash aggression.

The techniques in the book are not overly new ideas, but they lay it out exactly how you should start and progress from there. It is so straightforward about what you need to do. Not only that, but it's realistic. For example, they talk about how it may take some dogs a few weeks to master the new habits, but for some it could take months or even just continual work. The other thing I appreciated about the book is that the descriptions of scenarios you deal with with a leash aggressive dog were so close to what I've experienced it was scary.

I highly recommend this book. It wasn't expensive. It was an easy read. Plain and simple, it has practical tools you can use for this specific issue.

Update on Food Aggression

The food aggression issue has become non-existent lately! Copper has been behaving so much better than a few months ago. Perhaps the overall training (between the habits we established back in May and the leash/behavior work) has helped Copper have some structure in his routine.

We also recently switched food and Sara Beth has been eating faster, which gives Copper virtually no opportunities to steal her food.

We're very happy that this issue is becoming LESS of an issue these days!

do dogs smile?

Do dogs smile? I think so.

Dogs smile with their mouths.

Dogs smile with their ears.

Dogs smile with their tails.

tick-y tock

A simple hike yesterday turned into a weekend full of worrying about ticks! Copper got tick number two and Sara Beth got tick number one. Mommy got two! Eeeew Gross!

First of all, we had a great hike, so I think all of this fuss is worth it (assuming I don't keep finding ticks).

Second, I learned what works to deal with the stupid bugs once they've latched on. Last time we dealt with ticks, we googled what to do with dogs that have a tick and so many sites said not to use nail polish remover to make the tick release from the skin. So we tried that and we couldn't remove the head! (Eventually, Copper's body pushed the head out, like with a splinter and he was fine.)

So, this time, I was trying the nail polish remover method. And guess what?! It worked like a charm. I held a cotton ball with nail polish remover over the tick for about ten seconds. Then, I was able to easily use tweezers to get the bug and flush him down the toilet!

Third, I realized that I now need to just brush the dogs IMMEDIATELY after any hikes through the woods down here. With our dogs and their forests of fur, it's easy for ticks to crawl around and hard for me to see. But when I brush the dogs with the deshedding brush, I can easily see their skin and I end up brushing their entire body, which means that I check their entire body. Great multi-tasking!

Now the ticks I found on myself were just crawling through my hair...enough to give me the heebie geebies...

but gave a great show to those watching as I was driving down the highway and flinging the bug out the window as fast as I could and then again in the middle of church this morning!

oh the agony!

Update on how the training is going...

Food Aggression:

I've gotten a little more lax with Copper in the last few days. I've forgotten and left the bowls out after feeding time, which in turn, allows Copper the opportunity to lick his and Sara's bowl. He still does really well in waiting for his food even though Sara has started before him. He also does really well when we take his food away from him mid-meal.

We did have one instance where he tried to start eating Sara's food while she had her head in the bowl. And I caught it so fast that I simply scooped him up with a firm "NO" and held him up like a baby until Sara was done eating. He didn't snap or anything. Good thing he's not heavier!


Loose Leash/Leash Aggression:

Both dogs have been getting walks together, which I'm sure is where the problem lies. I don't even know when I drifted out of the habit of walking them separately, but I'm sure I should start back up. Both dogs are walking on the leash well. Sara Beth still pulls more than Copper, but they are good in my book.

This morning we had a good walk and I think it was because I was only half-awake. I was more mellow and so they were more mellow. I barely said anything except maybe a "good boy/good girl" here or there, and mainly just led by pace and leash direction. I think I'm a believer in the fact that my hyper energy can make the dogs more hyper.

Now, the leash aggression is still a problem. oh the agony! I feel like the dogs have gotten worse instead of better about seeing other dogs out. Even bikes are freaking them out again, and sometimes runners. It's so frustrating to have to go back to basics with them when I thought we were past this!

the herders are here

The dog park is by far the best way for my dogs to get their energy out and get exercise. Luckily, Nashville has a great dog park about two miles from where we live. Since both of our dogs are high energy and also herders and also very athletic, the dog park meets all of those qualities.

When our dogs get there, you know because they are barking at the other dogs and chasing them at blazing speeds. The herders are here! They run and chase anything that moves, which means that they are constantly on the move if there are a lot of active dogs there at the time. The dog park is also good for the purpose of socialization. After going week after week, I can tell that they are more and more comfortable with the new dogs they meet...now if only I can get them more comfortable with the dogs on our block...

What I love about this is that after they play around and get tired, they are the SWEETEST dogs. (I mean Sara Beth is always sweet, but Copper is our little butthead. :) ) And even he was super sweet last night. I think it just goes to show you that if you have an active dog that is misbehaving, it may be partly due to lack of exercise.

One thing I try to do after we leave the dog park is practice walking back and forth near the fence line and the sidewalk leading to the dog park. While the dogs are tired, this is a good time to practice and reward their good behavior interacting with dogs on leashes or seeing dogs at a distance. Now, it'd be good for me to take them home and then for a walk to practice even more, but often our schedule doesn't allow for that.

exercise: with you and your pup

I have this dilemma every morning. We have two very active dogs that need a walk, so while I'm walking them, I might as well get some exercise too. Up until this point, it's mainly been just going running. But, for my own sake, I need to be pushing my workout more.

I recently started something new though to spice things up and keep my workout changing. And I think it helps with the loose leash walking training (which is ongoing).

Lunges.

High Knees.

Butt Kicks.

Sprints.

So, now once or twice a week, I'll do a run where on one block I'll do walking lunges and then I'll run a couple blocks. Then, I'll do a block of high knees or butt kicks, etc and go back to running. Alternating this in with my running helps keep my heart rate up while still using different muscles than in just plain old jogging.

Now, how does this help with leash training? My dogs know the routes we go on, they know the smells, they know the pace. They're smart dogs. So when I switch it up on them, they are forced to follow me and pay attention more. Doing lunges down a block takes a lot longer than sprinting, and that ever changing pace keeps dogs like mine alert. A similar thing has been recommended to me in the past regarding changing things up, and that is to keep changing directions if your dog likes to pull.

hows the training going?

the dog training has been going well lately. sara beth and copper have been getting walks together these days, which is technically breaking my rules, but it's been in the mid 90's consistently and it's just too hot to take them separately. they've actually been doing really well. we ran into "emma" (one of the dogs they have issues with from our building) and we promptly turned and walked the opposite way (with purpose and decent speed). both dogs barked initially, but settled back into "walk mode" fairly quickly.

we haven't been running into too many dogs lately - could be the heat, but they've been doing well regardless. but, I misplaced my "clicker" and I need to find it to continue to be consistent in this technique. that's my goal for the weekend: find the clicker!

eeew gross! just warning you...

This is gross, so beware. Has your dog ever gotten into something he shouldn't and swallowed it? Well, with two highly intelligent dogs, that can happen. Sometimes I can't even figure out how they get some things that they have gotten into!

Today's adventure was fairly easy to figure out - and really was my own fault. While I was in the shower, my good old friend Copper got into the trash and ate something that could expand in his stomach if he had swallowed it. Needless to say, I decided I should resort to our old trick to make Copper throw up. I didn't want anything moving into his intestines and get stuck-which could become a big problem.

Now, if the item was a sharp one, I would NOT suggest trying to make your dog gag. Call your vet! We just force the dog to swallow a tablespoon of salt and wait a few minutes. I've heard you can do hydrogen peroxide too, but I've never gotten that to work.

Fortunately, nothing major came up in his vomit, which means he actually didn't eat anything, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I don't think making a dog vomit intentionally is ever really a good thing, but in my opinion it'd be better than a blocked intestine!

This was Copper's first time with this experience. Unfortunately, Sara Beth has had this done to her a few more times when she was a young puppy (due to swallowing game pieces, 1/2 bag of sugar, lots of grapes, and a box of crayons). Just make sure that the dog is hydrated afterwards and give lots of love as they probably don't feel the best!

Moral of the today's story: Well, I've got to be more careful with the trash around him. It's funny how some dogs are attracted to those scents and then others (like Sara Beth), could care less. Any time a dog debacle happens, I just have to learn from it and see "how could we have avoided this".

post memorial day weekend...high temps and ticks!

It's been hot here. Hot and dry (finally!). This means that the dogs are getting their exercise in the mornings or when the sun goes down. Even after getting "furminated" they still get hot outside. So, we go for a run in the morning or to the dog park and then they chill all day til their evening jaunt around the block.

The dogs have been behaving fairly well lately - it could be the heat wearing them out - or the fact that there aren't as many dogs in our building right now either. It's probably the latter...but wait - I should be taking credit! Yea, that's right, the dogs are behaving better lately because I've been working with them so much!

But the weekend wasn't complete without Copper getting his first tick! eeew! I just found out that there is a topical drop that I could get that helps prevent ticks, so we may need to investigate that. But, obviously yesterday we had to deal with the task at hand. We used a cotton ball with alcohol to try to loosen the tick and then tried to pull it straight out (without twisting). Did we succeed? Nope! We couldn't get the tick head.

After researching and calling a vet, the plan is to watch for any signs of infection at the site or in Copper's behavior. Apparalently, his body should push the head out like with a splinter. If we see anything strange, then we'll head in to the vet, but otherwise he should be fine.

Lessons:
1. If you've got a furry little guy - check him for ticks (they may be hard to see if you've got an aussie like Copper)

2. The consensus of information I saw said not to use nail polish remover or a match to loosen the tick.

3. There may be a topical prevention method that we can use in the future against ticks!

Thank goodness for the internet and being able to "google" things!

separate walks...finally!

After getting knocked down by a cold and all of my excuses, the dogs got their separate walks this morning and did great!

Sara Beth is starting to respond much better to the clicker sounds again. And-we were even able to get half a block from two dogs that were irritated by our presence! I like that we weren't the trouble dog! While she got upset at first, she calmed down with some commands/rewards.

Copper did excellent today. We didn't encounter any other dogs, but he was very focused on me and following my lead. The only downfall to our walk today was that he ate so many cicadas! eeew!

does this fur make me look fat?

So, Tennessee is different from Colorado in a lot of ways, but one of the biggest things for Copper and Sara Beth has been the heat and humidity. I've noticed since we've been here that my dogs don't have as much energy as they used to and that they get tired easier. At the dog park, they stop (for a brief second) and hang out in the shade much sooner than I've ever seen.

So, I started thinking, "hmmm...maybe we should shave our dogs and make them feel a little better..." And I even called around to a couple places to find out pricing and availability. And then, I thought, that I should maybe research it a little more. And good old google and facebook friends gave me some answers.

Shaving a dog like an Australian Shepherd or Border Collie with a double coat can be more harmful to it. Removing that outer coat can give more exposure to the sun, leading to sunburn. The outer coat also acts as insulation to keep heat out. Not to mention, it's stated too, that the fur may not grow back properly.

So...we busted out our furminator brush and I filled up a bag full of hair. It was amazing how much came off of each dog. I'm sure there's much more that needs to come off of them still. But I think I have my answer for now- no shaving.

update on food aggression

So far things have been going great on the food aggression front!

Copper has been really well behaved at food time. He has even started slowing down a little when he does eat.

Here's what it looks like:

1. Both dogs are fed at night time (so they'll respond better to the leash training)

2. I put the food in both bowls, but only put Sara's down for her to start

3. I let Sara eat the majority of hers first. Then, I put Copper's down.

4. I don't let him start his until I give him his "release" signal.

5. I take away the bowl a few times while he's eating and I don't let him start again until I give him the signal.

6. Then, I will sometimes poke at his side and his back end while he's eating to see if he will get irritated - and so far he's good

7. We'll keep down this path of practice for a long time. I want to make sure he knows he needs my permission before he can eat. I want him to know who is the authority so that we can all get along really well!

back to the basics

With both dogs, we have done puppy class where we taught the dogs basic commands with the use of a clicker, then treat system. My wonderful husband reminded me last week that this technique had worked so well in the beginning, maybe i should try it out again. And I must say, the dogs have responded so well to it! I still have to work with them separately to see the best results, but I am very glad that hubbs suggested it!

enjoying your dog

Last week we had a fairly good time with the dogs. And after a successful walk with the dogs we came back to the condo and just ended up sitting on the floor.

We just rolled around with the dogs and played with them and wrestled. They had fun and we had fun.

I think it's important to remember that in the midst of all of this (frustrating) training that it's important to have fun and enjoy your dog.

roadblock!

the last two days have been not as successful of training days. we made a HUGE scene trying to just get in the dog park last night because my dogs were both in their leash aggression explosion phase. walks and anxiety in the courtyard at our condo have been average- good overall, but still noticable signs of anxiety.

so what's the problem? me

i have had no patience and no desire to work with them. i know it's temporary and that my exhaustion will pass. but, let's face it, there are times when we just are not the perfect dog owner.

it's friday and after this long week, me and my babies will be back on track soon!

bark all you want!

Sweet little Copper... he has always been our barker, but he's developed a new thing since the training...

This morning he saw a dog outside of our window and started barking...He then proceeded to bark to me. Why did he start barking at me? While I'll never know exactly what he was thinking, I think I have some idea. You see, instead of telling him to be quiet, I simply continued eating my breakfast and ignored his initial barking. Then, I continued to ignore his bark toward me. It was as if he was trying to say "hey mom, don't you care that there's this dog outside and I was trying to tell you".

I don't think everyone has the patience to do this, but I have a feeling this is going to be helpful (so I'm gonna give it a try): whenever I can just stand there and let him bark toward me, I will. Then, I'll turn around if he absolutely won't just stop on his own, that way he knows he's being ignored. I want to see if he'll get tired of barking and essentially bored so that he'll calm down.

new dog new day

it's sunny! yay! both dogs got runs today - on their own. not only does this mean that they got exercise, but i got two runs in this morning. so this dog training stuff will hopefully have some personal-selfish benefits too...!

good report on both dogs for the run portion of today's training. let's see if lunch time walks go well...they get individual ones today since it's good weather!

the last few days...

ok...so it's been raining in nashville a LOT! which has not helped the dog training process. Not only can I not take them to the dog park to get their exercise, but I can barely take them on walks without myself getting soaked. So, I've been breaking some rules. I've been taking them on walks together when it's rainy. I know I know. This is one of my big rules- to not take them on walks together until they can absolutely handle it, but when weather gets in the way, I've given myself permission to break this rule.

How have the dogs been doing...?

Copper - poor dog has so much energy that he can't get out because of the rain, but he has been doing better at seeing other dogs in the courtyard while on a leash. We have one neighbor who sits with his black lab on his front porch and copper has seen it from a distance a few times in the last few days and not gotten whiny.

Sara - had a successful play session in the courtyard the other day with three dogs that were hanging out down there. The key was that it was off leash. She got comfortable with them and then when I put her back on her leash, she was fine. Now if only we could do that with every dog in the building....

Walking-wise, they are both great on the leash when there are no dogs. They are paying good attention to me. And we can be half a block away from a non-aggressive dog with the dogs staying in a sit and focusing on me.



What to keep working on...

* they need to be walked separately so that when we do encounter dogs, they do ok. good thing it's supposed to be sunny for a few days
* we need to get the dogs able to be on other side of street with a dog walk by on the opposite sidewalk
* continue to get comfortable seeing dogs in the courtyard area


wheew! i need some more treats for training times...i guess this means another practice session at petsmart soon

day two

Our practice today:
* Sara Beth and Copper received separate walks.
* Sara passed one other dog in our building in the alley. She was too excited to walk past, but I got her to sit in a stay (just barely) as it walked past us about 30' away.
* Copper had a great walk until we got back to our building. We practiced sits and stays at various points on the walk (even with squirrels around). Another owner came out with his dog when we got back close to our building. He went nuts and I promptly turned us around and we went the oppposite direction. Once far enough away that he couldn't see the dog, I was able to distract him with treats enough to sit. I think it's going to be a lot of enocunters like this before he calms down.

* We hung out on the porch that faces the sidewalk and I practiced with them going in a stay. They still got excited when they saw the few dogs that came near, but they also were paying some attention to me.

* We also sat out on our front porch that faces the courtyard for a few minutes. The dogs never really relaxed, but we did get to see some people come and go and I was able to talk with one of our neighbors. The dogs behaved well during all of this.

day one

Day one really begins with day zero and the previous two years. Enter Copper. Copper is our miniature australian shepherd who overall is a fabulous dog, but has a couple of issues that we have been trying to work on but have come to a head two days ago. But that's not all. Enter Sara Beth: our border collie. We had Sara for a year before we got Copper. While she has her own set of obedience issues, she is a great dog too. But, she has picked up bad habits from Copper or her issues haven't been addressed because we are more focused on the other dog or the task of taking care of two dogs at once.

We have two months to get Copper in shape and Sara Beth too before we reevaluate.

The problems we need to fix:

* food aggression when trying to steal Sara's food

* leash aggression inside of our condo building and out on walks


Food Aggression: Day One:

* Decided to only feed both dogs once a day so that they are more responsive to treats during training times
* Hand fed Copper his dinner a little bit by little bit. I held my hand in his bowl while he ate from it. We didn't start feeding Copper until Sara had started eating from her bowl, and I fed him such small amounts at a time that she finished before we did.
* Food bowls will be kept up in the closet except during times of actual feeding.
* In the future, I will let copper eat from his bowl, but put obstacles to help slow him down. If he can handle it, I will try to take away his bowl while he is eating. The idea is that this might frustrate him, but if it's in small increments and he gets praised for responding well to it, he may get used to things interrupting "his food time".
* I'm not going to let him lick sara's bowl after meal time (hence putting the bowls up in the counter). I think this might be making him think that he is entitled to some of what's in that bowl because he is allowed to lick it.


Leash Aggression: Day One:

* took both dogs to petsmart and practiced walking around one on one. We practiced sits and stays and walking around the store with other dogs in the general vicinity.
* Copper did really well. He was even invited to sit in a class for a few minutes and did really well. I could tell he felt submissive in this environment. The goal would be then to figure out how to get him to feel submissive in our problem environments.
* Sara Beth did well. She is really good at sits and stays. I was surprised at how well her heeling and loose leash walking was considering those were the main struggles in our training up until this point. She actually seemed more negatively reponsive to seeing other dogs than Copper had been, so I think the leash aggression will be an issue for her too, but overall, we had some really positive experiences at petsmart.