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Post by gilli176 on Sept 3, 2012 14:23:47 GMT -5
need a rant and any advice you all have. I adore erin walking her is a challenge but she's getting worse since richard has taken a job in london. She hates cats and kicks off so badly when she sees one and we have many cats around where we live. I have to walk her down the road to the field and she will remember where the cats she has seen were so its a battle every day. She has started redirecting her frustrations on me good job i was wearing a jumper yesterday or i would have more than bruises.
Set off today but i just couldn't cope when she saw a cat and it all started again its the thought of what she could do to my arm as i didn't have a jumper on. It's just knocked my confidence with her on walks. So guess i'm answering part of my own question i probably need to muzzle her. But what can i do to make it easier treats have no interest for her no matter what it is toys even ones that squeek nothing. She does understand leave it but again no effect when she sees a cat.
where possible if i see the cat first or before she has totally gone mad we turn round and walk away
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Post by sassbu on Sept 3, 2012 15:01:08 GMT -5
Oh gosh I so feel your frustration  For some reason with Sal on foster here, Noel became a complete nightmare with dogs, cats, squirrels you name it. He has always been muzzled however but poor Sal got most of his redirected frustration rather than my arm and thank God for the muzzle  . He was never ever food orientated outside either but I tried again with a very high value treat which he never ever got elsewhere except on walks. Started by stopping and getting his attention at any time I wanted with the word sausage and giving the sausage slice as reward. After a fortnight of this I could do the same every time I caught sight of a potential distraction for him and could even distract him from dogs, squirrels and even cats for long enough for said distraction to disappear or pass by. Don't know if this is any help to you as a year before it wouldn't have worked either but might be worth a try with something she adores but doesn't get any other time, I simply couldn't believe it when I actually distracted him from a cat  I do know how hard it is though and how it can ruin walks to the point of absolute dread Sarah x P.S. Might also be worth trying her in a t-touch wrap or t-shirt, something which hugs her a bit, maybe with Richard out more she feels a bit more vulnerable sorry can't think of anything else |
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Post by jodav on Sept 3, 2012 15:30:06 GMT -5
Ttouch massages and a wrap have made a difference to my reactive dog but it does take time. Have a plan in your mind about what you will do when you see the first cat (it helps to feel a bit more in control because you can lose all power of thought in the heat of the moment.) Homemade treats, sardine sponge cake etc can be more effective at distracting, clicker or 'leave' command. Turning around to walk in the opposite direction with 'lets go' command. Loads of praise if she ignores the cat. Hope this helps.
Jo
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Post by gazer on Sept 3, 2012 16:58:22 GMT -5
You're not alone with the problem of redirecting. Billie does this to the nearest thing to her, be it a lead, Cara or as once happened, my arm. She now wears a muzzle on walks, Billie is young, not even 2 years old yet, her leaping about and grabbing has improved as she's got older. Distractions are good, using something really high value as already mentioned, the problem can be the dog reacting so damn quick you just don't have time, however working with her to 'watch' you on walks and at home can help. Cats are a pain in the arse for reactive dogs, 3 of mine hate cats, well all 4 do actually but Alfie greyhound just looks at them bless him. I have it with squirrells too oh and rabbits and.........well you know what I mean. All I can really suggest is try not to get too stressed out with the situation, it is disheartening sometimes when you have a particularly rubbish walk but I'm sure Erin will improve over time. T-touch and wraps sound like they could be helpful. I use a ruffwear harness with collar and double ended lead for both the girls, if all else fails at least I know they aren't going anywhere. Chin up, I hope you have a cat free walk tomorrow  Jacqui |
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Post by julies on Sept 4, 2012 12:30:24 GMT -5
Lucy wears a muzzle even giong out the front door into the car .. it didn't help when I opened the front door and there was a ****ing cat sitting on the step  She is getting much better and isn't demented for very long now TTouch, wraps and a harness with a double ended lead plus Sarah's very high value treats and you'll get there Julie xx |
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Post by barbaranixon on Sept 4, 2012 12:43:15 GMT -5
I sympathise, as Teddy is sometimes a devil when out, but his thng is people, but not all people.
He has nipped me a few times, when in a lather, but, luckily, he likes food. If I don't have treats with me, I have to make him sit and hold his collar while the person goes past.
His behaviour is the last remnant of several issues of years back and he would benefit from more socialisation with people and dogs, but I don't think any dog owners near me would be willing to help, so he stays an outcast. (He's a cavalier, by the way.)
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Post by jodav on Sept 4, 2012 13:15:45 GMT -5
he would benefit from more socialisation with people and dogs, but I don't think any dog owners near me would be willing to help, so he stays an outcast. (He's a cavalier, by the way.) A bit sad to hear he's an outcast Barbara, hope you're only half joking  I sometimes think it's a shame we're all so spread out cos I could really do with some helpful people with unreactive dogs for Paddy to practice getting closer to without shouting ... but most people haven't got the time Jo x |
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Post by julies on Sept 5, 2012 3:06:58 GMT -5
I tink it's sad too that good training classes are so few and far between I've been taking Lucy to one, we had a lovely trainer for the first course who asked about greyhounds and then she was moved on and we have another .... hhhhmmmmm If anyone's close-ish to Bath there are some TTouch Practitioner training weeks in September- if you go onto the Tilley Farm website there are application forms for Client Day .. You bring your dog (for about £10 usually which goes to charity) then the trainees in their last two training weeks work with you and the dog .. so well worth having a nice afternoon out with us if you're interested Jo have you tried taking him on some of the RGT walks? They're usually advertised on the local RGT website and they should be able to help you do some socialising and dogs are all on lead - some greys can be very reactive so people are usually sympathetic and will help ? Or GRWE's walks? J x |
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Post by emmajane on Sept 5, 2012 7:37:59 GMT -5
Gilli how horrid for you - what a monkey Erin is. The best thing to do when you have an issue is to break it down into micro sized parts which make success easier to achieve. 1. My lot have always turned into MONSTERS for about a week or so whenever Tony is away (and the same when he gets back) To compensate I normally go crazy on the training front - nothing serious or formal, just lots of silly games to have fun and get the dogs working. Simple things like hand touches for their dinner or waiting while I put foot on the floor or on their head etc etc.. you get the idea lol 2. Find a food reward she loves. Raw chicken, squeezy cheese, warm cat food. ANYTHING at all that she loves. Find a few if you can and then you can swop and change. Will she take food from the floor rather than your hand better - will she chase food if you threw it a little way away to stimulate her chase drive? Does she love her dinner? Would she work for that if she was hungry? The rest of her training would be made much easier if she has food she likes. I am assuming that she doesn't like treats in general rather than just refusing them when she sees a cat. 3. Muzzle her on walks. No question. 4. How bad is she with cats? Would she react to a cardboard cat cut out at a distance? A stuffed cat? It would be helpful if she would because then you can have something to work with that you are in control of rather than a pesky cat shooting out from under a car and surprising you both. (You're on your own making a cardboard cat cutout though ha ha) 5. What is Erin's all time favourite thing (chasing cats is NOT allowed on the list:)) 6. If it would help I have a friend sort of up your way that is a behaviourist. She is only young, but has sighthounds of her own, is bang up to date with all the latest training techniques and her training methods are very very positive. I can send you her details if you want and maybe you could have a chat to her? Lots of questions, but once we start to work out how she ticks then we can start to come up with a training plan, but you have to put in the ground work first so that you and she understand exactly what you both should be doing - expecting her to stand and eat sweets or watch you when the most exciting thing she has ever seen is happening feet away from her just isn't going to happen. Cats are the biggest pain because they are so damn difficult to avoid and almost impossible to predict where they will be to do some below threshold training. At least with sheeps (which has been one of my major training issues with Shay) there isn't much chance of them suddenly popping up from under a car I'm sure between us all we can come up with something. Emma xx |
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Post by gilli176 on Sept 5, 2012 9:18:39 GMT -5
Right confidence restored I will try some of those tips didn't want to muzzle her but for my sake I will. Cardboard cat cut out so worth a try and tt harnes and a double ended lead will be worn rather than halti.
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Post by barbaranixon on Sept 5, 2012 10:54:41 GMT -5
A bit sad to hear he's an outcast Barbara, hope you're only half joking I sometimes think it's a shame we're all so spread out cos I could really do with some helpful people with unreactive dogs for Paddy to practice getting closer to without shouting ... but most people haven't got the time Jo x Sadly, I'm not joking. it would be lovely to be able to socialise with both my dogs. Joly , the other one , is no problem at all. |
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Post by gilli176 on Sept 17, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5
so we have been trying to find things to distract her treat wise pate is winning so far but not a chance i will be able to distract her from a cat. When we see a cat we turn and go the other way when we can she has been muzzled and she seems a bit better with the harness rather than the halti. but the problem there is she walks worse on her lead with the harness. My legs are so bruised its silly but she hasn't managed to redirect at me. she is worse since Drifter went to his new home she used to redirect at him and he would snap at her.
Her favorite things when out walking is actually other dogs she loves meeting them she has a favorite toy in the house which she is not allowed as its the only toy Dizzy will play with but out and about no interest in it
Emma i would be interested in what a behaviouist has to say so feel free to give me your friends details.
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Post by Nettie on Sept 17, 2012 16:27:06 GMT -5
Gilli what kind of harness are you using?
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Post by julies on Sept 18, 2012 2:29:31 GMT -5
And what are you feeding her?
J x
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Post by gilli176 on Sept 18, 2012 4:03:03 GMT -5
Nettie its a TT harness we do have a roughware too julies she is fed a complete food CSJ
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