A tiny triumph

KxMx

I've been wondering how you & scampers had been getting on, thanks for posting

neveranymoney

Thanks catkins and KxMx, I follow a fair few threads on this board too and often wonder how OP's are getting on with their animal related sagas as well!

Meritaten, I compare my husband to others all the time and secretly think that I hit the jackpot there. But don't tell him I said so. You are right about other people and their dogs, 'he's just being friendly, he just gets so excited' and other nonsense is always spouted at me after other dogs less than perfect behaviour. I get looks that I am keeping scampers, even though a fair few people don't trust their dog around other dogs and i think people think I am a bit cruel muzzling him 'dogs fight, that's what they do' has been said too.

The gremloid is asleep now, it's a bit like having a baby again as when they aren't driving you up the wall, you think lovey dovey thoughts about them.
For instance, he is ever so pleased to see you in the morning, at weekends he is allowed into bed - he licks your face all 'hello! Hello!' And then settles down for a wee sleep. I LOVE seeing him on the long line running in long grass as he is usually very unhappy with muzzle on and I love watching him going a dinger at a proper bone from the butchers. Never mind the myriad things he hates and generally wanders around looking like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders!

Fosterdog

Well done on your BIG triumph, the fact he was distracted by food so easily so early on in his training is a great sign and should give you a lot of hope for the future.

You may always have to carry a muzzle with you but eventually you may get to the stage that it's not needed very often.

I take the muzzle everywhere I take my boy but apart from his vet visits over the last few weeks (weekly Cartrophen injections for a month) he hasn't had to wear it for months. He only has it on in the vets because it's a confined space with lots of unknown and nervous animals.

I rarely have to muzzle him on walks anymore and have learned to be extra aware of what's going on in the distance and being prepared.

neveranymoney

I have to be honest and say, the majority of incidents with other dogs outside have been pretty much a disaster. I am really beginning to believe that the fact he is muzzled and on a lead is acting like a huge neon sign saying 'fair game' to all other off lead/moron owners with on lead dogs. I can't see him being wild and free in the mouth department for a very, very long time. Trying to not tighten lead, either do an about turn or sticking your fingers into the muzzle with a treat whilst trying to be jolly is nightmarish.

Hell, he's awake now and staring at the door and now licking himself silly.

meritaten

Persevere. he WILL get used to the muzzle, so will you, and so will the other dog owners! lie if necessary! if someone asks why he is wearing it say he has an allergy and it stops him eating inappropriate things (like small dogs).
hun, I don't think you realise how much 'you are getting there'! you are doing wonders with this dog.

Would it be the end of the world if he ALWAYS had to wear the muzzle on walks? isn't it better than what he had before? You will learn to cope with other dog owners - and laugh at the more nutty ones. Right now you are 'on edge' and self conscious. Relax! you and your dog, who is sporting the latest range in muzzles, are out for a walk..................so what? ignore stupid people hun - this dog is getting a fantastic home - and if he has to wear that muzzle - I am sure he thinks it a fair price to pay!

dibuzz

My dog was from a rescue, she was found as a stray and rehomed but taken back because she didn't get on with the dog they already had.
She is never allowed off lead as she's always gone for other dogs. It used to take 2 of us to walk her as she pulled so much.
We were in Pets at Home one day looking at non pull harnesses just in case there was one we hadn't tried when one of the assistants came over and after explaining the problem he gave us some tips, some worked and some didn't but I can now take her out alone and don't have to cross the road when I see another dog.

joansgirl

Neveranymoney, you said in one of your previous posts that you were a bored housewife. Is this true. Are you at home most of the time? Coz if you are you might be having too much of him. I know that when a problem dog (or child, for that matter) is constantly in your face it makes you stressed. I was taking Bailie to work with me every day but I got fed up with her. She was always there, 24/7. I didn't get a chance to miss her, plus she was getting far too excited all the time. Fortunately I'm in a position where I can tweak my hours to suit so that's what I did. She now stays at home while I work (doing 6 days now, instead of 4) so we both get a break from each other. I've been doing this for 2 weeks now and the difference is amazing. When I'm away from her I miss her and am pleased to see her when I get in. She is much calmer now, we don't get the mad half hour every evening like we used to. It's almost as if she realises that the time we have together is now quality time instead of me screaming at her to get down, stop biting, don't do that etc. I actually like her more now and she is more affectionate with me as I think she misses me during the day too. Her outdoor behaviour has improved also. I did get a bit worried that she would suffer separation anxiety so I recorded her with the webcam on a couple of occasions. She spent the entire time asleep! Maybe you need some time out. Everybody needs a break now and then.

catkins

neveranymoney wrote: »

I have to be honest and say, the majority of incidents with other dogs outside have been pretty much a disaster. I am really beginning to believe that the fact he is muzzled and on a lead is acting like a huge neon sign saying 'fair game' to all other off lead/moron owners with on lead dogs. I can't see him being wild and free in the mouth department for a very, very long time. Trying to not tighten lead, either do an about turn or sticking your fingers into the muzzle with a treat whilst trying to be jolly is nightmarish.

Hell, he's awake now and staring at the door and now licking himself silly.

I know only too well how you feel. When I used to walk my previous dog who was muzzled I literally used to dread the walks. I would have to pluck up courage and then when I got home I would have to have a coffee and calm down. Sounds really silly but that is how I was. People kept telling me if I was tense I would pass that to my dog but it really is not easy walking a dog reactive dog and not getting tense. It did get much much better for me and I am sure it will for you and Scamps.

My 15 month old dog now gets far too excited when he sees other dogs and I am teaching him not to. He is gradually getting there but it is very difficult keeping him under threshold due to other moronic dog owners. Wherever I walk him I seem to see owners with their dogs offlead but no control whatsoever. This week it has happened several times. Yesterday I took him to the park which I know will be filled with dogs but he was doing really well and sitting calmly looking at other dogs until a spaniel came running over and started jumping at him. My dog was leaping in the air and barking and I was trying to get him to sit again and calm down. The owner kept calling her dog who totally ignored her. I then tried to walk away with my boy (who was still jumping and barking) and her dog just kept with us still leaping about. By the time she caught hold of her dog my dog was very excited with no chance of me calming him down. I was so angry but I didn't say anything.

Today not wanting to risk the park, I street walked him (boring for both of us) and yes, of course, there was a dog offlead. It appeared from nowhere and again ran up to my boy and started jumping at him and around him. I called to the owner could she get her dog back - cue her calling it and it totally ignoring her. She called to me and said "Oh he is friendly". I said "Ok but can you get him back please" (I felt like saying well mine isn't and will bite yours) - cue more calling and her eventually coming and getting him. She didn't put him on the lead though, just pulled him away by his collar, walked a little way and let him go again and, yes, you've guessed he came running back to me and my dog! So another failed attempt to keep my dog calm. I was so angry I felt like punching her!

neveranymoney

ARRRGGHH. After feeling a good bit more positive after posting here last night, we are back at the start. Husband took him to a field he knows well and has previously done pretty well with the basic training on a long line. HALF A FIELD AWAY was another dog doing agility, minding its own business. Still too much for scampers. Hubby found a patch where there was nothing in sight, walked around for a good ten minutes and then started calling him to come etc again. Nothing. Not even an ear twitch to show that he heard. I have just come in from the shops and he was very pleased to see us so I had taken him out to play. The same as last night occurred but this time he was well gone. I had to run into the house and thank god my husband got a real bone for him yesterday as I had to practically wave it under his nose to distract him and get him in doors. Last night I was able to call him twice from the back door and he came running.

It is a beautiful day here and we live very near a lovely tow path beside an inlet and we have always gone down there on good days, prior to dog and it is very bloody annoying that we all are denied (scampers included) prucking about and paddling as it is a magnet for dog walkers.

The majority of the time I think we are making an utter balls of things, the rest of the time I feel angry that everything is mad. For instance, we have to sit with the blinds tilted as he goes bananas at every dog that passes the window, freezing up and huffing and puffing. I actually think this is getting worse as he now does it, albeit not as badly to people passing, even though I try to stay calm and and say in a jokey way, 'there, you silly !!!!, there's nothing going on'.

I had planned to have him out the back quite a bit today, playing, training and with the massive butchers bone so I could get a few things done, (he is very odd when I do the ironing, practically on top of me, the clothes, trying to sit on the chair behind me and the ironing board and I'm worried I will stand on him or drop the iron) but until the other dog is put back in his run, that's a no no.

Joansgirl, I do tend to feel a bit isolated at times, I'm not from this side of town originally and my husband works shifts so is either at work or in bed and I don't drive (hence why I thought we would be good dog owners, I walk everywhere!) but I try to get to the gym most week day mornings for a bit of craic. Hark at me, I sound all fit walking and gyming it but I have actually put on a stone with all this carry on. It's not only scampers who had been ramping up the old stress problems, everything all sort of happened at the same time, we got into severe money difficulties (hence why I can't board up the fence any better) the children went back to school and have needed tonnes of money for bloody all sorts, I gave up smoking and we have had some family worried too. At times the pressure/claustrophobic feelings are unbearable if I am honest.

I fantasise about winning a bit of money in the lotto (considering I no longer do it, it really would be something of a miracle) and buying a house in the country so I could just walk my dog in peace and live a quiet life. What a happy chappy I am today!

meritaten

Don't take this the wrong way neveranymoney - but, you will have days when they seem to forget all the training! as I said, one step forward and two steps back! Training isn't a smooth learning curve - this is how it goes! I think you are expecting far too much too quickly! would it put it into perspective if I told you that with my intelligent staffy and starting as a puppy of about 3 months she was nearly a year old before she would do the 'basics' reliably? took even longer with the dim one! I am sure that people think its like on the tv - couple of sessions and the dog behaves like a dream!!!! this is real life and it doesn't happen that fast!
you have a full grown dog who is obviously used to either doing as he pleases, or was encouraged to be aggressive to other dogs (I suspect the latter), so you do have to allow time for 'untraining' him!

Don't be so downhearted - you HAVE come a long way and I am sure this dog isn't totally untrainable - it would be difficult for any dog owner I am sure.
We are all behind you - and willing you on and mentally sending good wishes I am sure! Cheer up!