New start - Back to school!

It's been a busy week this last week. Grey is settling back in to going on offlead walks. So far so good. No limping and he seems really happy. I've readjusted to getting out all my kit that I've not had out of the cupboard for 6 months: wellies, whistle, anorak etc.

Our new routine for the winter months will be up and out for the toilet. Back in for breakfast in his tug-a-jug in our bedroom, while I get on with breakfasts for guests. Breakfast service finished, I go out with Grey for the main walk of the day. The afternoons will be training walks. This seems to be the routine that will fit best with me having early morning starts at work and dark mornings and early evenings. I have to wait in for guests arriving from late afternoon so late walks are not always possible and in the winter it's dark by 4pm anyway.

He's been super good on our walks. We've been up Botany Bay and Minnis Bay. He's been very connected and hasn't run off. He's had his first interactions with other dogs and I'm happy to say he hasn't been too OTT, which had worried me. Today he came away from playing with a golden to come and find the sock as a blind retrieve.

Botany Bay

I started the LADS virtual course: 'COLLAR Building the Skilled and Confident Dog' with Kay Laurence this week. I'm not sure how well I'll do at it! I think everyone else gets the idea more than me! But we'll see. It will be interesting to see how I respond to a little, no a lot of structure for once! I signed up to see if I can improve Grey's reactivity around traffic and things that he considers out of the ordinary. Just to see if he can learn to handle himself and have some coping strategies. This week's homework is to work on the three gaits of walking, trotting and cantering and also stillness.

I shot this of the three gaits yesterday.



And today I was working on capturing stillness. This stillness is intense and in anticipation of further movement. I was thinking about the fact that if I raise my hand above my head he freezes in anticipation of a throw. I'll also work on capturing calm stillness.

Grey's first off lead run all summer

So we finally did it. The boy had a little free running session after we walked round a field. He was so surprised and I was almost tearful seeing him stretch his legs. He's been kept in and on lead for round about a quarter of his life. He was really good. He had the expected roll on the ground showing off. But he stayed close and didn't bog off. Was responsive and stayed with me despite the sudden appearance of a jack russell.

I've included a slow motion repeat at the end to see if it helps look at his movement. I think he's going heavy on one side. But all in all a massive improvement.

Welcome back, Grey!

Having a weekend going over some Ian Dunbar pieces

I've been going through a few videos and training methods from Dr Ian Dunbar. Working on the all or nothing reward system. I've had great success with the last few days of lead training where you take giant steps and wait for an automatic sit before another giant step and so on. Check out the video link from the DVD here. I've long thought that I have to build in absolute patience to wait out for calm. Grey has a tendency to snatch and grab. And also there should be the rule of not moving on or attempting to train or do anything if he's not focussed.

So here are a few videos:

Wasted pupphood. How puppyies at 8 weeks have already gone through two thirds of their critical period and arrive in most homes not housetrained, socialised or taught anything. Ian believes that by the time they are this age they should have met at least 100 different people in positive circumstances.

Filmed in 2007 Dr. Ian Dunbar gives a lecture for TED.



Over 400+ videos on Ian's Dogstar Daily youtube channel.