Sitting down and connectedness

A little video of me sitting down on a bench after a walk and run offlead on the beach. Not asking him to do anything, but rewarding him for voluntarily checking in. This bit of ground is heavily walked on by dogs and isn't that remote or quiet. It's also an area Grey has been walked in almost daily since he was a little pup. The camera is also a cue for training I think as usually a predictor of something exciting coming like sausage! So you see a bit where he sits in front of me. And cheeky monkey lets me know when he thinks we've sat long enough, than you!

I'll try and do more of this in different environments to see if there is any difference.

So in thinking about connectedness, a bond is really important. Choosing to come back rather than being forced or even asked to come back. Probably worth more than a bit of sausage.

Building Confidence - Thinking About Different Surfaces

I've not found time to post much these last few weeks. Probably owing to the fact that Grey and I have been out more since his recovery from the shoulder injury seems to be going really well. Yeah, well, that's my excuse! We've been following the virtual course still with Learning About Dogs with Kay Laurence on building confidence and working with reactive dogs. It's been good helping me look at the finer details of behaviour and how he interacts with the environment.

I put the crate back in the car and covered it so he can't see out the back or side windows. He can still look forward and at me. Instant improvement in stress levels for both of us. No more barking and lunging at the windows at anyone who comes near the car on the outward journey. So he's no longer practising this unwanted behaviour and not building up more of a habit of it. He also at our walk in a much calmer state. Quicker to settle down before he gets out of the car and so much more connected when he's let out, My own stress levels are much improved no longer having the hound of the baskervilles in the back seat!

It's a simple solution and doesn't involve yelling, antibark collars and keeps him safer in the car.

Here's some video homework looking at different surfaces.

Work inside on a polished concrete floor with the target stick



The varied surfaces Grey runs on in our walk. Just video I shot on my phone of him. It's great to see him so relaxed and happy.





I was interested in the choices Grey makes about which surface to walk/run on. On our grassy field top beginning of the walk he actively chooses grass over the harder paths of gravel, compacted sand or asphalt. On the field top he will pee lots and mark up frequently. He doesn't ever mark up on sand or if we are out in the woods.

On the sand he will immediately look for an object like a rock to carry and will also frequently dig. He never digs or carries objects on the grassy areas.

He will happily canter and trot on grass and slow down very suddenly on asphalt. On sand he will frequently gallop.

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.