New collar new day

I knew I was speaking of success before I should have done regarding the halti and the new walking technique. After two days, Grey started struggling against the Halti for the whole walk. He would lean into it and made snuffling sounds with his breathing, so generally a struggle and it was uncomfortable on my arm. That and much throwing himself on the floor in a toddler protest and trying to rub it off on my trousers. He really hated it and would run and hide in his bed when I got it out, even if it meant going for a walk and was offered with a piece of sausage.

So over the weekend it was suggested I look at two more collars. The first the Gencon headcollar, which works by contracting the whole head and at the back of the head, similar to the TTouch calming bands. My friend kindly lent me hers so we did a swapsie and I gave the Halti back. He struggled a bit when it was put on like a pony with a new bridle. But after his initial protests he settled into it and really responded. I need to manage him more proactively as well, by lifting his head from scenting and stopping him lying on the floor. So we managed a while walking round the park and then through the high street with a well behaved more with me Grey that wasn't fighting the collar. It also doesn't ride up in his eyes. We'll see how he goes from here on if it continues.

We also bumped into Obi four times on the walk. Which was lovely and interesting because I got to see how different they are. Ok there's a big age gap with Obi being six weeks younger. But even at that age, Grey was a more determined to do his own thing on the lead character than Obi seems to be. Still so strange to see another one at the same time as Grey!


The other headcollar I had been recommended was the Dogmatic. It works like the Halti, but it doesn't ride up in the eyes and is good for large strong dogs. Hopefully we won't need it if training goes ok on the Gencon. If I do get one, I've been advised to get either the synthetic leather or the cotton one because the original leather versions need a lot of softening up.

We met Obi!

Swoon, feel bad now that I didn't get a piccie, but we were so excited to meet Obi, the new slovak on the block. He's six weeks younger than Grey and lovely. Funny to see his head pop over the wall as we were on the beach yesterday. Like Grey, a hairy one, but younger. So like seeing how much Grey has changed in the last month or so. I have a feeling that Obi is better behaved than Grey!

They had a good play together, so the first meet went really well. It bodes well for the future.

We had a nice weekend of meeting other dogs. Bumped into the spinone pup that we'd met six weeks ago. He's come along beautifully. Hope to see him again.

I think the sand definitely is behind Grey's gunky eyes. If we've been on the beach he'll always have gunky bits the next morning. I wiped his eyes with a used tea bag to see if that settles it.