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Post by Dobereich on Aug 5, 2011 17:05:37 GMT -5
oh, and did I happen to mention that I think I kept the wrong puppy, and thats why Andreina is steering clear from my house with her chubby little Scarlet...lol.
She still looks like a puppy, and I still like her "look". I guess I will get some pics of Autumn sent over. You know the saying "the cobblers shoes have holes".
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 5, 2011 17:19:45 GMT -5
So today I took Kenzie for a walk down the Trans Canada trail. Everything was going well. She is not on a leash and is very good about it. She usually will run ahead, stop, look back and wait until I get close before she starts to run ahead again. On our walk, we usually meet a whole bunch of other dogs. On this date, she met a Bug(part Boston terrier, part pug) that ran full speed at her. She freaked out and started running the opposite direction yelping. After running about 200 metres, she turns around and runs back to the Bug. They played for a good 20 minutes before we walked on. The only other time she did that was when we met a red male Doberman with natural ear name Oscar who started to chase her, she did the same running and yelping in the opposite direction. I am finding that she is more timid around other dogs now then when she was a younger. Is this normal? Hak, be very careful with the off leash at this age. Firstly, these O-litter babies will be entering into their flight instinct time. That's when they start to exercise their Independence a bit, and in the process they test their boundaries with you too. We've all been there at least once. With the pup keeping a 10' radius of you going "na-na-na-nana. The other concern is that your puppy is exactly that, still a puppy. They will come into their second plateau and this fear stage demonstrates between 4-6 months of age. But in this case I don't think Kenzie was in a fear stage yet, just reacting to a dog that was running right at her. Very few pups would stand their ground in the same situation, they're just babies. But what I would fear is that Kenzie could startle and run into the road. The fact that Kenzie took a second look and then started to play with this strange dog is actually a real testament to a great temperament. A fearful dog, or dog that is afraid of other dogs, would have opted to stay behind your legs and would have taken a lot longer to warm up to the idea of playing with the dog that just scared the sh#t out of her...lol In any situation when a puppy is afraid, the best thing you can do is shrug it off. Don't react too, and be cool, not comforting. When the pups sees that you're not afraid, then they realize that this is something they should investigate. But when we react, we reinforce the pup's fears.
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Post by Lisa on Aug 5, 2011 19:59:14 GMT -5
I can not believe Andreina how much Scarlet has grown! She looks like a teenager to me. Such a beautiful red girl... her name suits her very nicely In any situation when a puppy is afraid, the best thing you can do is shrug it off. Don't react too, and be cool, not comforting. When the pups sees that you're not afraid, then they realize that this is something they should investigate. But when we react, we reinforce the pup's fears. Great point Monica. I always say "it's OK" and keep walking... it calms them down. I do it when they start barking too. That's a reminder I am in charge of their being and will protect them.
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 5, 2011 23:11:55 GMT -5
In any situation when a puppy is afraid, the best thing you can do is shrug it off. Don't react too, and be cool, not comforting. When the pups sees that you're not afraid, then they realize that this is something they should investigate. But when we react, we reinforce the pup's fears. Great point Monica. I always say "it's OK" and keep walking... it calms them down. I do it when they start barking too. That's a reminder I am in charge of their being and will protect them. I actually recommend that you try not to use the words "its OK". Because what is it that you are reaffirming, that its OK to be afraid, its OK to react the way they did, etc? Remember, what you might intend in your mind isn't always the way it is understood by your dog. What I recommend is that you address the object and then continue with a command that the pup understands. The time to praise is when your puppy has decided to accept the matter that they were unsure of, and of course whenever they are obeying the commands given as well.
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Post by Lisa on Aug 6, 2011 8:59:24 GMT -5
Doggy language is very complicated... it's reflection of owners mind or mood and movement It's OK means for my dogs OK to proceed and it doesn't reinforce fears. That's not a reward either. I don't have problems with fears. Gino is mature enough and Asha has never been afraid.
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 7, 2011 10:20:26 GMT -5
Doggy language is very complicated... it's reflection of owners mind or mood and movement It's OK means for my dogs OK to proceed and it doesn't reinforce fears. That's not a reward either. I don't have problems with fears. Gino is mature enough and Asha has never been afraid. It boils down to tone and body language yes. But because the words "its OK" tend to come out of one's mouth with a soothing tone more times then not, this is why I try to use other phrases that are more commanding when you say them. So while you might be using the right tone, most don't, and my goal is to teach people how to avoid making mistakes that will have to be undone later.
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Post by Jess Vendette on Aug 7, 2011 10:47:36 GMT -5
So far Teah is afraid of nothing! But I think that is partially because of Sophie. Sophie is a fearless little jack russel, so anytime they encounter something new, Teah lets Sophie go in first to see if she survives LoL Kinda smart
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Post by Andreina on Aug 7, 2011 11:11:37 GMT -5
Monica, what words can you suggest? If there is something Scarlet's scared of, such as passing by something on our walk, she will start to jump around a bit with her eyes locked on it. I will continue walking and say "let's go" and ignore it. She follows still with her eye on the target a bit, but nevertheless she comes with me and moves on. But "let's go" is a word I use a lot when walking, so is it ok in that situation also?
ps. Jess that's hilarious... "I'll let the jack check it out first to see if I'll survive" LOL
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Post by Dobereich on Aug 7, 2011 11:20:48 GMT -5
That's good Andreina, "lets go" is crisp and direct.
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Post by Andreina on Aug 7, 2011 11:25:59 GMT -5
Scarlet and her beagle pal hangin out by the pool after their play date. (No, she wouldn't come swimming either! ) This is my best friends 1 yr old dog, who lives in windsor and was down for a visit! Scarlet and Charlie just met yesterday and got along SO well. By far the best I've ever seen her play with another dog yet, I was a proud mama for sure. Scarlet has such an awesome temperament, meeting other dogs is always a breeze for her. At one point Charlie let Scarlet rest her paws on his back when they were sleeping, it was the cutest! Surprising for a first time meet with dogs. Attachments:
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Post by imluvndobes on Aug 7, 2011 20:09:23 GMT -5
Hey Monica,
Thanks for the advice. For sure I don't she is a fearful dog, I agree she was overwhelmed by a little dog charging at her full speed. Although we do one long walk down the trails a day, I have been walking her more down some busy streets with lots of cars passing and in area where construction and heavy machinery are.
Andreina, Scarlet looks great. My wife commented on how "thick" she looked.
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Post by Andreina on Aug 8, 2011 16:49:08 GMT -5
Hey, thanks Hak! I'm really pleased with how she is growing too. Kenzie is beautiful especially in her summer dress. You really couldn't go wrong with any of these girls... Cajun and Argus make some good babies To add to your comment of busy streets and what not I'll share my experience and solution... Scarlet was apprehensive about walking down them so I take a really short route where I can expose her to it. Like I mentioned before, she did her whole jumping around and trying to make sense of all the cars at first and was scared. I told her lets go up a bit further, and put her in a sit and treated her. We sat there, up over the sidewalk on some grass and watched them all drive by for about 10 min. We do that every other day and now she is accustomed to it. Try that out with Kenzie putting her in a sit or down stay for a few mins after she gets over the shock value of all the noise! It's amazing to see these pups growing and learning so fast.
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Post by imluvndobes on Aug 8, 2011 18:02:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip, I will for sure try what you have suggested. I guess we have been up to the cottage so much that she has replace the sound if bust streets with boats and loons.
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Post by dobermoms on Aug 9, 2011 20:46:08 GMT -5
That's a great idea, and if I can add to that.......do the same thing right now around a park with kids, skate parks, pools....anywhere where there are kids playing. It's a good idea to get her used to the sounds, screams of little kids now so it doesn't bother her when she is an adult.
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Post by Andrea on Aug 15, 2011 5:40:17 GMT -5
How are all the O litter puppies? Autumn is her usual spitfire self, we introduced her to one of the P-litter puppies who is nearly 3 months old and the little one gave Autumn a good run for her money! lol ;D She is definitely a handful but makes up for it with sweetness after she's tired herself out. Attachments:
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