Post by swoosh66 on Nov 26, 2011 9:45:26 GMT -5
So anyone who has been following the saga of Magnum knows that I have had some issues with him and other dogs.
It started out with people coming into the house and him trying to nip at them... as well as trying to get at any other dog on the street to attack them when out for a walk.
Recently I've been working with a friend of mine, who some of you met at D.O.G. 3, and his pack. When we first went out with him and his pack (an Akita, a GSD, and a Beauceron)... Magnum was a bucket of nerves and actually sniped the Beauceron from behind and punctured her leg. Totally unprovoked.
So we've been working harder with him, and trying to do more regular walks, mostly on weekends.
So we've gradually let out a little more leash, but kept a close eye on him.
This morning's pack walk went something like this. Magnum was excited, as he usually is, and stressed out and shaking when the walk started... Peter had his 3 dogs, and took Diamond as well... who is a princess and walked in the middle of those 3 like she was the Queen.
I walked in between the other dogs and Magnum and kept a buffer zone, and a taut leash on him. He was allowed to walk a little ahead of the rest of the dogs because it's where he seems to feel more comfortable and less agitated. He regularly would look back and make sure they were there and not getting too close to him.
By the midpoint of our walk (about 45 mins in) Magnum was walking shoulder to shoulder with Timber... Peter's big Akita, with Diamond on the other side... the GSD beside her and the Beauceron bringing up the rear.
Magnum walked beside Timber, on loose leash, without even paying any attention to him. I was ready to reel in the leash at the first sign of anything going wrong... but it didn't happen.
By no means are we in the clear, and it will still take a lot more work... but this was a huge step for him today, and we'll continue to reinforce this good behaviour and hope that someday he will be able to run free with several other dogs without going crazy.
Oh to dream the impossible dream.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend... I know mine is off to a great start, and I'm looking forward to our pack walk tomorrow.
(PS: Don't expand the picture... it's huge when you do. Didn't realize that the shot was that big, or that it wouldn't resize when loaded)
It started out with people coming into the house and him trying to nip at them... as well as trying to get at any other dog on the street to attack them when out for a walk.
Recently I've been working with a friend of mine, who some of you met at D.O.G. 3, and his pack. When we first went out with him and his pack (an Akita, a GSD, and a Beauceron)... Magnum was a bucket of nerves and actually sniped the Beauceron from behind and punctured her leg. Totally unprovoked.
So we've been working harder with him, and trying to do more regular walks, mostly on weekends.
So we've gradually let out a little more leash, but kept a close eye on him.
This morning's pack walk went something like this. Magnum was excited, as he usually is, and stressed out and shaking when the walk started... Peter had his 3 dogs, and took Diamond as well... who is a princess and walked in the middle of those 3 like she was the Queen.
I walked in between the other dogs and Magnum and kept a buffer zone, and a taut leash on him. He was allowed to walk a little ahead of the rest of the dogs because it's where he seems to feel more comfortable and less agitated. He regularly would look back and make sure they were there and not getting too close to him.
By the midpoint of our walk (about 45 mins in) Magnum was walking shoulder to shoulder with Timber... Peter's big Akita, with Diamond on the other side... the GSD beside her and the Beauceron bringing up the rear.
Magnum walked beside Timber, on loose leash, without even paying any attention to him. I was ready to reel in the leash at the first sign of anything going wrong... but it didn't happen.
By no means are we in the clear, and it will still take a lot more work... but this was a huge step for him today, and we'll continue to reinforce this good behaviour and hope that someday he will be able to run free with several other dogs without going crazy.
Oh to dream the impossible dream.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend... I know mine is off to a great start, and I'm looking forward to our pack walk tomorrow.
(PS: Don't expand the picture... it's huge when you do. Didn't realize that the shot was that big, or that it wouldn't resize when loaded)