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  1. #1
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Grunt, pant, whine, snort, squeek, squeek...

    Back to the desensitization routine I learned from the canine behaviorist. We have her settling down really fast now with food, and everything I can throw at her in the backyard. She knows that we only move when she's calm.

    So it was pretty hot this afternoon and I took the old dog and Rocket Dog to a big pond/lake not far from our house. I tied Rocket Dog to a tree and threw a few bumpers in the water for Bridget. Well... Rocket Dog started losing her mind.

    GREAT!!!

    Traded the dogs out, tied Bridget to the tree and made RD sit about 15 feet from the water's edge. Threw a white bumper as far as I could... and waited. And waited. And waited. OMG... the AGONY! The weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. It was pathetic.

    But eventually (10 minutes? 15?) she got tired of acting out and I walked back to her side. 5 or 10 more minutes of whining and squeeking and finally that got old, and we were able to heel to the side of the water and send her off to get the bumper.

    We had to repeat the process quite a few more times. Each time it took less time for the hysterics to end. Then I traded the dogs... and let Bridget have some retrieves. And when it was Rocket Dog's turn, we had to go through the hysterics again... but less time was required to settle down. So we will be going back to the pond tomorrow and the next day and the next.

    The thing is... the behaviorist's system is very helpful. I found when we got to the park, that RD was not responding to the low buzz on the collar per the Hillmann method. I think she was too high, too excited. That's OK!!! I would predict that we'll be able to go from the behaviorist's method back to resuming the Hillmann system in this new setting, just like we did in the backyard.

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    Tanya (05-24-2017)

  3. #2
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    Awesome! Sounds like you are doing great with her and the introduction of gradually more exciting stimuli. Kudos to you for having the patience to work through it with her. I can imagine how frustrating it must get at times.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
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    And remembering:

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    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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  4. #3
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    That sounds similar to desensitization I read about for dogs reactive on leash to approaching dog walkers. That one involves an incredibly patient friend with their dog to help you out. And lots of time for both parties.
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  5. #4
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    that's great! doing this takes time and patience but it pays off

  6. #5
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    That sounds similar to desensitization I read about for dogs reactive on leash to approaching dog walkers. That one involves an incredibly patient friend with their dog to help you out. And lots of time for both parties.
    You know what? It is EXACTLY what they do with reactive dogs because the person I consulted runs a fantastic dog business, but most of the work she does is with dog their owners THINK will have to put down for "aggression". She also rehabs some of the saddest little dogs you'll ever meet. The Galgo-Podenco's from Spain and Portugal. You can look up the rescue groups on line. Donate if you want to.

    Friday and Saturday I'm returning to the "scene of the crime" (the trial grounds where she broke.) Our club has a HT branch and a FT branch. They are putting on their FT and I volunteered to help run lunches out to the various stakes. While I'm out there, I may be able to find a bit of water off the beaten path to see if we can repeat what we did at the lake. It may have the added advantage of having shotguns going off in the way-off distance. But she will know where she is and that will juice her up.

  7. #6
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Great progress!

    Make me laugh, all the sounds RD made. Kinda like Archie when he sees a squirrel outside and wants OUT!
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  8. #7
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    TuMicks,
    Good work with RD.👌

    Mikey☘️
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    Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.

  9. #8
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    I love the description of RD antics. I smile every time I see this.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    I love the description of RD antics. I smile every time I see this.
    Me too. I can visualize by your descriptions. I'd love to
    see and hear hear in a video.

    Sounds like she is getting there with your training and patience.

  11. #10
    Best Friend Retriever SoapySophie's Avatar
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    I, too, require video evidence of this phenomenon, for the purpose of investigation...yes, that's it.
    Sophie: Born July 28, 2014
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