It's been very wet here in Auckland for the last several days. We were planning to go to obedience ribbon trials in Mangawhai, one and a half hours north of Auckland, on the weekend, but we didn't go because my humans thought that it wasn't worth such a long drive if it rained, as the event was held outdoor.
Well, today I will show you what I start doing as soon as I catch smells left by another dog who has just passed by.
As many of you know, I find it very hard to stay calm when I meet other dogs that I don't know in the street. I know that my mum has been working hard to teach me to ignore those dogs, but it is still so hard, although I think that I actually have improved since I first started training not to bark at other dogs last November.
Mum always tries to keep distance from other dogs that we don't know, as I can stay relatively clam by playing 'Look at That' game*, if the other dog is at a distance like on the other side of the road. She also tries to avoid walking in a place where another dog has just walked, if she can, because I have got such a good nose that I just can't ignore the scent other dogs left. If I pick up such scent, I can't help tracking it. And, tracking other dogs' scent, I get excited and it becomes hard for me to stay clam.
*) In 'Look at That' game, I can get click and treat if I look at Mum as soon as I find a dog in the street.
Does anyone know how I could ignore other dogs' scent?
From Cinnamon's mum:
Today we went to St Heliers to have a walk in a break between rain showers. It seems many people thought the same way, as we met so many dogs there.
When we walk in St Heliers, we usually walk on a footpath along Tamaki Drive to Kohimarama. The footpath is relatively wide, but not wide enough for Cinnamon to feel safe. Also, you can't cross the road to the other side easily, because of the traffic.
When we were practising meeting other dogs in preparation for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) assessment, we went there several times in a week to desensitise Cinnamon to encounters with other dogs, as in our neighbourhood we don't meet many dogs that we don't know. Although we passed the CGC assessment with luck, Cinnamon's reactivity to other dogs hasn't been fixed yet.
Today in St Heliers Cinnamon reacted to other dogs so badly that I almost felt like crying. What made things worse was that Mint started barking at other dogs even when Cinnamon was well under control by playing 'Look at That' game.
It was a good reminder that I can't afford to have a break in Cinnamon's training, at least not yet.
That's the first thing I thought when I watched the video was is Mint learning to do that too?? Maybe you shouldn't walk them together if there are going to be other dogs around. You want Mint to be confident and not to pick up her anxiety. As far as helping Cinnamon I have no idea! I've never had to deal with that problem before. I hope someone can give you some advice on that.
ReplyDelete> achieve1dream
ReplyDeleteYes, I know I should walk them separately, and that's what I was doing until a couple of weeks ago. For the last couple of weeks I couldn't do it because I was so busy and also it was so hard to find a break in the rain. Now it's time to start training them separately again, as hopefully a wet winter is coming to end.
Cinnamon's mum
Was that you making those sounds? My goodness! Sounded like a squeak toy. I agree that separate walkies might be in order. I get pretty agitated when I see other dogs on walkies and it takes all of momma's hands to play the look at it game. PeeWee is such a suck up he usually ignores stuff.
ReplyDeleteSlobbers,
Mango
Kess is the same way when she catches a scent of another dog. Sometimes, she would also start barking as she walks because her nose has picked up a scent, but she can't locate the other dog. I tell you, it's embarassing as other people look at us and it appears that she's barking for no apparent reason. But beagles have sharp noses and I just accept the fact that she's a hunting dog and she's doing what comes naturally to her. Whilst there are some dogs that she doesn't get along with (I guess it's the same with us humans), more often than not, she enjoys meeting other dogs and sniffing them out!
ReplyDeleteDon't despair. The good thing is Cinnamon gets along with Mint, so there's peace in the household. Just be patient and keep trying.
> Mango
ReplyDeleteYes, that's me making the sound! I've been doing that since I was a little puppy. Hee hee.
> Kess's mum
Oh, does Kess do the same thing? I also bark doing this. See? This is nothing unusual for Beagles!! My mum also says that it is embarrassing, but I don't care what others think, as I am just doing a job as a Beagle!
Cinnamon
Hi Cinnamon's mom!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with Rufus. He is a very nice dog and loves to play with other dogs. But the problem is meeting them for the first time, he gets so excited! We have been training very hard but we have to keep going and don't give up!
Cinnamon and Mint look beautiful!
Same issue here. I only walk the two of them together in areas that I know and that I can easily cross the road if I need to. Goo gets so over stimulated meeting other dogs that she winds Bodie up and his calm demeanor goes out the window.
ReplyDeleteYou'll get there Cinnamons mum :) Our human says she hopes to meet up with you again soon, maybe at misson bay?
ReplyDeleteWe hope to catch up again soon!
Licks and lots of slobber,
Lexi and Jasper the Danes
> Rufus and Goo
ReplyDeleteHa ha! You are my friends!!
> Lexi and Jasper
Yes, I would love to catch up with you all! I hope this annoying stormy weather goes away soon.
with patience, which you already have (!), cinnamon and mint will be doing great along with good training. sapphire only barks at dogs who barks back at her.
ReplyDeletethe video is cute! who's making that squeaky noise? beagles are true to their kind! all too familiar for us :)