HONEY'S progress(01/08/11)

Honey came to the Rescue Scheme with a background of being well socialised. If this means that she gets on well with people, cats and other dogs it is true. However it became obvious that she had little formal training, and was extremely difficult to lead walk .  Honey's new owner shares some "training" moments with us

Hi Barbara,

We took her out to Chertsey Meads today - an area of meadow by the Thames. AND we let her off-lead!! AND we returned home with her!! You should have seen her run, Barbara. Several people told me how gorgeous she looked. When she was running, they were saying things like 'wow watch her go!' and 'doesn't she run fast!' At times it almost looked like she was flying across the top of the long meadow grass. I don't think she could believe her luck. She even managed to go into the water at a shallow stretch of the river and have a paddle. Her recall still needs a lot of work - but she had a great time and we were able to catch her. She does come running back sometimes - it's just that she then dodges you and runs straight past.

I am not so worried about her toileting now. She does still manage to 'hold on' for a very long time. I have taken your advice and we let her out into the garden first thing in the morning and last thing at night - if she goes she goes, if she doesn't she doesn't. She does 'scent mark' quite a bit when we are out in a new place and 'splashes and dashes' everywhere.

We had our first session with the trainer on Thursday. I think she is the right trainer for her. Lynda, the trainer thought she was gorgeous as well and very intelligent. She says there is definitely collie in her - and she has owned collies all her life and is a KC collie judge. She said it's her face shape and her coat type. She has shown me how to reduce her excitement when we go out so that she doesn't know WHEN i am going to take her out. I have to move the lead around, put my coat on and off and open and close the dog walk bag. I am also having some success with the 'wait' at the door or before going through the side gate. We managed a little heel walking within the confines of the training barn.

The lead walking is going to big a big project. Lynda noticed that when her lead is being put on she is very distressed and it's a combination of anxiety and excitement that's causing the problems. When you go to put her lead on she falls to the floor and pants. I originally thought it was just excitement, but Lynda says it's fear. I think this is what Diane had noticed as well. She has shown me how to work with this. However, even the trainer with all her experience couldn't get her attention or get control of her outside. She says that, by the way she lowers down and heaves with her legs splayed, it looks as though her previous owners might have used a full harness on her. She says people think that by getting one of those they have more control of the dog, but the dog still pulls - it's just that it doesn't feel so bad for the handler.

Lynda has advised that we get a Gencon as that should calm her and give me a lot more control, but she says not to rush it so as to avoid it being an unpleasant experience. We have to start just resting it on her nose, putting it on and off, and letting her eat with it before we use it for walking.

We had a funny experience in the garden this week. One of my cats loves chasing tennis balls and he got to it before she did. She just stopped and backed off - I wish I could bottle his vibe!! Hard to believe this was the same dog who used to grab balls from Diane's German Shepherd!!

Think that's all for now,

Eleanor