OntarioSheltie
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Ginny has been doing better in general. Progress seems slow but we're starting a basic obedience class next week with who I'm told is a great trainer. If all goes well I may enroll Sadie in an advanced obedience class too.
Bossiness - Always a work in progress. She doesn't harass Sadie as much but will still steal everything from her as soon as our backs are turned. I'm thinking of turning the eating of rawhide into a nightly ritual, instead of providing it all the time. It seems to work well when I give them each a treat and make them lie in designated spots to eat/chew them, there's alot less stealing. I may start doing the same thing with raw hide.
Spinning - Has pretty much disappeared. It took some work but calming her down and making her sit helped immensely. I'm thankful that it seemed to be a phase with her and didn't become an obsession.
Fear of Dogs - We're starting an obedience class next week, which I'm really looking forward to. Sadie and Ginny's breeder will also be there for a refresher for her two girls, which makes me feel doubly excited.
I've also concentrated on exposing Ginny to the morning dog group across the street from our house. The dogs there are mainly pretty friendly and calm and she's doing well with them. She also spent some time with my in-law's border collie and ****zu mix. Both are very nice dogs and it didn't take long to feel comfortable around them. The ****zu made her feel a bit uncomfortable because she had a more dominant personality, but she played very nicely with Ginny. Jazz, the border collie always impresses me with how gentle she is with small dogs. She's active like all border collies, but has an uncharacteristically calm personality.
Barking - Pretty much under control. She's good about being quiet when she's told, especially in the house. She yaps like crazy when she's playing, which is EXTREMELY annoying. I some times stop her and calm her down but have pretty much accepted that that's just the way she is. I don't see how I can correct her for playing and enjoying herself.
Playing Ball and herding Sadie - Also a work in progress but I don't think she'll ever love it the way Sadie does. She's learning that its inappropriate to herd and bite at Sadie when she's playing ball and that it will get her put on leash. I still have to leash her once or twice every time but she is definitely getting the message.
Walking badly on leash. - She's doing much better - at the moment. We'll see if it lasts. I switched back to the gentle leader for about a week, then went back to the martingale. I've been giving her much less leash and I'm keeping the martingale high on her neck for better control, which seems to be working very well this time. She's more focused on me and pulling much less. She still seems strangely bothered around high traffic areas. I've always walked her near them and she's never had a bad experience. Also something I'm working on.
Peeing and pooing on the sidewalk - still trying to tackle this one. She's very frustrating with this! She won't go when I offer her grass, then in the middle of walking squats and goes on the side walk. I guess I need to make it more clear that it's bad. I usually try dragging her to the grass before she's finished. I'm usually too focused on my embarrassment and cleaning up the mess to scold her for what she's done.
Peeing in the house. - She's still doing it and its really ticking me off. She seems to have completely stopped asking to go outside. I believe this is mainly behavioral, as she's mainly do it right beside my husband and I when she's not getting what she wants fast enough. Hopefully the trainer will have some ideas. She's otherwise very obedient and has an excellent recall.
Bossiness - Always a work in progress. She doesn't harass Sadie as much but will still steal everything from her as soon as our backs are turned. I'm thinking of turning the eating of rawhide into a nightly ritual, instead of providing it all the time. It seems to work well when I give them each a treat and make them lie in designated spots to eat/chew them, there's alot less stealing. I may start doing the same thing with raw hide.
Spinning - Has pretty much disappeared. It took some work but calming her down and making her sit helped immensely. I'm thankful that it seemed to be a phase with her and didn't become an obsession.
Fear of Dogs - We're starting an obedience class next week, which I'm really looking forward to. Sadie and Ginny's breeder will also be there for a refresher for her two girls, which makes me feel doubly excited.
I've also concentrated on exposing Ginny to the morning dog group across the street from our house. The dogs there are mainly pretty friendly and calm and she's doing well with them. She also spent some time with my in-law's border collie and ****zu mix. Both are very nice dogs and it didn't take long to feel comfortable around them. The ****zu made her feel a bit uncomfortable because she had a more dominant personality, but she played very nicely with Ginny. Jazz, the border collie always impresses me with how gentle she is with small dogs. She's active like all border collies, but has an uncharacteristically calm personality.
Barking - Pretty much under control. She's good about being quiet when she's told, especially in the house. She yaps like crazy when she's playing, which is EXTREMELY annoying. I some times stop her and calm her down but have pretty much accepted that that's just the way she is. I don't see how I can correct her for playing and enjoying herself.
Playing Ball and herding Sadie - Also a work in progress but I don't think she'll ever love it the way Sadie does. She's learning that its inappropriate to herd and bite at Sadie when she's playing ball and that it will get her put on leash. I still have to leash her once or twice every time but she is definitely getting the message.
Walking badly on leash. - She's doing much better - at the moment. We'll see if it lasts. I switched back to the gentle leader for about a week, then went back to the martingale. I've been giving her much less leash and I'm keeping the martingale high on her neck for better control, which seems to be working very well this time. She's more focused on me and pulling much less. She still seems strangely bothered around high traffic areas. I've always walked her near them and she's never had a bad experience. Also something I'm working on.
Peeing and pooing on the sidewalk - still trying to tackle this one. She's very frustrating with this! She won't go when I offer her grass, then in the middle of walking squats and goes on the side walk. I guess I need to make it more clear that it's bad. I usually try dragging her to the grass before she's finished. I'm usually too focused on my embarrassment and cleaning up the mess to scold her for what she's done.
Peeing in the house. - She's still doing it and its really ticking me off. She seems to have completely stopped asking to go outside. I believe this is mainly behavioral, as she's mainly do it right beside my husband and I when she's not getting what she wants fast enough. Hopefully the trainer will have some ideas. She's otherwise very obedient and has an excellent recall.
She'd been out to potty not long before she did this. Its like she's testing me to see where she's allowed to go. On the plus side, no side walk accidents in a week.