Anyway today we set out. I decided to focus on helping Sonny to realise that he has to focus on me and be relaxed in order for anything to happen. So, we started with the going out of the door ritual as previously described. He manages this beautifully and we head for the next door from the back garden to the outside world. I notice he tries to push past me when I open the gate so, I stand in front of him and get him to back up a bit. We try again, I do it again, in the end 3 repetitions before we are able to go out of the door successfully.
As we are going along I notice that his ears are alert and his body posture is slightly stiff, he gazing around scouting for danger. This is not good as it is not his job to do this, so I stop again and WAIT. It is very noticeable how much longer it takes to achieve a more relaxed state outside. Much easier in the house when there are fewer distractions and very clear how unsafe this dog feels in the outside world when every sound has to be checked out. He needs to get the message that nothing will happen until he relaxes but as yet he does not know what I want from him, he is just doing what he usually does. So I make him wait and wait and wait and eventually he looks at me with kind soft eyes. That's it, in that fraction of a second I let him know that is what I want and we move forward again. This really brings home how much TIME you need to get through to an anxious dog and, had I not had these few weeks off on sick leave, I would not have been able to achieve this as the early morning walk was usually a fairly time pressured affair as we had to get to work.
Later on we see a squirrel, immediately Sonny shows the rigid body the alert ears. Even when I put him in a sit his paw is slightly raised. This dog is ready to go, we have seen PREY! But, he has to learn that this is not what I want from him as this behaviour can be replicated with other dogs cats or, almost anything and can lead to an aggressive display. So, we stop and WAIT and WAIT and WAIT and W A I T........It takes him what seems like ages to eventually be able to let go of this state of mind. There are so many distractions in the outside world and his mind is very clearly focussed on anything except me, this is where patience (not my middle name) is so important. As I am waiting I am aware of how much his anxiety can transfer to me. At one point I kept hearing odd noises coming from a nearby hedge which were catching his attention. Suddenly a pheasant flew up into the field, I almost jumped out of my skin. I had to really make sure I practised deep breathing, counted slowly in my mind and thinking up mantras for myself like
C A L M, this dog has to learn that nothing bad will happen if he gives me his trust and I have to learn to be the leader he needs me to be. Finally I get more of a calm submissive body posture and expression so we can move on. As we go back on the road, I notice that he is walking much better at my side, not urging forward which can sometimes happen, although he doesn't pull. I remember what Cesar says about how when you are out on the walk you should not be focussing on your dog but on almost anything else so that you share relaxation not tension with your pack. That walking a dog on a lead should feel like 'walking air'. If you can feel anything else, eg pulling in front or to the side this means the dog is not in a' follower' state.
Today has been a good day...
