Diplomatic relations!

As promised today Sally and I up the anti on Sonny by taking him to an unfamiliar park where he will meet DOGS OFF LEAD!!!  This is a biggy for both of us as I am very used to avoid such situations, knowing that Sonny and therefore I, cannot cope with them.

However, today it's not raining which is a plus and after a bit of confusion about finding the venue, we manage to meet.

Sally notices that Sonny's body language is altogether more relaxed than before.  In fact, he even looked happy to get in the car for me today, a sense of anticipation that there are good things to come when I take him out in the car.  We are building up good associations with the walk.

Today there are not too many dogs about and we are in a big field which helps me because I am able to see what is coming.  We notice a particularly feisty terrier, who, Sally points out, is totally in charge of his owner and himself, in fact, he owns the field.  He takes an interest in us but does not approach immediately.  Eventually he gets bolder and starts to arch around us.  I am convinced he will make a beeline for Sonny because he will pick up on his anxiety and maybe want to put him in his place.  Apparently if you are walking with two dogs rather than one, this makes it less likely that other dogs will want to approach you, so safety in numbers is the order of the day.  The little terrier never approaches Sonny, relief.  We move on and follow another couple of dogs walking around the field, again the interest is from a distance and they do not approach us or us them.  Sonny is able to walk behind and pick up on their energy.  He is not phased, nor is he phased by walking next to Rocky because he is on lead and this has become OK.  Time to challenge him again then...

Sally decides that it is time to let Rocky off lead and see what happens, Rocky, a different dog with freedom and also on his own patch is happy and excited and approaches Sonny to say hallo.  Uh oh, Sonny launches himself, fortunately muzzled so no damage done.  Rocky has been told, get off or, else!  As usual, I am nearly pulled over in the process, perhaps I need to practice ballet to improve my balance as this dog is adept at cutting across me and wrong footing me during incidents, I want to look cool and unruffled, not managed it so far..As a result of Sonny's reaction Sally suggests that we jog with both dogs on lead so he gets used to dogs running around him, this is successful and there is no reaction.

Important we end it there, on a good note.  Next week same again but this time Rocky will have his ball.  Sonny will be told to sit and be given treats whilst Rocky runs around him.  Sonny is very reactive to any dog exhibiting this kind of excitement and it currently sends him into a lather.  But we have to get him used to it because this is normal dog behaviour.

By the time this is over I shall feel like I have a masters degree in dog ownership,. there is just so much to it.  To all those owners who are lucky enough to have a non reactive dog, I envy you, but I also think you might be missing out on an amazing journey, talk to you soon.....

Rocky wins again!!

Today's training session did not have a very auspicious start.  The day dawned with a blanket of heavy grey drizzel, and I've been nursing some sort of flu virus for the best part of a week.  I take Sonny out for a brief walk around the village this morning to see how I feel, I feel crap actually.  I deliberate over whether I should phone Sally and tell her that I'm crying off today.  I'm worried that I won't be transmitting the right energy for Sonny and that the extra stress will mean we have a bad morning.  It's already 9 o'clock, so it's too late.  I decide to brave it out, after all probably better that I don't miss a week as my anxiety tends to increase if I don't keep at the exposure work.

As we drive up to the lake it's clear there are not many people about but the lovely Rocky is there waiting and Sonny does well, not reacting to him as last week.  We set off around the lake, the heavens open, both owners now looking like drowned rats.  However, nothing daunted we do the passing exercise, first with owners in between, then allow the dogs to be next to one another.  We up the anti, now Sally gives me Rocky's lead and I am walking both dogs up and down, including a turn.  No reaction from Sonny, brilliant!  Yet again, Sally reflects that Sonny is not aggressive, but uses aggression to avoid situations of which he is fearful.  With Sonny it's all about the approach, if he meets a dog who is a bit 'up there' or, they come too close, or, he is surprised by them, he just can't cope and responds by lunging at them.  This is a 'get off, get away' message and also telling them to get away from his missus, due to him thinking I am scared of the other dog, if he is.  For this reason it was particularly important today that Sonny got to see me walking Rocky in a calm and relaxed fashion, the message being Mum is OK with other dogs then, so maybe I can be too.

Rocky is the most amazing dog.  He is just so attuned to what Sonny needs from him, which is no contact basically.  The dogs walked in closer proximity today but Sonny was OK with it.  At one stage Sally also walked Sonny, to start with he was tense, as his main focus is usually to get back to my side as fast as possible.  After a bit he relaxed more and seemed less bothered about what I was doing. 

The next step is to take Sonny and Rocky to a busier place where he is likely to meet more dogs and some off lead.  At present I am really scared of handling this situation by myself.  However Sally says what I need to do is to keep walking if we meet this situation, as to stop is likely to put more focus on the situation than we want.  If we keep walking the loose dog is likely to get fed up or, it will start walking alongside us.  I have yet to put myself in a situation where this could happen since I tend to avoid field walks where we are more likely to meet dogs off lead.  However, we'll see what happens....