Stubborn Dog, Novice Owner

Australian Cattle Dog, Calm Dogs, tips for Dogs and fireworks

Tips to Calm Dogs that are Fearful of Fireworks

June 10, 2024June 7, 2024Diane J.

The Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and other celebrations that culminate in bangs, pops, and booms can send our pups running for cover. In this post, I will give you a variety of suggestions to calm dogs that are fearful of fireworks.

Prepare In Advance

Most veterinarians get phone calls the day before or the day of July 4th asking for medicine to calm dogs’ nerves. Unfortunately, once the dog is shaking, pacing, or panting, it’s too late for most medications to help calm the pooch.

Tip #1 to Calm Dogs – Medication Prescribed by Veterinarian

Speak to your vet a month or so in advance. If your dog was fearful of fireworks last year, contact your vet now. Your vet can prescribe medication to help your pooch. But the medication works best when you give it BEFORE your dog gets nervous.

Understand this is easier said than done. My town begins celebrating earlier every year. We have booms beginning in June. Usually, we can ride out a few of those. By the Fourth of July, it’s too late for Pandora. I have to start giving her medicine three days prior and up to two days afterward.

Tip #2 to Calm Dogs – Begin Desensitization Tactics

If this will be your pup’s first year experiencing fireworks, begin getting them used to the sounds. This is also helpful for dogs who are already not good with fireworks. Begin desensitization tactics months before. Turn on some YouTube videos with fireworks, start with small videos and low volume. As your dog gets comfortable, increase the volume (one notch at a time). I did this with dump truck videos to get Pandora used to loud vehicles.

This method may take weeks of slowly bringing up the volume. If you push it too fast, you may end up making your dog more stressed. For reference, I’m currently doing this method with Pandora and I have the volume set to where I can barely hear it. Remember dog’s ears are more receptive to sound than our ears are, so start the volume much lower than you’d expect. You may be on that same volume level for a few days.

Material Things That May Help

There are supplies for nervous dogs on the market that can help reduce a bit of stress. These should be tested in advance of fireworks. Not all things will work, sometimes only one item will work and sometimes a combination of items will be best to calm dogs.

Tip #3 to Calm Dogs – Wearables.

Thunder Jackets/ Shirts are an item that you put on your dog, akin to a harness. The light pressure and warmth, apparently will make the dog feel calmer.

The Happy Hoodie, is like ear muffs for dogs. A lot of pet groomers use these or something similar when blow-drying dogs after a bath. It just helps soften the sound a bit.

Tip #4 to Calm Dogs – Edibles (not human edibles, not human serving sizes, check with your vet)

You can get CBD oil or CBD treats for dogs. The varieties are endless and I don’t know enough about the market to recommend any particular brand. I have heard some people who have had great success and others who haven’t had much success with CBD oils and treats. As with prescription medication, make sure you are giving the items to the dog well in advance of fireworks.

A Few Words of Caution

Before I give you the last few tips, I want to touch on a few things that you shouldn’t do when your dog is stressed.

First, don’t yell at the dog. Obviously, no animal or human has ever gotten over a fear from being yelled at.

Likewise, don’t molly-coddle the dog. Running and grabbing your pooch, clutching him tight to you while saying things like, “Oh you poor baby!” will not help your dog. That will only reinforce the fear of fireworks because you just reaffirmed that the sound is so horrible you felt the need to grab him and snuggle him.

A Few Unconventional Tips

Drastic moments call for drastic measures. Okay, that may be a bit dramatic. These aren’t drastic, but they may not be convenient for you.

Tip #5 to Calm Dogs – Utilize White Noise

Turn on window AC units. Turn on bathroom fans or any window fans you may have in your house. If you have a white noise machine, turn it on. Anything that offers up some noise to lessen the bluntness of the booms from outside is helpful. It’s not going to completely silence the sounds, but it will take the edge off.

Tip #6 to Calm Dogs – Isolate

Find the most isolated room in your home. By isolated I mean the most inner room of the house, the one with no windows or with the least windows. Maybe you are blessed with a basement and have a nice corner room. Maybe you live in an apartment and the bathroom is pretty much the center of the home with no windows (a family did this for their dog). Ideally, the room will be the dog’s favorite or the one that she feels safest in. Go there. Put down your favorite blankets, crank up a good movie, turn on some fans, and get comfy. You may want to employ a few other tips along with this move like using a Happie Hoodie and some calming medication or treats.

RECAP

Always try to be calm yourself. If you are agitated your dog will be, too. Remember, preparing in advance is going to give you the best outcome. Whether you plan on medicating your dog or trying a new Thunder shirt, it’s best to get your dog used to the item beforehand.

You can medicate with medicine prescribed by your vet or you can try over-the-counter calming treats. Do your research. If you know that your dog has medical issues, always check with your vet first.

Try doggie ear muffs, utilize white noise sounds as much as possible, and curl up in a room where your dog feels safest.

If you aren’t going to be home, set your dog up the best you can. Implement as many tips as safely possible. Turn on a bathroom fan, give a dose of medication, and toss extra pillows and blankets on their favorite dog bed.

Keep Trying

The Fourth of July will pass, but there will be New Year’s Eve, there will be an event that is celebrated with fireworks like a championship sports game, there will be next year. So keep working on the desensitization tactics. Eventually, you will discover the best method for soothing your pooch.

Do you have any calming tips you use? Please share them below in the comments.

Tail still tucked but a little more loose.

Have an Nervous Dog? Keep an eye on the dog’s tail.

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024Diane J.

The Dog’s Tail

Pandora is four years old and we are still working on her anxiety of walking near cars. However, it’s not always easy to see the progress so I rely on the tiniest of cues to show me the teeniest crumbs of progress. One of the newest cues is paying attention to her tail. The dog’s tail, it’s a great gauge to let us know how they feel.

For another method to gauge tiny pockets of success, check out this post and scroll to There’s Always Progress.

One Caveat

Please refer to the title of this blog, specifically the “Novice” part of the title. All I can do is give hints at what we do, I cannot confirm these are the best cues or options for everyone. So please check with your vet and or a trainer who specializes in nervous dogs.

And one other caveat, if your dog has a stumpy tail, I am not sure that this will be a helpful post. My apologies.

The Full Tail Tuck and Wrap

When Pandora is in an area where she can hear, and especially when she can see moving vehicles, her tail wraps down her bottom and tucks up against her underside.

The image above is what Pandora does with her tail when she’s unsure of the situation. In this case, we had walked a few paces beyond our last stopping point to turn around and head home. When she’s in the stroller, we’ll go to a certain point (like a telephone pole, a fence, something to gauge how far we are progressing) for about a week and then we venture a few steps beyond that point.

Pandora was ready to get out of the stroller and she hopped out. But this was new territory, so her tail is fully tucked. I also let her sniff until she’s ready to begin walking.

Partial Tail Tuck – Sign of Progress

Dog's tail tight against rear , but not wrapped under

In this picture (above) we see Pandora release the end of her tail. We’ve moved a few paces back toward home and she knows the area, but she’s still not fully comfortable yet. Again, lots of sniffing. That’s okay, once we get to the point of her being comfortable we can then work on a steady pace.

Here’s another partial tail tuck picture (below). The tail has come up just a smidge more. Again, we’ve moved into even more familiar territory.

The Dog’s Tail is Lifting

At this point, Pandora is beginning to loosen up quite a bit more (picture below). She knows we’re most definitely on the right path toward home, she’s smelled this area frequently enough that she’s feeling better, she’s feeling safer.

Feeling better and safer, the tail is parially up.

Again, she gets to stop and sniff whenever she wants. Sometimes she’ll sniff something that she doesn’t like, I know because her tail will get closer to her rear again.

The High and Happy Tail

Pandora is happiest at home or on a desolate trail. Someday, I hope to reach this level of happiness on one of our stroller walks.

High and happy tail. Bouncy and happy dog

When she’s this happy, it’s hard to capture her still. LOL. This is Pandora on a trail in all her bounding happiness.

Dog’s Tail Cue Recap

~Remember to look for these cues that the dog is getting comfortable with a situation or to see if the dog is getting more fearful of a situation.
~The Full Tail Tuck and Wrap
~The Partial Tuck
~The Slightly Looser Tail Tuck
~The Half-Happy Tail or The Half Not-so-Happy Tail (depends on how you see it)
~The High and Happy Tail.

What are the cues you look for in your dog to see tiny progress reports?

Picture of Australian Cattle Dog in A dog stroller

Nervous Dog Trait – Fear of Walking

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024Diane J.

Pandora’s Fear of Walking

Pandora has always had a fear of walking near vehicles. Or anywhere that she can hear them. Her fear makes exercising her a bit difficult.

In today’s post, I’m going to walk you through what I’ve done to try and help her past this fear, or rather be okay, with her fear. I’ll tell you how bad the fear was, the things I tried, the signs to look for when trying to decide on progress, and where we are now, four years later.

How Bad Pandora’s Fear of Walking Near Vehicles Was Previously

Our home is not level with the road. We sit up about three feet from the road. To park in front of our house, you have to enter at the top of the shared driveway (which is approximately 25/ 30 yards long). We park our vehicles right smack in front of the house. From the front door to the back of a vehicle is approximately 5 yards.

Pandora would not walk to the back of the vehicle. There were times Pandora wouldn’t even step out the front door. The constant training and luring were often soul-crushing events. I first started trying to lure Pandora with tiny nibbles of bacon (no, not the best option, but I needed the big guns of treats). She wouldn’t even take the bacon. That is an example of how difficult this fear has been.

Some days Pandora would get to the back bumper and then fully regress for a few weeks before stepping back out the front door.

One piece of advice I heard regularly was, “Ask your vet.”

So I did. And I asked a second vet. And eventually a third vet. I am not happy to report this, but the whole “ask a vet” is a bust. The vet is only going to rule out any physical issues. Then they’ll recommend you to a dog therapist. If your dog is a nervous wreck about a particular thing, just save yourself the vet visit money.

Call around to dog trainers who specialize in nervous behaviors or extreme fears. Just know, the fee is going to be expensive. The Dog Behaviorist that my vet recommended wanted $450 for a half-hour consultation. If I had that money, I would have taken Pandora for a visit. But that was not in my budget.

What I Tried to Help Pandora with Her Fear

I’m not putting down any dog trainers, therapists, or behaviorists. They may be phenomenal at what they do. And if you have the money, by all means, it may be the best route to go. I can’t say one way or the other because I took on the challenge of a lifetime.

I scoured the internet looking for all the helpful tips I could to help Pandora. And I even got creative and cooked up some ideas myself.

Desensitization

Pandora hated the loud trucks, especially the garbage trucks. So I found YouTube channels with 4 hours of garbage trucks doing their thing. And I played those videos over and over, and each day, I increased the volume until eventually, it sounded like those trucks were hoisting garbage right out of my kitchen. I put on motorcycle and car races. And it worked a bit. She stopped freaking out when the garbage truck came by the house.

Luring with Treats and Frisbees

Again, I used bacon as the first lure. Then I used chicken, cheese, and even her frisbee to get her up the driveway.

Took Her to Places with Minimal Traffic

I would take her to areas where there was traffic and would try to get her to go further and further.

Give Her Breaks

When Pandora was overwhelmed or seemed to be regressing, I’d give her a few weeks before going back into the training.

Take Her to Fun Places

I would take Pandora to pet stores for treats, to dog parks to play, to friends’ homes that she loves. Pandora had to walk on her leash to get into all these places. Friends and pet stores were the main attractions and she never waivered. She was terrified, but she’d do it. Dog parks, sometimes she wanted to, sometimes she didn’t.

We’d Park

I’d park at a park, or the store, and we’d sit in the car just watching everything. Sometimes I’d sit outside the car at the park and I would leave the door open in case she wanted to come out. Spoiler, that was a rare event. She’s good at ignoring me when she doesn’t like my ideas.

Try, Try, Try

I keep trying anything I can think of that may be helpful for Pandora’s fear of walking near vehicles. I’m always asking people with dogs for tips they’ve used when training their dogs. And I still scour the internet looking for new things to try.

There’s Always Progress

One thing that used to discourage me was that it felt like we weren’t making progress. But then I realized that there was progress, I had just missed it.

It starts with one extra step. It’s hard to see one step beyond where Pandora would stop normally. Make sure you have a solid marker to notice those small steps. One day, Pandora made it to the power pole. A whole ten yards further than before. Another day, she may have gotten just her nose beyond the power pole.

One of the biggest indicators of progress was the kind of treats I was using to lure her. Remember, when I started I offered bacon. And she refused. But eventually, she took the bacon. During one particularly frustrating day, when I was feeling like we’d never make any more progress, I realized that I was using dog treats to lure Pandora.

Basic dog treats. Nothing of high value. She was willing to go to this point with the most boring of treats. That is an enormous giveaway that progress is being made.

Where We Are Now with Pandora’s Fear of Walking

Well, we’re still working on the same issue. Pandora just turned four and we are still making small strides.

Our newest method is, well, kind of embarrassing. For a person with an older dog that has difficulty walking or a small dog that can’t walk as far as their owner, a dog stroller is a handy tool. For a cattle dog who is young, healthy, and loaded with energy, it’s a tad embarrassing. And yet, that is our new plan.

I can’t get Pandora to go far from the house. However, I can get her to go back to the house. So, I borrowed my friend’s dog stroller and I now put Pandora in the stroller and walk her about a half mile from home. Then she gets out of the stroller and walks home on her leash. She’s not excited about the situation, but we are making progress.

When we started I had to zip the stroller shut to keep her from going bonzo and trying to escape. Now, I don’t have to zip it up.

NEVER GIVE UP

I can’t stress this enough. Never, ever give up. Dealing with a dog with a major fear is hard. And if you can’t afford to get help, just keep trying. We are making progress. Did I ever think it would take four years? No. Did I want to give up? Yes.

Will we ever get to the point that Pandora will just walk with us anywhere? I don’t know. All I know is that we can do way more than we could four years ago. And I’m okay with that.

Dog Training Update – Three Years

February 13, 2023February 13, 2023Diane J.

Pandora recently celebrated her 3rd birthday, and I decided it was time for a training update.

It doesn’t seem like three years, it seems so much shorter and yet, so much longer since Pandora entered our lives. Short, in that our fluffy little ball of puppyhood has grown into a full-fledged dog. And long in that, she’s so much a part of our routine, it’s felt like she’s always been in our lives.

Training Basics

When we got Pandora, I knew we were getting an intelligent breed that can be stubborn and that we really needed to take dog training seriously. I started as soon as I got her home. I was researching how to train this bundle of energy before we got her home. Let’s be clear, I know nothing about training dogs. Or, I didn’t before we got her. I’ve learned a lot over three years.

Pandora picked up some commands very quickly: Sit, look at me, come around (when playing frisbee), leave it (if a piece of food falls on the floor she’s excellent, if a cat sprints by, not so much).

Some of the things I taught Pandora, we use on a regular basis. Others we rarely use. Look at me, is rarely used. Mostly, because I just don’t have a need for it. Every once in a while, I will use it when I want her to understand something. An example would be, “Dad is coming down the driveway, do not bark.” I’ll tell her to look at me and she’ll give me the side-eye better than any surly teenager whose parent dares to utter a word to them in front of friends.

We also have a few commands that are rarely used, but when randomly used Pandora remembers and I’m in awe. An example would be when I put a treat in my hand and put my hand to the side of Pandora’s snout. She won’t grab the food; she’ll give it a glance and then stare at me waiting for the okay. She remembers no matter how long it’s been since used.

The Big Training Update – Walking on leash near vehicles

Pandora hates walking near vehicles. It has been our most difficult training task. Three years is a long time to work on one task, but we are making major progress. No, we have not succeeded in a full walking session on a sidewalk near a road of vehicles. But, we have made huge steps toward that goal.

The Training recipe that is working (currently)

I’ve tried many tips over these years to get Pandora to walk near vehicles. We’ve worked on leash skills, we’ve worked with “high value” treats, and we’ve worked with many other suggestions from trainers, vets, and random people. Desperation does wonders for breaking a person out of their introvert bubble. And we’ve given each method a good fair shot. At least two solid weeks, usually a full month.

Pandora likes control. So do I. Theoretically, we’re a bad pairing. But at least I get that control factor. So, instead of working with her on leash, I began working with her off leash more. I started training her on “with me.” Which means that she is to be by my side. And she does well.

Now, we have a solid training method. First, I incorporated her frisbee into the mix. She thinks some of the things we’ve been doing are all frisbee related. I get her out by the front of the house, put her in a down/wait position as I walk away, then when I get to the back, I call her. She tears around the house, and I throw the frisbee. She has incredible speed and flies after the disc. This wears her out even quicker, during exercise. After a few rounds of that, she has taken the edge off of her energy.

Then, I have her walk up the driveway “with me”. I put her in a sit and get the mail.

Here’s how that has worked:

1. She’s walked willing up to the top of the driveway. The very top, by the road.
2. She chose to meet me at the mailbox, which is on the road.
3. When we head back from our trail walks, I can now get her on the sidewalk of the new development that’s near the trail head.
4. I got her up the driveway, then I had her walk near me, as I walked down the street next to the rock wall that abuts the driveway, with Pandora walking on the rock wall next to me. AND THEN! I put her leash on and had her come down to the road and walk back up, on the street, to the top of the driveway. About twelve yards? Greatest moment yet!
5. We took her to Lowe’s Hardware – and it wasn’t the parking lot that stressed her out, it was the saws. But we got through the parking lot.

Recap on the Training Front:

Yes, it’s taking a long time to get Pandora comfortable walking on the road and being near vehicles. But, the progress is worth it. We still have setbacks. But we keep trying. And we do get more and more progress toward our ultimate goal of walking around the lake or any other area that is near a road.

REMEMBER: Don’t give up. Whatever training you’re struggling with, know that it will happen. You may need to adjust your training techniques, you may need to take a break for a week, you may need to search out new ideas. Whatever it is, try again today. Look for any sign of improvement, even if it’s just that your dog took one extra step toward the goal.

Simple Dog Training Tips

October 31, 2022October 27, 2022Diane J.

Simple Training Tips — Little Miss debating whether or not she wants to listen to me. Spoiler: She did, because I held the Frisbee.

This post is covering a few simple dog training tips I’ve picked up from other dog owners and various dog trainers over the past couple years.

Simple Dog Training Tips? Really?

Obviously, I’m not a trainer. I’m not even a skilled dog owner. However, when we brought Pandora home, I dove into research mode. Technically, I was researching before we even got her home. I’m a bit neurotic about learning. Anyway, I watched way too many dog training YouTube videos, read way too many blogs on training, and cornered anyone who walked by me with a dog for their best tips.

Let’s address the elephant in this blog post: training a dog isn’t easy. However, these tips that I learned made an enormous difference right off the bat. So, when I say “Simple,” I mean they worked really fast.

Training Tip #1 – Step Back

When teaching recall, whenever you are standing and calling your dog, take a step back. You only want to do this while your dog is looking at you otherwise (obviously), they won’t see you do it. When Pandora was younger and debating whether or not she wanted to come back to me, this move made all the difference. I’d call her, she would turn and look at me. If she didn’t head toward me withing a couple seconds, I’d step backward. She would then come to me, without me saying another word.

Side note: Some trainers love the “look at me” command and some hate it. I hold no grudges to one style of dog training or another, nor do I scorn differences of opinions. At the end of the day, I want my dog safe, and I want to do it in the best way that I think will work for me and Pandora.

Simple Training Tip #2 – Walk or Jog Away from Your Dog

I think this one is building off of the first tip. This worked within seconds the first time I ever used it on Pandora. We were in the early stages of recall training, we were out on the trails, and I spotted a person about a quarter mile from us. Since Pandora was off leash, I called her. She didn’t come back to me. She did stop and look back at me, so I turned around and started walking quickly away from her. And ZIP! she was right next to me. I praised her and put her leash on, and we continued our walk.

Now days, I don’t need to do this often, but every once in a great moon she’ll delay coming back to me and I’ll start walking away and she zips right back to me. I’m pretty sure if I could find something to translates her huffs and grumbles, she’d sound like a teenager, “Geez, Mom!”

Training Tip #3 – Use Hand Signals with Commands

Every time I teach Pandora a new command, I add a hand signal with it. After she masters the command, she also understands the hand signal that goes with that command. Now when I’m on the trails and we come across other people, I can put Pandora into a “sit” or “down” and “wait” without having to interrupt the small conversation.

It’s helpful when I’m on the phone (I really need to figure out a hand signal for “no barking”), or when we have visitors. And it took no extra effort to train.

Training Tip #4 – Don’t Yell and Repeat

I’ve learned to use a firm voice (which is a lower version of my normal voice and it’s controlled) and give a command one time. If Pandora doesn’t listen the first time, I use a hand gesture or whistle to get her to look my way before repeating my original command.

I know, I said, “don’t repeat.” What I mean is don’t keep chasing your dog, yelling “get back here, come here, stop, no, come!” I’ve never seen a dog respond to that. When you’re in the midst of training, your dog needs a second or two to process the command. The hardest part of this tip is waiting at least two seconds before you repeat or try a different method.

With Pandora, I still am the one who needs to remember to count to two. When I teach her something new, I tend to give a command like “wait” and if she jumps before I even finish my command, sometimes I will let a “no” slip out. And that is a sure-fire sign she won’t listen.

Training Tip #5 – Ditch the Retractable Leash

The simplest tip, for controlling your dog on leash is to get rid of the retractable leash. And, if you’re using a normal leash, don’t give the dog the full length.

When Pandora was a puppy, her yank on a leash could give a little wobble to my stability. At that time, I held the leash, by the handle provided. The problem is the dog gets a little slack, then runs against it and creates more force than you expect. One day, I took the leash closer to her, and did this little partial wrap near my fingers (Video that shows the grip). That move gave me so much more control over Pandora’s yanking. It’s worked so much better than I expected, I can even control my friend’s pleasantly plump lab when he gets out of hand, just by holding the leash like this.

What is a simple training tip you use often? What kind of a difference did it make for you? Let us know in the comments. I’d be especially grateful to hear tips on barking.

Rest to Tame Too Much Energy?

October 24, 2022October 21, 2022Diane J.

“My dog has too much energy. We’ve gone for our walk and she’s still racing around like a lunatic and not listening.”

Does Your Dog Have Too Much Energy?

We’ve been through this phase with Pandora. I guess, I shouldn’t say “Phase” because we still have moments where it seems like Pandora has way too much energy.

As a puppy, Pandora could work herself into a frenzy at the tiniest sound of movement anywhere in the house. Now days, I take her out to the trails and give her some good exercise. For her breed, she needs that exercise. While I will walk 3- to 5-miles, Pandora runs and bounds through the tall grass, runs ahead and races back to me, and tromps through the creeks. If I put a pedometer on her, I’m sure her mileage would nearly double mine.

You would think with all the exercise and mental stimulation of sniffing so many new scents, she’d be pooped when we got home. She’s not. She’s never walked in the door and even attempted to feign exhaustion. What she does do, is race through the door and grab her Frisbee and then throw it at me. She wants to continue the fun.

What Your Dog May Need is Rest

At first glance, I, and others, assume Pandora has just too much energy.

In reality, she needs a reminder that she needs a break.

This is very common in puppyhood. Whenever, Pandora was over-stimulated, I would bring her into my office with me and shut the door. That was her cue to calm down. She would pace for a few seconds, then flop on the floor, sigh, and rest. After about ten or fifteen minutes, I could open my office door and she’d be fine.

So, if there is a particular time when your dog has too much energy, try taking him to a calm place with you. If your dog is crate trained, put him in the crate. If your dog is “place” trained, have him go to his “place.” Give them a good ten or fifteen minutes to settle the wild hair and then release him, calmly.

What tips have you discovered that calm your dog down? Share with us in the comments.

Dog Training: Revisiting Recall, Wait, Leave-it

September 19, 2022September 10, 2022Diane J.

Dog Training: Revisiting Recall, Wait, and Leave-it — Giving mom the stink eye because mom threw the frisbee and told her to “leave-it.”

When it comes to dog training, it’s important to revisit lessons that aren’t used on a regular basis. Or that are used only within in a familiar setting.

Today’s post is going to cover why you should revisit some training sessions with your dog.

Why You Should Revisit Early Dog Training Lessons

Once we teach our dog a new lesson, we use it frequently. And our dogs love it, they love to learn.

If you’re like me, I focus more on the new lessons than on old ones. Eventually, the old standbys are relegated way down the list. Since I’m a creature of habit, I will use certain commands often in the same area.

An example of this would be, whenever I let in a cat at the slider door, I tell Pandora “Leave it.” Yes, I still use that command in the kitchen and once, every great while, away from home. But it still remains that I use it most in the dining room at the slider door and upon entering the garage, where Pandora feels the need to attack the mower’s tires.

I rarely use this command when we’re on the trails. However, a month or so ago, I did need to use the command out on the trails. Pandora had spotted a rabbit. And she wanted that rabbit. She did not “leave it,” she went after it. And I had to rely on her recall to get her back. If I had continued to work on “leave-it” while out and about, it would be ingrained into her brain by now and I wouldn’t have had to resort to any recall, because she never would have taken off.

Revisiting Recall

I do call Pandora back quite often. I’ll use it when I see people and other dogs on the trails or when she’s extra excitable and bounding into deep grass on the trails. She’s pretty good at recall. Now understand, when I say pretty good, I mean she will listen, she is not police precision trained. Pandora will not stop on a dime and instantly be back at my side. However, she will stop and trot back to me.

Of all the dog training lessons, this one has paid off time and time again. And I took it for granted. I assumed I used it enough that Pandora will always respond.

Until she didn’t.

Over the summer Pandora learned that she loves swimming. Her love for the water may have surpassed her love of the frisbee. Anyway, we were out on a hike, and she saw a body of water, and she bolted for it. My recall did not work. She was gone. And she charged right into the water.

Thankfully, the water is a retention pond. But what if it had been a swift flowing river?

That single thought, that she could race right into a precarious situation is what prompted the need to revisit Recall Training.

This is your reminder to revisit recall training with your own pooch, before he discovers something so phenomenally awesome, that he chooses to not listen.

Dog Training: Revisiting Wait

This is the area I’m most focused on with Pandora right now. I really don’t want to have to rely on recall. I would prefer to keep her near me, so I don’t have to rely on recall.

Now, Pandora is pretty good with “Wait.” However, water play is so darn enticing that nothing computes when she sees a body of water.

First and foremost, Pandora needs to wait when I tell her to. I don’t want her charging into a river and then having to rely on me to rescue her. I used to be a very strong swimmer, but that was years and years ago. Chances that I’ve retained that strength are, well, way less than I’d like to admit.

So, I am pushing “wait,” quite strongly. And Pandora is not thrilled with me. If you look at the picture above, you’ll see a little stink eye in there. I’ve been tossing her frisbee and telling her, “Wait.” Right now, I can only throw the frisbee about five feet away. Anymore, then that and Pandora is all “Nope, not waiting, gotta get that.” With consistent training, I know we’ll get to longer distances.

Revisiting Leave-it

Finally, we are working on “Leave-it.” Again, she knows the command, and is fairly consistent in the most frequently used areas that we employ the command.

However, if I throw the frisbee and tell her to “leave-it” while the disc is mid-air, it won’t happen. She has not once pulled back, mid-run, for a frisbee.

With Fall fast approaching, I need her to listen and respond. I can’t have her bounding off to frigid waters on hikes. Most of our lakes are glacier fed. I don’t want Pandora getting hypothermia. I should probably pack a towel on my winter hikes. Can’t be too careful.

I know if I continue to work on this trifecta of obedience skills, we’ll be fine.

But to get to “fine,” I need to revisit all three lessons and then utilize them frequently in different areas.

What is the biggest training obstacle you have to revisit frequently with your dog? Let me know below.

Two And Half Years – Puppy Update

August 15, 2022August 11, 2022Diane J.

Two and a Half Years Puppy Update — Pandora is finally at an age where she can lie next to the cat without the urge to herd him somewhere.

Pandora is two and a half years old now and I thought it was time for a puppy update.

Concern #1 – Aggression beyond the puppy stage

In high school, one of my friends had a blue heeler, Bess was the dog’s name. Bess hated everyone but her family. A family friend also had a blue heeler. I don’t recall the dog’s name, but Tex used to walk up to visit us and that pooch was always by his side. The dog would even say “I love you.” I mean it came out more of “I wuuuvvv oooo.”

When we got Pandora, I had no clue what kind of puppy we were going to be getting. All I knew is that my husband had a weak spot and I was going to take this pup if he didn’t say anything. And of course, once I held her, it was all over, she was ours.

While we waited a week for her to turn 8-weeks old, I did research on the blue heeler breed. And the number one thing I kept coming across was how they are friendly and then one day it’s a like a light switch is flipped and they are no longer a friendly puppy. I should be more specific, they still love their family, but others not so much.

Most people said it was somewhere around one year of age when this flip happened. So, I was terrified that we’d hit that dreaded mark and Pandora would no longer like people.

As of this point, I am happy to report that Pandora is still good with other people and other dogs.

Concern #2 – Biting

Blue heelers tend to bite, nip, chew. When Pandora was a puppy, she gave a whole new meaning to Land Shark. She wasn’t just a Land Shark, she would catch air and fly by with those teeth snapping away. At first, it was funny. But one day, as I sat on the floor tossing toys for her, she came running back and launched herself into the air. As she flew toward my face with teeth snapping, I leaned hard to the right. She flew by my head and I could hear those teeth snapping.

It was no longer funny. This needed to be curbed before I lost my nose.

And we spent a lot of time working on it.

And I’m happy to report, I and all the other members of my family still have our noses. As for my husband’s ankles, he still has them. But she will still nip him. However, this is due to him not setting boundaries with her. Pandora does not bite at my or the kids ankles because she knows I mean business. My husband, on the other hand, does not set the boundary. He likes to play with her and that’s where we struggle sometimes.

Concern #3 – I would never be able to train Pandora

After reading about the breed, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to get her trained or be able to exercise her enough to keep her well-behaved.

Australian Cattle Dogs are incredibly intelligent. If they don’t get the exercise they need, they can be terrors.

Thankfully, I can report that if you invest the time, you can train and exercise your dog’s mind and body to the point that they will behave. This is what I’ve done, lots of time. We don’t have the money to spend on trainers, so I put in extra time searching out resources and weighing the advice with what I already know before adapting and applying the tip on Pandora.

Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t get her to walk near cars, but we are making progress. The steps are tiny, tiny, tiny. But we’re getting there.

And our home hasn’t suffered too much.

The Take-Away from Puppyhood

Hang in there. Pandora is now at a point where she listens more frequently, is calmer, and doesn’t feel the need to chomp my shoes anymore. She will still swipe a pair of shoes and take them to the yard, but she doesn’t chew them up anymore.

Once you make it through the puppy years, things start falling into place.

Also, never stop training.

Training Progress

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022Diane J.

One step forward, five steps back, that’s how it seems the training progress has been with Pandora. At least, getting her to walk near cars, close to roads on sidewalks.

And FINALLY, I have some progress to report.

The Recap

I’m going to give a quick recap. Pandora is terrified to walk anywhere where she can see or hear vehicles. It’s been a part of her since puppyhood. No traumatic events happened with cars.

When we try to walk near vehicles when she was a puppy, she would tuck tail and drop anchor. Then a few months later she started doing the “we’re getting back to our vehicle now, I don’t care if I choke in the process.” I didn’t use a harness right off the bat with Pandora. We used a collar. And after one of our walks, where I had to walk a section of sidewalk back to the car, a vehicle passed us. Pandora went into a panic. She started pulling on her leash and would not stop. After some struggling, I finally picked her up. It was a full on fiasco.

I bought a harness after that because it scared me that she didn’t care that her collar was digging in. I’ve since had the vet double-check that I was using the collar right. I was.

But even with the harness, the walk was a no-go once she heard a vehicle.

There were small training progresses

Once she walked a whole four or five yards like a normal dog on a leash. It was from our car to the vet door. Our vet still won’t allow us in with our pets.

Despite the small progress, we had a major setback afterward. In all areas of training.

Eventually, Pandora had a few more little wins. Walking, with “normal” pulling on the leash. I don’t want her to pull on leash, but this was not a choking pull, it was much less dramatic.

Big “No Freaking Way!” Training Progress

Now, let me say, Pandora did not take a full-on walk near vehicles.

I had taken her out on the trails, we went up to an area where we know. It has a wide road (it’s a walking path but looks wide enough for vehicles). She wasn’t happy. She dropped anchor. I pretended to not notice what she was doing, I was acting interested in a large weed. It took about a few seconds before she was ready to continue, so we continued on. Pandora heard a car; we glimpsed a smidge of it through bushes. She continued to walk. Her tail wasn’t tucked, neither was it wagging happily, it just hung down.

And we made it back to the trail that cuts away from the road. It went so well, that when we headed back to the car, I took a trail that branches off to the road and puts us about 70 yards up from the car. It runs along a road. A car passed us. Pandora was not happy, but she didn’t react. We had to stop as the car passed, but she didn’t drop anchor, she didn’t try to drag my rear back to the car, she waited.

Do you see the picture above? I even got her to sit and wait so I could take a picture! AND it gets better! There was a car idling in the turn lane behind us and she still let me take the picture! Squeeee! People, I looked like a nut, doing my happy dance back to the car and gushing over Pandora.

That was the greatest moment yet. Two years and three months to get to this point. Constant training, trying, and failing. Little moments of hope followed by setbacks. We even switched Vets. It was the worst call because I love our Vet, but they still wouldn’t let us go in with our pets and each time we went to the vet, we had major setbacks. Shortly before this, we had gone to her new vet for her checkup and yearly shots and I got to be with her.

We haven’t walked around near cars, yet. But this moment has given me hope.

DON’T GIVE UP!

Trust the training.

Keep Training: It Gets Better

June 20, 2022June 20, 2022Diane J.

The biggest struggle with training an Australian Cattle Dog, or any dog, is consistency. To be consistent, means working on the issue every day. Make no mistake, it’s hard to be consistent and not get discouraged, especially when the dog regresses.

Training: The Downside

If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know. But for those who are new, let me give you a quick rundown on the two biggest struggles we have with Pandora, our 2.4-year-old Australian Cattle Dog.

Barking: We made some headway with this issue, but it is not where we’d like it yet.
Walking on a leash (or even off) near cars: She will not do this. It’s a no-go thing in her life. It’s rough, it’s a one inch forward, seven yards back type of an ordeal.

For both of those issues, we’ve trained, we’ve made progress, and we’ve hit setbacks.

Also, for both of those issues, we’ve made progress. Itsy bitsy, steps that give us hope in the training process.

We still keep training her to tame the barking, and we’ve made a few steps towards where we had gotten in the past. That would be, she will calm down upon command. She is not consistently doing it, but I’d guess she’s listening about 3 our of every 5 times. Not bad, not great. We’ll continue to work the bark.

Training: The Upside

I share with you every time we make the smallest bit of progress.

Some people will see the small progress and assume it’s not worth celebrating. Others understand that all progress will eventually add up to great progress. I’m clearly in the second group. Why? Because I need the hope. I need to know we are slowly making progress, it helps me get through setbacks.

This weekend, we had the tiniest bit of progress.

Pandora hates vehicles. As far as the noise of them. She doesn’t mind riding with me in one.

We were heading out to some trails, and we had to cross a highway. She hates crossing the highway. Whenever she has her head out the window and hears or sees cars coming up near us, she pulls her head in and sits up straight, while staring directly ahead.

Well, Saturday, June 18th, 2022 – she kept her nose out the window. Didn’t tuck back in and hide.

Side note: She can’t get anything more than her head out the window. I know some will be okay with that and some won’t.

A Bonus Bit of Progress

Pandora not only showed no fear during the ride, but she also made some leash progress.

On one section of the trail we get into a wooded trail of a housing development. That trail is usually busy. So I put Pandora on leash. She usually tries to yank me as quickly as possible to the section where I remove her leash.

Saturday, she did not do that. Her leash skills left a lot to be desired, BUT, she walked on leash, didn’t yank or tug or drop anchor. We even walked by another dog that didn’t want to socialize. The dog wasn’t mean, the owner was clearly training the dog not to lunge and bark at other dogs and people. I gave a little snap on the collar and Pandora walked right by without a care.

Usually, she pulls to see the people or the dog or both. She wants to make sure everyone loves her.

To Sum UP

Yes, these were very small bits of progress. But they are progress none-the-less. If we can get to this point, we can get further. So can you.

We will get to our ultimate goals. We may have to adjust the ultimate goal, I may never be able to walk Pandora around the lake during rush hour, but maybe we’ll get to walk the lake during the lazy, slow hours.

Through consistent training and sheer force of repetition we’ll get there.

Every bit of progress is to be celebrated.

Don’t give up.