The Best Walk I've Had

I took off work extra early today about 12 and went for a walk with Logan in the sun.

I've been trying really hard lately to get Logan out of his nervous/defensive behaviour around certain types of dogs (namely, Huskys and GSD's).

For anyone that maybe doesn't know. The reason he has this problem was he was attacked by an off lead GSD as a pup and since that day has been fearful of them. Over time it has developed into more of a defensive/aggressive behaviour.

Things have been going really well lately, I'd nearly go as far to say it was as good as gone. Today though I'm 100% it is

On the way back from our walk we met a woman with a male Husky. Normally Logan would be barking and pulling to either get away or at the dog, so I normally avoid them and take a different path. Though today for whatever reason he didn't seem a bit interested, I decided to walk along side the Husky and really test him. We would have been within 2 metres of the dog and Logan was on a 20ft lead, so at any time he could have got at it if he wanted to, but he just chose not too!

Then! The biggest test of all happened. I looked up to see coming towards us was a man with a notorious aggressive GSD that we have had problems with before. I had a squeaky toy in my hand to keep his attention if I needed it. But, again Logan walked right by it with FULL slack on the lead and never bothered, he was also still 2 metres away from the Husky.

I know this is a bit of a read but this means so much to me because apart from this one issue he has never had a single problem. I'd be pretty much safe to say now it is totally...gone


Anyone who is having a pint tonight, have one more for the Monster

Thats great news Mat Well done to you and Logan!

And I'll have a gin for Logan tonight!

It's def more down to him than me this time, very proud of him. Thank you

Thata girl

That's great news! I know how you feel I only made a little breakthrough with Axl but it felt good. Well done to you and Logan, give Logan a hug for me!

p.s. I love that picture of Logan in your Avatar he's gorgeous he looks as chunky as Axl (chunky as in muscly not fat)!

Debs01 wrote:That's great news! I know how you feel I only made a little breakthrough with Axl but it felt good. Well done to you and Logan, give Logan a hug for me!

p.s. I love that picture of Logan in your Avatar he's gorgeous he looks as chunky as Axl (chunky as in muscly not fat)!

Thanks Debs

The wee breakthroughs just make it all worth while.

Awww that's great news Mat! A very big well done to Logan too! do you think you're going to able to let him off his long line now or still not 100% sure?

Aww way to go Logan that's great news mat

CodlingKid wrote:Awww that's great news Mat! A very big well done to Logan too! do you think you're going to able to let him off his long line now or still not 100% sure?

Thanks Cody.

Evntually yes. But as it's only really been a week or so of good behaviour, and one day of perfect behaviour I'd want to see it happen regular for a while yet. I wouldn't want to fall back in any way after he's done so well.

And thanks Hayley

Gonna have more than a pint, gonna have 4! Brill news

Glad you will join in with the celebrations Janey! Thanks

Fantastic news

Well done Logan!

And well done you for taking the time and effort to overcome it!

I think your Wee Fella is growing up Mat, that is great news well done to you both

Thanks so much both of you. He def is growing up I feel.

Aww Logan you good boy down to you aswell though Mat for patience and building his confidence. Well done both of ya will have a wine for the wee fella later! ><

Thank you Inez, glad to have another celebrating

Wow, that's absolutely fantastic, Mat, you must be completely proud of him, so well done to Logan, and to you for helping him deal with it. Brilliant feeling that the effort's paid off, and obviously makes life less stressful for you and for Logan. We've had a brilliant walk today too in terms of making progress with dogs, but yours is loads better because aggression is harder to deal with. Definitely worth a celebration, I think

Good to hear you had progression too Tara, it feels great!

My wee arms are thankful anyway

Well done Logan, you're a and well done to you too, Mat!

MatLogan wrote:
Thanks Cody.

Evntually yes. But as it's only really been a week or so of good behaviour, and one day of perfect behaviour I'd want to see it happen regular for a while yet. I wouldn't want to fall back in any way after he's done so well.

And thanks Hayley

No problem Mat it's really great to hear! I'm looking forward to your post about him being let off

Thats great! Well done logan must be something in the air everyones calm haha

ahh mat that is brill news,you must be so made up with him,makes it so much more enjoyable when walking him i bet .wish i could do some thing with sash,she never liked other dogs much but since she was attacked last year she is so scared of any dog now

Thanks Hayley and Stella.

Yea it was like a light switch with Logan too Stella, from the very second he was attacked he became unsocialable. He has done real well though lately bless him

That's brilliant, you must be so happy

Well done Logan

Really am Sazzle. So is Logan by the looks of him at the moment too

Fantastic news mate , Logan's a good boy . Now you have behavioral skills can you advise me on how to get Tommy Ten Men not to think he can take on a herd of cows

Dave wrote:Fantastic news mate , Logan's a good boy . Now you have behavioral skills can you advise me on how to get Tommy Ten Men not to think he can take on a herd of cows

I am def no wiser really lol. But I bought these silly little Kong tennis balls from PAH for like £2, they are small enough to fit in your pocket.

As soon as I saw a dog, even one Logan liked I'd squeak it, then he'd look at me and sit. After doing it over and over, when he saw a dog he was looking at me expecting me to squeak the ball so I did. Then today he looked at me and I didn't have to squeak it all all, just said "good boy" and he seemed satisfied.

Probably not the most technical of methods but it has worked for us two eejits

Brilliant. I totally understand why you'd be pleased. Kenny's not very good around any dog atm, that was since an attemted attack by a larger dog. He's now allways on the defensive. It makes walks really stressfull. Would you mind share some tips, and while your at it, make mine a strongbow please

Brilliant. I totally understand why you'd be pleased. Kenny's not very good around any dog atm, that was since an attemted attack by a larger dog. He's now allways on the defensive. It makes walks really stressfull. Would you mind share some tips, and while your at it, make mine a strongbow please

sorry, some how i posted twice lol

Thanks a lot Kelly. I had tried a few different things but it was basically the "look at me" technique which worked. I had tried it before with treats but by the time I'd fumbled to get a treat out of my pocket the time to correct would have passed and I couldn't have stopped it.

This is what is working for me.

MatLogan wrote:I bought these silly little Kong tennis balls from PAH for like £2, they are small enough to fit in your pocket.

As soon as I saw a dog, even one Logan liked I'd squeak it, then he'd look at me and sit. After doing it over and over, when he saw a dog he was looking at me expecting me to squeak the ball so I did. Then today he looked at me and I didn't have to squeak it all all, just said "good boy" and he seemed satisfied.

Probably not the most technical of methods but it has worked for us two eejits

Sounds good to me Mat, and definatly worth a try. He's so bad atm, that i dont want to take him alone. He's like something possessed. He does this thing. He'll lay down on seeing a dog walking in his direction. He'll be all waggily tailed, but as soon as the dog gets with in reach, he goes nuts. Then we have days when other dogs dont bother him. Im trying to figure out what triggers this behaviour. Thank you

kenny d wrote:Sounds good to me Mat, and definatly worth a try. He's so bad atm, that i dont want to take him alone. He's like something possessed. He does this thing. He'll lay down on seeing a dog walking in his direction. He'll be all waggily tailed, but as soon as the dog gets with in reach, he goes nuts. Then we have days when other dogs dont bother him. Im trying to figure out what triggers this behaviour. Thank you

For Logan it was def nerves. It sounds bad, but he was nearly foaming at the mouth to get away at a point a few months back, totally petrified.

I think the times when it works best is when I could deal with it as soon as possible. That why a squeaky toy worked better than a treat because there really wasn't enough time to stand hoking through pockets for something.

Give it a go anyway. Hope it makes a difference. Loadsa praise as soon as the other dog is past too, I probably looked totally stupid but I couldn't less. If it means my arms aren't torn out of their sockets everyday I'll be happy looking silly

MatLogan wrote:I took off work extra early today about 12 and went for a walk with Logan in the sun.

I've been trying really hard lately to get Logan out of his nervous/defensive behaviour around certain types of dogs (namely, Huskys and GSD's).

For anyone that maybe doesn't know. The reason he has this problem was he was attacked by an off lead GSD as a pup and since that day has been fearful of them. Over time it has developed into more of a defensive/aggressive behaviour.

Things have been going really well lately, I'd nearly go as far to say it was as good as gone. Today though I'm 100% it is

On the way back from our walk we met a woman with a male Husky. Normally Logan would be barking and pulling to either get away or at the dog, so I normally avoid them and take a different path. Though today for whatever reason he didn't seem a bit interested, I decided to walk along side the Husky and really test him. We would have been within 2 metres of the dog and Logan was on a 20ft lead, so at any time he could have got at it if he wanted to, but he just chose not too!

Then! The biggest test of all happened. I looked up to see coming towards us was a man with a notorious aggressive GSD that we have had problems with before. I had a squeaky toy in my hand to keep his attention if I needed it. But, again Logan walked right by it with FULL slack on the lead and never bothered, he was also still 2 metres away from the Husky.

I know this is a bit of a read but this means so much to me because apart from this one issue he has never had a single problem. I'd be pretty much safe to say now it is totally...gone


Anyone who is having a pint tonight, have one more for the Monster

Bless him mate, they are a confident breed so he may well be strutting his stuff saying "you dont bother me" remember the psyce of dogs is body language so a confident trot by ignoring the other dog may well be the doggie form of a two fingerd salute

Very possible Nathan

He was standing very proud but very relaxed. It was surreal to see lol.

excellent news

Cheers J!

This is brilliant All the hard work has payed off then... Long may it continue, well done Logan

My dog is similar and I know what a great feeling it is when they choose to ignore a dog that you know 6 months ago they would had have a go at! Congratulations! Well done! I'm gonna start bringing a squeaky toy too, great idea!

Excellent news mate, well done to both of you

Cheers, after all the things I tried it was a £2 squeaky tennis ball which seems to have cured it

I bought a couple of the larger Kong squeaky tennis balls yesterday, they're Milton's only squeaky toys (and they're for the field only or he'd drive me mad with them ) Good thinking to use them as a distraction though, I think I'll go and get a smaller one to help with Milton's dislike of Labradors

Chris SW wrote:I bought a couple of the larger Kong squeaky tennis balls yesterday, they're Milton's only squeaky toys (and they're for the field only or he'd drive me mad with them ) Good thinking to use them as a distraction though, I think I'll go and get a smaller one to help with Milton's dislike of Labradors

I just got the small ones because they fit in the pockets of even the skinniest jeans, which is a benefit for me !

I'd never give him it though because they are super tiny.

Yeah, I got the ones that are the next size up from a normal tennis ball, annoyingly too big to fit in the ball launcher, but never mind I saw the tiny ones, reckon they'd only be of use to a hamster haha