Total Recall
I wanted to share this story with you guys, because A) You will laugh at me for being a hypocrite, and 
It's super impressive (for the Anderson family, maybe not so much for a dog trainer)...
If you have been following any of the details about Blue, you know we struggled with his barrier frustration - he can be VERY (human/dog) aggressive on lead, or even just holding his collar.
Also, if you have followed us for a while, you know that I am not a fan of off-lead dogs and we have a big issue with that here in Taos (everywhere).
Well, I may have told some of you that, due to Blue's barrier frustration, we had been training him off-lead. I did this for a few reasons:
1) I wanted to see if raising a pup from day 1 off-lead would reduce the value of being off-lead for the dog.
2) Blue is far less "aggressive" off-lead, so I felt it would make for a better learning experience for him if we could trust him off-lead in area where he needed to be learning (socializing).
3) the CC breed in knows for not being a "roaming" breed, so I wanted to test that theory as well.
We only walk him off-lead in the Pueblo land behind our home or when off-trail in the back-country - he is leashed on "common" trails. Where raising him like this has really helped is being able to "adjust" his frustration discomfort while hiking - if we see another dog or person while on trail we drop his lead before he gets too agitated, this has really helped us and seems to work well. On lead you would think he was going to kill (literally) another dog, then we drop his lead and he is completely turns off (its pretty strange to see, TBQH).
So, here is the story...
We took a holiday walk with him, Hilo, and Kona on the trails behind our home. The trails are used by other neighbors, horses, dogs, and wild animals but are generally pretty untraveled - its rare we see anyone.
Well, the trail we were on went behind our neighbors home, the owners of Hershey, our dog's nemesis. Hilo has already told Hershey "what time it was" a year or so ago, Luytiy has also had his encounters with Hershey, Masha knows him well too, Blue HATES Hershey (for good reason, he charged us once when Blue was a pup), and he has bitten my leg before - so, the Andersons have a past with Mr. Hershey the cute chow mix.
Well, on this walk, guess who decided to take a walk too? Yep, our neighbors, including Hershey...
Blue was off-lead on our walk, we were having a nice walk, he was sniffing and marking things and just generally being a Mastiff; then, all of the sudden, he stopped dead, looked very alert and TOOK OFF. I mean, he took off like I had never seen before - he covered a huge amount of ground in just the little bit of time it took me to realize he had run off (he was walking directly in front of me, so we are talking 1 second at the most here).
He was probably 2000 feet away in the blink of an eye. I didn't know what he was doing, I couldn't even see our neighbors yet, but I yelled "Blue Stop!"... And he stopped dead in his tracks!!! I was so impressed!
But we weren't out of the woods yet, I still needed him to come back and get leashed up - remember he was like 2000 feet away. So, I got down on my knees (he responds to that, I guess he likes hugs or something) and yelled "Come on Blue, come on buddy!"...
He let out a little frustration whimper and turned RAN directly to me! what a good boy he is!
)
It was super impressive because when he got back you could see he was PISSED. He was all puffed up and salivating - he wanted to give Hershey what he has coming, you know it. But he didn't, he's a good boy! I'm really proud of him.
Blue's a good boy... and training can really payoff sometimes. Phew that could have been bad. (Shame on me!)
----
It's super impressive (for the Anderson family, maybe not so much for a dog trainer)...If you have been following any of the details about Blue, you know we struggled with his barrier frustration - he can be VERY (human/dog) aggressive on lead, or even just holding his collar.
Also, if you have followed us for a while, you know that I am not a fan of off-lead dogs and we have a big issue with that here in Taos (everywhere).
Well, I may have told some of you that, due to Blue's barrier frustration, we had been training him off-lead. I did this for a few reasons:
1) I wanted to see if raising a pup from day 1 off-lead would reduce the value of being off-lead for the dog.
2) Blue is far less "aggressive" off-lead, so I felt it would make for a better learning experience for him if we could trust him off-lead in area where he needed to be learning (socializing).
3) the CC breed in knows for not being a "roaming" breed, so I wanted to test that theory as well.
We only walk him off-lead in the Pueblo land behind our home or when off-trail in the back-country - he is leashed on "common" trails. Where raising him like this has really helped is being able to "adjust" his frustration discomfort while hiking - if we see another dog or person while on trail we drop his lead before he gets too agitated, this has really helped us and seems to work well. On lead you would think he was going to kill (literally) another dog, then we drop his lead and he is completely turns off (its pretty strange to see, TBQH).
So, here is the story...
We took a holiday walk with him, Hilo, and Kona on the trails behind our home. The trails are used by other neighbors, horses, dogs, and wild animals but are generally pretty untraveled - its rare we see anyone.
Well, the trail we were on went behind our neighbors home, the owners of Hershey, our dog's nemesis. Hilo has already told Hershey "what time it was" a year or so ago, Luytiy has also had his encounters with Hershey, Masha knows him well too, Blue HATES Hershey (for good reason, he charged us once when Blue was a pup), and he has bitten my leg before - so, the Andersons have a past with Mr. Hershey the cute chow mix.
Well, on this walk, guess who decided to take a walk too? Yep, our neighbors, including Hershey...
Blue was off-lead on our walk, we were having a nice walk, he was sniffing and marking things and just generally being a Mastiff; then, all of the sudden, he stopped dead, looked very alert and TOOK OFF. I mean, he took off like I had never seen before - he covered a huge amount of ground in just the little bit of time it took me to realize he had run off (he was walking directly in front of me, so we are talking 1 second at the most here).
He was probably 2000 feet away in the blink of an eye. I didn't know what he was doing, I couldn't even see our neighbors yet, but I yelled "Blue Stop!"... And he stopped dead in his tracks!!! I was so impressed!
But we weren't out of the woods yet, I still needed him to come back and get leashed up - remember he was like 2000 feet away. So, I got down on my knees (he responds to that, I guess he likes hugs or something) and yelled "Come on Blue, come on buddy!"...
He let out a little frustration whimper and turned RAN directly to me! what a good boy he is!
)It was super impressive because when he got back you could see he was PISSED. He was all puffed up and salivating - he wanted to give Hershey what he has coming, you know it. But he didn't, he's a good boy! I'm really proud of him.
Blue's a good boy... and training can really payoff sometimes. Phew that could have been bad. (Shame on me!)
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Comments
Brad, give your self a reinforcer too!
That's a darn good personal protection dog! You have pointed out before how he checks in with you and Jen regarding threats- I am thinking particularly of the coyote video a bit back where the shika and Luytiy were at the fence and Blue was first looking to you and make sure Jen was okay first.
With Haru, she was excellent till recently. I think it's a combination of her maturing/the addition of Baron, but she's definitely not as good as she used to be. There are two things that are out of my hands when it comes to walking dogs off leash. No matter how well trained my dogs are, I can't do anything about people that are afraid of dogs, or other dogs that are dog aggressive. Haru loves to greet other dogs, but she is excellent with just walking up to say hi, and that's it. Baron on the other hand still has a lot of work as he loves dogs and people and will take off to play at any given opportunity. The other day however I was taking my dogs around the pack for a quick toilet run, and on the way back my neighbor that lives on the 3rd floor with a demon Maltese was out front. This dog is extremely people/dog aggressive, and barks like a fiend and has tried to bite me everytime I see her (she does this to everyone apparently). The dog also barks non-stop for hours on end when her owners are not home.
Well the dogs were in play mode nipping at each other as we walked toward the building entrance, the Maltese started barking, and lunged and nipped Haru. For the first time ever, Haru got pissed and nipped back, and actually chased the little dog for a second. It was not a good situation I put my dogs in, and could have ended very badly for the little dog. The neighbor was fine, she knows her dog's issues, but I went up to apologize later anyway.
We walk them on leash to go to the toilet now, just in case we run into that dog again. In the past Haru was fine when I'd verbally tell her to stay away from the Maltese, but I've noticed when she's with Baron they get into a bit more mischief and don't listen as well. Was a good reminder that no matter how you think your dog may react to a situation, there are variables that I can't always forsee.
Good to hear you had a positive experience with Blue though, very impressive!
Ronan would have been LONG gone. He's a runner and an escape artist. Any suggestion on curbing that? LOL!
Tasha is the good dog. I can leave gates and doors open, tell her to not cross the threshold, and she's stellar. We can drop lead across her back at a favorite pet store and tell her to stay with us and she does. She isn't found of dogs in her older years, but she avoids them if they leave her alone.
Ronan? Hell no. Whines, then snarls and pitches a total fit. He'd have been all OVER Hershey and there wouldn't have been a chance of me getting him to hear a single command.
So, what's this I see? 14 dogs????? And a baby on the way? I must catch up...
Well if I learned anything from raising my hell spawn, being a hypocrite is a good thing once in a while. You're doing what works for Blue rather than forcing him to adjust to something he hates. I think you'll make a great dad if you keep doing what you're doing
He was so proud of himself for being such a good boy. I hate to think what would have happened if Hershey had seen him too and charged - would have been the end, i think. We will use better judgment next time and leash him when we pass their house (tho we were a good 5000 feet or so from the back of their house) - we will just leash him on that section.
With the Nihonken you get a little of the proud willing to please pup, but with a molosser you really see it - especially a mastiff... they love to please their owners and will do it for praise alone.
Oh yea, it was mos def a "oh shit" moment - for both Jen and I!
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Shigeru - Oh man, when she went after the Maltese I bet you crapped your pants a little. I would. That's always my fear with our high-drive hunting breeds, they they will slip into a FAP and kill a little dog.
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Michelle - Yea, if we had Ahi, or even Loa, off-lead like that it would have been bad. Kona and Mochi too, tho they are less likely to cause a fight. Its funny, ALL of our dogs, even the Shibas, know who Hershey is and HATES HIM. I think the owners figured it out too (without us ever having to bring it up) and now usually walk him on lead.
Yes, Jen and I found out we are having a baby a few weeks ago. It was a surprised - we never planned for kids - at all.
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Rina - Thanx. I hope I am a good dad, I am honestly pretty worried about it. :oT
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Errik and I still laugh about that. <-- dorks
Great job on training Blue! Man, Hershey was in for a treat :-/