Hello Cindy,

 -=> Quoting Cindy Haglund to Peter Coggon <=-

  Dogs all think in the here and now ... but they also know who
did what to them in the past.   They have memory.   I know who
threw a rock at Rusty, and so does he.

Rusty however remembers and the kid that did it shows no remorse
in what he did, so Rusty still watches him with ears back and in
ready mode.    YET... he does forgive.  And that it that...all
forgotten and forgiven and that is wonderful.

If he gets hurt.   I am with him at all times at the vet, even to
getting a muzzle in place in case Rusty gets into a panic. When
the muzzle has to be both the vet and I are calm and patient with
him, and we both see him through the procedure...out the other
side..muzzle off and treats and a hug. and he settles down into
what he has become.

Whatever the trip to the vets....I must be calm and not show any
signs over what might be going on.   Rusty, like all dogs reads
the chemistry changes and he senses through smell something is up.

 CH> I guess how it goes is that dogs don't understand "you're
okay". But
 CH> they do understand our body language and calm energy. :) THAT they
 CH> learn from. If we're coalm that is. If we're fretful, they learn fear.

YES...

 CH> ......
 CH> aggreressive/protective when they met other dogs on walks. SHe
 CH> anticipated his attacking and this put him on edge.

Yes...seen this.

 CH> He rehab'ed her dog by having him gropued with other dogs who were
 CH> balanced. They soon correccted his aggression in a positive way. He
 CH> learned to relax around other dogs.  Maybe this would work wrt the
 CH> snow plow. :) If he sees how other dogs react to it? That is if they
 CH> don't reaact at all.

Nah...they go with him to see what the alert is all about.  Pack .

 CH> Here's a chuckle to share. My sister has a big chestnut tree outside
 CH> the front of her hosue. She tells me everytime a chestnut hits the
 CH> house their new dog Rookie (a male weimeriner (SP) barks. So I guess
 CH> you can't ignore that but to tell him to stop and be calm about it.

 When I turn the antennas on the tower, Rusty goes nuts, and runs out
and starts barking at the rotor..he knows where it is... 

 CH> I never liked the treats. I think they do that just to make mon ey
 CH> cuz you'll buy the treats at the pet store that offers the class. IMHO
 CH> the treats are good for starting a lesson but after that I think if
 CH> you use them all the time the dog only obeys for the treat rather than
 CH> obeying YOU.

  He knows by the tone of my voice the order.  Treats was started by
my mother during his training lessons.   Now walks around the block
bring stops at all corners, and a sit and then the treat...as done
by mum.    Lately he has formed a union and he wants more benefits.

We are still in meetings for the next contract, and treats is still
3 during the walk.

 CH> And what happens one day you don't happen to have a treat
 CH> on hand? You know? I'd think a silent command is the best and just
 CH> knowing they're being good (absense of correction) they repeat the
 CH> good behavior. CM: "In the pack dogs don't go rewarding good behavior.
 CH> It's expected of them." Affection however is something we give when
 CH> they're good becasue well , we're human! :)

When I am out of treats, he is told.  Thats ok...we proceed on the walk.

I always pat him, and tell him he  has done right, everytime even if
I don't offer a treat.   I am glad he can accept the fact that there
is not always a treat.

 CH> I do like how CM says it's okay to be human you know, just remember
 CH> your dog isn't. They like affection but it's counter producitve at the
 CH> wrong time, he says. (As in when they're afraid.)

Nope... If Rusty is afraid, I go with him.  We investigate together
even if it is -20 below and snow and I have boots and my PJs and gown
on...with a jacket...I go.    In this way, I have overcome most of
his boogeyman problems.  Just some of them right now I can not find
the right route to , to destroy.

When he is shaking, and afraid...my hugging and reassurance is all
there, because if not when I really need him he will panic.

 CH> :) yeah she does that! :) She also gets up on the back of the couch
 CH> where I am reading and wil put her paw on the book! to get my
 CH> attention. I have a feeling that's not right for her to do so I ignore
 CH> here for a bit until she calms down then I pet her.
 CH> ....

  MMmmmm not a fan of the dog on furniture.   If I ignore Rusty
or his paw, then I might get a paw with nail  biting deeper in my
back.    He wants to communicate, and if it is toilet time, and he
does it in the house then he is really upset, and reads my body
language as I hop to cleaning it up.   << Recently he has problems
due to meds.   I stopped some meds, and applied others known to
my family for whatever far back >>.
 
Rusty's food time is 4:00PM ... he lets me know.  By anyway he can.

 CH> He does see you as the leader. I think sometimes though they do
 CH> forget their manners, as when new people come about.
 CH> ................

Maria has a fit, cuz Rusty checks everyone coming on the property.
After a while, and all checks he leaves.   Job done.
 
 CH> I know that collar yeah. I had to use it on a big dog I dogsat last
 CH> summer. She didn't like that collar at all but after a few days she
 CH> knew I wouldn't let her lead so she behaved better.

I got rid of it the first day.  He will never have it again. Worse
dumb thing I did to him.

 CH> There's this other collar show dogs have to wear. It's very effective.
 CH> It fits right behind the ears/jaw and is held up. This gives you total
 CH> control of the dog's head therefore the rest of him/her, in
 CH> leading/guiding. 

Yes seen them. We had one.
 
 CH> Oh wait! I just remembered something that should help all of us. Pay
 CH> attention to your dog's body language. And look up ahead. If you see a
 CH> distraction pull on the leash/say no ..BEFORE he/she gets all excited.
 CH> Once they start going nuts it's very hard to stop them. I make Abbie
 CH> sit down if she gets too excited (or I walk really fast with her)...
 CH> until the distraction is past or we're past the distraction.
 CH> This seems to help.

Are you kidding?   Rusty is a heads up dog.  He sees at the same time
and I just wrap the leach around whatever, and try to talk him through
it.    Even at the same time we see his fab trucks coming...his look
changes into fighting mode...there is no doubt.

ok ....onto the next page...or part 2...

see you there

Peter


... Check out next part of this longer then usual message..hehehehe
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