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For those not following the Grimm saga: Grimm is a 15 month old Czech GSD, I have some disabilities, and Grimm gets frustrated at not being able to initiate play contact with other dogs while on-lead, and barks/lunges at dogs while on-lead... putting me in serious danger in this crowded city full of Fifis. I've used a prong for a year on Grimm, and this has possibly exacerbated the problem. I am now trying Halti, clicker, systematic desensitisation, Feisty Fido stuff, switching his thinking from "wanna raise a ruckus and have a party/rumble" when he sees a dog to "whoa.. we gonna heel? Gonna sit? Gotta give focus? Where's my snack?" Half the stress is gone, and he is now workable... most of the time.. we see another dog, but, the problem is still enormous-- I cannot safely walk him when he sees another dog. I am unsafe. Have been dragged on my back down the sidewalk---and into the road still on my back, gotten a concussion. I need help, in order to keep Grimm.. and remain safe & alive.
After agonizing months of trying so very hard to find a suitable trainer, a trainer was reccomended by a "purely positive" trainer at the animal protection league/animal shelter here. The trainer split from another trainer he was in business with, because he felt the other trainer too harsh in his methods. The trainer, however, is not a purely positive trainer. He will use a fursaver collar, does issue corrections when needed, when the dog knows what is required and has already learned the commands.
His take (and many others', too) on Grimm's barking/lunging is that it is not actually fear-based. A small part is unfamiliarity with other dogs, but, mainly: Grimmi wants to initiate a party, can't cos he's onlead, and.. flips out in a frustrated effort to initiate a doggy-party, ignoring me. The trainer carefully tied Grimm to a pole nearby on the street using a soft, comfortable collar and lead that had give to it, then strolled his dog he got from rescue right by Grimm. Grimm went bonkers-- hair up, barking-- but his face and chest were on the ground, his bum in the air. Stress, frustration, play behavior-- not fear. Regardless, had I been walking Grimm and we were surprised by this dog coming so close, I would have been dragged helplessly again into traffic, getting another concussion.
My take: Anytime I myself teach Grimm anything new, I will use only positive clicker training. I will also continue doing the clicker-halti positive associations with Grimm working when we encounter another dog in the distance. But, Grimm is aware of my weakness, he *is* dominant and taking some advantage-- even though I do NILIF at home, he gets no water, food, treats, toys, etc without working for them-- he can't even go through a doorway without sit, wait, focus-- but on walks, he knows he is stronger. He will get slightly more dominant as he matures (not neutered). I will continue my whole life to work with him-- but he is not difficult to live with, and incorperating a lil training and NILIF into daily life is and will continue to be rutine for us.
The training is send-away for 3 weeks. We all hate send-away training, and all for the same sensible reasons. But, this is a matter of safety, it is an emergency.. so that I can keep Grimm safely.
The trainer will work with Grimm 3 times per day. Then, I work with Grimm and him there at the facility for a week. Then, for 2 more weeks, the trainer comes here to our place to work with Grimmi, my hubby and I together, in our surroundings. Grimm will be off-lead trained with recall and heel. (a good thing) He will also make it so that Grimm has frequent practice walking right by other dogs on a sidewalk. We all will sign papers-- the trainer, hubby and I-- about what will be worked on, accomplished, etc. Germans delight in paperwork of any type. I am learning.
For the next few weeks, I will be getting Grimm feeling better from his SIBO flare-up. When he is well, I will get him his required vaccines for the boarding-training (his rabies is slightly past due-- our vet understands we need to get SIBO calmed down before vaccines can safely happen)When Grimm has had his shots, is feeling well, we will meet again with Herr M.
I hate send-away training. I wish this situation were not so dangerous for me, so critical. I do like this trainer. He has a kindhearted way about him with dogs, and his heart is for the 'problem' dog-- yet does issue corrections when the dog is needing them. I admit Grimm knows I am weak on walks, and takes advantage. I admit I need intervention here. Grimm does need limits, needs exposure to other dogs-- and this trainer can provide what we need so that Grimm and I can continue to live together-- safely.
After agonizing months of trying so very hard to find a suitable trainer, a trainer was reccomended by a "purely positive" trainer at the animal protection league/animal shelter here. The trainer split from another trainer he was in business with, because he felt the other trainer too harsh in his methods. The trainer, however, is not a purely positive trainer. He will use a fursaver collar, does issue corrections when needed, when the dog knows what is required and has already learned the commands.
His take (and many others', too) on Grimm's barking/lunging is that it is not actually fear-based. A small part is unfamiliarity with other dogs, but, mainly: Grimmi wants to initiate a party, can't cos he's onlead, and.. flips out in a frustrated effort to initiate a doggy-party, ignoring me. The trainer carefully tied Grimm to a pole nearby on the street using a soft, comfortable collar and lead that had give to it, then strolled his dog he got from rescue right by Grimm. Grimm went bonkers-- hair up, barking-- but his face and chest were on the ground, his bum in the air. Stress, frustration, play behavior-- not fear. Regardless, had I been walking Grimm and we were surprised by this dog coming so close, I would have been dragged helplessly again into traffic, getting another concussion.
My take: Anytime I myself teach Grimm anything new, I will use only positive clicker training. I will also continue doing the clicker-halti positive associations with Grimm working when we encounter another dog in the distance. But, Grimm is aware of my weakness, he *is* dominant and taking some advantage-- even though I do NILIF at home, he gets no water, food, treats, toys, etc without working for them-- he can't even go through a doorway without sit, wait, focus-- but on walks, he knows he is stronger. He will get slightly more dominant as he matures (not neutered). I will continue my whole life to work with him-- but he is not difficult to live with, and incorperating a lil training and NILIF into daily life is and will continue to be rutine for us.
The training is send-away for 3 weeks. We all hate send-away training, and all for the same sensible reasons. But, this is a matter of safety, it is an emergency.. so that I can keep Grimm safely.
The trainer will work with Grimm 3 times per day. Then, I work with Grimm and him there at the facility for a week. Then, for 2 more weeks, the trainer comes here to our place to work with Grimmi, my hubby and I together, in our surroundings. Grimm will be off-lead trained with recall and heel. (a good thing) He will also make it so that Grimm has frequent practice walking right by other dogs on a sidewalk. We all will sign papers-- the trainer, hubby and I-- about what will be worked on, accomplished, etc. Germans delight in paperwork of any type. I am learning.
For the next few weeks, I will be getting Grimm feeling better from his SIBO flare-up. When he is well, I will get him his required vaccines for the boarding-training (his rabies is slightly past due-- our vet understands we need to get SIBO calmed down before vaccines can safely happen)When Grimm has had his shots, is feeling well, we will meet again with Herr M.
I hate send-away training. I wish this situation were not so dangerous for me, so critical. I do like this trainer. He has a kindhearted way about him with dogs, and his heart is for the 'problem' dog-- yet does issue corrections when the dog is needing them. I admit Grimm knows I am weak on walks, and takes advantage. I admit I need intervention here. Grimm does need limits, needs exposure to other dogs-- and this trainer can provide what we need so that Grimm and I can continue to live together-- safely.
