So, we've added Trazodone onto our current medical regime. I'm fairly certain I want to dump the Paxil and try Prozac instead after our 12/28 CPE trial. I'm seeing extremes at both ends with Paxil, and I've read better results with Prozac.
In keeping with celebrating the positive moments (which I have a tendency not to do), we went for a run in Game Farm Park a couple of weeks ago. I pulled him off for an approaching dog at a distance of about 50 feet. He LAID DOWN and WAGGED. Holy shiznitz. Wow. In the same run, he went apeshit at a distance of 30 feet.
Don't ever let anyone trick you into thinking your dog will be much better or easily managed. It is a lifelong commitment with minimal improvement.
Having said that, I've entered Sagan in the ZAP NADAC Thanksgiving trial and the RAT CPE 12/28-12/29 trial. I've remarked, ironically, to people that most get nervous in the ring. It is a blessing that my nervous moments are before we run, waiting, in the queue. When I get in the ring, I can finally relax, because Sagan gets right to work. Seriously, I have no ring nerves. I have moments of anxiousness about what might happen, but no real nerves.
I have a few acquaintances struggling with reactive dogs. I'm struggling to remain positive. After owning 3 like this, I really don't feel that reactive dogs can be rehabilitated that much. After 20-30% improvement with management seems to be the norm. The examples I've heard of much more are few and far between. I also remember the adage "do one thing everyday that scares you." My heart palpitates bringing Sagan into Argus Ranch. Part of me wonders why I do it (why would I put other dogs in danger?) and part of me hopes statistics is in my favor. Part of me thinks I'll find the wonder combination of drugs (which is really ALL I have left).
In absence of that, all I can hope is that aging mellows his reactivity and we manage to not have encounters at trials.
Here is hoping there is a drug combo that gives Sagan the opportunity to make good decisions. Here is hoping that all of the training, desensitization, counter conditioning, and BAT finally take hold as he matures. Here is hoping I run into very few people who don't at least empathize with where I'm coming from. People can be harsh and insensitive at best, and rude and completely critical at worst.
Wish us luck as Sagan turns 3 in December.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Paxil Updates and Resources
So we reached 6 weeks of Paxil with Sagan last Friday. I'm seeing better choices about 20% of the time and WORSE choices about 80% of the time. Not sure if this means I need different meds, more of the same med, or an additional med. Will give it 2 more weeks before deciding for sure.
Because I need to feel like I'm doing something positive in this vein, thought I would post links to several resources about reactive dogs that might help someone in my situation. These are real links from real people with real frustrations, not the irritating self-help pages written by organizations that seem to say things like "if you keep the leash loose, you'll notice improvement in your dog's reactivity." Oh my, if it were only so simple:
http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2013/10/21/reactive-dogs-interview-with-sara-reusche/
(She talks about the long haul of reactive dog ownership.... this is very, very true).
http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/practice-makes-perfect-managing-your-dogs-reactivity/
(The importance of not letting your dog practice bad choices....I find this one the hardest).
http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/training-your-reactive-dog/
(Training your reactive dog....a bit of a misnomer, since it much more complex that "training", but still good).
http://loveandaleash.com/2012/04/05/five-phases-of-reactive-dog-ownership/
(Five phases of reactive dog ownership..... I feel like I'm in an "acceptance" phase not mentioned here. I'm just stuck in limbo and I feel I've done all I can without meds).
http://reactivedogs.blogspot.com/
(Going for the Gusto...a blog)
http://bullinthecity.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/how-to-live-with-a-dog-reactive-dog-and-not-lose-your-shit-an-impractical-guide/
(Hot to live with a dog reactive dog and not lose your shit) :-)
http://thelittlebeardogblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/how-to-help-a-reactive-dog-and-their-owner/
How to help a reactive dog.
Because I need to feel like I'm doing something positive in this vein, thought I would post links to several resources about reactive dogs that might help someone in my situation. These are real links from real people with real frustrations, not the irritating self-help pages written by organizations that seem to say things like "if you keep the leash loose, you'll notice improvement in your dog's reactivity." Oh my, if it were only so simple:
http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2013/10/21/reactive-dogs-interview-with-sara-reusche/
(She talks about the long haul of reactive dog ownership.... this is very, very true).
http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/practice-makes-perfect-managing-your-dogs-reactivity/
(The importance of not letting your dog practice bad choices....I find this one the hardest).
http://paws4udogs.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/training-your-reactive-dog/
(Training your reactive dog....a bit of a misnomer, since it much more complex that "training", but still good).
http://loveandaleash.com/2012/04/05/five-phases-of-reactive-dog-ownership/
(Five phases of reactive dog ownership..... I feel like I'm in an "acceptance" phase not mentioned here. I'm just stuck in limbo and I feel I've done all I can without meds).
http://reactivedogs.blogspot.com/
(Going for the Gusto...a blog)
http://bullinthecity.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/how-to-live-with-a-dog-reactive-dog-and-not-lose-your-shit-an-impractical-guide/
(Hot to live with a dog reactive dog and not lose your shit) :-)
http://thelittlebeardogblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/how-to-help-a-reactive-dog-and-their-owner/
How to help a reactive dog.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Medication Updates and Agility Trials
Well, after a few more setbacks, I decided to dump the L-theanine and go for the heavy pharmacologicals. Sagan has been on Paxil a little over a month. The changes I've seen have mostly been concerning..... he is quicker to react, more likely to charge dogs, but seems like the valleys and peaks are less steep? I don't know. None of the drugs I tried with Winnie helped at all, so maybe I'm already coloring my experiences with Sagan....don't know.
Sagan went to another NADAC trial (put on by EAT in September). We had 1/4 qualifying runs, and it was in Touch n Go. For some reason, at this trial, he was unable to select the A-frame over the tunnel (resulting in a few NQs). Thus 1st place qualifying run represents my SERIOUSLY concerted effort to get him over the A-frame. LOL:
He did a CPE trial (put on by MudPack in October). We had 2/4 qualifying runs...both 1st places in Standard, Level 2, and Jumpers, Level 1:
Sagan scared the bejesus out of me by charging another dog in the ring after our Jumpers run. ACK! Fortunately, he made a good choice, but I REALLY need to work with him on focus after runs...never a problem before.....
Sagan went to another NADAC trial (put on by EAT in September). We had 1/4 qualifying runs, and it was in Touch n Go. For some reason, at this trial, he was unable to select the A-frame over the tunnel (resulting in a few NQs). Thus 1st place qualifying run represents my SERIOUSLY concerted effort to get him over the A-frame. LOL:
He did a CPE trial (put on by MudPack in October). We had 2/4 qualifying runs...both 1st places in Standard, Level 2, and Jumpers, Level 1:
Sagan scared the bejesus out of me by charging another dog in the ring after our Jumpers run. ACK! Fortunately, he made a good choice, but I REALLY need to work with him on focus after runs...never a problem before.....
Saturday, August 31, 2013
The Medication Journey Begins!
So, I've decided to try some medications for Sagan. After almost 3 years, that boy is full of tools, calming signals, yet our progress has really stalled. So, here is the plan:
He's been on L-theanine for a little over a week. This stuff takes almost 60 days to get into the system. There were a few times this week when I *thought* I was seeing improvement: He had a totally soft mouth and body language when leaving agility class Wednesday night when he saw 3 off leash dogs behind a fence. That was great. He is back to doing better (mostly) on our runs together. Anecdotally, he seems even MORE sensistive to noises, though he seems to be REACTING less.
After L-theanine, I will either try melatonin or some drugs through a vet (ala Prozac and the like).
I know how it all works....this will be a big experiment in dosing, correct drugs, and continuing the work we've already started with counter conditioning, desensitization, Control Unleashed, BAT, emergency U-turns, look at me, look at that, etc. I find my default behavior management strategy is to check for the "turn to look at dog, and look back at me, then get a reward." This is not really "look at that", as I'm not clicking for the looking at the trigger, but rather for making the good choice of looking back at me. If he is unable to do that, I click for the looking at the dog, which will normally snap him out of it. Then I ask for a "watch" and reward that.
I'm hopeful on the meds, and I think I will be able to read fairly quickly what is going on. Sagan's body language cues are very easy to spot. Tail goes from relaxed to high and curled, and ears stand straight up.
Will post with updates.
He's been on L-theanine for a little over a week. This stuff takes almost 60 days to get into the system. There were a few times this week when I *thought* I was seeing improvement: He had a totally soft mouth and body language when leaving agility class Wednesday night when he saw 3 off leash dogs behind a fence. That was great. He is back to doing better (mostly) on our runs together. Anecdotally, he seems even MORE sensistive to noises, though he seems to be REACTING less.
After L-theanine, I will either try melatonin or some drugs through a vet (ala Prozac and the like).
I know how it all works....this will be a big experiment in dosing, correct drugs, and continuing the work we've already started with counter conditioning, desensitization, Control Unleashed, BAT, emergency U-turns, look at me, look at that, etc. I find my default behavior management strategy is to check for the "turn to look at dog, and look back at me, then get a reward." This is not really "look at that", as I'm not clicking for the looking at the trigger, but rather for making the good choice of looking back at me. If he is unable to do that, I click for the looking at the dog, which will normally snap him out of it. Then I ask for a "watch" and reward that.
I'm hopeful on the meds, and I think I will be able to read fairly quickly what is going on. Sagan's body language cues are very easy to spot. Tail goes from relaxed to high and curled, and ears stand straight up.
Will post with updates.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Bumps in the Road
It is funny. Every time I come here to write or post on my FB about the issues I have with reactivity training in dogs, I know there are a million people who must think I'm just high maintenance, a drama queen, or a worry wart. Some probably think "It's a dog, and that's what dogs do." Some think I must not have gone to the right training people, and some must think I'm doing something else wrong.
It's like most other things I read about, I imagine.....until you've walked a mile in these shoes, you truly have no idea. I've come to understand I'm not crazy when I read about other reactive dogs on blogs, what other smart, persistent people have tried, and the anger that comes from these people in describing their attempts to give their dog a normal life. So in the name of education, assuming you don't fall into the categories of people described above....here are a few of the things that cause emotional reactions in me, when dealing with reactivity.
1) The utter pang of fear in my gut when I spot an off leash dog looking at us. (Why? Partially because of the embarrassment that will ensue when my dog becomes Cujo, and you don't know the 3 years of consistent training I've done to try to change it, but mostly because I worry about the damage to my dog, and mostly for yours. If my dog bites yours, mine gets the blame, and possibly worse.
2) Reading accounts of how "long" it takes a reactive dog to see results with training, and see them describe the length of time in months.
3) Having people tell me that "tension travels down the leash." Brilliant advice. It doesn't matter if I do or don't tense the leash. At some point, your dog tenses the leash itself and you have to haul the dog away.
4) Having people get pissy when you ask them to leash their dog. There is a leash law. I have a right to be there, too...and have my dog safe.
5) Having people make excuses for my dog. (Oh, but that other dog was doing this...oh, but this was a new place....oh, but.... there was a wall next to him). I don't want any more sunshine.
6) Having to tell people not to come pet my dog. Boy, you feel like such a bad guy.
7) Having to REALLY plan, EVERY SINGLE TIME you take your dog out of the house. Where can I park? Where can I duck behind a bush? Where can I find a quiet place to let my dog potty? Where are there blind curves? Where are there likely to be uncontrolled dogs? Where are there likely to be kids? Truly exhausting.
8) Having to make sure another adult is with us (AKA Ross) on most of our excursions out of the house. Seriously, two people to handle one dog? If there is an off leash dog around, I need Ross to be able to run interference.
9) Having to carry dog fight spray with me everywhere I go.
10) Having to cross the street to avoid a perfectly calm dog and owner walking toward you on the sidewalk. (They really think you have problems).
11) Knowing that most people don't get to see how truly sweet your dog is when he isn't stressed out. 12) Having to watch arriving cars closely at the park to make sure they aren't going to let their dog out of the car, unleashed, while they get situated.
13) Having successfully avoided an off leash dog playing in an on leash park, and spending the rest of your walk worrying where they will go next.
14) Seeing a young child being walked by his/her dog. Make my heart palpitate.
15) Rehearsing what you will say to a dog owner if their off leash dog comes up to yours and causes a dog fight. Rehearsing shifting blame back to their dog.
16) Never being able to let your guard down and just WALK.
If you think any of these are unnecessary/overvigilant, you've never owned a dog like this. Not only are you trying to ensure their training, and that they stay under threshold, but you're also imminently aware of the physical danger to your dog and others getting into a dog fight, but also the much larger repercussions of someone else deciding to report your dog as dangerous.
I should say: Sagan has NEVER bitten another dog or gotten into a true dog fight, though he has argued (instigating and responding) to other dogs. I'm convinced the only reason why is that I have to be a complete b@#$% in public. It isn't pleasant, but I'm just protecting Sagan. Sagan will be three in December. He backslid a bit this past week, after we went to an outdoor agility trial. I would still say we are heavily managed, with my physically handling him by covering his face or shoving his face between my legs is the solution about 30-40% of the time. This is with about a year of obedience, 5 sessions of Control Unleashed, 2 behaviorists, a board and train, BAT protocols, and concerted outings to practice. If you have a reactive dog, you're in for a BIIIIIG commitment.
It's like most other things I read about, I imagine.....until you've walked a mile in these shoes, you truly have no idea. I've come to understand I'm not crazy when I read about other reactive dogs on blogs, what other smart, persistent people have tried, and the anger that comes from these people in describing their attempts to give their dog a normal life. So in the name of education, assuming you don't fall into the categories of people described above....here are a few of the things that cause emotional reactions in me, when dealing with reactivity.
1) The utter pang of fear in my gut when I spot an off leash dog looking at us. (Why? Partially because of the embarrassment that will ensue when my dog becomes Cujo, and you don't know the 3 years of consistent training I've done to try to change it, but mostly because I worry about the damage to my dog, and mostly for yours. If my dog bites yours, mine gets the blame, and possibly worse.
2) Reading accounts of how "long" it takes a reactive dog to see results with training, and see them describe the length of time in months.
3) Having people tell me that "tension travels down the leash." Brilliant advice. It doesn't matter if I do or don't tense the leash. At some point, your dog tenses the leash itself and you have to haul the dog away.
4) Having people get pissy when you ask them to leash their dog. There is a leash law. I have a right to be there, too...and have my dog safe.
5) Having people make excuses for my dog. (Oh, but that other dog was doing this...oh, but this was a new place....oh, but.... there was a wall next to him). I don't want any more sunshine.
6) Having to tell people not to come pet my dog. Boy, you feel like such a bad guy.
7) Having to REALLY plan, EVERY SINGLE TIME you take your dog out of the house. Where can I park? Where can I duck behind a bush? Where can I find a quiet place to let my dog potty? Where are there blind curves? Where are there likely to be uncontrolled dogs? Where are there likely to be kids? Truly exhausting.
8) Having to make sure another adult is with us (AKA Ross) on most of our excursions out of the house. Seriously, two people to handle one dog? If there is an off leash dog around, I need Ross to be able to run interference.
9) Having to carry dog fight spray with me everywhere I go.
10) Having to cross the street to avoid a perfectly calm dog and owner walking toward you on the sidewalk. (They really think you have problems).
11) Knowing that most people don't get to see how truly sweet your dog is when he isn't stressed out. 12) Having to watch arriving cars closely at the park to make sure they aren't going to let their dog out of the car, unleashed, while they get situated.
13) Having successfully avoided an off leash dog playing in an on leash park, and spending the rest of your walk worrying where they will go next.
14) Seeing a young child being walked by his/her dog. Make my heart palpitate.
15) Rehearsing what you will say to a dog owner if their off leash dog comes up to yours and causes a dog fight. Rehearsing shifting blame back to their dog.
16) Never being able to let your guard down and just WALK.
If you think any of these are unnecessary/overvigilant, you've never owned a dog like this. Not only are you trying to ensure their training, and that they stay under threshold, but you're also imminently aware of the physical danger to your dog and others getting into a dog fight, but also the much larger repercussions of someone else deciding to report your dog as dangerous.
I should say: Sagan has NEVER bitten another dog or gotten into a true dog fight, though he has argued (instigating and responding) to other dogs. I'm convinced the only reason why is that I have to be a complete b@#$% in public. It isn't pleasant, but I'm just protecting Sagan. Sagan will be three in December. He backslid a bit this past week, after we went to an outdoor agility trial. I would still say we are heavily managed, with my physically handling him by covering his face or shoving his face between my legs is the solution about 30-40% of the time. This is with about a year of obedience, 5 sessions of Control Unleashed, 2 behaviorists, a board and train, BAT protocols, and concerted outings to practice. If you have a reactive dog, you're in for a BIIIIIG commitment.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
NADAC Trial 8/11
Well, this trial was not Sagan's finest hour, though he did have a lovely Touch n Go run (one DUMB mistake on my part), 1 qualifying (and 1st place) tunneler's run, and 2 yucky, sloppy regular runs. He was also REALLY reactive today. This was his first (and probably last) outdoor trial. Too much to see and keep track of.
But, here are our runs, without further ado.
Touch n Go (so beautiful until I hesitated and sent him in the wrong end of the tunnel. Damn)
Regular (yuck: off course, and BAD contacts. Sagan never has bad contacts....blah)
Regular 2 (yuck: off course, and MORE bad contacts. BLAH)
Tunnelers (BEAUTIFUL.... and ALMOST perfect. :-)
But, here are our runs, without further ado.
Touch n Go (so beautiful until I hesitated and sent him in the wrong end of the tunnel. Damn)
Regular (yuck: off course, and BAD contacts. Sagan never has bad contacts....blah)
Regular 2 (yuck: off course, and MORE bad contacts. BLAH)
Tunnelers (BEAUTIFUL.... and ALMOST perfect. :-)
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Successes and Updates
So, it has been a long time. Sagan and I have had a lot of successes in the past months.
In early May, our behaviorist offered to take Sagan for a few days for a board and train to help us move past this training plateau in terms of his reactivity. After 2 years, we were still looking at 20-30 feet threshold with most dogs (calm or not). Frustrating.
After using the "Look at that" protocol and others, she felt that with his strong, border collie prey drive, that he was being obedient to "look at that" and doing it, but was not calming as a result of it. Yep, my own observations confirm that as well. She (and others) have confirmed that my timing and emotional cues were spot-on, so..... So she tried an old school "look at that and stare at me" protocol (ALA the old "watch" command). She said it worked great and rarely required any kind of extrinsic reward (food, toys, etc.). That's my driven boy.
I lost my sweet cattle dog mix, Winnie, 13 years old, right before Sagan's board and train. She was a sweet love, also a reactive dog. She was, in many ways, what people refer to as a "heart dog"...maybe because she was the first dog I owned in adulthood, maybe because she and I are both BEYOND stubborn and don't give a rip about it. She will be raising hell in heaven, if you believe in that construct. I miss her like crazy and think about her every day. She was true to reality in a way humans can't be. EFF you, she says, "I'm the badass bitch, here." By God, she is and was. Her theme song was the one for CSI Las Vegas" Who is she, Gr, bar, de wooof...." I miss her so much.
6/23: Novice tunneler's run (A messy Q and 2nd place!):
If I can continue to get him in the ring, he will do amazing things. Getting him in the ring is no small feat and requires my husband as a placeholder and an army of friends who are advocates.
It is NOT easy getting him in the ring, but he is like Kevin Costner in For Love of the Game. It all melts away when he is there, and he is the epitome of focus. I am a high stress person, and I think the nature of Sagan's stress helps me. He is stressed getting in, so once we're in the ring, the rest seems like absolute CAKE to me.
Still working on the reactivity, but we've jumped a few hurdles, pun intended and not. :-)
In early May, our behaviorist offered to take Sagan for a few days for a board and train to help us move past this training plateau in terms of his reactivity. After 2 years, we were still looking at 20-30 feet threshold with most dogs (calm or not). Frustrating.
After using the "Look at that" protocol and others, she felt that with his strong, border collie prey drive, that he was being obedient to "look at that" and doing it, but was not calming as a result of it. Yep, my own observations confirm that as well. She (and others) have confirmed that my timing and emotional cues were spot-on, so..... So she tried an old school "look at that and stare at me" protocol (ALA the old "watch" command). She said it worked great and rarely required any kind of extrinsic reward (food, toys, etc.). That's my driven boy.
I lost my sweet cattle dog mix, Winnie, 13 years old, right before Sagan's board and train. She was a sweet love, also a reactive dog. She was, in many ways, what people refer to as a "heart dog"...maybe because she was the first dog I owned in adulthood, maybe because she and I are both BEYOND stubborn and don't give a rip about it. She will be raising hell in heaven, if you believe in that construct. I miss her like crazy and think about her every day. She was true to reality in a way humans can't be. EFF you, she says, "I'm the badass bitch, here." By God, she is and was. Her theme song was the one for CSI Las Vegas" Who is she, Gr, bar, de wooof...." I miss her so much.
While some people need time to grieve, I needed to fill a hole. I am still mourning my girl, but needed a new girlie. Welcome Roux, a 1-year old BC/whippet mix:
Roux has been an amazing addition to our pack. She is non-plussed by other dogs, and doesn't react to Sagan reacting to other dogs. I've begun to take both of them running together on my waist leash. Sagan started out reacting to dogs and stopped once he saw Roux not at all bothered by agro dogs behind fences and the like. Wonderfully, Sagan has helped Roux with her fear of cars. Roux was a beautiful addition to our pack.
In May, we ran our first agility trial in CPE. Our wonderful friends, Teddi and Cathy, helped protect Sagan on the way into the ring (our biggest worry) and got TWO qualifying runs and TWO 1st place runs! Holy cow! This confirms that once Sagan is involved in work, reactivity is a non-issue:
5/11 Regular Run: Qualify and 1st place:
5/12 Regular Run: Qualify and 1st place:
So we entered another NADAC agility competition with equally impressive outcomes:
6/23: Novice regular run (Q and 3rd place):
6/23: Novice tunneler's run (A messy Q and 2nd place!):
If I can continue to get him in the ring, he will do amazing things. Getting him in the ring is no small feat and requires my husband as a placeholder and an army of friends who are advocates.
It is NOT easy getting him in the ring, but he is like Kevin Costner in For Love of the Game. It all melts away when he is there, and he is the epitome of focus. I am a high stress person, and I think the nature of Sagan's stress helps me. He is stressed getting in, so once we're in the ring, the rest seems like absolute CAKE to me.
Still working on the reactivity, but we've jumped a few hurdles, pun intended and not. :-)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Becoming a Running Buddy
So we are in the midst of Control Unleashed 2 for the 4th time. This class is soooo good for Sagan's reactivity issues. It is in this class I feel that I can actually truly make progress with him. I met up with Janey last month for some "car crash" from that class:
Minus crappy leash manners in this video, he is doing good work in class, and is constantly being challenged in an appropriate way. I am taking a break after this session for awhile. I'm nervous that starting my Ph.D. might mean that I won't get to take this class for awhile, but I hope to make it work. :-)
Agility is going well....I need to get some video of him doing work. We did this crazy front cross/post turn drill in class a couple of weeks ago. Several jumps and he did it all. I'm figuring it out, and so is he. He LURVES agility, so I am still really trying to advocate for him around the new folks in class. A few folks in our agility class are encouraging me to enter him in a trial in May...we will see, though I want to stay true to what I said in my last post. Want to get him more solid mentally before I attempt that.
The latest is that Sagan and I are going to run a half marathon on 4/28. He is currently running up to 7 miles with me. I am investing in 2 different sports harnesses, since the Easy Walk is chaffing on those long runs. Trying the Comfortflex from Clean Run and the cool IDC harness with the name patches. Sagan is such a polite running buddy. I put him on a double-length bungee hands-free leash. He runs so nicely. This last weekend, we did the 7-mile run, and managed to navigate a busy street, several on-leash dogs, and a couple of off-leash ones. THIS, however, is the cutest part of our run...the start of it: This is actually a walk, but he does the same on our runs. And it is such a Pavlov moment...the beep of our Garmin watch goes off, and Sagan pulls like an Alaskan sled dog. LOL Fortunate Ross and I can enjoy Sagan in this way. :-)
Minus crappy leash manners in this video, he is doing good work in class, and is constantly being challenged in an appropriate way. I am taking a break after this session for awhile. I'm nervous that starting my Ph.D. might mean that I won't get to take this class for awhile, but I hope to make it work. :-)
Agility is going well....I need to get some video of him doing work. We did this crazy front cross/post turn drill in class a couple of weeks ago. Several jumps and he did it all. I'm figuring it out, and so is he. He LURVES agility, so I am still really trying to advocate for him around the new folks in class. A few folks in our agility class are encouraging me to enter him in a trial in May...we will see, though I want to stay true to what I said in my last post. Want to get him more solid mentally before I attempt that.
The latest is that Sagan and I are going to run a half marathon on 4/28. He is currently running up to 7 miles with me. I am investing in 2 different sports harnesses, since the Easy Walk is chaffing on those long runs. Trying the Comfortflex from Clean Run and the cool IDC harness with the name patches. Sagan is such a polite running buddy. I put him on a double-length bungee hands-free leash. He runs so nicely. This last weekend, we did the 7-mile run, and managed to navigate a busy street, several on-leash dogs, and a couple of off-leash ones. THIS, however, is the cutest part of our run...the start of it: This is actually a walk, but he does the same on our runs. And it is such a Pavlov moment...the beep of our Garmin watch goes off, and Sagan pulls like an Alaskan sled dog. LOL Fortunate Ross and I can enjoy Sagan in this way. :-)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Coming to a Place of Comfort
So I have a strategy that is "working" with Sagan, and that is reframing dogs with the presence of a ball, which is heroin.
While i am totally encouraged by this, this year is characterized by a reigning in of my goals. Sagan is not my competition dog. At least not in the near future. After 2 years, we are still looking at 20-50 feet threshold radius for unknown dogs, even with our "secret bullet" of the ball. I have no goals to compete him this year. Even with behaviorists, control unleashed x 3, and practice, he still isn't calm enough to be within working distance of dogs. Even tonight in agility, he couldn't handle dogs he has known for months.
I am OK with us never competing, but it has taken me two years to get to that point.
I'm motivated to write because there is a new student in our agility class who has no clue about reactive dogs. They walk their dog within feet of Sagan's kennel, even after reminders from Ross and me about how reactive Sagan is. They leave their dog out and require reminders to put him up when we run. They look at us with scorn when we ask for that.
I feel like the successes we derive out of class are in jeopardy. I resent that there is no place we can really safely have our dog, and I am fiercely protective of this venue. Our instructor does not require crating, and this may be the reason we end up leaving class, and leaving agility as a whole. I hope this is not the case, but I do understand that this is the result of the dog problems I deal with. It may be that we are relegated to nosework, which seems to be one of the only venues that is truly friendly to reactive dogs.
I came to understand tonight that what is upsetting me is the pressure to compete and have Sagan be workable in this environment. It is a humble pill to swallow that this is not reality...and it really isn't. While he may love agility, he may have to deal with loving agility in class, and that being the end. He is a smart dog that needs brainwork, but that brainwork has to be tempered and protected by what he finds overwhelming.
At the least, I feel I've learned agility handling skills that will benefit us in class, and possibly a solid temperament dog in the future. Coming back to the numerical distance we have to have for Sagan not to react. After 2 years, we are still at 20-50 feet for calm dogs. In my estimate, that is progress neutral.
While i am totally encouraged by this, this year is characterized by a reigning in of my goals. Sagan is not my competition dog. At least not in the near future. After 2 years, we are still looking at 20-50 feet threshold radius for unknown dogs, even with our "secret bullet" of the ball. I have no goals to compete him this year. Even with behaviorists, control unleashed x 3, and practice, he still isn't calm enough to be within working distance of dogs. Even tonight in agility, he couldn't handle dogs he has known for months.
I am OK with us never competing, but it has taken me two years to get to that point.
I'm motivated to write because there is a new student in our agility class who has no clue about reactive dogs. They walk their dog within feet of Sagan's kennel, even after reminders from Ross and me about how reactive Sagan is. They leave their dog out and require reminders to put him up when we run. They look at us with scorn when we ask for that.
I feel like the successes we derive out of class are in jeopardy. I resent that there is no place we can really safely have our dog, and I am fiercely protective of this venue. Our instructor does not require crating, and this may be the reason we end up leaving class, and leaving agility as a whole. I hope this is not the case, but I do understand that this is the result of the dog problems I deal with. It may be that we are relegated to nosework, which seems to be one of the only venues that is truly friendly to reactive dogs.
I came to understand tonight that what is upsetting me is the pressure to compete and have Sagan be workable in this environment. It is a humble pill to swallow that this is not reality...and it really isn't. While he may love agility, he may have to deal with loving agility in class, and that being the end. He is a smart dog that needs brainwork, but that brainwork has to be tempered and protected by what he finds overwhelming.
At the least, I feel I've learned agility handling skills that will benefit us in class, and possibly a solid temperament dog in the future. Coming back to the numerical distance we have to have for Sagan not to react. After 2 years, we are still at 20-50 feet for calm dogs. In my estimate, that is progress neutral.
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