At my wits' end...thought I had this down...

**Criosphynx** · 08-22-2010, 03:49 PM

Good deal!!!

keep it up, think of as many dog types/breeds and scenarios and try and blow through them all

**fawkese1** · 08-22-2010, 03:57 PM

that is awesome! good job! i like the idea of parking so far away and have been considering returning to the DP to do some more training with clover, i'll have to see if we can work something like that out...

anyhow, good job! hope to hear more!

**TonkaTruckJK** · 08-30-2010, 12:16 AM

Ok - so, I think I've narrowed it down. So far it's only adult dogs who are similar in size or larger than Tonka is...that SEEMS to be the trigger.

This weekend, I had the opportunity to exposed Tonka to a few other dogs - both were smaller...one was just a puppy...

So proud of him...he played at EXACTLY the right level with this guy...short vid that shows how aggressive he REALLY is...

P.S. This is a dog my friend is fostering (Bella), looking for a home...think she'll fit in with my pack? It was REALLY hard not to take her with me when I left. REALLY hard...she is SUCH a cutie...they're calling her a min-pin mix, but my guess says Italian Greyhound in there somewhere...but for sure, heinz-57!

**TonkaTruckJK** · 08-30-2010, 12:18 AM

edit: and yes, that's Chloe just walking around watching them, she didn't care b/c that meant SHE could have the toy all to herself...

pawzaddict · 08-30-2010, 02:50 PM

Just a photo on my phone

My reactive dog is great with small dogs just not huge ones so if you think they will all get along and you can incorporate her into your daily activities then its just up to "do you have the funds"

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**TonkaTruckJK** · 08-30-2010, 02:55 PM

Oh, the funds aren't the problem, it's the time...energy...training...traveling...the list goes on...

pawzaddict · 08-30-2010, 03:02 PM

Yea that's a big list lol. I'd wait to get another dog especially since you are still out traveling for work no?
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**fawkese1** · 08-30-2010, 10:40 PM

i don't know about getting another dog, but have you considered becoming a foster yourself?

btw, i love how tonka tries to squash that little dog by rolling around at him like that... clover does that too when he plays with little dogs, he will even follow them around with his butt, trying to sit on them...

anymore DP success?

**TonkaTruckJK** · 08-31-2010, 09:46 PM

Haven't been back yet. Drove to PA this weekend to visit my dad...will head over there tomorrow and report back...

I anticipate good things, trying a new approach...worked on 'me' cue quite a bit this weekend, from across the yard, with another dog on the other side of the fence, he ran, full-speed, skidded at my feet for his treat...so, that's going well, even with some pretty heavy distraction...

Funny thing is, through the fence, which I've heard can be VERY frustrating for dogs (fence-fighting?), Tonka was NOT hair-up, tail-up, growling, barking or anything...he was politely sniffing and being sniffed, through the fence, even after the other dog (a large adult lab-ish dog - which fits what I believe to be his trigger...) started barking obnoxiously...so, I guess that's something...

**TonkaTruckJK** · 09-04-2010, 12:48 AM

Tonight was a dog-park night...I'll tell you this much...Tonka makes me appreciate Chloe SOOO much more. It's exhausting to work through so much frustration...like, c'mon dude, quit being an a$$hole, and we can go have some fun!

Anyway, Tonka did better - I AM seeing progress. There was still some alert, tense situations, usually when 2-3 dogs were playing and chasing and they came near, but I treated (don't tell anybody I had treats in a dog park) as they got within 20 yards or so, and that helped him remove a little focus, but not entirely. Again - puppies (even bigger puppies) and small dogs, no reaction - there was a little dog, not sure what breed - smashy face, long hair, about 15-20lbs that followed us around ALL night, with his nose UP Tonka's butt, and Tonka would move around, to get the cold nose off his butt, or turn and sniff that dog, but no reaction like with older/bigger dogs. There was a beautiful husky puppy who was about the same height as Tonka, VERY playful little thing that came running full-tilt a few times towards us, and Tonka got down into play-crouch (still on-leash) and vocalized a few play growls-barks (very distinct difference from his "I want to chew your face off" vocalizations). The other dog was OBVIOUSLY trying to get him to chase, but we weren't going to get that excited. This led to a little anxious whining until we got back into the walk around the outside edge of the park. <-- what do you think about this - him WANTING to play, but not being able - am I going to create MORE frustration, MORE problems because of this? I definitely don't want to do that, so please tell me if I'm being an idiot.

Anyway - also found a local trainer tonight, online, will be calling her tomorrow - her website is Fusion Dog Training - reading through her website really has me excited that she can help - and her written communications (ok, maybe she didn't write it all, or somebody edited) are very clear, and hit home with me - was able to incorporate some of her 'prep for class' stuff without even having spoken with her.

If you don't mind - have a look at her site - let me know what you think...in the end, it's going to be how well things go when I call her, and whether I can make time to drop-in (she has drop-in classes for reactivity...!), but I feel good things about it so far.