Working With Ghost

Yesterday, after getting some great advice from a few other dog trainers, whom I trust, I started a new training program with Ghost. He is highly leash reactive (not his fault) and, because he weighs 100# could take me out on a heart beat. I've been trying to figure out the cause of his reactivity, whether it be leash frustration, lack of confidence, fear, etc.

I changed the way I react when he gets revved up. I watch his body language closely and when he shows me a sign of reaction, I begin an intense obedience training session. I discovered he has the potential to learn so many things and yesterday we started with “down”.

It went something like this …

Walking calmly on leash and he sees a other dog. He begins to stiffen and I immediately reverse course and walk the other way. Reverse course again. Reverse course again, while saying “heel” and giving him rewards. Then, we stop, I give him the command “sit” which he executes and then I say “down”. The first time he had no idea what I was asking so I showed him. The light bulb went on after the fourth attempt. (My favorite part!) This little scenario takes less than two minutes and he is so focused on the tasks he doesn't even acknowledge the other dog.

So, as fate would have it, we ran into 4 dogs yesterday. We repeated this process 4 times and not once did he react to the other dogs. By the end of the walk he knew “down” without assistance.

Let me tell you, it was a lot of work for both of us, but so worth it to have him not reacting to other dogs.

This was only step 1 and I am encouraged by this small success. But, I know I have so much more work ahead of me.

I only walk Ghost twice a week right now, but by the end of the summer, I suspect that he will know the rules of walking with me and we will have much more enjoyable walks.

The responsibility is on me, not Ghost. I will work really hard not to fail him.