I figured I'd start a little "journal" post on what I have learned from my book thus far.
I'm about 1/3 through the book... and so far it talks a lot about the psychology of dogs, and how they react to the "energy" around them. How they behave according to their master's vibes and such.
Well I've figured out a few things... to anyone that read my post about my hiking mishap, I now understand why my dogs were reacting that way. They barked at the stranger who quickly approached us because they were reacting to MY nervous energy. They sensed my fear, and knew something was not balanced. I changed my whole demeanor...I began ushering my son out of the way, I was speaking quickly and quietly. I was changing my grip, I was not relaxed. My heart was pounding, I broke a sweat... the book says a dog's sense of smell is a million times stronger than ours -- simply put, they smelled FEAR. They sensed a threat, and they behaved accordingly. The OB instructor I spoke to, confirmed this was a GOOD thing. Not something I need to "correct." Whether that man was dangerous or not, they knew something was "not right."
As for the other hiker, I think they were simply caught off guard by a strange woman yelling out of the blue. (She was yelling because she was far away.) Once they saw that she posed no threat, and I didn't react in a nervous manner, they relaxed also. They stopped barking as soon as she smiled and walked on. They didn't keep barking till she was out of sight -- just had the initial reaction, as in "who is she, where did she come from, why is she yelling, and is this person okay with mom?"
As far as pulling on the lead -- I think that is simply because they have had very little or no leash training. They have always gotten their excercise by being let loose and free out the back door into our fenced-in yard. I haven't taught them recall, heel, or sit-stay, nothing like that. I have taken them on the trails before, but that was last fall when they were both young pups. Now it's different. They're grown and more difficult to manage. I know someone wrote that I should just demand and expect that they walk nicely on the lead, but I think that should happen AFTER they've been trained to know what I want. They honestly need to learn to HEEL before I can test how well they listen. I don't know if this is making any sense to you, but it does in my head.
Another thing, which I had not written about in my hiking post, was that there were some teenagers being stupid off in the distance. Just past the hill, there was a road, and some kids up there were screaming and acting like they were hurt, and then making barking noises to aggravate my dogs. Koa suddenly turned into a "big boy" and let out a very deep, bellowing bark. A LOUD one. He didn't sound like a puppy at all. It wasn't "threatening" but I could tell he wasn't sure how to react.... Screams and then laughter, barking sounds... Again, he sensed that something was out of balance. That wasn't calm energy, there was something amiss to him. He didn't try to run toward them, or away from them. He just stared, very alert, but passive.
I think these are all good signs with my dogs. I just need to learn how to manage them. Along with good basic training, I am developing a better understanding of their behavior...in turn making training that much easier. I've changed the way I speak to my dogs. I'm no longer hasty and tense around them when I give commands. They're not going to listen to that. I am confident and calm -- with the attitude, "this is how it works and you have no choice but to comply because I am your master." Their "pack leader." And they already seem to be listening better.
I will keep you updated on our progress.
As for the training place that I was going to send them... it's been a week since I called. I take it they're not calling me back. So I am dealing with a different trainer now. I will let you know how that goes.
I'm about 1/3 through the book... and so far it talks a lot about the psychology of dogs, and how they react to the "energy" around them. How they behave according to their master's vibes and such.
Well I've figured out a few things... to anyone that read my post about my hiking mishap, I now understand why my dogs were reacting that way. They barked at the stranger who quickly approached us because they were reacting to MY nervous energy. They sensed my fear, and knew something was not balanced. I changed my whole demeanor...I began ushering my son out of the way, I was speaking quickly and quietly. I was changing my grip, I was not relaxed. My heart was pounding, I broke a sweat... the book says a dog's sense of smell is a million times stronger than ours -- simply put, they smelled FEAR. They sensed a threat, and they behaved accordingly. The OB instructor I spoke to, confirmed this was a GOOD thing. Not something I need to "correct." Whether that man was dangerous or not, they knew something was "not right."
As for the other hiker, I think they were simply caught off guard by a strange woman yelling out of the blue. (She was yelling because she was far away.) Once they saw that she posed no threat, and I didn't react in a nervous manner, they relaxed also. They stopped barking as soon as she smiled and walked on. They didn't keep barking till she was out of sight -- just had the initial reaction, as in "who is she, where did she come from, why is she yelling, and is this person okay with mom?"
As far as pulling on the lead -- I think that is simply because they have had very little or no leash training. They have always gotten their excercise by being let loose and free out the back door into our fenced-in yard. I haven't taught them recall, heel, or sit-stay, nothing like that. I have taken them on the trails before, but that was last fall when they were both young pups. Now it's different. They're grown and more difficult to manage. I know someone wrote that I should just demand and expect that they walk nicely on the lead, but I think that should happen AFTER they've been trained to know what I want. They honestly need to learn to HEEL before I can test how well they listen. I don't know if this is making any sense to you, but it does in my head.
Another thing, which I had not written about in my hiking post, was that there were some teenagers being stupid off in the distance. Just past the hill, there was a road, and some kids up there were screaming and acting like they were hurt, and then making barking noises to aggravate my dogs. Koa suddenly turned into a "big boy" and let out a very deep, bellowing bark. A LOUD one. He didn't sound like a puppy at all. It wasn't "threatening" but I could tell he wasn't sure how to react.... Screams and then laughter, barking sounds... Again, he sensed that something was out of balance. That wasn't calm energy, there was something amiss to him. He didn't try to run toward them, or away from them. He just stared, very alert, but passive.
I think these are all good signs with my dogs. I just need to learn how to manage them. Along with good basic training, I am developing a better understanding of their behavior...in turn making training that much easier. I've changed the way I speak to my dogs. I'm no longer hasty and tense around them when I give commands. They're not going to listen to that. I am confident and calm -- with the attitude, "this is how it works and you have no choice but to comply because I am your master." Their "pack leader." And they already seem to be listening better.
I will keep you updated on our progress.
As for the training place that I was going to send them... it's been a week since I called. I take it they're not calling me back. So I am dealing with a different trainer now. I will let you know how that goes.
