purple_mog Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hey folks, so its me, Finn (8yr old collie) and Farah (2yr old deaf collie). Generally both dogs are super, very responsive and we do a fair bit of training informally most days, and classes once a week. Given time constraints etc I walk them both together and after a year and a half we're still having some problems. Finn walks fairly well on flat collar and leash after a lot of hard work (he has been very nervous and reactive in the past), if we do have a dodgy moment I use a Balance Leash and bingo its all okay. Farah is a typical busy worky collie girl. Out on a walk, particularly on any of our 4 regular walks, she is generally unfocused on me, distracted and constantly wanting to pull ahead, and circle round me (I know because I let the leash go to see what happens!). She does understand a visual heel command, but obviously its harder to get her attention since she is deaf. Have tried various harnesses/balance leash combo's and generally I'd say that she just isn't understanding the stimulus - she refocuses and walks by my side for about 2-3 paces then she's off again. Frequent rewarding doesn't seem to shift this pattern, though I do struggle a bit with having the two dogs... Have a halti which I use on occaison with a double ended leash and harness - she is very sensitive to pressure on her face so not happy with this as a longer term solution. I was wondering...should I try the halti on walks where we're in a hurry to get somewhere, and any other time hitch Finn to my waist and use a really high level of reinforcement for Farah when she's in the right place? NB I have tried separate walks...and Farah is perfect on her own!! Problems only occur when out with both We also run together, using a waist belt and harnesses, she finds this much easier and often runs at my heels, I suspect because I am going at 'her' pace more??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted June 21, 2008 Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 I know this might be difficult to arrange, but how does she walk if both dogs are out walking together but with separate people handling them? Wondering if its your concentration on the one dog that she is picking up on? I have no chance of walking my two together, so you have done well to get them to the stage they are at I think if you are training on a piece of equipment, ie flat collar, that if you can't adhere to that training on a walk, its best to use something else that aids you, ie the halti, or you undo the training you have achieved. And most importantly, have faith in yourself. Only you have gotten them this far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemstone Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Maybe you are expecting too much too soon? Remember how long it has taken you to get to the point where Finn can be walked on a flat collar and lead - it has also taken me three years to get to that point with Jacko My suggestions - Continue with the halti and harness when you need to. Maybe keep her on lead with a flat collar at some times when Finn is off running free (this is what I did) so that she has one to one. Or run everywhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khanu Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Hi Mog, I replied on the thread on DP but thought I'd put it here too. I would use the 300 peck approach to train heelwork, both one to one and with more dogs. I think I would condition a finger touch to the top of Farah's head as a click and just clicker train walking to heel with her and Finn. If you reward Finn each time you are C&Ting Farah, hopefully he won't get too frustrated by it all. Finally I would set aside training walks to just do the 300peck thing, on walks where I'm not training I either use a halti (or similar) or completely different harness where i don't care if they pull or not. - I have seperate tracking harnesses to loose lead walking harnesses for Khanu, as I want him to pull in a tracking harness and not in the normal harness - he knows the difference and doesn't seem to get confused. If a head harness is completely out of the question for Farah - maybe an anti pull harness for the not training walks? Mekuti harness? - I've had some success with them, although it wasnt' enough for Khanu but as you know his problem was his reactivity more than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple_mog Posted June 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Ta very much folks! This week we're trying the new improved strategies and will let you know how it goes, but decided not to go for Gemstone's very helpful suggestion of run everywhere So - morning (our longish walk) use halti and double ended lead. Or if running use harness and clipped to my waist as usual. Lunchtimes - training outside house on flat collar for nice calm walking or training tricks etc Evenings - chill out, massage/TTouch, brain games Today popped her halti on and she actually seems a lot happier than last time I used it, much less "squashed" looking if that makes any sense? Most of the time I can use the flat collar end of the lead to give her signals rather than the halti end which is fab. So all good there. Lunchtime I just tied her lead to my waist (gives hands free for signals and treats) and we did lots of waiting for her to look at me - click signal - reward both standing around and moving. I figure if I can get her super focused on me and looking up to me when she's on her own we can then start introducing Finndog. Finn was watching from the front gate So far so good I think any challenges I do have with wee Farah are nearly always because she is so painfully smart and fast it lets me get away with sloppy training!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple_mog Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 remember I said my wee dog was painfully smart...well she is certainly is! Monday - morning walk on halti, lunchtime leash training, evening training class Tuesday - morning run on harness (much calmer), lunchtime dog walker, evening walked to friends house doing click sign for attention (just me and her) on flat collar - ACE Wednesday - morning walk to field for bit of training and she was great!!! Honestly once I figure out what to do it takes sooo little time for her to pick it up - sorry for being so slow Farah dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 Well done. Now when shall I bring Saffy round for training? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple_mog Posted June 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 erm aw heck - any time you like, but only if I get to meet the wonderful Neo in person! How is my favourite online troubled collie doing these days anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted June 25, 2008 Report Share Posted June 25, 2008 erm aw heck - any time you like, but only if I get to meet the wonderful Neo in person! How is my favourite online troubled collie doing these days anyway? Only joking! Neo is still the same troubled collie. He won't be any different, no training has really made any difference to him, only to me (not fretting over him) We just try to avoid situations mostly, and deal with him in those that we can't/won't avoid. We stopped going to Anges a few months ago, mainly due to my car problems,due to and us not really progressing any further because of his type of issues we were really only going for socialisation and a run around anyway. He has learnt that by my side is the way to go when other dogs are around, and can cope with them if off lead. He still can't cope with dogs onlead, or people mooching around him. I suspect he will always be muzzled? I am looking at taking him to Wiccaweys for their socialisation walks in the near future. I will try anything that might help him relax a bit:wub: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts