Sparkles99
Biking along the boulevard
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Cutest Bird Ever!!!
As some of you know, I have a Sheltie & she’s my first dog.
We take regular lessons (obedience, agility, stop chasing).
She chases objects with wheels, most distressingly vehicles, as well as flying birds, particularly if they’re in large flocks. The vehicles started at puberty. The birds started after some Canada Geese threatened my niece.
For those who have experience with this, what do you suggest? Please, if you’ve just read theory/not dealt with this, I’m hoping for more first hand help.
We’ve been getting ever closer to cars, but still aren’t at the sidewalk. I have done car fasts for weeks & months at a time. During non fasting times, if her front feet budge to chase, I make her sit. If she’s lost all control, I place her in a down. She’s small enough that I can slip one hand under each set of legs/back legs to gently but firmly accomplish this.
Her attention & self-control are impeccable in the absence of these triggers + other dogs (she’s overly eager to greet them - I don’t let her anymore; it was comparatively easy to fix), especially indoors.
She knows heel, sit, stand, down, through (for doors/elevators), stay, come, with me, follow, look, go out & a smattering of beginner agility commands, all of this on or off leash, though heeling outdoors off leash (fenced area) is relatively new. She is also excellent for grooming & handling (Thanks, Toy!).
She is a smart dog, but has a problem. I guess other people probably knew to nip this herding based behaviour in the bud. I tried but didn’t know how.
These training issues are an impediment. I would like to get her into therapy work with elderly people (she loves all people but old people are her favourites), but it’s impossible right now, because walkers, etc. have wheels. Similarly, I’m signed up for a human remains detection class without her (that’s the first step for everyone), but she’d need to behave at least on leash to join me at a team (dog + human) class.
Thank you & here are some recent pictures!
We take regular lessons (obedience, agility, stop chasing).
She chases objects with wheels, most distressingly vehicles, as well as flying birds, particularly if they’re in large flocks. The vehicles started at puberty. The birds started after some Canada Geese threatened my niece.
For those who have experience with this, what do you suggest? Please, if you’ve just read theory/not dealt with this, I’m hoping for more first hand help.
We’ve been getting ever closer to cars, but still aren’t at the sidewalk. I have done car fasts for weeks & months at a time. During non fasting times, if her front feet budge to chase, I make her sit. If she’s lost all control, I place her in a down. She’s small enough that I can slip one hand under each set of legs/back legs to gently but firmly accomplish this.
Her attention & self-control are impeccable in the absence of these triggers + other dogs (she’s overly eager to greet them - I don’t let her anymore; it was comparatively easy to fix), especially indoors.
She knows heel, sit, stand, down, through (for doors/elevators), stay, come, with me, follow, look, go out & a smattering of beginner agility commands, all of this on or off leash, though heeling outdoors off leash (fenced area) is relatively new. She is also excellent for grooming & handling (Thanks, Toy!).
She is a smart dog, but has a problem. I guess other people probably knew to nip this herding based behaviour in the bud. I tried but didn’t know how.
These training issues are an impediment. I would like to get her into therapy work with elderly people (she loves all people but old people are her favourites), but it’s impossible right now, because walkers, etc. have wheels. Similarly, I’m signed up for a human remains detection class without her (that’s the first step for everyone), but she’d need to behave at least on leash to join me at a team (dog + human) class.
Thank you & here are some recent pictures!
. You've done a great job with her.
