Since everyone has been so supportive, I thought I would post to give you all an update on how Koda is going. Thank you so much everyone who posted to cheer me on. Your kindness has been invaluable.
Koda is doing well today (for Koda anyway) and we got out for a long walk at the reservoir tonight. He did pretty well paying attention to me and even walking on a loose leash, even though he really wanted to go after the geese. We only saw one other person walking at a distance. He stared at the man, but didn't bark or aggress in any way! YAY Koda!!
I have not taken him back to the trainer yet, I'm not sure she wants to take us in the direction I want to go. I'm working with him with a flat collar and she wants us to use the GL all the time. I would like to get his cooperation in the matter, rather than force him to pay attention to me with the head collar. Also, with his continued health problems, and now the behavioral problems, the budget has started stretching pretty thin, so I've decided it's more important to get him feeling better right now and I'm investing in yet another vet. So the formal training may have to wait for a little while, but in the meantime I'm arming myself with information, building up our relationship from step one all over again, and establishing some foundation behaviors that I think we missed the first time around. I think he is really benefitting from working one on one right now and not rushing the process. He's learning how rewarding it can be to be calm and relaxed and pay attention to Momma!
He still hates the neighbor though, and growls every time he sees him through the window. He is getting much better at redirecting his attention to me when he's focused on something distressing.
I read the book "Bones Would Rain From the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier as suggested by Buster Brown, and it was a real eye-opener. After reading it and "Bringing Light to Shadow" I've completely changed the way I think about the entire relationship. We still have "down days" when I get discouraged and feel like we're not making any progress, but overall I'm optimistic. I love him and we'll do whatever it takes to get him feeling better and back to "normal" (whatever that is, it's been so long I can't remember!). Thanks again everyone!
Koda is doing well today (for Koda anyway) and we got out for a long walk at the reservoir tonight. He did pretty well paying attention to me and even walking on a loose leash, even though he really wanted to go after the geese. We only saw one other person walking at a distance. He stared at the man, but didn't bark or aggress in any way! YAY Koda!!
I have not taken him back to the trainer yet, I'm not sure she wants to take us in the direction I want to go. I'm working with him with a flat collar and she wants us to use the GL all the time. I would like to get his cooperation in the matter, rather than force him to pay attention to me with the head collar. Also, with his continued health problems, and now the behavioral problems, the budget has started stretching pretty thin, so I've decided it's more important to get him feeling better right now and I'm investing in yet another vet. So the formal training may have to wait for a little while, but in the meantime I'm arming myself with information, building up our relationship from step one all over again, and establishing some foundation behaviors that I think we missed the first time around. I think he is really benefitting from working one on one right now and not rushing the process. He's learning how rewarding it can be to be calm and relaxed and pay attention to Momma!
He still hates the neighbor though, and growls every time he sees him through the window. He is getting much better at redirecting his attention to me when he's focused on something distressing. I read the book "Bones Would Rain From the Sky" by Suzanne Clothier as suggested by Buster Brown, and it was a real eye-opener. After reading it and "Bringing Light to Shadow" I've completely changed the way I think about the entire relationship. We still have "down days" when I get discouraged and feel like we're not making any progress, but overall I'm optimistic. I love him and we'll do whatever it takes to get him feeling better and back to "normal" (whatever that is, it's been so long I can't remember!). Thanks again everyone!
