Megan got in trouble today.

[malinda]

Megan got in BIG trouble this morning. She sat at the door crying to go out. So I opened the door and stood on the stairway. Next thing I know she is chasing a bird across the yard, across the dead end street and into the neighboors yard. I have never been so scared in my life. Luckily no cars were coming. There usually isn't much traffic out there.

When I went to get her she ran the back across the street into our yard and ran all over the place trying to avoid me. It was 6:30am on a Sunday morning, so I'm trying not to scream to loud at her. I am so mad at her, I can't even tell you. She has always stayed in the yard. I have to admit that she doesn't always listen but since she never gave us to hard of a problem, I tend to let her go without the leash if I'm right there.

Well new rule as of this morning. Megan does not go out without a leash EVER. I even put her on the leash to walk her to the leash to hook her out.

I hope puppy school helps with her listening skills because I becoming really frustrated.

 

[Gabi]

Hi, I know the feeling. Please be patient with your puppy/young dog. My Amy is 3.5 years old and still she has no 100% recall - when she is really interested in something else like chasing a bird or other dog. Also, it is best to have a trusting relationship with your dog. If you are scolding her for not coming back or something, the puppy will not come back to you, as it knows that it will be punished by you. Overcome your frustration/anger and praise the puppy when it eventually comes back. The puppy probably doesn't know what it has done wrong anyhow - except that it had some fun and now it is being punished. I also have let Amy out at times 'trusting her' early in the mornings (on holidays where yard is not fenced there) - without a leash AND I have found her running across the street giving me almost a heart attack I was so afraid for her. BUT when she did came back, I praised her - and now when she happens to get loose or we go to a park or beach where she is allowed to run freely - she will now come back willingly, because she knows I praise her and rub her chest and she now thinks that being on the leash is a pleasant experience - get to go in the car again and home to treats etc,...

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Gabi
Amy/01.01.97/tan,black mask/spayed/natural ears

 

[malinda]

Now that I have settled down from having a heart attack, I can see it is not as bad as I thought it was.

Although I don't want her doing it all the time. She is young and not fully trained and of course is more interested in the bird than me.

Sometimes I just get so frustrated because I feel she is doing so well and than she does something like that and I feel like we are going 10 steps backwards.

Thanks for the help and listening.