Baileys problems!

walking did not go so well today :( We walked for 45 minutes tonight, after I had him running in the yard for 30 minutes chasing a ball. He walks good for the most part until a car goes by then he starts spining and lunging. I had to use a choke chain on him because all they gave me was his buckle collar, and I wasnt going to take the chance of him slipping the collar while walking. I am going to see if I can borrow a halti from a friend tommorow. I hate to use the choker because he does choke himself.
 
JessicaR said:
walking did not go so well today :( We walked for 45 minutes tonight, after I had him running in the yard for 30 minutes chasing a ball. He walks good for the most part until a car goes by then he starts spining and lunging. I had to use a choke chain on him because all they gave me was his buckle collar, and I wasnt going to take the chance of him slipping the collar while walking. I am going to see if I can borrow a halti from a friend tommorow. I hate to use the choker because he does choke himself.
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I am sure it is very frustrating. :( He needs consistent handling and exercise and you can't hope to do that if you only have him a short amount of time. I really do truly pray that the owners surrender him, for everyone's sake.

Ellie used to react like that when we walked. When I saw a car approaching I would make her sit and look at me and feed her treats the entire time the car was coming ang going. She soon learned that a car coming was a good thing and she would sit when she saw or heard one even in the distance, lol. She is a smart girl! Anything for food!! (She takes after me).
 
Agility training didnt go so well :( I thought maybe I can teach him some agility to help burn off some energy :no: I tried to get him to go over a low jump. he just walked through it like it wasnt there. After a few more attempts he would kind of hop over it but the whole time he looking else where.

I just can not get this dog to focus on me! He is too worried about what is going on around him. I realise I have only had him for 2 days but you would think that he would be starting to focus on me more. There are times where i have thought maybe he is deaf, but know he is just that focused on the enviroment.

I have tried attention training, in the house but he still wont hardly look at me, he is just constantly looking else where any little sound distracts him. I dont even think putting him in a completely sound proof room would help, I still think he would search for any little thing.

Again i walked him this morning for 45 minutes, he still focuses on cars even if they are not moving he will stare at them. I try and reward him for even a glance in my direction, but that isnt going well. Granted I can walk him he doesnt hardly even pull, just on occasion when certain vehicles pass. Its just walking is supposed to be relaxing and for him it isnt!

Just an example of his schedule so far: 30 minutes of running and playing in the yard with the other dogs, 45 minute walk, 20 minutes agility and obedience. And he still wont just lay down and relax, if he is inside he paces back and forth, and finds any little thing to pick up, if I let him outside he runs the fence line and barks. The only way he will lay down is if he is crated, and even then he doesnt relax.

Sorry I just had to vent, this is all frustrating to me. I really want to help him but I am just not sure if I can. And I know that even if I can somehow help him, if he goes back to them he will just revert right back to the same behavior.
 
I would highly recommend the Control Unleashed book for Bailey.
It also sounds like Bailey really needs a new home... agility, flyball, herding. I'd also think someone with a LARGE fenced yard who can spend a lot of time working with him would help. Someone with experience dealing with high drive BCs may be the type of home suitable for him. I have several friends with agility BCs that are all go and on all the time, and that type of person would know how to handle a dog like him.
For teaching him to jump, I wouldn't just ask him to take the jump. I would use Linda Mecklenberg's way of teaching a dog to jump. Put the bar low. Have a lot of treats. Have the treat down low, and have him bounce back and forth, rewarding him for jumping, and bringing the bar up to full height as he understands. It builds a lot of value for going over the jump, and using his body correctly over the jump
 
Hang in there JessicaR. You are doing something great to help this puppy.

It's like he has months of pent up stress and energy. :(

It is awesome that you are spending all this time trying to get him to learn to relax. Hopefully you will see more progress during this week. :yes:
 
Don't get too down on yourself...this pup has had months to worry and stress and pace. It will take some time to teach him other ways to release his energy. You're doing a lot of the right stuff, but these things have become habits (spinning, pacing, etc...)

Dogs have to learn how to relax. Is he crate trained? I wonder if putting him down for a "nap" at certain times of the day would help him to understand that he can feel comfortable and safe and relax when you can't pay attention to him. I would think that after all that exercise (especially since he hasn't been getting near that much) that he would like to relax, he just doesn't know how.
 
Have you tried a Thundershirt?

Our first obedience class Ellie started barking and almost worked herself into hysterics (she was 7 months old). THe trainer asked me to have her stand up (which was was already in position) and I was asked to put my legs on either side of her and press them gently together just behind her shoulders. She immediately relaxed and stopped barking!!. I guess it's gentle pressure like a Thundershirt. We can still easily relax her by using this method. She doesn't squirm or fiight us at all. She actually likes it very much. IT's just a very, very gentle pressure.

We also learned dog massage and some dogs love it and some don't (Ellie did NOT). Now, as she is 3 years old, she loves it and finds it very relaxing.

Again, I know you are very frustrated but PLEASE don't beat yourself up and please don't give up on Bailey. It's like gaining weight--it's really easy to pack those pounds on, but slow and difficult to get them off. Bailey has had months of the wrong kind of treatment and inactivity, it's going to take awhile to get him to turn around. I think you are on the righ track.

I do really hate to think of the family taking him back. I think it will not end well.
 
thanks for the encourgment I definitly needed it. I am hoping with time he will learn to relax.

The good news is after almost 2 hours of playing ball with the other dogs h finally laid down and relaxed for a little while :smile2:

The bad news is the woman with his brother that was thinking of taking, him if his owners give him up, will probably not be taking them. :( Bailey and David didnt really connect to well, and after seeing his car chasing she is just not sure she can handle it. But she is going to talk to her trainer and let her know about him in case she knows some one that could deal with him.

I may have to try a thundershirt maybe that would help him relax.
 
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