Gosh, I don't know if her earlier health problems had anything to do with her behavior now. We had to coddle her for a loooooong time because of her ongoing lengthy battle with the spay-gone-wrong. She had to be kept quiet, and as immobile as possible for weeks and weeks so we couldn't re-inforce the training she had gotten at the just-finished obedience class. As soon as she was medically cleared we started working with her again and have been consisent, but then she did a turn into wild-child and that's where we are now.
My husband is legally blind and so it's not safe for him to walk her when she is lunging and growling and acting like a nut-case when she sees another dog. I have pinched nerves in my arm and shoulder so it's hard for me to control her on a leash when she is acting that way too, not to mention painful! She is definitely leash-reactive. When we are walking the path TO the dogpark, she acts like she is going to KILL whatever dog is in her sight. The second we take that leash off inside the enlcosure, she's a different dog. Loves all the dogs and plays real cute. Has numerous best-friends. She is obedient to us always. But when she is on the leash again, Lord have mercy! In fact, last time we were there, Ellie played with three other Shelties. One was 2, one was 8 months and then there was a little, itty, bitty, teeny-weeny Sheltie pup. She was SO gentle with the puppy and let the it absolutely mall her to death. The puppy bit her ear, her lip, her feet, her legs, you name it, this puppy grabbed onto it. We left the enclosure the same time as the 2 other older Shelties and the SECOND we got outside the enlosure when all the dogs had their leashes on, Ellie lunged at the 8 month old!
It hurt the dog's feelings and their owners. It morified me! The owner said, "What's wrong?! Why'd she do that??"
So, now we are leaning towards the board and train. It's local and that makes us feel better. I also am feeling confident in the trainer.
Stay tuned................
