My Sheltie has a Bobble Head

[OntarioSheltie]

Hi,

I had a second thought about using the leader, especially if this started when the leader stopped. The leader helps remind them that their person is the pack leader, not the other way around.

Our Nestle stopped being nervous generally when we took her out with the leader. Having a person lead instead of follow allowed her to relax.

It's possible that discontinuing the leader signaled Ginny to start doing her "job" as pack leader.

We used the gentle leader on her originally for her pulling. She caught on quickly, as she does with most things and the pulling stopped quickly, even without the pulling.

You're right though, she is very bossy so its definitely possible, even likely, that she's just trying to take the lead again. But I'm not sure. I'd feel terrible if I was trying to threat a dominant behavior when she was actually nervous.

I used it again last night and after a few minutes of protesting she behaved great.

A friend of mine who I walk with daily doesn't seem to like the leader very much. He believes she's just being dominant and that I should just keep correcting her constantly. But her head bobbing around is a constant thing and the walk isn't very pleasant for myself, Sadie or Ginny when all of my attention goes to correcting Ginny.

What I'm thinking, is that I should be using the leader for the next 2-4 months, till she gets out of her difficult teenage phase, then try walking her without the leader.

On a side note, she's been VERY bad lately, harassing Sadie and peeing in the house, not even asking to go out. That being said, with regards to walking, maybe she's just fooling me, she's being dominant and I'm being soft on her because she's so tiny and puppyish looking still.

 

[Diana]

In the five years I've lived with Shelites, I've learned just how inbred their working instincts are. The first thing I learned is that when they are outside they are always "on," alert for any dangers to the herd/pack.

I think this is very true. Shelties are always on the alert - I know Buffy always is on her walks, and if she hears a new noise or a person or a dog coming, she always looks to see what it is. I'm sure it doesn't help that we live in a city, so most of her walks go like this: "Train! Bus! Ooh, look, another dog! Must go sniff and play bow 5x. Oh, and there's a kid over there! A kid carrying a stick! I love kids! Oh no, garbage truck (cower)! Now there are my best friends (total strangers) coming toward me and saying how cute I am, I'd better go greet them and jump up on them. Oh but no, BUS!"

Ginny is about 6 months old, right? When Buffy was 5-6 months old she went through a fear phase where she was more nervous than usual. She has gotten a lot less reactive than she was, just by regular walks and being exposed to the stimuli over and over again.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

I think this is very true. Shelties are always on the alert - I know Buffy always is on her walks, and if she hears a new noise or a person or a dog coming, she always looks to see what it is. I'm sure it doesn't help that we live in a city, so most of her walks go like this: "Train! Bus! Ooh, look, another dog! Must go sniff and play bow 5x. Oh, and there's a kid over there! A kid carrying a stick! I love kids! Oh no, garbage truck (cower)! Now there are my best friends (total strangers) coming toward me and saying how cute I am, I'd better go greet them and jump up on them. Oh but no, BUS!"

Ginny is about 6 months old, right? When Buffy was 5-6 months old she went through a fear phase where she was more nervous than usual. She has gotten a lot less reactive than she was, just by regular walks and being exposed to the stimuli over and over again.

Ginny is 8 months old and is through her fear stage for the most part.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Alright, I've about had it with her! Ginny peed on the floor last night again, for the 4th time this week. Again, she didn't even ask to go out, and it hadn't even been long since she was last out (again). She's doing it right next to us when she's not getting the attention that she wants.

Evidently I'm just being too easy on her, which as of last night has stopped. She is now on leash in the house at all times, no more on the furniture, gets crated at night, while she eats and any time we can't keep a close eye on her. She gets everything after Sadie (Which I was doing most of the time anyway). She is also going to be put to bed early every night so that Sadie can have more time away from her and we get a break from watching her. No more letting her get away with harassing Sadie some times, no more occasional herding of feet and being obnoxious on walks.

She'd better get over this teenage phase soon or I may strangle her first! (j/k)

 

[corbinam]

Alright, I've about had it with her! Ginny peed on the floor last night again, for the 4th time this week. Again, she didn't even ask to go out, and it hadn't even been long since she was last out (again). She's doing it right next to us when she's not getting the attention that she wants.

Just in light of everything that we're going through with Lexi, have you made sure that she doesn't have a UTI? I'd feel better if you ruled that out before you get a bit harsher with her--just to be safe!

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Just in light of everything that we're going through with Lexi, have you made sure that she doesn't have a UTI? I'd feel better if you ruled that out before you get a bit harsher with her--just to be safe!

I've dealt with both knotty teenage dogs and with UTI's (both with Sadie) and I am positive there is nothing wrong with Ginny, but that's for the concern.

 

[corbinam]

I've dealt with both knotty teenage dogs and with UTI's (both with Sadie) and I am positive there is nothing wrong with Ginny, but that's for the concern.

Good to know--now get that little bratty sheltie in line! Sounds like I have some fun teenage "years" to look forward to!

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Gentle Leaders are not a bad thing, don't listen to your friend on that one!
I am NOT a fan of the ambiguous pack leader role foolishness! IMHO Caesar Milan has set the dog training world back 15 years at least, but I digress... All of a sudden everyone is a trainer, lol, half of my friends don't have a dog, yet they seem to think that they now have a "pop dog psychology degree" because they watch TV

Anyhow, I think it is great that you started again at the beginning that she gets rewarded for GOOD behaviour and control her movement so back to basics, for your teenager! Try and ignore the nervousness and not make it worse by getting anxious yourself, try redirecting her attention back to you with making her do something on the walks, like sit, stay watch me, heel... Toffee carries a stick or something in his mouth he concentrates on if he is being silly... You may find it is a good idea to take her out alone so she gets to bond with you guys and gets training time in without distraction of Sadie at this stage of the game?