PreciousSheltie
Forums Enthusiast
As most of you may have already seen our album, we just finished our fun attendance at Summer Woofstock 2012 
I'm writing this thread because I wanted to share the GREAT news that.. All the issues Precious had the FIRST year we attended (getting worked up over all the bikes, strollers, suitcases, wagons, carts, garbage dumpsters.... All these things with wheels!)... She didn't have THIS year! Not a single bark at a single bike, baby stroller, big red kid wagons, huge shopping carts (don't ask), and large car size dumpsters that were strolling around more frequently than last year trying to keep the event location's clean by clearing all the constant garbage! She was SO good, with all the people and all the dogs. First year she was a bit more overwhelmed I think because she was a lot younger, getting annoyed at dogs sometimes, giving her plenty of 'time outs' to calm down and carry her a lot of the times when it just got too much so she could still enjoy the event from my arms, it gets quite crowded 'down on the floor'.
Ever since the first Woofstock, I made sure to practice her no barking/no getting worked up at things like bikes and shopping carts and it seems to really have paid off
However! NOW another new 'thing' came up for her. Maybe only 3 or 4 times out of the 2 day span so not REALLY a big deal. But I noticed the ONLY time she got worked up and went absolutely crazy (all other times she was dead calm, dead sweet, SO outgoing and didn't even care if kids came up to her to pet her, granted they weren't babies and atleast 7+ but still, she didn't mind them at all and was just SO good) was when someone beside us had a cane that went tap tap tap beside her and walked by. She hated the 'stick'. and would lunge and bark at it. That happened with 2 canes that popped out of no where. I guess it's hard training for that since I don't have a cane nor do I know anyone with a cane to desensitize that.... And DRAGGING leashes she seems to hate. She hates the end with the garbage bag holder/garbage bag tied around the handle or flexi plastic thing making noise as it dragged on the cement. Again she barked at 2 leashes when the owners dropped their dog's leash accidently and the dog ran forward, flailing the leash behind in Precious' face. That I can definitely work on though, just had no idea those things bothered her
All in all, it's a never ending training for Precious and I! Just wanted to give a little report on where we were!
ALSO, bought a lifejacket this weekend at the event, for about 20 dollars, it was about 50% off so it was a great buy for a great brand recommended on the forums by a few people! I've started putting it on her and training her to not shrink and run away when I walk around with 'the unknown thing', and to keep calm when I buckle and unbuckle the straps until I give her the 'okay'. I've also continued regular everyday training like heels and sits and downs and stays and stands so she can get use to the lifejacket feel on her back and get use to the new feel of her mobility with it on. Hoping that by August, she will be able to run, jump, hop, rest as comfortable as possible without noticing the lifejacket so much. Because, so far she's on a great path! First day on and she's already walking almost perfectly and doing all the commands I'm asking her to do. Her downs are a bit slow but she does do it so I'm also going to continuously tweak around the straps to find what is best for her while still being tight enough to not possibly have her slip out if she gets in water. Anyways, thats our little training thread for now, sorry the post is so long!!
If anyone else has any tips with lifejackets or in the water or kayaking/canoeing with their dogs, please feel free to post anything and everything I can do to prepare Will do lots of training once I get to the cottage as well as it will be a great stimulative experience for her to take in all the new sights, smells, sounds, and touches but mmm! Leave a post Bye! 
I'm writing this thread because I wanted to share the GREAT news that.. All the issues Precious had the FIRST year we attended (getting worked up over all the bikes, strollers, suitcases, wagons, carts, garbage dumpsters.... All these things with wheels!)... She didn't have THIS year! Not a single bark at a single bike, baby stroller, big red kid wagons, huge shopping carts (don't ask), and large car size dumpsters that were strolling around more frequently than last year trying to keep the event location's clean by clearing all the constant garbage! She was SO good, with all the people and all the dogs. First year she was a bit more overwhelmed I think because she was a lot younger, getting annoyed at dogs sometimes, giving her plenty of 'time outs' to calm down and carry her a lot of the times when it just got too much so she could still enjoy the event from my arms, it gets quite crowded 'down on the floor'.
Ever since the first Woofstock, I made sure to practice her no barking/no getting worked up at things like bikes and shopping carts and it seems to really have paid off
However! NOW another new 'thing' came up for her. Maybe only 3 or 4 times out of the 2 day span so not REALLY a big deal. But I noticed the ONLY time she got worked up and went absolutely crazy (all other times she was dead calm, dead sweet, SO outgoing and didn't even care if kids came up to her to pet her, granted they weren't babies and atleast 7+ but still, she didn't mind them at all and was just SO good) was when someone beside us had a cane that went tap tap tap beside her and walked by. She hated the 'stick'. and would lunge and bark at it. That happened with 2 canes that popped out of no where. I guess it's hard training for that since I don't have a cane nor do I know anyone with a cane to desensitize that.... And DRAGGING leashes she seems to hate. She hates the end with the garbage bag holder/garbage bag tied around the handle or flexi plastic thing making noise as it dragged on the cement. Again she barked at 2 leashes when the owners dropped their dog's leash accidently and the dog ran forward, flailing the leash behind in Precious' face. That I can definitely work on though, just had no idea those things bothered her
All in all, it's a never ending training for Precious and I! Just wanted to give a little report on where we were!
ALSO, bought a lifejacket this weekend at the event, for about 20 dollars, it was about 50% off so it was a great buy for a great brand recommended on the forums by a few people! I've started putting it on her and training her to not shrink and run away when I walk around with 'the unknown thing', and to keep calm when I buckle and unbuckle the straps until I give her the 'okay'. I've also continued regular everyday training like heels and sits and downs and stays and stands so she can get use to the lifejacket feel on her back and get use to the new feel of her mobility with it on. Hoping that by August, she will be able to run, jump, hop, rest as comfortable as possible without noticing the lifejacket so much. Because, so far she's on a great path! First day on and she's already walking almost perfectly and doing all the commands I'm asking her to do. Her downs are a bit slow but she does do it so I'm also going to continuously tweak around the straps to find what is best for her while still being tight enough to not possibly have her slip out if she gets in water. Anyways, thats our little training thread for now, sorry the post is so long!!
If anyone else has any tips with lifejackets or in the water or kayaking/canoeing with their dogs, please feel free to post anything and everything I can do to prepare
Will do lots of training once I get to the cottage as well as it will be a great stimulative experience for her to take in all the new sights, smells, sounds, and touches but mmm! Leave a post Bye! 
She couldn't have made me any prouder than display all her best qualities that weekend, everyone loved her and it definitely made me very teary eyed to have so many people love her <3 Thanks again Ashley, for that kind reply!