|
Location: UK
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,723
|
|
One amazing little dog and a big step forwards!
As many of you know I got little Mia last October
and she has been a little bitty hard work to say the least
Fear agression, noise sensitivity, reactivity, hyper, no training at all and v bossy and used to having all her own way
I have been doing lots and lots of training with her and we have been doing agility in a barn with her since Jan
With only 3 other dogs all of whom she knew
About 3 weeks ago she seemed to have turned a bit of a corner and ignored the other dogs when we were going in and out of the class
For Bens class our instructor decided it would be best to move to an outdoor class to get used to compatitions, and to make it easy for me if Mia moved to the outdoor class too
To say the least my heart was in my mouth! I have been working lots with her, but in quiet areas
But I thought I would give it a go and if I ended up stood on the sidelines with her on the lead for a few weeks then so be it
Entered the park, fairly calm
Other dogs came as we were setting up the class, a bit of a bark but settled down pretty well
6 strange dogs, most of them large collies
We all stand in a line and Mia is calm and totaly focused on me - lots of treats for that good girl
She sniffed and said hello to all the dogs and only got a wee bit shouty when they came too close when I was giving her a treat - but it wasnt reactive and she returned to focus right away
gulp - tried an offlead out to the ball, fantastic, because her toy drive isnt strong we just have her go touch the ball and wait at it - which she did lovely for me to put the lead on
In a whole hour class she only did 2 zoomies when B came over with Ben, and she came back pretty well
Then after Bens class B brought Mia over and she was so focused saying hello to Ben and me that she never even responded to the other (about 20) dogs running about - and she wasnt stressed or anything, trotting about happy with waggy tail
I am so proud of her
I know she isnt fixed and we will still have bad times too but I had to put this into print to remind me how far she has come
I thought the idea of really doing agility with her was a no go - but it is looking like it may even happen!