Im so proud and pleased for you both, well done,
its good your using the diff distractions rather than the food, the voice or the ball all the time, that way it keeps things intreasting for ben,

your well on the road to recovery now x

Great news there Lynne,well done to you and Ben,xxxxxxxx

I'm so pleased you had a really good day with Ben and that you are no longer feeling sick when you see another dog.

Keep up the good work, we are all behind you.

Hi Lynne, just wondered how things are going?

Hi Shona,

Back at work today so won't know till tonight as this mornings walk was totally uneventful didnt see anything with more than 2 legs!!!

Pretty much the same today Walking much better even when he sees other dogs. We didnt actually get close to any today but we played with tug ball and used cheese as treats.

Will go out later and see if we can find some other doggies that are nearby!!!

Well its been a good couple of days. Ben seems to be accepting that he has to share the world with other dogs!!! I am much better (I think) at keeping a loose lead even when I see another dog and use distraction to keep Ben looking/listening to me.

My next step to overcome will be when/if another dog comes bounding up to and into Ben either wanting to play boisterous or because it doesn't like other dogs!!(I know Shona....its not like me to think of the worst case scenario is it !!!!)

But definitely so far so good. We have also gone back to practising basic commands so he is used to listening to me and getting praise. Am going to go to woods or hills near us this weekend and see how many dogs we can be friendly with. Will post pics (and will get video Shona!!)

Am very pleased and proud of Ben the last 2 weeks

Was watching Denis's video of training classes and althoufh its a bit far to go every week OH has agreed to drive me through if we are off work on hols so don't know when but we will be letting Ben loose on you all again. Still hope to go back through for another walk with you all over the next couple of weekends aswell

Hi Lynne so glad your still feeling possitive about things, in the situation of another dog coming up {given that its friendly!} do what I do, calm ben, but also be welcoming to the other dog, I often if I have a treat in my hand will tell a dog who comes running over to sit, then treat both dogs, if the owner doesnt like it TOUGH they shouldnt let it run up to people, {I already know ben is ok with other dogs being close when food is on the go, but you dont really know how a strange dog will behave, as your not confident with this I dont think you should treat next to you if both dogs sit and behave, throw the food away for the other dog and then treat ben,

as with aggression, try to step in and defend ben rather than leaving him to take control, had ben shown real aggression on the walk {which he didnt} I could have shown you how my dogs will look to me to deal with things, but it just didnt happen, my advice would be,,do you best to keep ben out of situations like that, his confidence is week so it would be right back to square one, if you do make the training club I will show you how to deal with a not so friendly dog running up x

Thanks Shona. Just back from the woods near me which is great place we met a few dogs all of whom were perfectly behaved except for a very VERY vocal GSD Bens hackles went up but I just talked to him and got out tug ball - I think he was scared rather than wanting to have a go (says me the expert eh? lol lol) but he was more interested in tug than attacking and we were about a metre away the GSD was on lead as was Ben and the GSD kept looking back but Ben and I just kept playing tug!!

The rest of the dogs we met were great and one black labs owner (black lab off lead ) made theer dog sit and wait and asked if they could come and speak to Ben, who of course was delighted by this and got treats while the poor lab just had to sit and watch!! She was really nice and said it would just take time when I felt the ned to explain why Ben was on lead

We will definitely come through to your club sometime I just don't know when as I don't finish till 6 so it would really need to be when I'm off on hols. But will get through for another walk in the next couple of weeks.

Will go to woods again tomorrow as they are near mums and will remember video camera and you can see how he and me are.

Thanks for the advice about other dogs...would honestly never have thought of throwing treat for other dog - sounds simple when you think about it

xx

the main thing is to keep enjoying your walks and having fun with the new found ben, aint it good to have a dog you can relax with and enjoy x