Loki misbehaved in a big way: he didn’t come on recall. No amounts of treats would work. And he engaged in fence fighting with a dog he already KNEW and played with before. I felt like the mother of a child throwing a tantrum in a theater. No doubt about it, this German Shepherd-Formosan Mountain Dog is definitely a mix of sweet and evil sauce.
So now it’s time to get the big guns out: private specialized training for dogs who are stubborn, dominant or 
have other doggie-psychosis’. I threw away the flex leash and got serious about making him heel at my side or behind me, using a regular 4-foot standard nylon leash, every single day during our walk. After that, if he’s good, he gets to run off leash and we play tug or fetch. This walk is now his daily job and he’s got to learn how to do it properly. He has no choice. I’m not putting up with his tantrums or his disobedience one more day.
Today was his first day at work. He pulled his usual, “don’t leash me” move. I was ready. I resisted his futile attempts to control me and said “no.” A few times of that and he was calm ready to walk. I have to say, I’m totally impressed with the simple training technique of heeling on a short leash. It’s already improved his off leash behavior. When I took him off the leash, he stayed on the trail, listened to me and kept checking back to see where I was. I was very proud of him and now he lays at my feet, calm.
But Loki has been known to outsmart me before. We’ll see how well he learns my techniques and if he finds ways of one-upping me to get what he wants! I’m looking forward to the private training. He already knows the basic commands, but he’ll disobey because he’s stubborn or afraid. Food doesn’t work when he’s excited or worked up. He’s learned it’s is a lure will ignore it so he can keep behaving in his own way.
Its obvious that proper leadership is really where it starts. But how to establish that is really a fine edge with a fearful dog. You don’t want him to fear you, on the other hand, you don’t want to have to rely on treats. I’m looking forward to figuring out how to turn him into a model canine citizen. Our first “frack the flexi” walk this morning feels like the right step.
Who knows? Next week, I may be the one on the leash!
sounds like today was a good day…hope it keeps getting better
he’s lucky that you are so dedicated and patient…lucky loki
He’s lucky I’m a masochist and like to punish myself with adopting “difficult” dogs. But that’s another blog and probably several sessions on the couch with a professional.
Great ideas, it will help others to learn more about dogs.
Again, an amusing and entertaining post. I love reading about the “Tails of Loki……”
Hi Wild one,
Thats how I became a dog whisperer as opposed to a dog yeller…
K.C. did the same with me and I had to rethink who was the alpha, he is much better now but some dogs will always test the hierarchy. My dogwalking mantra is calm, assertive alpha energy.
(don’t laugh it takes me some moments and deep breaths to get there, but eventually I do)
Lilly
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