Phew, the last few days have been hard on poor Betty. Her obedience is going fine and so we started on conquering an irrational fear of hers, bicycles.
My favorite way to exercise one or a group of dogs is with a bike. I have bad knees and so running for long distances is not something I can easily do. Biking allows a low impact exercise for me and a good hard run or long jog for the dog. Betty's owner would like to bike with her as well but Betty must over come a crippling fear of bikes first.
This all started a few days ago when we simply brought a bike out while she was working. Immediately we saw bucking, skirting, and even some rolling (she was on a physical leash so as to not allow her to reward herself by running away). We eventually got her to approach the bike and quickly sniff the wheel. Then we asked her to walk next to the bike in a straight line. After some more bucking and objecting she realized that she had no other choice but to walk. She walked. She hated it, but she walked like a lady and did not object.
She was able to go for a short ride yesterday, just down the driveway and back but she did not enjoy it and once the bike stopped and the front wheel slipped and turned towards her she was afraid again so we had to resniff the tire and realize that it isn't scary.
Today she went for another short ride again, but has not made much progress in her fear. I walked her again next to the bike today for probably ten minutes trying to get her to ease up and walk nicely but every once awhile she would still panic and buck or skirt around the bike. I now have a bike leaned against her kennel door to encourage her to approach it on her own. This is a form of flushing (forcing a dog to deal with their fear) similar to that of putting the scary thing in the kennel with the dog. I've done this before other objects and it has helped a little.
I am not admitting defeat but this is one panicky fear issue we are dealing with. More work on it tomorrow.
On a happier note, almost everything else with Betty is going so well. She is a joy to have around and she is truly enjoying Placemat. She has calmed down a bit while she has been here as well and has more self restraint.
My favorite way to exercise one or a group of dogs is with a bike. I have bad knees and so running for long distances is not something I can easily do. Biking allows a low impact exercise for me and a good hard run or long jog for the dog. Betty's owner would like to bike with her as well but Betty must over come a crippling fear of bikes first.
This all started a few days ago when we simply brought a bike out while she was working. Immediately we saw bucking, skirting, and even some rolling (she was on a physical leash so as to not allow her to reward herself by running away). We eventually got her to approach the bike and quickly sniff the wheel. Then we asked her to walk next to the bike in a straight line. After some more bucking and objecting she realized that she had no other choice but to walk. She walked. She hated it, but she walked like a lady and did not object.
She was able to go for a short ride yesterday, just down the driveway and back but she did not enjoy it and once the bike stopped and the front wheel slipped and turned towards her she was afraid again so we had to resniff the tire and realize that it isn't scary.
Today she went for another short ride again, but has not made much progress in her fear. I walked her again next to the bike today for probably ten minutes trying to get her to ease up and walk nicely but every once awhile she would still panic and buck or skirt around the bike. I now have a bike leaned against her kennel door to encourage her to approach it on her own. This is a form of flushing (forcing a dog to deal with their fear) similar to that of putting the scary thing in the kennel with the dog. I've done this before other objects and it has helped a little.
I am not admitting defeat but this is one panicky fear issue we are dealing with. More work on it tomorrow.
On a happier note, almost everything else with Betty is going so well. She is a joy to have around and she is truly enjoying Placemat. She has calmed down a bit while she has been here as well and has more self restraint.
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