Lunging Lila

While @ the barn one Saturday as I was watching the Buddha lunge - a light bulb went off in my head.  Why not use this same line on Lila????   She could smell to her hearts content  & when I wanted her by  my side - IF she didn't listen - I could reel her in :))   Sounded good in theory, so I brought his lunge line home & put her to the test.  We headed for the park @ the end of our block & the experiment began.  It was kinda humorous @ first  to see her venture farther & farther away from me without restraint completely immersed in all the smells.  But thee best part was that she checked in frequently which  does not happen often when she is leashed :(

                                                She just kept going.......

                                          Free @ last......almost!!

                      My favorite photo - checking to make sure I was still there :))

                           After we got home - she gathered all her toys by her brother & proceeded to go to town on her favorite bone :)

Some In-Between Insight

Now that she has the " waiting " down pat for the car - we have been working on the walking & other dog scenarios.  She kind of reminds me of a trifocal lens in a way.     She is the best @ truly far away ( distance ) & is improving when she sees them across the street (intermediate )   . . . .its the right in front of your face ( close ) that  has her in a " tissy".  She still  gets SO excited   -  BUT is not as frantic as the early days -  I must appreciate  progress when & where  I can see it  :)

I also feel that aren't too many balanced dogs around my neck of the woods.  They lunge @ her first, or they cross the street when they see us coming ( must be a German Shepherd thing ) & my favorite - hide behind a tree!!!   A note to those folks - Lila saw you ditch her, can smell you & hears your lovely canine snarling away............just saying.

I have found a few dog owners who are willing to work w/ me & either walk back & forth while I work w/ Lila or we both put our dogs on a sit & eventually they both just lie down.  These are my favorites b/c in most cases they are dealing w/ a rescue & understand the dynamics of all the time needed to retrain these adult dogs to be well behaved canines.

                         Here she is after one of our " adventurous "  outings :))

                            The Pug also benefits b/c she is too pooped to bother him !!

Light or Dark??

After almost 8 months of owning Lila I do see light @ the end of the tunnel.   That said - the tunnel is still VERY far away.     She seems to  need more exercise than I can give her @ the moment & I'm trying to come up w/ a plan.  I think if I rode Trevor's bike w/ her & she saw another dog...I'd be toast!  When I let her loose @ the tennis courts - she is more interested in her surroundings than where I am.  I often try to hide behind a net ( I know- what??? )  but that worked w/ my other canines including Dudley.  So much of what they perceive is done w/ sight that if I make myself small - not an easy task - it takes them a while to zero in.  Doing this w/ Lila - I can actually legs cramps from squatting!!!   I think a dog park would still be too risky @ this point but a possible in her future :)

                   She's getting very good @ waiting to be asked to exit the car.

                                 And just as polite when waiting to get in the car.


It's just almost everything in between that their are issues..........

Lila Meets her Canine Cousins

We have had many walks now w/ our electronic collar - so I decided to push the envelope a little & let her have a play date of sorts.  My sister & brother both agreed to have Lila come visit & meet her 12 y/o cousin Tess & her 8 mos old cousin Dusty.

          Tess told her off in a nano second & they simply agreed to keep it "casual."

 And by casual I mean - get out of my face!!  Lila remained in the back yard.

                                  While " JAWS" stayed put in the drive way

                                                             Enter Dusty.....

                                                                 And

                                                              They

                                                               Played - hard!!!

                                 A lil dogie break for the 2 wary warriors :)

                                          And they were right back it !

                             Even went as far as to share the same watering hole :)

                                   One last break before Dusty had to go home.....

                                             Parting is such sweet sorrow :)



I was very proud of her & am feeling closer to where I think she could handle a dog park.

                                                      All in good time :))

Lila's walks are anything but boring!!!  We generally spread our selves all around the area & visit different parks - one that contains elks ( she does nothing but stare @ them ) , one that has a huge lake w/ plenty of geese, ducks & other birds ( again simply looks @ them ) & her favorite one -  has a " dog " park feel.  It is here where she is most challenged,  due to her canine species running freely minus leashes!  She one day hopes to join this group - but @ the moment is still too " excited " to see them!!!

I have had her watch from a distance on both a sit & a down.........& ......been closer to the action where I have had to zap her to remind her to contain herself :)  All in all - she's progressing nicely & I am using less wattage for the most part w/ the e collar.

Some of the surprises we have run into were - a lady running w/ a buggy - personally I thought she was going a tad quick w/ a baby BUT when she slowed down - a Bichon leaped out & headed ( you guessed it ) rite for Lila!!!!!   I just stood there & mama came over & chastised her " baby " & scooped her up......only to put her back in the buggy & continue their stroll (?).

Another time I pulled up in the parking lot & a gentleman was walking his lab rite past my car - gad zooks - I thought she was going to leap out of the back seat - thank goodness for those child friendly height windows!  Needless to say , the zapper got a work out that moment.

Probably one of my favorite times was when I decided to photograph Lila on a small bridge.  She was pre-occupied & not listening to me.......ergo.........I " helped " her lay down.  After a few moments, I began  taking pictures & my camera malfunctioned.  I noticed she was intently looking past me & when I turned around  - I saw an elderly woman w/ her aged companion.  I said hello & she commented how beautiful Lila was & how nice it was that I was SO patient w/ her.   ( I was thankful she missed the beginning of this lil venture ).   She then shared her name & her dogs & offered to take our photo.  Very nice gesture - but all I could imagine is Simba - 15y/o lab mix who does NOT like to play - being w/ in 2 feet of Lila!!!  I politely declined & thanked her.......making sure we went the opposite direction of them.  All I could picture in my mind was Simba trying to protect his owner & Lila taking issue w/ it!!

                                           Lila on a lovely sit stay - finally !!!!

Zippity Zap !

Our next trip to Alex's house was truly choked full of surprises...... as only Alex can provide.  Once out of the car - a huge Rottie mix came charging across the street  to size up Lila.  I'm happy  to share that she more or less froze in place, having not been the charger, but then the excitement of another dog THAT close set in !!   The owner of said canine called out to him  & he proudly trotted back across the street. 

Again - I looked @ Alex who was walking towards us  ( box in hand ) & asked the magic question - " did you plan THIS one -  to which he replied the standard - " nope, I'm not that good ".   

What the box contained was an e-collar aka  "zap "  -   I thought I would cry right there on the spot .   Had he given up?????     Was there NO hope left?    Would she make a better search & rescue dog rather than a pet???     I asked all these questions  calmly - believe it or not - & his answer to all 3 was a resounding NO......much to my joy :)


He simply felt that her " excitement " was not lessening as much as he had hoped for  in the  amount of time w/ her in training. Why should I blow out my shoulder & arm trying to contain her, when a simple push of a button would work just as effectively???

 He then had a member of his staff bring out dog after dog & demonstrated when to use the device.  The idea is to use it as soon as  she begins to really focus on the fellow canine & before getting ready to  " explode " -  therefore calming her down so she can simply watch the goings on & not spin out of control.  He worked the hand control as I walked her thru pooch after pooch - the first few tries he did have to increase the voltage from 30 to 60.  But,  she caught on very quickly &  when his son walked out w/ 3 dogs @ a time ,  I was VERY proud of her for not wanting to join  them.  Don't get me wrong - she was VERY interested - but there was no lunging, barking or dragging me....she just watched intently :)

Lila's walking aids - choke, prong, lead, & zap - she has more accessories than me!

                                            Ready for our next walk/ adventure :))

Lila Seems to be in the Lead......

When it came time to have my next lesson - I brought Lila to his dog training class location.  Her nose was in high alert even before we reached Alex who was standing in the front of the room!!  He asked how things were progressing & from the look on my face - the truth was evident.  He then asked me to walk her around & make her heel........while I was attempting this relatively simple feat - we all loudly heard a small canine barking it's head off!!!   Lila was SO excited @ this point - I could hardly contain her!!  A gentleman dropped his pooch - Peanut - off for boarding......& she was not happy.  Once again, I asked Alex - did you plan this?   He looked @ me & repeated, " Annie, again , I am not that good ".

Now, Lila was up  up  up - so Alex took over.  He went back & forth trying to get her to heel & sit when he stopped & then  lay down  - none of which was happening :( 

He worked her for ( I kid you not )  a 1/2 hour before she did it automatically .....reminding her the whole time that " he had ALL day girlfriend" :)   He had done this training w/ her during her boot camp days - so he KNEW she knew it - she just didn't feel like doing it @ this particular moment.

When she finally was on a down - he put her on a STAY & she looked SO dejected - the funny man had WON again  ....so she just  stayed put. :)

As we all walked out together -   Alex looked @ me & said,  Annie , I have a plan - be @  my house next Tuesday . . . oh boy, what could he be thinking?????

  

                                                      The Lil lady in question .......