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Post by Wipuki on Mar 13, 2011 21:04:54 GMT
;D Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Riley is such a fantastic dog in so many ways, it was very distressing to see this glitch in his behavour. It's a credit to you and Helen that you are both so willing to help him sort it out. Jim Greenwood is a bloomin' genious as far as I'm concerned and I'm envious that you got to work with him.
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Post by aijee on Mar 14, 2011 8:00:35 GMT
Am very glad to hear that your trip north went well I have everything here crossed that the advice from JG really does help move things forward for you all Please keep us updated, Audrey
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Post by Mimsmum on Mar 14, 2011 8:18:20 GMT
I am so pleased that the "reason" has been found. Knowing that can only help you all go forward. Yep, a very similar situation to our Milo. It's onwards and upwards Rob. And please do get that next one to one and another if necessry. We are all here for you.
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Post by gillm on Mar 15, 2011 16:26:54 GMT
So pleased your trip with went well. Hope we will see Riley at the next Surrey walk on 20th March.
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Post by lifeofriley on Mar 29, 2011 20:40:43 GMT
I thought Riley has been gradually improving since our Jim Greenwood visit. He's with me at work as always but it's a bit different at the moment. I was offered some work I really couldn't afford to turn down and am in a workshop of about 20 people. Riley settles under my bench and is an absolute star. Everyone loves him and they're all really good giving him some fuss and attention but not disturbing him when he's sleeping. He's with me for four days of the week and then has Fridays at home with Helen. He can see me most of the time and I'm always around and about him.
He gives a little song when he wants to go out and gets walked on route to work, at morning and afternoon tea break and at lunchtime as well as in the evening when we get home and any other time he needs to go out.
We were really pleased with him at the Manor Park walk. It was his first time off lead with lots of dogs and although we're not happy with his some of his behaviour it does seem to be getting better and he certainly knows when he's done wrong but it's as if he cant help himself.
Things seem to have been improving as the anti social behaviour though still unacceptable seems to be a bit more controllable and the distances to dogs is generally getting shorter, I even got him past an off lead dog on a towpath until that dog decided to run back at him but today he was a complete pain. I'm just glad I only saw a couple of dogs. One this morning and one this evening. Both times totally over the top reaction and completely ignoring me.
I'm sure it was me being a bit crap at the signals this morning but I felt I got it right tonight but with the wrong reaction from him. Tomorrow will be another fresh start. I'll see how he is and if we get the same reaction again I'll be in touch with Jim Greenwood for some advice.
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Post by Mimsmum on Mar 29, 2011 20:51:46 GMT
Yep, there'll be good day snd bad days, but hopefully the good days will get more and more and the bad days less.
Baxter is still a work in progress for Ade and Nikki, but 1000 per cent better than anyone could have ever hoped for.
I think the knack of solving it is to read the signals as soon as and check him.
Keep going Rob. He will be so worth it in the end. x
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Post by lifeofriley on May 26, 2011 14:57:26 GMT
I thought it about time for a bit of an update.
Things had stagnated a bit. Riley was way better than he had been but sometimes it was difficult to get throught to him and he'd look straight through you towards whatever had caught his eye.
We then had the bank holiday weekends and we were away for both of them. All those days being hounded by two of us seemed to help get him back on track and then a class with Jim Greenwood.
Under his guidance we've started to use a shaker bottle of stones and it was miraculous. We rarely use it now. The first couple of times was enough. Now a tap on the bottle in my pocket or just showing if necessary quietens Riley down and we can now pass dogs on a towpath with ease.
This has helped us relax and this has transferred to Riley. The best news though was onlast Saturday's morning walk. I had just put him back on the lead and taken his muzzle off for a while when I saw someone enter the field with two off lead Collies. I put the muzzle back on and walked straight towards them. The owner recognised me when we were alongside and congratulated me on the change in Riley as he remembered him and his aggression from some months before. He eventually persuaded me to let him off lead with his two and after a bit of sniffing and then ignoring Riley and the youngest dog played whilst we and the older dog watched.
It's the best day I've had with him and so encouraging to get such support from other owners. He's a joy to be with now. His recall is dreadful but we can let him off lead and as long as we keep him close all is ok but when he decides to run there's no point in trying to get him back but he returns when he's ready and jumps and barks at us when he thinks he's done something worthy of praise.
I think we still have a long way to go. We need to improve his off lead behaviour towards other dogs but one step at a time. Considering 2 months ago I sometimes felt like shooting him.
Thanks must go to Jenny, Donna, Mark and everyone else on this forum who encouraged us and gave advice and especially to Jim who sussed him and more importantly us out. I'll probably get a 1-2-1 with him in the future regarding recall.
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Post by Bigdog on May 26, 2011 16:06:11 GMT
Hi Rob and Helen Just got back from a (long......bloomin' M25) transport and saw this.........it is soooo nice to come back to some great news Good job Riley, but most importantly, GREAT JOB ROB AND HELEN! ;D So glad that you guys have stuck with him and hope he continues making good progress............we're still here if you need us M
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Post by Mimsmum on May 26, 2011 16:53:09 GMT
It has to be one the hardest and saddest and shittiest weeks of our Rescue years. Reading your post above has kicked me into touch again. It's what it's all about. Getting them into the best possible homes, so that they do become confident and enjoy their lives. There will always be little steps forward and some steps back, but Rob you have worked so hard. Confidence in an owner goes down the lead into the dog. Hmm... perhaps a steady good recall bitch is on the cards.
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Post by Romi on May 26, 2011 17:01:07 GMT
;DWTG Rob, Helen and Riley. ;D Brilliant news. You are an inspiration to anyone with a "difficult" dog that there is always a way to fix things.
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Post by Bigdog on May 26, 2011 17:29:43 GMT
Hmm... perhaps a steady good recall bitch is on the cards. Oooo, cheeky! ;D
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Post by Wipuki on May 26, 2011 17:30:40 GMT
Hi Rob and Helen Just got back from a (long......bloomin' M25) transport and saw this.........it is soooo nice to come back to some great news Good job Riley, but most importantly, GREAT JOB ROB AND HELEN! ;D So glad that you guys have stuck with him and hope he continues making good progress............we're still here if you need us M ;D ;D Wot' he said. Right dog - right home.
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Post by aijee on May 26, 2011 19:44:58 GMT
GREAT to hear Rob that you are really beginning to feel some progress with Riley Your description of his off-lead play yesterday blurred my screen, must've been great to see him having such a good time and how heartening to get support like that from the collie's owner Hopefully the first of many, many off lead playtimes for Riley. As you have said there is I am sure still a lot of work ahead for you with Riley, but in incredibly difficult circumstances you have stuck by him and are doing an amazing and inspiring job - HUGEST respect to you and Helen
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Post by PawTrax (Pete) on May 27, 2011 10:43:39 GMT
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Post by lifeofriley on Jul 7, 2011 10:28:31 GMT
Riley is continuing to improve. We rarely muzzle him when on the lead now (still use it off lead) as we can get him past 90% of dogs with no trouble we just need to keep talking to him. Rude dogs are still not tolerated, eye contact can be a problem but all in all pretty good.
His off lead behaviour towards other dogs is still too boisterous but we can keep him alongside us as long as we are constantly alert and we now know the signals that tell he's about to run off. A sharp and loud Aighhhh and he generally stops in his tracks as long as we got it in early enough.
We had him playing with two off lead Celia Cross rescue dogs earlier this week which was wonderful to watch, all play bows and bitey face (a bit difficult in a muzzle!!).
Last weekend we left him for 24 hours with a friend of ours who is a dog behaviourist. He lived with her varied pack for the day and night. Only one snap when another dog tried to get on his bed so all in all a great result as we now have a place to leave him for our holiday, apparently he played all day with a JRT!
He's turned into a great dog, slightly odd in some ways as he is quite distant. He obviously loves being with us but wasn't bothered when we left him and though he wagged his tail when we picked him up he just strolled to the car and hopped in.
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Post by sighthounds on Jul 7, 2011 10:57:45 GMT
Thanks for the update, it's great to read of Rileys progress, you are doing so well with him. It gives us hope when you hit a bad spot you do get a bit despondent but every little improvement helps. My bosses analogy is that of the 1st mate looking out to sea, "Captain will we ever see land again, we have so far to go?" the Captain replies "I know but look behind you and see how far we have come." ;D
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