One Week Already!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Things are starting to improve.  Arrow does a whole lot more “right” things now, than “wrong”.  I have to admit, the first few days were pretty depressing.  Arrow seemed to have a whole lot of “issues” that I wasn’t prepared to deal with.  But he’s made dramatic improvements, and continues to get better every day. 

I have a walking harness for him, and that stops almost all the pulling!  (Plus he isn’t choking himself trying to pull me along).  We’re practising, “Arrow, sit!” at the crosswalks, and “OK – let’s go!” when I’m ready to cross the street.  He even “stays”, sometimes.

At home, we play ball a lot.  I throw his tennis ball, he chases it and brings it right back!  I’m using this to try to teach “Come!” – when he’s already running towards me, happy.  We’re working on him letting go of the ball so I can throw it again, but even this is getting better – he’s not as possessive.  He might not let go of the ball, but he doesn’t growl anymore.

We also play tug (very carefully on my part).  The first time was not so good – lots of growling and he seemed more fierce than playful.  This was with a rope toy.  But then I got him a long plush squeaky – he holds it in his mouth, and I pull him around in a circle, then let go.  If he brings it back to me, I pull him around again.  If he stays away, I just let him have it.  He sleeps with it, now.

Last night, he actually let me comb his fur!  I was very careful not to pull and I kept my movements gentle, like I was petting him with the comb – but it got all the way down to his skin, where it should be.  Combing out knots will be far in the future, I think.

Arrow has improved so much in just the past few days, I’m even starting to believe he’ll do okay at Obedience School!  (After he realizes he can’t attack the other dogs, that is!)

Who's a good dog?!!