Sawyersmomma

Not sure if anyone will read, but I'll probably add anyway. Sawyer's had so many issues since I first got him and just over the past 2 days has made miraculous progress! So I thought it would be cool to start "journaling" or whatever his progress, and see how far he comes in a week/month/year etc.
So when I first got him he was attacked by a neighbours dog. He's been terrified of other dogs since, and is also horrible with traffic. He's good with strangers. A little reserved if we meet them anywhere outside of home, but if someone shows up at our door he loves them right away.
So basically the last two days I've started biking with him, and it seems to help him overcome some serious fears! Today a lab ran after us to try to sniff/play with Sawyer and instead of him growling and trying to... kill her or whatever he sniffed her, and just wagged his tail! It was incredible! He was a little more nervous of the yorkie that came running and barking after us. he growled but didn't lunge, just let me pull and continue on our way. It's so much progress since even 3 days ago, any dog we run into he would either hide, or snarl/snap and lunge!
Even with vehicles which he has serious issues with, today one passed and he didn't even bark! The other three that went by he did bark, and jumped up. Not like a lunge to kill though, more just an "I want after it!" type deal....
I'm definitely going to continue with the biking. It seems our daily hikes/walks just weren't as good as a 1 mile run... We're going to do it in the morning before I head off to work, and right after work. A little evening stroll to walk my 12 year old eskie too since he can't keep up with the bike. But I still can't get over how well he's done! Hallelujah!

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Piko & Sawyer <3

happybooker1

That's great!! Maybe he just needed more exercise!

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Quossum

Great progress! Journalling is a wonderful idea; it feels really good to look back and see how far you've come.

--Q

Lily's-Mom

That's excellent! Sounds like the new activity is really having a positive effect on him. Do you think it's because he's getting more exercise or being more exposed to cars/dogs/other things...? Great idea to keep a journal of his progress.

Carley's Mom

I love that ideal. He is going to be fine, you are trying too hard for it to be any other way.

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Sawyersmomma

Thanks! I think it's a bit of both. When we go hiking he's loose to run, but doesn't do a "hard" workout, just running playfully. I also think that once a car drives by, he finds it a good reward to just get running right away again.
He realizes the less fuss he puts up the sooner we get going.
I think the improvement among other dogs is due to the local dog club we've joined. They've all really helped me/him by going slowly and he trusts those dogs now. I think it's finally starting to kick in that other dogs aren't as bad as he thinks either

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Piko & Sawyer <3

Sawyersmomma

We went biking after work today, and the traffic that was going the same direction as us, most of the time he didn't lunge! He barked for a few, lunged at maybe 2 out of 7 cars... I'm so impressed!! =D

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Piko & Sawyer <3

Sawyersmomma

So I was just thinking... Biking with Sawyer is great... but what will I do in the winter? I live in northern BC where it's winter at least 6 months of the year... which means at least a foot of snow, and ice constantly... It's not exactly safe weather for biking... I'm hoping to have a treadmill by then so I can teach him to run on it... but what are other ways I could get him to do lots of running? My jogging is too slow lol

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Piko & Sawyer <3

dcyk

Play fetch to exercise him But you'll get lazy and the dogs get the exercise

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Sawyersmomma

it's ok... I'm lazy anyway

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Piko & Sawyer <3