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Bailey is our Golden, and well some say that "the light dosen't come on" or "they don't get their brains until they are 2-3 years old". I think the light may be starting to "FLICKER"

Well I was kinda impressed I must say. Yesterday after coming back from a walk, the neighbour and I were standing out front talking. Bailey was in the back and came out front with us. Sooooo, I'm thinking, okay lets see what she'll do. I'm still not at the 100% point with trusting her out front off leash. Mind you she has been doing not to bad. So the little girls next door were out and called her over to pet her. I let her go over and say hello. Well all of a sudden she starts to run for the side walk. Of course I yell at her. There was a dog on the other side of the road.( Please keep in mind it's NOT a busy street, I would never do this otherwise) Well she STOPPED at the end of the driveway. I called her over and she came over and I had do a sit then a down. The look on the neighbour I was talking to was priceless. She just looked at me and asked " what have you been doing with this dog?" Then she said that she was "impressed" and that she was reading to help go chasing after Bailey. I think that I had a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

THANK YOU BRAD !!!!

AWESOME !
It brings an actual tear to my eyes when I see on Brad's show, or hear of someone like you, who has such a success with their dog.
THAT is what all your hard work has done - given you a dog that has great behaviours that YOU can be proud of !
Yes - cheers to Bailey , but a little "happy dance" for YOU !

Yippeee!! It's so cool when our dogs are successful!! Good for you guys! I love it when they 'get' it It can take a while it seems and sometimes you think they're never gonna get it and then suddenly they do!

Yeah, I'm so proud of you! Congrats ...

Marion

Thank you , you guys.

This is something I would like to get her trained to do is stay on the front lawn. Mya will do this and it's nice just to watch Mya and see her just walk around. Best is when Mya will just sit and watch people and other animals and we don't have that worry that she'll be gone if you have your head turned.. So this is where I would really like to get Bailey to do the same. I have had her out there before BUT I have always been watching and if there was someone coming I would make make her sit and wait and keep a very watchful eye on her. So I think this is why I was so proud the other day of her, because I was distracted and not keeping a "look out" for someone coming. Well and not to mention again just the look one the neighbours face it was totally priceless

When I see a dog just walikng around ahouse following their owners, I admit - I'm jealous.
I HOPE that one day, Keymo will be able to do that, and we can trust him not to run off.
I know that should come with time and training.
You're lucky that you have Mya to help teach Bailey how to behave on the lawn.

My thoughts are this - as a dog gets a little older and has sniffed everything and seen everything on your lawn, property, etc. they will be less likely to have an urgent desire to run around and see "new " things.

Great job Patty, give yourself a pat on the back, and keep up all your hard work!!

I also think the light comes on around a certain age ... nothing specific ... but Abby was about 1.5 years old before her recall TO MY SIDE would actually become effective 100% of the time ... She would always come when called but when I went to take her collar, she'd back up about 4 feet ... I knew not to chase her and would walk the other way, she'd follow, but leaving about 4 feet distance ... VERY FRUSTRATING ... I was at the Conroy Pit in Ottawa one time and it took me about 45 minutes to "catch" her ... I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. I also learned very quickly that I was not willing to spend 45 minutes catching my freaking dog and quickly came up with better ways!

I'm not saying we let them get away with "bad" behaviour, but sometimes, I do believe that puppies are puppies and let's face it, their attention spans aren't always 100% and we can have such high expectations of them either.

The dog that lives next door to us (we just moved) is a 2 year old shep / lab mix ... beautiful dog, very friendly and full of beans. The owner is great, we have very similar beliefs in training methods (no treat training, etc). She also reminds me of myself about 1.5 years ago. There are just some days when her puppy's attention span lasts about 5 seconds and then BAM off onto something else ... very frustrating at times. I promised her that with consistent practice and training, he WOULD grow out of it ... and pointed to Abby. She laughed, and said, yeah, everyone tells me that, I'm just waiting ...

I know how your neighbour feels !
My neighbour accross the street has two German Shephards and a Yorkie - ALL well behaved. On one of Keymo's visits to her laneway, she told me that at 2 years, he should be a different dog.
2 YEARS ? I almost FELL OVER ! Keymo was only 5 months at the time !
I think I remember walking away muttering something like "GREAT - only 1 year, 6 months, 4 days , 2 hours and 15 minutes to go"

Hmm 2 years is pretty general and I heard for labs it can be 3 years!! Bayley's alot better than she used to be a year ago though. There were times when she'd get arguing with me, that's exactly what it sounded like, when I wondered if I didn't have 'too much' dog. We'd get into real battles when she thought she should get on the bed and I didn't want her there. Now, if she's invited on the bed and then I tell her off, there's no argument she just gets down and I don't have to raise my voice or anything. I may get the 'you don't love me anymore' look but she goes and lays down on the floor.