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Lynne I totally agree with you 100% on that. I just mentioned it because when Brad said that I was in TOTAL shock. I mean my husband and both looked at each other. But like I said any dog can be a great dog if taught the right way from the start. It's ALL in the training.

Hey I think it's been said in the forums before" if it has teeth, it can bite".

Lynne I'm I doing the right thing with Mya on the fence running? I would really like to hear your thoughts on that.

From what you said it sounds like you did the right thing, when she went back and barked once you could have put her in a time out to reinforce it more. It's hard to say because I don't have the behavioural background that Brad and the other CETs do, so they might want to know more about her body language to see whether she was just trying to play with the other dog or not, vs. being territorial. If their dog is there to stay, then you can do some practice sessions with her where you correct her for it when it happens. Kind of like the exercise where you practice the ringing of the doorbell to stop them from running to the door when guests arrive. What kind of fence is separating them, chain link/wood/tall/short. I just wanted to be able to picture it better, and there's no way one could get over the fence?

Thanks Lynne

There are tall cedars and a chain link fence between them. I really don't think that they could get over it. Actually know that I think of it my biggest concern should maybe one of them digging to get under. I'll have to keep an eye out for that. Her body language well she had the hair up and her tail out and curled up abit. So I'm thinking that it may be territorial more than wanting to play. I'll just really have to watch her and work with it. I would love if she wanted to play but I'm not going to kid myself.

NOW if I could get myself trained to walk AROUND the dogs, I'll be laughing. I'm still catching myself doing this. LOL

Thanks again Lynne

Just thought I would give you guys an update on how things are going.

Well we are just back from the cottage , and all I can say is WOW what a big difference in Bailey this year around the water.

Last summer she wouldn't really get out of the water when she was called or even stay out of it unless I tied her up. I still remember driving home last summer with the nice smell of wet dog, YUK Because while we were packing up the truck she got back into the water. My fault I guess I should have tied her.

So this year what a HUGE difference in her after using Brad's training techniques. If she went down to the water edge and I told her "no" she stayed out. If she was in playing around in the water and I gave her a recall she came back. It was like I have a totally different dog. Hubby and I are really pleased with her. She would play in the lake all day long, she would just swim out for the heck of it or wade along the shore line. We don't have a life jacket for her and I'm really considering on getting her one. Hubby figures though if we get her one she'll just go out and float around and relax and enjoy the summer's day. LOL Maybe I should get her some nice cool sunglasses too LOL (Just kidding Brad)

So once again....... THANKS BRAD !!!!!

Wow! Congrats Patty! All your hard work has paid off!

Thanks Michelle. It truley was like we had a different dog with us this summer

I as well have seen a big difference from last summer to this one with Keymo.
Isn't it nice to RELAX ?

Oh my GOSH ! It's GREAT - isn't it? I CAN'T WAIT for next year already !!!!!

KeymoFrisby you are so right about being able to realx. Last year I was totally on the edge of my seat and constantly watching her.

WOW this year I could just sit on the dock and not worry. If I wanted to head up to the cottage and sit up there I felt that I could do so and not worry at all. ( I could see her from there too) She was really good to if someone happened to walk along the road (dogs included) and come back when she was told to do so The only problem I seem to run into was .........well this darn chipmunk and two red squirrels. I could swear that these guys were there teasing Mya and Bailey. They would just keep running back and forth. First time Mya and Bailey did chase them before I knew what was going on then after that it was a very firm "leave it" and they would just sit there and watch with their ears perked up and wide eyed. Then they would kinda look at me with a "please mom can we go? We just wanna play"" But nope, no chasing these little critters is allowed.

Sometimes I wonder if I just wasn't giving Bailey the chance last year to prove herself. I often wonder to beacause I was tense she could sense it and would run with it. When I see some of Brad's shows when he tells the owners to let their dogs go and walk away then to turn around and he would say "Oh look who is coming" I beleave that I was one of those just not to sure how much trust I had in her or worse yet the bond that we have. I have to say these last few months have showen me to trust her and read her body language and create an awesome bond with her.

I too can't wait to see what kind of a dog I will have in the months to come. She is already proving herself and well, she is a wonderful dog in my eyes with the odd kink that needs to be worked out

They TOTALLY tease dogs!! I had camped two nights at one spot on a canoe trip once and being the guide I had last pick of tent site. I was rammed right up against a tree. As soon as the sun raised some light on the horizon (in the north that meant about 3 am) this squirrel would skit skit skit down the tree and stop just at the height that Scout could see it, let er rip with a shrill call and chip chip chip and then run back up the tree.

AND REPEAT every few minutes.

I thought Scout was going to go right through the screen window. Ella probably would if it happened today.

Sounds like you are getting great control over the dogs. Nice when they get a little more mature and trained up.

Patty - when you said that maybe last year you didn't give Bailey the chance to prove herself, I think you're probably right. It can be hard, because we're always so stressed on what happens if they do the "wrong" thing.

One part of me says, Bailey was still young and learning, so you should have been concerned / one part of me says you probably didn't give her enough credit and she may very well have listened.

We second guess ourselves all the time "should I have . . . / should I have not . . . " - it drives us crazy because we SO want to do the right thing.
Don't stress over what you could have done last year. Whatever. That was last year. THIS year Bailey is SO much better!
It sounds like she's doing great.

Enjoy the fruits of your labour!