stace1319
02-08-2009, 01:29 PM
Well, I figured I'd give and update since my last post of problems. Brownie is doing better withthe barking since I've been trying to give him daily exercise. ( I figured it my be due to too much built up nervous energy) and it has worked so far. He still barks a little, but since shy is outside again he seems to be happier. When he does start barking and doesn't stop withing a minute or two then I will tell him to hush and he goes back into the doghouse with shy. Both him and Harley have been doing wonderfully on recall (in the yard)! I call them and they will come barrelling towards me then they get lots of love and a treat. I keep them in my pocket at all times right now. When we went on our trail ride yesterday, Brownie still had a bit of a dominance issue while meeting the other dogs. I was worried about how Cedric would react to him, but he just ignored him to my suprise and Brownie decised that they wern't going to be a threat and everything was fine. On the way back my mom's neighbor was at his cabin and his two australian cattel dogs were with him. Brownie went flying towards them barking with his hair raised (not a smart way to make friends!) luckily Red, one of his dogs that always fights with cedric, didn't think brownie was werth the trouble and went back to his owner. We hurried by so he would come back to us. Yelling for him wasn't working. Then he ran up to the same neighbors Great Pyranees that gaurds his herd of goats. I don't know that dog, but I was worried about how he would react to brownie barking at him, expecially if he got too close to the goats. The electric fence finally got the little dingbat before he could reach the dog. After a good hard jolt, he got the point and ran back to us. He always does this with other dogs though! He will raise his hair and bark at them while he's running towards them. We went for a walk today. He did really good on the leash. Dave had Harley on his so I think it help brownie having Harley there with him. When we got the the end of the road, a couple of the neighbors dogs came out and Brownie went nuts again! I stopped, sat him down, and stood there. Everytime he would start to bark, I would give him a quick jab with my fingers into his neck, not to hurt him, but to snap him out of it (you know, the dog whisperer thing) and he would stop and look at me. After a few seconds, we would start to walk again. THe whole time we were down there we had to keep doing the same exercise. I'm hoping that he will get better with time if I continue. i've also been working on teaching them tricks. I think it helps to give them some mental stimualtion and it helps them with obediance. Harley had learned to sit, laydown, stay, and is learning to rollover. Brownie just learned how to sit today. Well, I have to go to the store. Sorry if there are any misspellings, I'm in a hurry, lol!