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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 22, 2009 6:34:16 GMT -5
I have been visiting a local shelter that does not have a formal volunteer program. Basically its walk in.
I was very happy to see that 4 of the dogs there last week had been adopted. One was being adopted while I was there.
But then their are my favorites going on a second year and then some. One in particular I would like to work with in the hopes someone will take her home.
So I would like to know how to gain her attention.
I took her for a walk a short walk because the shelter uses slip leads. She just chokes the hell out of herself trying to escape. She has escaped the shelter already. Then when she sees the other dogs she just cant keep her eyes off them. so I took her to the sitting gazebo which does not take them away from the other dogs. But when the traffic stopped it got very quiet. She laid in the sun and observed very happily. I was unable to get her attention. She was not your typical pit bull when it came to treats. She had no interest in them. Took it but spit it out. eventually ate it. Now it was just a zukes hard bite. Maybe I will need to bring something more rewarding but I think I need to have it approved.
They tell me she has issues with other dogs which is why she is kept separate from dog kennels back by the cats. The shelter life has caused her to stress at the sound of the other dogs barking.
However when we were out on the gazebo she just sat and intently watched the dogs walk by. No barking. not trembling or whining but did not take her eyes off. However it was the only time I got her to look at me when I said good girl for not getting all panty or trying to pull away and she took the treat.
Should I try teaching her the clicker? I need to be refreshed as Rocky took to the clicker after one click and treat.
Just seemed to me like she wanted to just hang out and patrol.
I just want to let this dog be a dog but if she wont give a person time of day she is never getting out.
Please give any ideas remember that the only dog I have worked with is my own dog who well learns things first treat.
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 22, 2009 14:39:08 GMT -5
I stopped by to vist her again today. Whenever she looked at me I clicked and gave her a treat. She was not too into in but did get the idea a bit. Then This teen boy pulled up. She got very excited doing wiggle butts. I saw this boy there yesterday too. He is doing community service. Anyway I asked him if he walks her often. he said just yesterday. Well I did find out she was turned in by a man who had to do time. She just does not seem that interested in woman but when she sees men she gets very excited.
I just hung out with her again today and probably what I will do next week. I did ask in the shelter if I can bring a front clip harness to walk her next time. I was told they have to speak with the trainer first. She is being trained with a prong and they dont want to go against trainers wishes. Why would that matter?
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 29, 2009 14:27:19 GMT -5
If you could walk her on something other than a choke (like a martingale and a front clip harness - one leash attached to both), I think that would be your best bet. Sucks they have to check with the prong trainer first - obviously what the person has been doing is soooo helpful  And there is no good reason why a trainer should deny the use of a martingale and/or front connect harness. They can't do harm or undue any training in and of themselves. I think clicking and treating and just being with a dog like this is the best way to start. Maybe try taking her to an area where it is as quiet as possible. Click and treat just for existing. If she happens to glance and you, click and treat. But don't push yourself on her and don't ask anything of her for the time being. Also, yes, try to get some other kind of treat approved - something like boiled chicken, hot dogs, etc. Once she is responding to the click and treat and taking the food, you can try bringing her around more distractions, and clicking and treating around them. Next step would be click and treat for looking at other dogs. When she looks, CLICK. And when she turns to you, offer the treat (if she doesn't turn to you, offer the treat anyway). Step two of this - once she's really gotten the look-click-treat thing (and is turning towards you for the treat), it's time to wait for her to turn towards you before you click. So it's look-turn-click-treat. |
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 29, 2009 21:04:20 GMT -5
thanks for your response. I had already gone over there before I got it.
Today I brought Cheese. And found the key to her heart. Break through. she looks at me and sits in front of me. And I can really see now how pretty she is. Oh I am going to keep going and working this with her. If she looks at you then you melt.
I spent a good hour with her just hanging. Like you called it Existing. If I could get her to look at me at all I clicked and treat. Worked pretty good.
When I brought her back in one of the shelter directors was there. I said I wished Lucy did not pull so hard. Its real bad. my shoulders are killing me. She said oh we have been thinking of changing up her collar. BINGO I said I have a harness clips in front. Her response was "Im Game". The martingale will keep her from wiggling out?
I felt so good about my time with her today.
Her goal seems to be to escape. She escaped from the shelter once already. And she was adopted and returned as a good family couch dog but does not come back when called. She gets real focused in on whatever moves. But got her to turn and look at me when she heard the cheese wrapper crinkle. BTW She is very gentle treat taker.
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Post by emilys on Oct 29, 2009 22:01:10 GMT -5
oh good job! the power of cheese... ;-)
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Post by RealPitBull on Oct 30, 2009 8:26:34 GMT -5
Haaa yea, power of cheese. That is awesome, sounds like things are going to go well! I think it is so wonderful you are working with her. She sounds like a nice dog that just needs some time and love.
And yes, the collar will help the harness stay in place and work better, and also be a back-up.
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 30, 2009 15:56:33 GMT -5
Whoo hooo whoo hooo doin the happy dance. Forgot the cheese but had a martingale and harness. HOLY S**T is all I can say. This was my first experience dealing with such a puller and putting the easy walk on. Went to the door did a sit stay. Made her wait. went out the door and I wanted to cry when she just healed better than Rocky. She friggen walked better than Rocky. If she saw a bird or a leaf she would look all intent all I had to do was easily tug to the side and she would look and walk right to me. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. Wish the shelter people were more enthusiastic but the ones that mattered were in a meeting. I offered to leave the harness to use but I was told the morning walkers cant be bothered to put a harness on. Im going to keep trying to encourage them to use it. For god sakes if a potential adopter walks her with it they will see her pretty face. She will look at them and they will melt. Not to mention that Lucy wont choke and hurt herself and the handlers shoulders wont get pulled out the socket. now I want to go like every day. They will get sick of seeing me. And maybe Rocky will get sick of sniffing the hell out of me when I get home. LOL I got a picture but its on my cell so It will take me a minute or two to upload.
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 30, 2009 16:33:36 GMT -5
Lucy before the harness but after choking the hell out of herself. She looks completely different when she has this slip lead on.  Lucy today she turned to look at me when I stopped walking.  |
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Post by suziriot on Oct 30, 2009 16:37:43 GMT -5
Gee, think she might actually be EASIER to control in a harness rather than a strangle collar??? Thanks for posting these pictures, because they really do show why aversive collars exacerbate rather than solve leash problems. She looks so calm and relaxed in the second pic! Good for you, loverocksalot! |
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Post by loverocksalot on Oct 30, 2009 16:40:22 GMT -5
It was an amazing difference I wish I took video of maybe I will try to do that. But I hate to put that slip lead back on her. She was so relaxed. She tried to do her run and drag. It was kind of cute her feet would start running but she did not go anywhere and would just calm herself and keep walking. I still cant believe what a difference it made.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Oct 30, 2009 20:06:33 GMT -5
She is so pretty! She looks comfortable in the harness!
Way to go loverocksalot! ;D
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Post by loverocksalot on Nov 13, 2009 8:29:30 GMT -5
Im getting concerned. And wish I was a more forward person.
I have been going every Thursday to spend time and Work with Lucy. I have been having very nice progress with her. The best is she is so happy to see me. Now she cries when I leave. We have nice walks to a grass area. Work on recall. and basic commands. And then just hang out and watch life.
Anyway last week I was told to be careful she was having a wild day. Later one of the shelter workers lifted his shirt to show me he was nipped. It looked like a nice scratch.
But yesterday again after I walked her he said she has not been doing well and they are going to have to get their trainer to work her hard. And they cant adopt her out the way she is acting. He said she is getting kennel crazed and needs to be adopted to someone with firm hand. He said her intense drive is getting worse and he lifted his pants to show me a nasty purple bruise thing where she latched when playing with a toy. He said she would not let go and he had to do what he had to do to get her off.
Im very worried for her.
They definitely use leash corrections at this shelter.
I have been clicker training and using a harness with Lucy. Supposedly she gets crazed just hearing the squeeker of a toy and she wants to kill it. Now when I took her in the grass I was able to distract her when birds started squeeking.
Im thinking about emailing shelter directer. I have not seen her since I started walking lucy with harness and using clicker. She probably has no idea the success I see. Would I be crossing the line to contact her?
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Post by erpitrescue on Nov 13, 2009 9:58:46 GMT -5
I don't think so. Be ready for the fact that they might not care what progress you are seeing, but the best case scenario is that they want the best for the dog, and are willing to hear what you have to say, and make accomodations on the dogs training program for what seems to be working for her.
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Post by loverocksalot on Nov 13, 2009 11:33:25 GMT -5
Oh I already know that most of them dont care the progress I am seeing. they seem rather offended that I have had some progress.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Nov 13, 2009 14:03:55 GMT -5
Oh I already know that most of them dont care the progress I am seeing. they seem rather offended that I have had some progress. I think it’s quite ridiculous and childish that they seem offended! You would think that they would be happy for the sake of the dog. I think you should pat yourself on the back no matter what happens. At least you tried and gave her a chance! I think its awesome that you are helping out! |
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Post by loverocksalot on Jan 15, 2010 19:34:44 GMT -5
Ok I am feeling good today. but first let me go back a bit. quite a few weeks ago the shelter got a sporne harness for lucy which was an improvement but still it was not working as well as the chest harness. So I had asked if I could use my harness and the shelter worker got h tannoyed with me and said no she is in training with this so you cant confuse her and change. I was like well I have been walking her for 6 weeks with this and working with her she said I dont care would you please just walk her with this or dont at all. well I just walked her. Today I was in luck. The Manager was there and she really likes me and has noticed me working with Lucy. I went to my car and got the gentle leader and offered to donate it for lucy she was over joyed and said she was hanging it on her crate. I also gave her the martingale to hook up to her as well as she recently got out of the sporne harness when a volunteer was walking her. I cant wait for other girl to see my harness hanging on her crate.  Then I go back in time again last time I brought her a bed for christmas eve. I hugged her and said I wish I could foster you. And one of the girls said no way she cant live with other animals cause she killed one of our ducks. OK?????? I said. Anyway today in front of the manager I said the same thing again but this time I said but I know you are not good with other animals. And she said why dont you bring your dog in. She use to go to a play group with 6 other dogs but she was too pushy so we stopped bringing her. Anyway Im not sure I would want to as I am not sure this shelter would be very good at beeing sure I was the right foster home but at least I felt better about myself. |
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Post by loverocksalot on Jan 16, 2010 10:13:05 GMT -5
 she looks more pretty every time I pay a visit. She has also gotten better and better with her behavior according to shelter employees. Got a "Thank You for visiting with her from the shelter mngmnt" There is another very sweet male brindle there to I am going to work with him more as well. He already walks nice on leash so before he becomes vicitm of pulling(for some reason all the dogs pull there think it is the slip lead and lack of knowledge of volunteers). I would also like to take this time to thank Animal Farm Foundation for sending me a box of feeders and pit bull info to bring over to the shelter. Since I live a little to far from them probably an hour and a half I cant foster for them  . Some day though I would love to just go visit there. Anyone want to get together and make a day? |
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Post by loverocksalot on Jan 16, 2010 10:14:17 GMT -5
Is anyone from Out of the pits on this forum? Just curious
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Post by RealPitBull on Jan 19, 2010 12:02:00 GMT -5
She is so pretty! Good for you for being pushy and keeping up the training. This shelter sounds like they are a little confused about training and behavioral issues. The thing I don't understand is, if she is crazed about toys/squeakies, why do they insist on playing with her with those things? And obviously they are playing rough if bruises are the end result. I can see them whipping out a toy, rough housing, her getting all riled up, then when she doesn't calm down, them jerking the leash repeatedly which for a dog like this probably will serve only to make her MORE crazy. It's a vicious cycle and sounds like they are setting her up to fail.
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Post by loverocksalot on Jan 20, 2010 21:50:22 GMT -5
She is so pretty! Good for you for being pushy and keeping up the training. This shelter sounds like they are a little confused about training and behavioral issues. The thing I don't understand is, if she is crazed about toys/squeakies, why do they insist on playing with her with those things? And obviously they are playing rough if bruises are the end result. I can see them whipping out a toy, rough housing, her getting all riled up, then when she doesn't calm down, them jerking the leash repeatedly which for a dog like this probably will serve only to make her MORE crazy. It's a vicious cycle and sounds like they are setting her up to fail. You got it!!! Went to visit with her today. They hung the damb easy walk .harness on her kennel door. Well she chewed the buckle. So now I will have to try to return to petsmart get a new one. Damb it!! Anyway I have a question on D/A I have been told I could not foster or consider adopt her because she is not to be with any other animals because she killed a duck and is dog agressive. Although recently the shelter mngr said I could bring Rocky by to give her a test. After talking with them about her issues I decided she is dog selective and probably only with females. Well today when I took her out for a walk a man came in looking for companion for his big ol dog ugghh cant remember the breed right now those big rescue dogs with the wiskey thing hangs Oh yeah St Bernard. Well they all had a pow wow and decided to give lucy a try meeting his dog. I witnessed the whole thing. Not an ounce of D/A she was rather calm and comfortable being in the company of the dog. She went right to his mouth and licked his mouth and slobber YUK! Anyway Although I would love to see her adopted Im not sure he is the right home and the shelter workers would not really let me put my two cents in. He has a cat at home and a Mc Caw bird. Small animals Im not so sure with her as she has jumped the fence at the shelter and attacked a goose. Plus the man is an old man but he does have a big dog. He has 50 acres of property with a electric fence. I did hear them tell him she would be fine with that since their trainer working with her has used shock collar on her and she responds well. Made me sick to my stomach that someone thinks they need to shock her. When I think she is rather soft dog. Anyway my point is after that I offered to bring Rocky to see how she is with a different dog so they can rule out her being D/A or only going with a male dog etc. And if that all goes well maybe I can end up fostering her. Just wondering your alls opinion on that. PLEASE |
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. Some day though I would love to just go visit there. Anyone want to get together and make a day?
