Today's Sunshine

Today we've been working more on impulse control, and I think I'm starting to see some payoff!

Nah, I'm just messing with her. But shhh, don't tell her...

While Monster still isn't a marvel of focus when we're out walking, he has been showing some improvement. There's not much in the way of spontaneous contact, but he'll snap out of his personal reverie much easier when asked. That's progress! (I think...)

Hee, hee, hee! This is going to be the funnest reveal ever!

Today's Cloud

Today we spent about 90 minutes standing out in the field in the middle of the village, doing some relaxation training. Back inside, Monster is more sensitive than ever to the sounds of life around us. Anything from a car passing on the road, a door closing four houses down, a child laughing, will set off a barking fit. I'm going to have to rethink this approach I think.

Huh? Why? Weren't we out here claiming territory?

And as an added bonus, I have sinusitis. Cheers all around, I think I'll just stay sick until spring comes around - then my pollen allergies can take over for a while.

Yeah, yeah, she's whining, what else is new? At least you don't have to live with her...

Today's Sunshine

Today's been a difficult day... I suppose it was at least partly sunny when we encountered a Great Dane, a stroller, some sort of really tiny dog, and a small child around a corner. Monster stared, pulled a bit, and went up on his hind legs (not in a lunge, but in a meerkat position - balancing upright, front paws tucked in T-Rex style, scouting the action), but while that's not ideal it's not a full scale Monster Meltdown.

I'm such a good boy!

Of course, once they moved out of sight he did throw a wobbler... Still, it's something, right?

What? But I couldn't see them anymore! They could've been up to anything!

Today's Cloud

Today everyone in the neighborhood seems to want to mess with me! I've made note of the activity patterns around here long ago, finding the best times to walk Monster with as few triggers around as possible. But today lots of people who shouldn't be out at that time have been walking their dogs when we've been out. I don't know what's changed or why, but it's stressful.

Yeah, for you and me both!

I hope it's only a temporary aberrance, I'm worried we'll be in for a hard backslide if we can't find more space than today in the future. Monster did pretty well all things considered, but these things pile on and I don't think he can handle much more now...

Today's Sunshine OR: The Cesar's In The Nuddy!

Alan Titchmarsh becomes the one bright child to point finger at the emperor and speak. Indeed, little boy, he isn't wearing anything at all:

No other Sunshine today, folks. Nothing to outshine this...

Today's Cloud

First, let me start with a disclaimer:

I like cats!

There, with that out of the way:

Oh my god, I hate cats!!! They're everywhere, and they're suicidal! There are hundreds of cats, just popping up all over the place! Please, please, cats of the world: go away!

What? No no, all cats must come here!

Yeah, that's why. Cats make everything so much harder. People are fairly accepting of a dog who hates cats (Monster doesn't really hate them, it's more like he obsessively fixates on them, but tomato - tomato to everyone else really), so some say I shouldn't worry about that part - it's a luxury problem, to be dealt with if and when his more serious issues are resolved. But, when Monster sees a cat his stress levels just skyrocket, meaning everything else in the world becomes a lot more difficult to deal with. He may see a dog 20 yards off and just look away these days (if he's having a particularly good day that is)... But if he's seen a cat first, then he's likely to go into full Monster mode for a dog at five times that distance!

What are you talking about? He had it coming...

I know, I know, cats have to live to. Sure. But do they have to run up to us and scream in Monster's face!??!!?

Oh, be nice. That cat just wanted to play. Next time maybe it'll get even closer...

Today's Sunshine

Today I finally managed to start some of the training I'd been planning! Monster and I did three sessions today focusing on impulse control. Obviously we've trained in that area before, but I've decided to put more focus on it for a while. I've sort of just been skimming the surface, mostly because Monster is surprisingly difficult to "tease" like this. Since he doesn't really care all that much for food rewards, putting a treat on the floor (or on his paws or nose) and asking him to not go for it until given permission isn't that big of a challenge. We did it once when he was a puppy, he figured out the basic idea, and since then he knows what it's about and pretty much just sits there and waits. Tug toys and similar are more of a temptation, but even with them he gets the basic principle and it's not much of a challenge. Also, due to his general lack of focus (on me...) while out for a walk, we've mostly been doing this training at home - even easier!

Wait, are you trying to say I'm not this good because I'm smart!?

But, again, looking closer at this it's all just a bunch of lazy excuses, right? Right. Impulse control is important, Monster is good at the training we've been doing but he's not so good at actual impulse control when it counts. What this means is that I have to use my superior intellect

What!?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!

and think of ways to make it more challenging for him. So, today I've put the harness on him for a walk, brought out a high value tug toy, and just stressed him out and wound him up to the point of actually biting my hands to get it (see?! lack of impulse control!), and then quickly taking him and the tug toy out for a walk. Whenever he seems to start to wind back down, we do a bit of impulse control with the tug toy (dangle it in front of his face, throw it away, play with it myself, put it down between his paws, leave it behind as we walk away, etc), and make sure to reward with some stressing tug of war. It's a bit too early to say if I can see any general results from it, but I can say that it at least works in the sense that it's a lot harder for him to ignore the teasing. See, I am smarter than him!

HAHAHAHA, oh please stop! You're killing me!