Re: [pyrnet] chasing joggers

["Susan Irving" <sirving@rogers.com>]

Hi all,

We have tried the flexi lead and he doesn't even LOOK at a jogger when he is
on any kind of lead.  That is a big part of the problem.  He's pretty smart
and he knows there is no point when a leash is attached to his collar.  I
have been using a whistle and cookie rewards that both the pyrs respond to
better than voice or handsignals.  That was working really well for a while
and then he seemed to decide he'd rather go after the joggers. He's been in
obedience classes up to level 3,  and he actually managed to earn his Canine
Good Citizen Certificate at 1 1/2.  But all that is on leash. He seems bored
with obedience classes now, so I have enrolled him in agility, as people
have told me that sometimes that will turn a dog from bad habits.  He has
only had 3 agility classes so far, so its a bit early to tell if its doing
any good yet.  My kids bought me a book called "Surviving your dog's
adolescence"  and  I'm studying that for pointers too!  I am suspecting that
maybe he just doesn't see me as quite alpha enough now the he is the dog
equivalent of a teenager.

As for the joggers:  We have 2 off leash wilderness areas here and probably
15 to 20 recreational wilderness  areas where dogs are either not allowed or
have to be on leash. So why do the joggers come to the offleash park?  Even
when they are afraid of dogs?  I can only assume that the act of jogging
loosens the brain with all that bouncing around, bruising it and leaving
some joggers incapable of rational thought.  Right now the trails in the
dogpark are slick with ice and these people jog anyway! In the summer people
also come in riding their bikes and jogging and when they get chased by dogs
they write to the newspaper complaining that the dogparks should not be off
leash because of the "vicious dogs".  But, unfortunately, in the eyes of the
law, people have all the rights (except dog walkers.)  We do have an
organization of dogwalkers working on this, but because we have to deal with
politicians, progress is often slow.

Susan, Jasmine and Seamus

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tracy Bassett" <espinay@bigpond.com>
To: <pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 4:48 PM
Subject: Re: [pyrnet] chasing joggers


> << I don't want to have to leash him all the time, but I can't allow this
> behavior.>> Susan
>
> How about using a retractable 'flexi' lead?  He has much more freedom of
> movement while still being under your control.  You can incorporate this
> with training to pay attention to you rather than the jogger, so that when
> he sees a person running, he will turn to you for a reward rather than
being
> rewarded by the 'chase'.  I would be happy to provide more info on doing
> this if you need it.
>
> Tracy Bassett
> Murrumbateman, Australia
> espinay@bigpond.com
>
>
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