Is so much fun to deal with! NOT! We have to start all over with crate training... and we have renamed Herk to Herkimer Houdini! I honestly don't know how he got out of the crate earlier in the week - the one space he created doesn't look even remotely close enough to big enough for him to squeeze through.
So, for safety sake (his) we've been letting him stay outside the crate during the day while we are at work. However, his love for chewing things is getting costly! I need to replace my 4th heating pad now. My favorite bedspread (an antique quilt) is shredded - as is a set of sheets, bed ruffle and actually the bed, the door to the bedroom needs painting, our one window shade has got... ahem... a few marks in it and we've lost countless socks, underwear and shoes. Whooo boy! I know I'm missing things, but it's better to forget...
Good thing he is so darn cute and the fact that he loves me best, makes it easier. Also, I love reminding my husband that part of the problem is HIS fault - because he didn't follow my directions regarding the crate while I was away at Scout Camp, and subsequently Herkimer got out a few times -- and as most doggie owners know that once they figure something out, they just try harder each time...
Anyway - he is doing GREAT on his obedience training! He understands the "look" command, which is used to keep his attention on me -- and he improves daily on actually following it as I increase the distractions while training. His sitz, plotz and hier (sit, down, come) are almost perfectly consistent and I'm getting a pretty good distance between us and he holds those positions. WHOO HOO!
We are now going to start taking him into places, like stores, since his response to commands are so good. I have to avoid anyplace that may have dogs because that is still a problem for him. We have been working on that really hard, and during class he is getting much better -- but I just don't have the strength to make a proper correction when he spontaneously lunges at another dog. Aja, the trainer, has taken him a few times and worked with him in class and then he responds better for me -- but since I can't take Aja with me everywhere I go... we need to find another way.
So, instead of buying the flash for my camera that I was going to get - I'm getting a professional E-Collar for Herkimer. That way my correction along with a proper E-Collar correction will get the same results and should hopefully get us through this issue. Aja will work with me on it once it comes in. We only have a few weeks before the class is over and we need to test for the Canine Good Citizen test -- the one thing I'm worried about is meeting dogs without reacting. Keep your fingers, and paws crossed that we can work this one out....
Once we cross that HUGE barrier (the being friendly with other doggie issue), we won't have to worry as much about leaving him alone at home - because then he can start coming with me every time we go out. Work is the only issue -- until the medical group that shares our office space moves, there is no place for Herkimer to be in the office. He can't be in the way of patients and that's exactly where he would be --- BUT, they are working on moving and then I'll have an office!
Progress is a beautiful thing....
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