wuff wuff!

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(this is long!)Well Koda ran off his lead in the morning. Found him cruising down the road at the neighbors. She has two dogs and when I arrive I see fur from one dogs body being pulled by Koda through the fence She told me not to worry about it. I put him on his leash and he was fighting it trying to get out.. yeah he got out again and bolted towards the dogs.. when I turned around I grabbed him by the neck fur. It wasn't a good day for him, he cried and nipped back home. I thought about building a fence but he should listen on command, with that said.. training begins.

I bought a 40ft lead and have been working with him physically and more mentally. I built this ladder that goes vertical.. it was with a old tree so there is a ton of traction for him. Well at first he couldn't get his balance and he was determined to get up this thing. I never seen a dog get so upset about not being able to do something so simple. Exactly what he needed, After about an hour he was just so frustrated that I took him inside and he just sat by the door because he wanted to work on that.

Getting him to "come" he hates doing period. He loves ball and sticks so I took the most thing he loves and just sat him down. Told him to stay and to not touch the ball. I walked the other direction and told him to come.. he bolted towards the ball and then I tightened up the lead and he was denied. Round after Round and he was getting really upset about the fact he had to come to me. Success! He finally came to me and sat down waiting for me to tell him to get the ball.

I constructed a little tall square that I want him to balance on and sit down. I first started inside with a kitchen chair. He finally was able to get all four legs on the chair.. shaking and falling off he was determined to do this. Finally was able to balance the kitchen chair and sit down on it. Back outside to the smaller block, he gets three legs on the block and he can't balance that block. He was so upset he was crying the entire time(crying or some crazy tension).

It's only been two days and I have to say the tide is with me. A dog was walking by and saw koda in the back lawn. It barked at koda and koda always tries to bolt, he looked at the dog and when I said "Koda LOOK(meaning look at me)" he stared right at me. I thought he was going to bolt, he always does because that's his territory and bla bla. Inside he likes to roll his ball under the TV stand and around the fire place. He doesn't do the fire place anymore because he was burned really bad. I've been all over him, he tries to put his ball under the stand and I'm there correcting. At one point he took a deep breath out and went to his crate.. sorry but that was funny.

I have a few other things in mind that I want to build, I'm hoping in the near future I can trust him off lead. I want to start running and hiking, anyone use this brand before?

http://www.ruffwear.com/Palisades-Pack_ ... ategory=24

Would be a good energy burn, I just don't want to over do it. With the detachable pack I think I could carry the weight if he gets too tired.

[LyonsFamily]

Sounds like Koda could benefit from agility training! It's a good bonding experience, and a good beginning trainer will also throw in obedience/handling skills in an intro class.

The balance board is similar to what I use for my beginners and puppies in class. It's called a buja board (some people call it a balance board). Just make sure the board is secure for that kind of work. One bad experience on a piece of equipment, and some dogs get issues.

I've never used that brand, but I have used this one. http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-Outward-Hou ... 549&sr=8-3 The mesh top prevents it from sliding around. I usually start with an empty pack and add water bottles as they get stronger/used to it. That way they can be emptied if it gets too tiring for the dog, or you could drink them if it gets too tiring for you .

[Dutchringgirl]

For me its hard to trust, Sadie took off once and I have a hard time trusting her, she is getting alot better. I keep her on a very long line and do tons and tons of recalls. I love the long line because if they do take off, I still have them to correct.

You can make one from a hardware store and hike and run with it until he can be trusted.

[Marjolein]

sounds like you guys are bonding trough the work, it could very well help him to see you as the pack leader, and he will not be as tempted to go and do "naughty stuff" as he is satisfied with the "job" you provide